Mary Ann Nichols

Biographical Information
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Name	Mary Ann Nichols
Level	Unknown
A.K.A.	| }} {{#if: | | }} {{#if: | | }} {{#if: | | }} {{#if: | | }} {{#if: | | }} {{#if: | | }}
Birth	26 Aug 1845 | }} {{#if:London | London | }}
Death	31 Aug 1888 | }} {{#if:Whitechapel, London | Whitechapel, London | }}
Burial	Sep 1888 | }} {{#if:Newham, London | Newham, London | }}
Cause
Nationality
Occupation
Parents	Edward Walker (1816-?) }} {{#if:Caroline Webb (1822-1852) | Caroline Webb (1822-1852) }}
Spouse	William Nichols (1864) }} {{#if: | }} {{#if: | }} {{#if: | }} {{#if: | }} {{#if: | }}
Children	1 William Edward Walker (1864) }} {{#if:2 Edward John (1866) | 2 Edward John (1866) }} {{#if:3 Percy George (1868) | 3 Percy George (1868) }} {{#if:4 Alice Esther (1870) | 4 Alice Esther (1870) }} {{#if:5 Eliza Sarah (1877) | 5 Eliza Sarah (1877) }} {{#if:6 Henry Alfred (1879) | 6 Henry Alfred (1879) }} {{#if: | }} {{#if: | }} {{#if: | }} {{#if: | }} {{#if: | }} {{#if: | }} {{#if: | }} {{#if: | }} {{#if: | }} {{#if: | }} {{#if: | }} {{#if: | }} {{#if: | }} {{#if: | }}

Overview

Early Life

Mary Ann Nichols was born 26 Aug 1845 on Shoe Lane off Fleet Street to Edward Walker, a blacksmith, and Caroline Webb. She also had at least one other sibling, an older brother named Edward Walker. Her parents had been married on 17 Feb 1840 at St. Mary's in Lambeth. They listed their fathers as John Walker, "carman", and Edmund Webb, a sawyer. They were married at the same time as another couple, William Burbidge and Maria Wavering - all of whom lived on Oakley Street. Caroline died on 24 Nov 1852 while residing on Dean Street and was buried the 5 Dec at St. Andrews, Holborn. In 1861 the father Edward was living along with his children Edward and Mary Ann at #19 Harpe Alley in St. Bride's.

Marriage and Children

On 16 Jan 1864, Mary Ann Walker, "daughter of Edward Walker, blacksmith" was married to William Nichols, "son of William Nichols, Herald Printer". Both were noted as being of full age and residing in St. Bride's. Seth Geroge Havell and Sarah Good witnessed the marriage.

They had the following children:

1. William Edward Walker Nichols (1864-1866)
2. Edward John Nichols (1866-?)
3. Percy George Nichols (1868-?)
4. Alice Esther Nichols (1870-?)
5. Eliza Sarah Nichols (1877-?)
6. Henry Alfred Nichols (1879-?)

By 1871 the young family had moved in with Mary Ann's widower father who lived at 131 Trafalger St. Their last child, Henry Alfred Nichols, was born in 1879 but he wasn't baptized right away like the earlier children. By 1881 Mary Ann is no longer listed with the family, now living at #6 of the D Block of the Peabody Buildings near Stamford St and Blackfriars Road in Lambeth. The Peabody Buildings had been built at various locations around London as affordable housing for the working, but generally respectable, poor. Next door to the Nichols family in the 1881 census was a woman named Rosetta Walls, a married charwoman aged 27 who is living with her aged mother, Sarah Vidler. Also in the household is Rosetta's older brother, William Vidler, sho is noted as "Printer Porter", a similar occupation to William, and her two sisters - Jane Vidler and Sarah Louise Vidler - were occupied as book folders, also within the same industry. Her husband is not listed with them, just as Mr. Nichols wife is not with them.

