Margaret Waters, otherwise known as Willis, was an English murderer hanged by

executioner An executioner, also known as a hangman or headsman, is an official who executes a sentence of capital punishment on a legally condemned person. Scope and job The executioner was usually presented with a warrant authorising or order ...

William Calcraft William Calcraft (11 October 1800 – 13 December 1879) was a 19th-century English hangman, one of the most prolific of British executioners. It is estimated in his 45-year career he carried out 450 executions. A cobbler by trade, Ca ...

on 11 October 1870 at

Horsemonger Lane Gaol Horsemonger Lane Gaol (also known as the Surrey County Gaol or the New Gaol) was a prison close to present-day Newington Causeway in Southwark, south London. Built at the end of the 18th century, it was in use until 1878. History The gaol was b ...

(also known as Surrey County Gaol) in London. Waters was born in 1835 and lived in Brixton. She was known for

baby farming Baby farming is the historical practice of accepting custody of an infant or child in exchange for payment in late- Victorian Britain and, less commonly, in Australia and the United States. If the infant was young, this usually included wet-nu ...

, the practice of taking in other women's children for money, a practice which often resulted in infanticide. Waters drugged and starved the infants in her care and is believed to have killed at least 19 children. Charged with five counts of wilful murder as well as neglect and conspiracy, Waters was convicted of murdering an infant named John Walter Cowen. Her sister, Sarah Ellis, was convicted in the same case for obtaining money under false pretences and sentenced to eighteen months' hard labour.

References

* 1835 births 1870 deaths 1870 murders in the United Kingdom 1870s murders in London 19th-century executions by England and Wales Baby farming English murderers of children English people convicted of murder Executed English women Executed people from London Infanticide People convicted of murder by England and Wales People executed for murder People from Brixton Suspected serial killers {{England-crime-bio-stub

See also

References