Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Tranmere Baby Farmers

How they got away without hanging, God Knows.

https://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/tranmerebabyfarmers.html

Prior to the 1926 Adoption Act, the only agreement needed was between the parent of the baby and those who were willing to take care of and take the baby on.
Baby Farming was prevalent throughout the country and over many years.

One example is that of Baby Farmers John and Martha Ann Saville of 30 Seaview, New Ferry.

Margaret Clarke placed an add in a Liverpool paper, basically for someone to take the baby off her hands and was willing to pay £5 towards the cost.

Martha Ann Saville took up the offer and later the baby known as Maggie was found to be emaciated and close to death, she was 15 months old.

A witness at the trial who lodged at the Saville home noticed the baby going smaller and smaller and Martha Ann Saville constantly slapped the baby across the face when crying to shut her up.

The Doctor who was called stated the baby had no chance of survival and sent her to Clatterbridge Workhouse were she died.

Correction, expected to die.

Should have been murder not manslaughter.

Absolutely the Barnes should have been found guilty of murder.

It appears baby Maggie survived, the court case in February 1880, Martha Ann Denton (Saville) was charged with Bigamy, being already married to a George Denton when marrying Saville.

She pleaded guilty to Bigamy and guilty to unlawfully neglecting to provide for a child.

She received 6 months hard labour and 12 months without hard labour.

Here's me thinking sentences were strict in them days.