Nichols Family After Mary Ann

In 1883 William had a child with the neighbor, Rosetta, and he was named Arthur Walls Nichols. Now living at Camberwell, Southwark, London - infant Arthur, and his half brother Henry Alfred Nichols, were baptized together at St. Mark's on 31 Jul 1883. William and Rosetta were listed as the parents of both, but Rosetta was listed as "Rosetta Walls", as she and William were not yet married. After Mary Ann's death on 31 Aug 1888, Mr. William Nichols and "Rosetta Walls" were married on 26 Nov 1888 at St. Stephens in Walworth, Surrey, London. They had additional children Ethel (1890), and Winifred (1894)

Mary Ann After 1881

[Documentation is needed for this section, information comes from various modern sources] - 1881 is believed to be the last time she left her family, having previously left 4 to 6 times. In 1882 William discovered that his wife was living as a prostitute and discontinued support payment to her. She may have been living with a man named Thomas Dew.

Mary Ann was then in and out of various workhouses:

• 24 Apr 1882 to 18 Jan 1883: Lambeth Workhouse
• 18 Jan 1883 to 20 Jan 1883: Lambeth Infirmary
• 20 Jan 1883 to 24 Mar 1883: Lambeth Workhouse
• 24 Mar 1883 to 21 May 1883: With father in Camberwell - father would later testify she was "a dissolute character and drunkard whom he knew would come to a bad end." They did not get along and she left on her own accord.
• 21 May 1883 to 2 Jun 1883: Lambeth Workhouse
• 2 Jun 1883 to 25 Oct 1887: Possibly living with Thomas Dew, a blacksmith, in Walworth.
• 25 Oct 1887: One day at St Giles Workhouse, Endell ST
• 26 Oct 1887 to 2 Dec 1887: Strand Workhouse, Edmonton
• 2 Dec 1887: [documentation needed] is noted as "sleeping rough" in Trafalgar Square, destitute, was sent to the Lambeth Workhouse
• 2 Dec 1887 to 29 Dec 1887: Lambeth Workhouse
• 29 Dec 1887 to 4 Jan 1888: unknown
• 4 Jan 1888 to 16 Apr 1888: Mitcham Workhouse, Holborn and Holborn Infirmary
• 16 Apr 1888 to 12 May 1888: Lambeth Workhouse
• 12 May 1888 to ?July: domestic at the home of Samuel & Sarah Cowdry, Rose Hill Road, Wandsworth.
• 1 Aug 1888 to 2 Aug 1888: Grays Inn Temporary Workhouse
• Aug 1888: Wilmott's Lodging House, 18 Thrawl St, Spitalfields. Shares a room with 4 other women
• 24 Aug 1888: a room at White House, 56 Flower and Dean Street

The Murder

Discovery

1 Sep 1888, The Morning Post:

• "This latest crime was discovered yesterday morning at a quarter-past four, when Police-constable J. Neil, who was pacing his beat, saw, in Buck's row, Thomas-street, Whitechapel, a woman lying on the pavement close to the door of a stable yard leading to Essex Wharf. Buck's row is a narrow and badly lit passage containing about a dozen houses of a very low class. Neil at once perceived that the woman had been the victim of a brutal murder, for her face was stained with blood and her throat was cut from ear to ear. The constable called up the nearest residents, who stated that they had heard no sound of a scuffle - that in fact the neighborhood had been unusually quiet, and sent for Dr. Llewellyn, who lives in the Whitechapel-road, close by."
• "Finding that life was extinct, although as the extremities were still warm, the woman could not have been long dead, the doctor had the body removed to the mortuary in Whitechapel-road. There, on examination, it was discovered that in addition to the gash in her throat, which had nearly severed the head from the body, the lower part of her body had been ripped up, the opening extending nearly to the breast. On either side were two incised wounds almost as severe as the centre one. The instrument with which the wounds were inflicted must have been not only of the sharpness of a razor, but used with considerable force."

