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Historical namesakes. I have been searching the "Proceeding's of Old Bailey" website on namesakes for the various Ripper related people, mostly to see how common were the names.
*Mary Nichols, Ann Nichols or Mary Ann Nichols.
**Anne Nichols. Placed on trial for Infanticide in 1712. She was servant to a midwife but never thought of asking her employer for help. She gave birth alone and the employer recognized the evidence afterwards. The child was found in a box. The midwives examining the corpse found no evidence of violence. Nichols was acquitted.
**Mary Nichols.Placed in trial for theft in 1714. She stole a "a Brass Kettle, value 5 s. and other Goods" from the house of Edward Blount. She pawned the goods and then asked payment from the victim to reveal their location. She was sentenced to be "Burnt in the Hand".
**Mary Nichols. Born c. 1685, executed in Newgate in 1715. She used the alias "Trolly Lolly". "She us'd to sell Meat (her Husband being a Butcher) and sometimes Fish, Eggs, Butter, Fruit, & c. about the Streets in London, Southwark, &c. thereby endeavouring to get an honest Livelihood; but thro' her Husband's Unkindness, and her Charge of providing for her small Children as well as for her self, being great, she was reduc'd to extream Poverty, and by that driven to Stealing; which wicked Trade she began 2 Years since, and was burnt in the Hand about Christmas last, as she had been twice before, for several Felonies by her committed. She particularly acknowledg'd her self Guilty of the Crime she now stood condemn'd for. (breaking the House of Mr. Christopher Hurt, and stealing thence a Pair of Flaxen Sheets, and other Goods) I found her very ignorant; yet, I hope, she at last became sensible of the Heinousness of her Sins, so as to repent of them in good earnest."
**Mary Nichols. Mentioned as a common acquaintance of thief Elizabeth and victim Ann Wheeler. Under the pretense of searching for Nichols, Elizabeth stole "one Mug, value 3 l." Elizabeth was placed on trial for "grand larceny" in 1716. She was acquitted because nobody had actually seen her take it.
**Ann Nichols. Placed on trial for "grand larceny" in 1717. She reportedly stole "2 Cloth Coats, value 10 s. 2 Wastcoats, val. 5 s. I new Shoe, val. 2 s" from Walter Hanson. Hanson had lost the clothes but only the shoe was find on Nichols. She claimed to have picked it off the street. She was acquitted.
**Ann Nichols/Ireland. Placed on trial for theft in 1720. She reportedly stole "a Callicoe Gown, a Quilted Petticoat, 2 Holland Shifts, a pair of Shoes and a pair of Clogs, in all to the value of 4 l. 10 s" from the house of George Baddiley. She was a domestic servant within the house and stole the clothes of Baddiley's wife. She was arrested while wearing them a weak later. She was found guilty to the value of 4 s. 10 d and sentenced to "transportation".
**Ann Nichols. Sentence to "transportation" in 1721 for unknown offenses. No other detail of her trial survives.
**Mary Nichols/Weatherly/Towers. Placed on trial for theft in 1722. She and a male lover had reportedly entered the Drinking House of Elizabeth Evans and stolen "a Silver Tankard, value 7 l.". They were acquitted because nobody had actually seen them take it. The fact the Tankard was found hidden under Mary's bed was apparently not enough for the jury to sentence them.
**Ann Nichols. Placed on trial for "grand larceny" in 1727. She was accused of "a pewter Chamber-pot, value 2 s" from Elizabeth Johnson. "She was found guilty to the Value of 10 d". Nichols was sentenced to "transportation".
**Mary Nichols. Witness in the infanticide trial of Mary Bent in 1727. "Mary Nichols , Midwife, depos'd, That she being sent for to the Prisoner the Morning after her Delivery, was a Witness to the finding such Things as in the former Deposition, and that she did believe the Child was Still-born, it not appearing to have been used with Violence, no Marks being to be seen but a small graze on the Head, which, she said, might happen from her Want of Assistance in the Delivery." Bent was acquitted. (I had quite a laugh with the testimony of another witness "Elizabeth Powis depos'd, That the Prisoner had for some Time before this been very importunate with her to come and be her Bedfellow, but she having a Husband could not have the Opportunity, except once when her Husband was out of Town"),
**Ann Nichols. Placed on trial for theft in 1729. She reportedly stole "a Linnen Shirt and other Goods , and found guilty to the Value of 39 s". She was sentened to "transportation".
