Vanessa Richardson

Still, when John asked her about the furniture, Mary explained that she'd owed money to someone and she had no choice. Selling their belongings was just the quickest way to pay off the debt, she said. The incident with his father likely put a strain on their marriage, but John apparently remained true to his wedding vows.

Still, when John asked her about the furniture, Mary explained that she'd owed money to someone and she had no choice. Selling their belongings was just the quickest way to pay off the debt, she said. The incident with his father likely put a strain on their marriage, but John apparently remained true to his wedding vows.

He stayed with Mary despite her faults, perhaps believing that she'd see the error of her ways and do better. He had no idea that Mary's long list of deceitful acts was only going to grow, and all it took was a small spark. On February 13th, 1796, a fire started at a flax mill in an industrial district on the edge of Leeds. Firefighting teams showed up, but there wasn't much they could do.

He stayed with Mary despite her faults, perhaps believing that she'd see the error of her ways and do better. He had no idea that Mary's long list of deceitful acts was only going to grow, and all it took was a small spark. On February 13th, 1796, a fire started at a flax mill in an industrial district on the edge of Leeds. Firefighting teams showed up, but there wasn't much they could do.

10 people died in the blaze, and still more were injured and had to be rushed to nearby hospitals. After the tragedy, locals hurried to support those affected. They saw an opportunity to help their neighbors, but 28-year-old Mary saw an opportunity to make a profit. Pretending to be a charitable volunteer, Mary went to the doors of aristocrats, asking them to donate bedsheets to lay the dead upon.

10 people died in the blaze, and still more were injured and had to be rushed to nearby hospitals. After the tragedy, locals hurried to support those affected. They saw an opportunity to help their neighbors, but 28-year-old Mary saw an opportunity to make a profit. Pretending to be a charitable volunteer, Mary went to the doors of aristocrats, asking them to donate bedsheets to lay the dead upon.

She also pretended to be a nurse and asked for fine linens, claiming they'd be supplied to the wounded who were stuck in the infirmary. Once she had the linens, Mary took the fabrics to a local pawn shop, where she sold them for a tidy sum. No one ever noticed what she did. They only remembered her selfless efforts to collect the sheets.

She also pretended to be a nurse and asked for fine linens, claiming they'd be supplied to the wounded who were stuck in the infirmary. Once she had the linens, Mary took the fabrics to a local pawn shop, where she sold them for a tidy sum. No one ever noticed what she did. They only remembered her selfless efforts to collect the sheets.

So whenever people thanked her for her service, Mary acted as though she was genuinely devoted to the cause. Still, not everyone ignored Mary's cons. People definitely talked, and she faced her share of derision over the years. Eventually, it got to be too much for John. His wife had sullied their name with her schemes.

So whenever people thanked her for her service, Mary acted as though she was genuinely devoted to the cause. Still, not everyone ignored Mary's cons. People definitely talked, and she faced her share of derision over the years. Eventually, it got to be too much for John. His wife had sullied their name with her schemes.

When it was just the two of them, he might have put up with it, but they'd had two children recently, and he wouldn't have wanted them saddled with Mary's baggage.

When it was just the two of them, he might have put up with it, but they'd had two children recently, and he wouldn't have wanted them saddled with Mary's baggage.

so perhaps seeking to leave behind mary's burned bridges john made an executive decision in 1796 he enlisted in the armed forces specifically he joined the supplementary militia which aimed to protect england from various threats mary had little choice but to follow john and stay in military quarters

so perhaps seeking to leave behind mary's burned bridges john made an executive decision in 1796 he enlisted in the armed forces specifically he joined the supplementary militia which aimed to protect england from various threats mary had little choice but to follow john and stay in military quarters

While there, she might have dabbled in witchcraft and fortune-telling to make a little extra money, but it's also likely she kept herself busy raising their children. Caring for the kids would have consumed much of Mary's time while John was with the military, but before she knew it, John was ready to return to Leeds.

While there, she might have dabbled in witchcraft and fortune-telling to make a little extra money, but it's also likely she kept herself busy raising their children. Caring for the kids would have consumed much of Mary's time while John was with the military, but before she knew it, John was ready to return to Leeds.

In 1799, he left the militia and moved 31-year-old Mary and their two children back to the city. Maybe John thought that enough time had passed for his wife's reputation to recover. Maybe people had forgotten about Mary's schemes and cons. But it wasn't to be. As soon as she got back to her old haunts, Mary conjured up her old business. It started small.

In 1799, he left the militia and moved 31-year-old Mary and their two children back to the city. Maybe John thought that enough time had passed for his wife's reputation to recover. Maybe people had forgotten about Mary's schemes and cons. But it wasn't to be. As soon as she got back to her old haunts, Mary conjured up her old business. It started small.

She prepared love spells, sold trinkets, and told fortunes for eager customers. She also advertised herself as a professional agent for screw-er-down charms. Mary explained the term like this. In a world where people lurked around every corner, wishing to do harm to others, Mary had access to someone who could screw them down with a magic spell.

She prepared love spells, sold trinkets, and told fortunes for eager customers. She also advertised herself as a professional agent for screw-er-down charms. Mary explained the term like this. In a world where people lurked around every corner, wishing to do harm to others, Mary had access to someone who could screw them down with a magic spell.