Description of Mary Ann

1 Sep 1888, The Morning Post:

• "The murdered woman is about 45 years of age and 5ft 2in in height. She had a dark complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair, turning grey. At the time of her death she was wearing a brown ulster, fastened with seven large metal buttons with the figure of a horse and a man standing by its side stamped thereon. She had a brown linsey frock and a grey woolen petticoat with flannel underclothing, close-ribbed brown stays, black woolen stockings, sidespring boots, black straw bonnet trimmed with black velvet. The mark "Lambeth Workhouse R.R." was found stamped on the petticoat bands, and a hope is entertained that by this her identity may be discovered."
• "Finding that life was extinct, although as the extremities were still warm, the woman could not have been long dead, the doctor had the body removed to the mortuary in Whitechapel-road. There, on examination, it was discovered that in addition to the gash in her throat, which had nearly severed the head from the body, the lower part of her body had been ripped up, the opening extending nearly to the breast. On either side were two incised wounds almost as severe as the centre one. The instrument with which the wounds were inflicted must have been not only of the sharpness of a razor, but used with considerable force."
• "Dr. Llewellyn says that from the nature of the cuts on the throat it is probable that they were inflicted with the left hand. He adds there is a mark at the point of the jaw on the right side of the woman's face, as though made by a person's thumb, and a similar bruise on the left side as if the woman's head had been pushed back and her throat then cut. There is a gash under the left ear reaching nearly to the centre of the throat, and another cut apparently starting from the right ear. The neck is severed back to the vertebrae, which is also slightly injured. The abdominal wounds are extraordinary for their length and the severity with which they have been inflicted."

Crime Scene

1 Sep 1888, The Morning Post:

• "A general opinion is now entertained that the spot where the body was found was not the scene of the murder. Buck's-row runs through from Thomas-street to Brady-street, and in the latter street what appeared to be blood stains were, early in the morning, found at irregular distances on the footpaths on either side of the street. Occasionally a larger splash was visible, and from the way in which the marks were scattered, it seems as though the person carrying the body had hesitated where to deposit it, and had gone from one side of the road to the other until the obscurity of Buck's-row afforded the shelter sought for. The street had been crossed twice within the space of about 120 yards. The point at which the stains were first visible is in front of the gateway to Honey's-mews, in Brady-street, about 150 yards from the point where Buck's row commences."
• "Several persons living in Brady-street state that early in the morning they heard screams, but this is by no means an uncommon incident in the neighborhood, and, with one exception, nobody seems to have paid any particular attention to them. Mrs. Colwell, however, who lives a short distance from the foot of Buck's-row, says that she was awakened early in the morning by her children, who said some one was trying to get into the house. She listened, and heard a woman screaming "Murder, police," five or six times. The voice faded away as though the woman was going in the direction of Buck's-row, and all was quiet. She only heard the steps of one person. Of course the murdered woman, wounded as she was, would have been unable to traverse the distance from Honey's-mews to the gateway in Buck's-row, which is about 120 yards from Brady-street, making a total distance of at least 170 yards."
• "The assumption, therefore, is that the woman must have been carried or dragged, there. On the other hand it is evident from the small quantity of blood which was on the road at the spot where the body was found, that the wound at the throat could not have been given at that point, yet, with such a gash, it would have been utterly impossible for the victim to cry out in the manner described by Mrs. Colwell. Her statement, therefore, does little to clear up the mystery. The constable, Neil, traversed Buck's-row about three-quarters of an hour before the body was discovered so it must have been deposited there soon after he had patrolled that thoroughfare. Shortly after mid-day some men who were searching the pavement in Buck's-row, above the gateway, found two spots of blood in the roadway. They were some feet away from the gate, and they might have dropped from the hands or clothing of the murderer as he fled. The stable yard and the vicinity have been carefully searched in the hope of finding the weapon with which the crime was committed, but so far without success. A bridge over the Great Eastern Railway is close at hand, and the railway line was also fruitlessly inspected for some distance."
• Inspector Helm, who has charge of the case, is making every effort to trace the murderer, but there is so little to guide the police, that at present there does not seem much likelihood of success. The theory that the murder is the work of a lunatic, who is also the perpetrator of the other two murders of women which have occurred in Whitechapel during the last six months, meets with very general acceptance amongst the inhabitants of the district. The more probably theory is that the murder has been committed by one or more of a gang of men who are in the habit of frequenting the streets at late hours of the night and levying blackmail on women. No money was found upon this woman, and all she had in the pocket of her dress was a handkerchief, a small comb, and a piece of looking-glass."

Identification

• Late last evening the body was identified as that of a married woman named Mary Ann Nichols, who has been living apart from her husband for some years. Her real age is 36, and she has been an inmate of Lambeth Workhouse off and on for the past seven years. She was first admitted to the workhouse, seven years ago, as a patient into the lying-in ward, and from this point seems to have entered upon a downward career. Some few months ago she left the workhouse, after having temporarily sojourned there, to go into domestic service at Wandsworth. She left suddenly under suspicious circumstances, and for the last seven weeks or so seems to have been frequenting the neighborhood of Whitechapel. On the night of the murder she was last seen in the Whitechapel-road at half-past two, and was then under the influence of drink.