**Mary Nichols. Witness in the trial of robber Williamson Goodman in 1730. Goodman had reportedly assaulted Henry Thompson and stolen "9 s. 6 d." from him. Goodman had also threatened to sodomize Thompson. "Mary Nichols thus depos'd: I fell Apples at the Door where Mr. Thompson came in, and the Prisoner follow'd him; Mr. Thompson was very much surpriz'd, and said, he was dogg'd by the Prisoner, and wanted a Constable - A Constable, said the Prisoner, and lift up his Hand, and would have struck Mr. Thompson, but he avoided the Blow; then the Prisoner ran away, and Mr. Thompson ask'd for a person to Aid him Home; he said the Prisoner had Robb'd him already, and he did not know what further Designs he had." Goodman was found guilty and sentenced to death.
**Mary and Ann Nichols. Witnesses in the trial of forger John Andrews in 1752. Andrews used a forged acquittance to receive "14 l. 10 s. 10 d." Mary was the mother, Ann the daughter. Elizabeth Nichols, daughter-in-law of Mary and sister-in-law of Ann was an accomplice of Andrews. "Ann Nichols . I live with my mother Mary Nichols . I know the prisoner; I never saw him above four times before: he came once to our house and asked for Elizabeth Nichols (her husband is my brother) she was in bed; he sat down till she got up and came down; they then went up stairs together, but he did not stay long there, and I never saw him after that till I saw him in the Compter. Q. How many names has E. Nichols gone by? Ann Nichols: She never went by any other name than Marks and Nichols. Cross examined.Q. How came you to go to the Compter? Ann Nichols: I heard such a person was taken, and went out of curiosity to see if it was him." Andrews was found guilty and sentenced to death.
**Mary Nichols. She was "branded" in 1752 for unknown offenses. No other details on her trial survive.
**Anne Nichols. Witness in the trial of alleged highwayman Joseph Kettle in 1753. Kettle was accused of robbing John Molye on 4 April at about midnight. "Anne Nichols , wife to the last evidence, confirmed the account given by her husband, with this addition, that she saw the prisoner in bed when she went into the room." Kettle and his wife were lodgers in the Nichols' house. At midnight Anne was to go wash clothes for a Mr. Pratt and arranged for the Kettles to babysit her child. Since she reported Kettle to be in bed at midnight, her testimony resulted in his acquittal.
**Ann Nichols. Witness in the trial of thief Mary Askow in 1754. Askow was accused of stealing "one diaper table cloth, value 7 s. two gold rings, value 15 s. one silver tea spoon, value 1 s. one muslin apron, value 3 s. one linnen handkerchief, value 1 s. one yard of cambrick, value 4 s". This Nichols was a widow. "Ann Nichols. I lost the things mentioned out of my lodgings in Holborn , March 18, there were some of them found again at the pawnbroker's." Askow was found guilty, no information survives on her sentence.
**Mary Nichols. Withness in the trial of thief Lawrence Comings in 1764. He was accused of stealing "eleven silk handkerchiefs, value 4 s" from Margaret Johnson. This Nichols was described as "a little girl". "Mary Nichols . I was taking in the things at the next window to the prosecutrix, and saw the prisoner as he came by take this piece of handkerchiefs out of the side of the window: I called, Stop thief, and the last witness ran and catched him, and brought him and the handkerchiefs back." Comings was found guilty, no details survive on his sentence.
**Mary Nichols. Placed on trial for "grand larceny" in 1771. A spinster accused of stealing "a silver watch, value 30 s. and a linen handkerchief" from Thomas Fidell. She was acquitted though few details survive on her case.
**Mary Nichols. Witness in the trial of thief William Gearing in 1778. Gearing was accused of stealing "seventeen silver table-spoons, value 10 l. twelve silver desert spoons, value 5 l. two silver gravy spoons, value 50 s. a silver marrow spoon, value 8 s. two silver bottle labels, value 4 s. and a pair of steel snuffers, value 2 s." from John Eddison, his former employer. "MARY NICHOLS sworn:I am servant to Mr. Bland; on the Sunday these things were stolen, the prisoner was at our house to dinner; he left the house between four and five in the afternoon." Gearing was found guilty but the case does not mention his sentence.
