In 1837 28-year-old Ann Wycherly lived in a workhouse with her two illegitimate children in Drayton,
England. She was known to have mistreated her oldest daughter Ann who was 3/4-years-old. On December 14, 1837, a James Freeman would see Ann and the two children leaving the workhouse in the early afternoon.
By 6 Ann was exhausted and knocked on the door of Sarah Newbrook asking to rest. Sarah allowed the single mother to do so and noted that she just had an infant with her.
On December 22nd the body of young Ann was found by William Poole, a farm laborer, in a water pit on his employer's land near Chipnal. He went to tell Mr. Butters of the body and the two pulled the young girl out.
An inquest for the girl's identity was done at the Noah pub and William Crutchley, the governor of Drayton, recognized the young girl as young Ann Wycherly. Ann would be confronted and arrested for the murder.
They would show her the body and Ann seemed reluctant to look or touch her daughter. When asked why the girl was murdered Ann said that Charles Gilbert, father of her youngest, persuaded her to. She said Charles helped get the girl into the pit and then threw tiles at her
In March the Assizes would happen. Ann (Mother) would get capital punishment and would be set to hang. When told she was to be executed she told the court that she was with child. An examination was quickly done and it was found she was not pregnant.
There were efforts to obtain reprieve of capital punishment, not because of innocence as she was seen as guilty, but for her feeble mind and being convinced to kill her daughter. The judge who presided the case saw the punishment befitting the crime though.
On May 5, 1838, Ann would be hanged in Stafford. The crowd that came was unusually small, but it's likely because people believed Ann would be reprieved for the murder.
SOURCES:
Capital Punishment UK (list of executions)
Capital Punishment UK (Story of murder and execution)
The Observer March 19, 1838
The Hull Packet; and East Riding Times March 23, 1838
The Standard May 2, 1838
Berrow's Worcester Journal May17 1838
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