Mary Ann was the widow of Stephen Webster who died in 1853. After his death she took in washing and sold alcohol to support herself and her young son John. She remarried to a man named Beard but he left her after a week, taking her $300 in savings with him.
By late May or early June of 1858 she was living with a man named Stephen Edwards in her home in Douglas Flat, CA. Edwards beat her up and kicked her in the stomach because she called him a "D****d Welsh S** of a B****" and he would not stand for it because his mother was a good woman.
Mary Ann, who was pregnant with twins, miscarried. Her son went to neighbors for help and they attempted to get a doctor with no luck although one doctor did send medication. Various neighbors were called to the coroner's inquest as witnesses after Mary Ann died about 4PM on July 1, 1858. They testified to the black eyes and bruises she had and that she had told them about the miscarriage. She also told two neighbors about cash she had hidden and asked them to take the money if she died, and use it for the care of her son. Mary Ann died at least 4-6 weeks after the "difficulty" which is how the inquest spoke of the beating.
The date on her grave marker appears to have 1854 as the year but she definitely died July 1, 1858. The marker was not installed until her son died in 1909 so poor memory probably caused the error in the death date.
By late May or early June of 1858 she was living with a man named Stephen Edwards in her home in Douglas Flat, CA. Edwards beat her up and kicked her in the stomach because she called him a "D****d Welsh S** of a B****" and he would not stand for it because his mother was a good woman.
Mary Ann, who was pregnant with twins, miscarried. Her son went to neighbors for help and they attempted to get a doctor with no luck although one doctor did send medication. Various neighbors were called to the coroner's inquest as witnesses after Mary Ann died about 4PM on July 1, 1858. They testified to the black eyes and bruises she had and that she had told them about the miscarriage. She also told two neighbors about cash she had hidden and asked them to take the money if she died, and use it for the care of her son. Mary Ann died at least 4-6 weeks after the "difficulty" which is how the inquest spoke of the beating.
The date on her grave marker appears to have 1854 as the year but she definitely died July 1, 1858. The marker was not installed until her son died in 1909 so poor memory probably caused the error in the death date.
Mary Ann was the widow of Stephen Webster who died in 1853. After his death she took in washing and sold alcohol to support herself and her young son John. She remarried to a man named Beard but he left her after a week, taking her $300 in savings with him.
By late May or early June of 1858 she was living with a man named Stephen Edwards in her home in Douglas Flat, CA. Edwards beat her up and kicked her in the stomach because she called him a "D****d Welsh S** of a B****" and he would not stand for it because his mother was a good woman.
Mary Ann, who was pregnant with twins, miscarried. Her son went to neighbors for help and they attempted to get a doctor with no luck although one doctor did send medication. Various neighbors were called to the coroner's inquest as witnesses after Mary Ann died about 4PM on July 1, 1858. They testified to the black eyes and bruises she had and that she had told them about the miscarriage. She also told two neighbors about cash she had hidden and asked them to take the money if she died, and use it for the care of her son. Mary Ann died at least 4-6 weeks after the "difficulty" which is how the inquest spoke of the beating.
The date on her grave marker appears to have 1854 as the year but she definitely died July 1, 1858. The marker was not installed until her son died in 1909 so poor memory probably caused the error in the death date.
By late May or early June of 1858 she was living with a man named Stephen Edwards in her home in Douglas Flat, CA. Edwards beat her up and kicked her in the stomach because she called him a "D****d Welsh S** of a B****" and he would not stand for it because his mother was a good woman.
Mary Ann, who was pregnant with twins, miscarried. Her son went to neighbors for help and they attempted to get a doctor with no luck although one doctor did send medication. Various neighbors were called to the coroner's inquest as witnesses after Mary Ann died about 4PM on July 1, 1858. They testified to the black eyes and bruises she had and that she had told them about the miscarriage. She also told two neighbors about cash she had hidden and asked them to take the money if she died, and use it for the care of her son. Mary Ann died at least 4-6 weeks after the "difficulty" which is how the inquest spoke of the beating.
The date on her grave marker appears to have 1854 as the year but she definitely died July 1, 1858. The marker was not installed until her son died in 1909 so poor memory probably caused the error in the death date.
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