**Mary Nichols. Placed on trial for "grand larceny" in 1779. She and a female friend reportedly stole "a Bank note, value 10 l." from Robert Spinks. "NICHOLS's DEFENCE.The man picked us up; he was very much in liquor; he dropped the note." They were found not guilty, simply picking the note off the street.
**Ann Nichols. Witness in the trial of thief Elizabeth Trimbeth in 1795. "ANN NICHOLS sworn. I am a sailor's wife, I live in East Smithfield; I have known the prisoner not quite three months, she is a poor misfortunate girl, and did what she could for her living; this young woman has been very honest since I knew her, she lives in Vinegar-yard, just by Well-street. Q. You never heard whether she had in the last three months lived at Stepney Causeway? - Her father and mother lived there. Q. She then lived with her father and mother? - No, she did not." Trimbeth was found guilty, "Imprisoned three months in Newgate and fined 1s."
**Ann Nichols/Wilson. Born c. 1761, placed on trial for grand larceny in 1799. She was a domestic servant who reportedly stole "a cloth cloak, value 9s. a cotton gown, value 3s. a child's cotton frock, value 2s. a muslin shawl, value IS. 6d. and a half silk handkerchief, value 6d" from Patrick Jennings, her employer. "Prisoner:I never had any wages from her, I was not her servant." Jenning's wife explained that Nichols did receive "victuals (food), drink, lodging and clothes" for her services, anything but cash. Nichols was to be "Confined six months in the House of Correction, fined 1s. and discharged".
**Ann Nichols. Witness in the trial of alleged thief Elizabeth Dore in 1803. Dore reportedly stole "a cloak, value 7s. a gown, value 5s. and a handkerchief, value 6d" from Nichols. However Nichols was found to have been using a false identity, her actual name being "Eleanor" and her testimony was underminded. Dore was acquitted.
**Ann Nichols. Witness in the trial of Sarah Armstrong, Sarah Butler and Henry Isaacs in 1812. All three were accused of creating and distributing "base" coins (forgeries). "ANN NICHOLS . I am the wife of John Nicholls . My husband keeps the house No. 60, in Skinner-street. Q. Did the women prisoners lodge with you - A. Yes, they occupied the one pair back room; I let it to them weekly at 2 s. 3 d. a week; the old lady, the mother, paid it always; she paid me in copper; one week she paid me in a eighteenpenny piece. Q. Do you know the prisoner Isaacs - A. Yes; he was in the habit of coming to the other prisoners. He used to come more. Q. How long had they lodged with you - A. Five weeks. Q. On Monday, the 30th of November, do you remember his coming - A. Yes; and when he came there I shut the door, and detained him until Miller came. Q. Before Miller came had Isaacs gone up stairs - A. Yes, he went up stairs and tried whether the one pair stair door was open; that was the door where the prisoners lodged; he tried to get in; it was locked; and while he was gone up I fastened the street door. He threw himself down into the passage and holloaed out murder; he said we were going to murder him. Q. Was there any body to murder him - A. No, there was only two women. He went to the other door in the yard; he jumped over the pales; they caught him outside, a man of the name of Smith, he is not here. Miller took him in custody. Mr. Alley:This man came and courted, which, the old lady or the young one, the young one I should think - A. I do not know. Q. Had this woman any husband living - A. I do not know; I am told he is at sea. Q. Did you speak loud enough for him to hear you - A. I spoke as I do now." ... "Q. to Mrs. Nicolls. You have been there only five weeks - A. No; the prisoners I found there, and they have been lodging there about two years." All three prisoners were sentenced to death.
**Ann Nichols. Witness in the trial of forger Thomas Ricketts Lyon in 1813. Lyon reportedly forged letters of attorney, claiming prize money owed to various men of the Royal Navy. "ANN NICHOLS . Q. Where do you live - A. I live at No. 10, Walbrook-place, City-road. Q. Do you know the prisoner - A. Yes. Q. Did he at any time lodge in your house - A. Yes; he came there on the 26th of May; he remained there seven weeks. I knew him by the name of Thomas Bailey ; that is the name he gave me; that is the name I called him. I never knew him by any other name." Lyon was found to have been an actual serviceman who had "run away" in 1809. He impersonated various of his former comrades in order to pocket the payments and prizes due to them. He was found guilty and executed.
