Tag: August 1878

Grantham Journal: Saturday 10th August 1878

Suspected Murder of Children in Birmingham: A case which promises some startling revelations was opened before the Birmingham Stipendiary on Thursday week. Ann Pinsent, a midwife, was charged with concealing the birth of an illegitimate child. It has been known for some time past that Pinsent was in the habit of receiving into her house women whom she attended during confinement. The children so born mysteriously disappeared, being rarely seen by the neighbours beyond a few hours after birth. A few days ago, a party of men excavating in the garden adjoining the prisoner’s house found a box containing the body of an infant. The discovery was duly reported to the authorities and became the subject of much comment among the neighbours. A further search of the garden was made by the police, with the result that the bodies of eleven infants were found. The authorities were not prepared on Thursday to lay evidence before the Court and Pinsent was remanded for a week.

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

Referenced

GROxxxx xxxxx

East Anglian Daily Times: Saturday 10th August 1878

Ann Pinsent, the midwife upon whose premises eleven skeletons of infants were discovered, has been brought before the Birmingham magistrates upon a charge of concealment of birth. The police stated that they had been unable to trace the body of the child in question, and that the other bodies were decomposed beyond identity. The prisoner was discharged but fined 40s and costs for not registering a birth at her house. …

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

Referenced

GROxxxx xxxxx

Worcester Journal: Saturday 10th August 1878

Marriages: Pinsent – Ryland: August 7, at Walmley Church, Richard Alfred Pinsent of Erdington to Laura Proctor, youngest daughter of Thomas Ryland, Esq., The Redlands, Erdington.

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

Referenced

GRO0569 Devonport: Laura Proctor Ryland: 1855 – 1931
GRO0738 Devonport: Richard Alfred Pinsent: 1852 – 1948

Christchurch Times: Saturday 10th August 1878

Wholesale Baby Farming: At the Birmingham Police court, Ann Pinsent, a midwife, living at Nechells, was charged with concealing the birth of is child of an unmarried woman, who had been confined at her home. Mr. Jesse Herbert (instructed by the Town Clerk) prosecuted and explained that since the prisoner was first arrested some extraordinary revelations had been made. The skeletons of no fewer than eleven infants had already been found buried in a garden adjoining the prisoner’s house. (sensation). The learned counsel added that the body of the child in question had not yet been traced, but it was known to have been born alive, and to have been seen alive some hours afterward. On the following day the child was alleged by the prisoner to have died from convulsions. The prisoner was remanded for a week.

[and other papers]

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

Referenced

GROxxxx xxxxx

London Daily Chronicle: Saturday 10th August 1878

Marriage: Pinsent – Ryland: On the 7th Aug. at Walmley Church, by the Rev. Wm. Flory, brother in law of the bride, Richard Alfred Pinsent of Erdington, to Laura Proctor, daughter of Mr. Thomas Ryland of Erdington.

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

Referenced

GRO0569 Devonport: Laura Proctor Ryland: 1855 – 1931
GRO0738 Devonport: Richard Alfred Pinsent: 1852 – 1948

Gorey Correspondent: Saturday 10th August 1878

Wholesale Bay Farming: At the Birmingham Police court, Ann Pinsent, a midwife, living at Nochells, was charged with concealing the birth of a child of an unmarried woman, who had been confined at her house. Mr. Jesse Herbert (instructed by the Town Clerk) prosecuted and explained that since the prisoner was first arrested some extraordinary revelations had been made. The skeletons of no fewer than eleven infants had already been found buried in a garden adjoining the prisoner’s house. (Sensation.) The learned counsel added that the body of the child in question had not yet been traced, but it was known to have been born alive, and to have been seen alive some hours afterward. On the following day the child was alleged by the prisoner to have died from convulsions. The prisoner was remanded for a week.

[Northern Weekly Gazette: Saturday 3rd August 1878 & similar Liverpool Weekly Gazette: Saturday 3rd August 1878]
[see similar: Darlington & Richmond Herald: Saturday 3rd August 1878 & Sydenham Times: Tuesday 6th August 1878].

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

Referenced

GROxxxx xxxxx

Campbeltown Courier: Saturday 10th August 1878

Wholesale Baby Farming: At the Birmingham Police court, Ann Pinsent, a midwife, living at Nechells, was charged with concealing the birth of a child of an unmarried woman, who had been confined at her house … continues …

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

Referenced

GROxxxx xxxxx

London Daily Chronicle: Saturday 10th August 1878

Marriage: Pinsent – Ryland: on the 7th Aug. At Walmley Church by the Rev. W. Flory (brother-in-law of the bride), Richard Alfred Pinsent of Erdington, to Laura Proctor, daughter of Mr. Thomas Ryland of Erdington.

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

Referenced

GRO0569 Devonport: Laura Proctor Ryland: 1855 – 1931
GRO0738 Devonport: Richard Alfred Pinsent: 1852 – 1948

Mansfield Reporter: Friday 9th August 1878

WHOLESALE BABY FARMING: STARTLING REVELATIONS: At the Birmingham Police Court, last week, Ann Pinsent, a midwife, living at Nechells, Birmingham, was charged with concealing the birth of a child of a single woman named Reader. Mr. Jesse Herbert (instructed by the Town Clerk) appeared for the prosecution and explained that the police had had considerable difficulty in the case, owing to the child not having as yet been traced. The evidence of the mother, however, would show that she was confined at the prisoner’s house on the 15th of January, that the child was born alive, and that the lady was on the following day sent away by the prisoner, who represented that death had ensued from convulsions. Since the prisoner was first arrested, the learned counsel added, the skeletons of no fewer than eleven infants had been found buried in a garden adjoining the prisoner’s house. Evidence having been given as to the child being born alive, the prisoner was, on the application of the police, further remanded for a week. According to a statement of Detective Sergeant Mountford, young women have been in the habit of being confined at the prisoner’s house, and no one can tell what has become of the children.

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

Referenced

GROxxxx xxxxx

Bradford Daily Telegram: Friday 9th August 1878

Birmingham: THE DISCOVERY OF SKELETONS AT BIRMINGHAM. Ann Pinsent, the midwife upon whose premises 11 skeletons were recently discovered, was brought before the Birmingham magistrates yesterday on a charge of concealment of birth. The police stated that they had been able to trace the body of the child in question, but that the other bodies were decomposed beyond identity. The prisoner was discharged with respect to the more serious accusation, but fined 40s and costs for registering a birth at her house.

[see similar Manchester Evening News: Thursday 8th August 1878 & Lakes Chronicle and Reporter: Saturday 10th August 1878]

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

Referenced

GROxxxx xxxxx