Witnesses Testimonies

Brittan, Charles

Worked with Henry Tomkins on the night of the murder. Tomkins and Brittan had left the slaughter-house at about 12 midnight and returned about 1 o'clock, and did not leave again after.

Cross, Charles Allen (Sep 3)

Charles Crass, carman, in the employ of Messrs. Pickford, stated that when he discovered the body on his way to work the clothes were above the knees. From the position of the body he formed the impression that the woman had been outraged. He had left home about 3:30 on the morning of the murder and reached Pickford's about 4 o'clock. As he was walking on the right hand side of Buck's Row, he saw the deceased lying on the opposite side of the road. He stood at the side of the body until a policeman arrived.

Green, Mrs (Sep 3)

[from the testimony of Inspector Spatling]. Mrs. Green, whose rooms overlook the spot, said she heard nothing during the whole of the night, though she was up from three till half past four o'clock.

Helson, Inspector (Sep 3)

Inspector Helson, J Division, described the condition of the deceased clothing, and said there were no cuts on any part of her apparel. There was no cut under the stays. "They stays appeared to him to be under the ordinary size, although there were no cuts in the clothing he believed she had been murdered in her clothes."

Holland, Ellen "Nelly" (Sep 3)

Nelly Holland was the last to see Mary Ann alive. They were lodging together at #18 Thrawl Street, and is positive as to the time being 2.30 am. "I live at 18, Thrawl-street, which is a common lodging house for single women. I have known Mary Ann Nichols for six weeks; she slept in the same bed as I. She has not been in the house for the last eight or 10 days. I saw her about half-past two on the morning she was murdered in the Whitechapel-road. I asked her where she was living, and I think she said Flower and Dean-street. I tried to persuade her to stay with me that night, but she was in drink, and refused. I don't think she was a fast woman. I have seen her the worse for drink once or twice. I never saw her have any trouble; she always kept herself to herself, as if she was melancholy. I believe that she had been living in Boundary-street since she left my house.

Maizen, G. (Sep 3)

Police-Constable G. Maizen, 55H: "On Friday morning last, at 20 minutes past four, I was at the end of Hanbury-street, Baker's row, when some one who was passing said "You're wanted down there" (later identified as Charles Crass who also testified). I went up Buck's-row and saw a policeman shining his light on the pavement. He said, "Go for an ambulance," and I at once went to the station and returned with it. I assisted to remove the body. The blood appeared fresh, and was still running from the neck of the woman. There was another man in company with Cross. I think he was also a carman.

Monk, Mary Ann (Sep 3)

Deposed that she saw the deceased about seven weeks before in a public-house in Kennington Lane. She knew nothing of the deceased's acquaintances.

• Mary Ann: "I know the deceased. I last saw her in a public-house in the New Kent-road.
• Coroner: "Had you ever seen her in the workhouse?
• Mary Ann: "Yes; I saw her six or seven years ago in the Lambeth Union

Nichols, William (Sep 3)

A printer's machinist, husband of Mary Ann Nichols. He last saw her about three years before. He had not heard from her since. He did not know what she had been doing during the last three years. "His wife was addicted to drink, and she had left him on several occasions. He recognized her from a mark on her forehead."

Mumford, James

Was working with Henry Tompkins the night of the murder. Was at the slaughter-house the entire night.

Neil, (Constable)(Sep 4)

"The Constable has been severely questioned as to his "working" of his "beat" on that night, and states that he was last on the spot where he found the body not more than half an hour previously - that is to say at 3.15. The beat is a very short one, and quickly walked over would not occupy more than twelve minutes. He neither heard a cry not saw any one. Moreoever, there are three watchmen on duty at night close to the spot, and none of them heard a cry to cause alarm. It is not true, says Constable Neil, who is a man of nearly twenty years' service, that he was called to the body by two men. He came upon it as he walked, and flashing his lantern to examine it, he was answered by the lights from two other constables at either end of the street. These officers had seen no man leaving the spot, and the mystery is most complete

Spatling, John (inspector) (Sep 3)