**Ann Nichols. Witness in the trial of thief Thomas Whitfield in 1814. He reportedly stole from her "a pair of stockings, value 1 s. and a handkerchief, value 6 d". "ANN NICHOLS . I am a widow; live at No. 8, May-place, at the bottom of Brook-street, Hampstead-road. I lost my stockings and handkerchief the last day in June; I left them in the watchhouse on the Wednesday night at eleven o'clock." Q. Who took them - A. I believe the prisoner. They broke open the place. They wrenched the post, and broke part of the post away to get the bolt back." Whitfield was found guilty and was "transported" for seven years.
**Ann Nichols. Placed on trial for "grand larceny" in 1815. She reportedly stole "two gowns, value 6 s" from Elizabeth Watts. However only one gown was found on her person and she claimed to have bought it "in Petticoat-lane". Nichols was found not guilty.
**Ann Nichols. Witness in the trial of pickpocket George Wilson in 1824. She was a laundress and Wilson stole "two shirts, value 6 s.; two pair of stockings, value 2 s.; a handkerchief, value 6 d., and an apron, value 6 d" from her. "ANN NICHOLS . I live in the Hampstead-road, and am a laundress . I was going with a child on the 18th of September to take some linen home; the child had the bundle, and was close to me. I was knocking at the door of Mr. Cooke, in Little Russel-street, opposite the church , when the child had the bundle snatched from him which contained Mr. Cooke's things - he ran and cried Stop thief! I did not get sight of the person he was following; but he was stopped, and I saw him at the watch-house: the bundle was picked up and put into my hand before I get to the watch-house; it was the bundle the little boy was carrying for me." Wilson was "transported for life" (exiled).
**Ann Nichols. Witness in the trial of alleged thief Sarah Franklin in 1829. Franklin took "6 sheets, value 2l." from the servants of Jonathan Hayne under the pretext of bringing them to Nichols, Hayne's laundress. She passed for Nichols' daughter and/or assistant. "ANN NICHOLS . I am a laundress, and wash for Mr. Haynes. I do not know the prisoner - she never worked for me; I never sent her for linen - neither the sheets nor basket came to my house." ... "Neither the prisoner nor her sister worked for me; I have seen the sister go up and down the steps of the next house - the sister might know that I washed for Mr. Haynes, from George Ballard , who took my linen out on Saturday night, which was the first time I had sent him there; I never knew any thing amiss of him." Franklin was found not guilty as the servants could not tell her apart from her older sister, making it doubtful which of them was the thief.
**Ann Nichols, testifying against twelve-year-old burglar Thomas Whittard in 1832. On 26, May, Thomas reportedly stole "1 shirt, value 15d" from her house. "ANN NICHOLS . I live in Goldsmith's-row, in the parish of Shoreditch . On Sunday morning (I cannot say whether it was one or two Sundays before Whitsuntide) I missed this shirt, which I had put into a box on Thursday morning - the prisoner lives next door to me; he was in custody early in June at his mother's house, and I heard him say, voluntarily, that he had pawned the shirt at Mr. Harris', Hackney-road - he said he got in at my back window; I cannot say whether that was open or shut."On 2 June, Thomas again entered Nichols' house, stealing "1 gown, value 5s., and 1 pinafore, value 1d." Despite Whittard admitting of stealing and pawning the clothing, he was only fined one shilling before being discharged!
**Mary Ann Nichols. Born c. 1824, placed on trial in 1838 for housebreaking. She and two female friends were accused of breaking and entering the house of Nichols' own mother, stealing "1 ring, value 6s.; 1 sovereign, 7 half-sovereigns, 12 crowns, 24 half-crowns, 200 shillings, and 100 sixpences". "Nichols's Defence. I did not take the box out—it was Mrs. Hayes went into the house, took it into her own place, and brought it in a basket—she broke open the chest—she told me she threw the gold ring over the wall, and said it was a brass one, and a duplicate she threw into the fire—she opened the door with a false key, and kept me locked in the room while she took the things."
**Mary Ann Nichols, a post office assistant in 1870. She testified against a Henry Chapman who was arrested for using "bad" coins (forgeries). "MARY ANN NICHOLS :I am assistant to John Henry Withenden, who keeps a Post Office at Cambridge Street, Pimlico—on 30th April I served the prisoner with 1l. worth of postage stamps, he gave me eight bad half-crowns, I called out but he would not stop—I gave them to Inspector Holmes."
