Mary Pradd (died November 1876) often known as Old Mary Pradd, sometimes Mary Pratt, was an English woman murdered in The Borough, London in 1876. Pradd was photographed by John Thomson a few weeks before her death and appeared in his 1877 book ''

Street Life in London ''Street Life in London'' was a 1877 book written by Adolphe Smith with photography by John Thomson. The book is considered by some to be the first example of social documentary photography. Production ''Street Life in London'' was a 1877 pu ...

''.

Adult life

Pradd was married to

tinker Tinker or tinkerer is an archaic term for an itinerant tinsmith who mends household utensils. Description ''Tinker'' for metal-worker is attested from the thirteenth century as ''tyckner'' or ''tinkler''. Some travelling groups and Romani p ...

called Lamb and she travelled around with Lamb and along with other men, including Mr Gamble, Edward Roland. Lamb and Pradd had a daughter named Harriet Lamb.Thomson, J., Headingley, A. S. (1877). ''Street life in London. By J. Thomson and Adolphe Smith''. United Kingdom: (pages 1-3, London Nomades chapter) Pradd was socialising with friends in

Battersea Battersea is a large district in south London, part of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is centred southwest of Charing Cross and extends along the south bank of the River Thames. It includes the Battersea Park. History Batter ...

when she was photographed by John Thomson in Kent Street, London, a few weeks before her death. The photograph appeared in his 1877 book ''Street Life in London''. She was known to over-consume alcohol.''Alleged Murder in The Borough'', London Week News, 25 November 1876, UK

Death

Pradd died in November 15 or 16 1876 at the age of 55 years of a haemorrhage from a stab wound that occurred while sharing a room with her friends Gamble and Roland who were fully dressed and asleep at the time of her death. Roland and Gamble were initially suspected of being involved in her death, but a jury found insufficient evidence to find them guilty of any crime. Pradd was found dead on the room's floor, fully dressed, with a three-quarter-inch long laceration to her body.

References

External links

''‘That’s old Mary Pradd, wot was murdered in the Borough’''
History Hack Blog, 2012 {{DEFAULTSORT:Pradd, Mary 1876 deaths Deaths by stabbing in England People from London 1876 murders in the United Kingdom