Inspector John Spatling of J Division. Deposed that at half-past four o'clock on Friday morning he was in the Hackney-road when he received information of the finding of the body of the woman in Buck's row. He proceeded to spot directly, and there saw Police-constable Thain, who pointed to where the body had been found. He noticed stains of blood and water between the stones. They told him that the body had been removed to the mortuary in Old Montague-street, where they went together. The body at that time was on the ambulance in the yard waiting for the mortuary keeper. While waiting he wrote a description of the body. The mortuary keeper arrived, and the body was placed on the bench. He was about to take a description of the under garments when he discovered the injuries to the abdomen. He at once sent for Dr. Llewellyn. He left the examination to the doctor, who made an examination lasting 10 minutes or a quarter of an hour.

Tomkins, Henry T. (Sep 3)

#12 Coventry St, Bethnal Green, horse slaughterer. Was working in Winthrop-street, adjoining Bucks-row, with two companions, said they heard no suspicious noises during the night, though the gate of the slaughterhouse was open. He went to work at about 9 o'clock the previous night and left at 4 the next morning. "He went to Buck's Row as a police-constable had told him that there had been a murder there. The grates of the yard were open all night, so that anyone could walk into the slaughter house. None of the men left the building between the hours of one and four o'clock. They neither of them heard any unusual noise"

Chronology

• 1845: Mary Ann is born to Edward Walker and Caroline Webb in Lambeth, Surrey
• 1861: Living with her widower father at #19 Harpe Lane, near Fleet Street
• 1864: (Jan) - married to William Nicholas, at St Bride's, Fleet Street
• 1864: (Dec) - 1st son William born, baptized at St. Bride's
• 1865: about this time moved to 131 Trafalgar St, just north east of St. Peters Church with Edward Walker, widow
• 1866 (Aug) - 2nd son born and baptized at St Peter's, Walworth, Surrey
• 1866 (Nov) - 1st son dies at Walworth, Surrey
• 1868: 3rd son Percy is born, baptized at St Peter's, Walworth
• 1870: 1st daughter Alice is born
• 1871: census taken, family all together at 131 Trafalgar St.
• 1872-1876: The family moves to Blackfriars area of London
• 1877: 2nd daughter Eliza is born at Blackfriars, Lambeth
• 1879: 4th son born in the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar); Vol 1d, page 351 at Lambeth
• 1881: Family is at #6 D-block of the Peabody Buildings but without Mary Ann, next door, #5 D Block, is Rosetta Walls with mother Sarah Vidler.
• 1882: She leaves her family and lives in the Lambeth Workhouse until 1883
• 1883: She moved in with her father for a couple of months, but they do not get along and she returns to the Lambeth Workhouse
• 1883: She is believed to have moved in with a Thomas Dew, a blacksmith (documentation needed).
• 1886: Her brother is killed by the explosion of a paraffin lamp, she is noted as respectably dressed at his funeral.

Documentation

Burials

• Nichols, Mary Ann: City of London Cemetery, Whitechapel. "Here Lie the Remains of Mary Ann Nicholls, aged 42 years, buried 6th September 1888, Victim of "Jack the Ripper"
• Nichols, Percy George: Islington and St Pancras Cemetery; son of Mary Ann Nichols
• Nichols, Rosetta: Camberwell Old Cemetery
• Nichols, William: Camberwell Old Cemetery
• Nichols, William Edward Walker: Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park; son of Mary Ann Nichols
• Walker, Caroline Webb: St. Andrew's Churchyard; later removed to the City of London Cemetery. Mother of Mary Ann Nichols
• Walker, Frederick Joseph: St. Andrew's Churchyard; later removed to the City of London Cemetery. Brother of Mary Ann Nichols

