Vanessa Richardson

It was a repeat play out of the shoe incident from years earlier, only the stakes were far higher. After several years, it's possible that her thieving ways became so bad that the family fired Mary. So she went to another family, then another after that. Each time she was supposedly dismissed for the same reasons. She was a liar and a thief.

It was a repeat play out of the shoe incident from years earlier, only the stakes were far higher. After several years, it's possible that her thieving ways became so bad that the family fired Mary. So she went to another family, then another after that. Each time she was supposedly dismissed for the same reasons. She was a liar and a thief.

In 1787, 19-year-old Mary found one final job as a maid. But perhaps when she was caught stealing from her mistress, she was fired again. And this time, she was forced to leave without packing, which meant she had no money and no clothes. The dead end marked a turning point for Mary. While she didn't enjoy working as a maid, it had at least been a living.

In 1787, 19-year-old Mary found one final job as a maid. But perhaps when she was caught stealing from her mistress, she was fired again. And this time, she was forced to leave without packing, which meant she had no money and no clothes. The dead end marked a turning point for Mary. While she didn't enjoy working as a maid, it had at least been a living.

Now, without recommendations from past employers, she needed to find a new job, something in a field where she hadn't blackened her name. So in 1788, 20-year-old Mary moved yet again, this time to Leeds, a town about 40 miles southwest of Thirsk. Similar to the Topley Fair she'd loved in her childhood, there was a sense of boisterous freedom to Leeds' growing metropolis.

Now, without recommendations from past employers, she needed to find a new job, something in a field where she hadn't blackened her name. So in 1788, 20-year-old Mary moved yet again, this time to Leeds, a town about 40 miles southwest of Thirsk. Similar to the Topley Fair she'd loved in her childhood, there was a sense of boisterous freedom to Leeds' growing metropolis.

What's more, a reputation would take far longer to tarnish in such a big town. That idea might have occurred to Mary as she desperately searched for a job. Luckily, she found one when one of her mother's friends referred her to a seamstress who specialized in making mantuas, a kind of fashionable overgown.

What's more, a reputation would take far longer to tarnish in such a big town. That idea might have occurred to Mary as she desperately searched for a job. Luckily, she found one when one of her mother's friends referred her to a seamstress who specialized in making mantuas, a kind of fashionable overgown.

Mary likely learned how to sew in early childhood, but now at 20, she finally had the opportunity to put that skill to use. Recognizing it was her way out of a life of servantry, Mary treated the new gig with more respect and diligence than she showed in her old jobs. At least, it certainly seems that way, because as far as we can tell, Mary was never caught stealing from this boss.

Mary likely learned how to sew in early childhood, but now at 20, she finally had the opportunity to put that skill to use. Recognizing it was her way out of a life of servantry, Mary treated the new gig with more respect and diligence than she showed in her old jobs. At least, it certainly seems that way, because as far as we can tell, Mary was never caught stealing from this boss.

Though that might be because she decided her deceptive smarts were better applied elsewhere. Not long after she started her new job, Mary took up a side hustle, telling fortunes for servant girls who came into the shop. Twenty-year-old Mary copied the fortune-tellers she'd watched during childhood, spinning eccentric stories to convince gullible maids that she had special abilities.

Though that might be because she decided her deceptive smarts were better applied elsewhere. Not long after she started her new job, Mary took up a side hustle, telling fortunes for servant girls who came into the shop. Twenty-year-old Mary copied the fortune-tellers she'd watched during childhood, spinning eccentric stories to convince gullible maids that she had special abilities.

In turn, the young women gushed about Mary to their wealthy mistresses, who came to witness the magic for themselves. Doing this, Mary learned how to best exploit the fears and biases of others in her favor. She liked to tell some of her clients that someone in town had placed an evil wish upon them. Then she promised that she could remove the curse for a price.

In turn, the young women gushed about Mary to their wealthy mistresses, who came to witness the magic for themselves. Doing this, Mary learned how to best exploit the fears and biases of others in her favor. She liked to tell some of her clients that someone in town had placed an evil wish upon them. Then she promised that she could remove the curse for a price.

Eager to rid themselves of any dark magic, Mary's clients usually paid up. For other seekers, Mary relied on old wives' tales to peddle magical advice. For example, she might tell a woman who wanted to get pregnant that she should rock an empty cradle to make her wish come true.

Eager to rid themselves of any dark magic, Mary's clients usually paid up. For other seekers, Mary relied on old wives' tales to peddle magical advice. For example, she might tell a woman who wanted to get pregnant that she should rock an empty cradle to make her wish come true.

These kinds of superstitions had floated about England for centuries, and now they provided a reliable way for Mary to convince others of her mystical powers. So in this way, Mary spent her first few years in Leeds perfecting her cons. The result was that by late 1792, the 24-year-old enjoyed a good reputation as a witch.

These kinds of superstitions had floated about England for centuries, and now they provided a reliable way for Mary to convince others of her mystical powers. So in this way, Mary spent her first few years in Leeds perfecting her cons. The result was that by late 1792, the 24-year-old enjoyed a good reputation as a witch.

However, the nature of her cons shifted slightly when she met John Bateman, a well-mannered wheelwright, in early 1793. Though Mary's witchcraft side hustle was certainly controversial, John didn't seem to mind. Either that, or he didn't know about it. So the two hit it off rather quickly. After only three weeks of courtship, the couple married in February of 1793.

However, the nature of her cons shifted slightly when she met John Bateman, a well-mannered wheelwright, in early 1793. Though Mary's witchcraft side hustle was certainly controversial, John didn't seem to mind. Either that, or he didn't know about it. So the two hit it off rather quickly. After only three weeks of courtship, the couple married in February of 1793.