Murder of Jane Parkinson

By 1781 Jane Parkinson and Mathew Parkinson were married. She would become pregnant by July and did not want to keep it. It was not stated if Mathew knew of the pregnancy or the reasons for wanting the termination. It was illegal at the time and abortions were sometimes deadly to those who sought it. 

 On July 1st She would go to midwife Margaret Tinkler for an abortion in or near Durham, England. Margaret would only admit to giving advice. Two pieces of wood were trusted into Jane's privates and womb. This would cause deadly punctures for the woman.  Jane being in terrible pain and likely knowing she was dying would tell authorities that it was Margaret who had performed the deadly abortion. Jane would die from her injuries on July 23rd.

Margaret would maintain that she did not perform any abortions. That she only told Jane how to perform one. Margaret would be taken to trial in early August for murder. She would be found guilty at trial and set for execution. She would claim that she was 3 months pregnant to help extend her life. 

On November 20th Margaret was hanged at a place called whitesmocks in Durham. Her body would be autopsied. It was found that she was not pregnant and that she had swallowed two double-wire hair pins in days before her execution. It's believed she did this in an attempt to kill herself. 

SOURCES:
British Executions

Executions Today

Capital Punishment UK

Historical Division by Moses Aaron Richardson Page 270

The Newcastle Weekley Chronicle August 11, 1781

The Newcastle Weekley Chronicle November 24, 1781

The Bath Journal December 1781