Census Records

• 1861 Census, England: Edward Walker (45), with children Edward (17), and Mary Ann (15)
• 1871 Census, England: In the home of Edward Walker (51, widow, blacksmith) - William (30, married, printer, born at Oxford) & wife Mary (25) Nichols with children Edward (5, scholar), Percy (3, scholar), and Alice (7 months) at 131 Trafalgar St, St Peter Walworth.
• 1881 Census, England: William Nichols (38, machine printer, married), with children Edward John Nichols (15, engineer, engine turner), Percy George Nichols (13, printer), Alice Esther Nichols (9), Eliza Sarah Nichols (4), and Henry Alfred Nichols (2). At #5 D Block was "Rosetta Walls", 27, charwoman, living with her widow mother Sarah Vidler. William Nichols and Rosetta Vidler Walls would later marry in Nov 1888, three months after the death of Mary Ann. Both located in the "Peabody Buildings" in the North Marsh of Lambeth; these at Stamford St at Blackfriars Road. The Peabody Buildings were built around London by the Peabody Trust to provide affordable housing for the working class poor.
• 1891 Census, England: William Nichols (50), with wife Rosetta (37), and children Percy G. (22), Alice E. (20), Eliza S (13), Henry A. (12), Arthur (7), and Ethel M. (1)
• 1901 Census, England: William Nichols (61), with wife Rosetta (47), and children Henry A. (21), Arthur (17), Ethel M. (9), and Winifred O. (7)

Newspaper Transcriptions

• 1 Sep 1888 - The Morning Post (London, England) - Another Murder in Whitechapel. Mentions two previous murders that they believed were likely connected, that occurred within the last six months. Likely referring to Martha Tabram (7 Aug) and Emma Smith (3 Apr).
• 2 Sep 1888 - Reynolds Newspaper (London, England) - Barbarous and Mysterious Murder - Horrible Mutilation
• 4 Sep 1888 - The Western Times - additional testimony, Nelly Holland, Constable Neil
• 4 Sep 1888 - The Morning Post - several bits of testimony
• 7 Sep 1888 - Manchester Courier & Lancashire General Advertiser - Funeral of Mary Ann Nichols
• 7 Sep 1888 - The Morning Post - Funeral of Mary Ann Nichols. Mourners are Edward Walker (father) and two of her children (not specified)
• 10 Sep 1888 - The Times - first report of the murder of Annie Chapman, similarity with Mary Ann Nichols is mentioned.

Vital Records

• 1822 Birth/Baptism: Caroline Webb, daughter of Edmund (sawyer) and Mary of Gravel Lane. Born 13 Mar, baptized 23 June at St Saviour, Southwark
• 1840 Marriage: Edward Walker, "smith" (blacksmith), bachelor, son of John Walker, carman; and Caroline Webb, spinster, daughter of Edmund Webb, sawyer. Both of age and both of Oakley Street. Married 17 Feb 1840 at St Mary at Lambeth, Lambeth Road.
• 1845 Birth: "Mary Ann Walker" in the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep). Vol 2, Page 257
• 1852 Burial: Caroline Walker, 32, of Dean Street, buried 5 Dec.
• 1864 (Jan) Marriage: Marriage of William Nichols, bachelor and printer, son of William Nichols, a Herald Printer; and Mary Ann Walker, spinster, daughter of Edward Walker, a blacksmith. Both of St. Bride, married 16 Jan 1864 at St. Bride, Fleet Street, London. Witnessed by Seth George Havelly and Sarah Good
• 1864 (Dec) Birth/Baptism: William Edward Walker Nichols, son of William (printer) and Mary Ann Nichols, born 17 Dec 1864, baptized 8 Jan 1865 at St Bride, Fleet Street, London. Address at 17 Kirby St.
• 1866 Birth/Baptism: Edward John Nicholas, born 9 Aug, baptized 4 Jul - son of William (printer) and Mary Ann of 131 Trafalgar St.
• 1868 Birth/Baptism: Percy George Nichols, born 9 Aug, baptized 10 Jul - son of William (printer) and Mary Ann of 131 Trafalgar St.
• 1874 Marriage: Rosetta Vidler to her first husband Thomas Walls Jr - at St Mary's, Lambeth
• 1883 Baptisms: double baptisms of Henry Alfred Nichols and Arthur Walls Nichols, but listed as sons of William Nichols (printer) and Rosetta Walls of 164 Neate St.
• 1888 Death: Registration of Death for "Mary Ann Nichols" in Whitechapel, the third quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) of 1888. Vol 1c, Page 219
• 1888 Marriage: William Nichols (44, widower, printer), son of William Nichols, deceased, to Rosetta Walls (55, widow), daughter of Thomas Vidler, deceased. On 26 Nov 1888 at St. Stephen's, Walworth.