All in all hardly a naming rarity.
*Mary Nichols, Ann Nichols or Mary Ann Nichols.
**Anne Nichols. Placed on trial for Infanticide in 1712. She was servant to a midwife but never thought of asking her employer for help. She gave birth alone and the employer recognized the evidence afterwards. The child was found in a box. The midwives examining the corpse found no evidence of violence. Nichols was acquitted.
**Mary Nichols.Placed in trial for theft in 1714. She stole a "a Brass Kettle, value 5 s. and other Goods" from the house of Edward Blount. She pawned the goods and then asked payment from the victim to reveal their location. She was sentenced to be "Burnt in the Hand".
**Mary Nichols. Born c. 1685, executed in Newgate in 1715. She used the alias "Trolly Lolly". "She us'd to sell Meat (her Husband being a Butcher) and sometimes Fish, Eggs, Butter, Fruit, & c. about the Streets in London, Southwark, &c. thereby endeavouring to get an honest Livelihood; but thro' her Husband's Unkindness, and her Charge of providing for her small Children as well as for her self, being great, she was reduc'd to extream Poverty, and by that driven to Stealing; which wicked Trade she began 2 Years since, and was burnt in the Hand about Christmas last, as she had been twice before, for several Felonies by her committed. She particularly acknowledg'd her self Guilty of the Crime she now stood condemn'd for. (breaking the House of Mr. Christopher Hurt, and stealing thence a Pair of Flaxen Sheets, and other Goods) I found her very ignorant; yet, I hope, she at last became sensible of the Heinousness of her Sins, so as to repent of them in good earnest."
**Mary Nichols. Mentioned as a common acquaintance of thief Elizabeth and victim Ann Wheeler. Under the pretense of searching for Nichols, Elizabeth stole "one Mug, value 3 l." Elizabeth was placed on trial for "grand larceny" in 1716. She was acquitted because nobody had actually seen her take it.
**Ann Nichols. Placed on trial for "grand larceny" in 1717. She reportedly stole "2 Cloth Coats, value 10 s. 2 Wastcoats, val. 5 s. I new Shoe, val. 2 s" from Walter Hanson. Hanson had lost the clothes but only the shoe was find on Nichols. She claimed to have picked it off the street. She was acquitted.
**Ann Nichols/Ireland. Placed on trial for theft in 1720. She reportedly stole "a Callicoe Gown, a Quilted Petticoat, 2 Holland Shifts, a pair of Shoes and a pair of Clogs, in all to the value of 4 l. 10 s" from the house of George Baddiley. She was a domestic servant within the house and stole the clothes of Baddiley's wife. She was arrested while wearing them a weak later. She was found guilty to the value of 4 s. 10 d and sentenced to "transportation".
**Ann Nichols. Sentence to "transportation" in 1721 for unknown offenses. No other detail of her trial survives.
**Mary Nichols/Weatherly/Towers. Placed on trial for theft in 1722. She and a male lover had reportedly entered the Drinking House of Elizabeth Evans and stolen "a Silver Tankard, value 7 l.". They were acquitted because nobody had actually seen them take it. The fact the Tankard was found hidden under Mary's bed was apparently not enough for the jury to sentence them.
**Ann Nichols. Placed on trial for "grand larceny" in 1727. She was accused of "a pewter Chamber-pot, value 2 s" from Elizabeth Johnson. "She was found guilty to the Value of 10 d". Nichols was sentenced to "transportation".
**Mary Nichols. Witness in the infanticide trial of Mary Bent in 1727. "Mary Nichols , Midwife, depos'd, That she being sent for to the Prisoner the Morning after her Delivery, was a Witness to the finding such Things as in the former Deposition, and that she did believe the Child was Still-born, it not appearing to have been used with Violence, no Marks being to be seen but a small graze on the Head, which, she said, might happen from her Want of Assistance in the Delivery." Bent was acquitted. (I had quite a laugh with the testimony of another witness "Elizabeth Powis depos'd, That the Prisoner had for some Time before this been very importunate with her to come and be her Bedfellow, but she having a Husband could not have the Opportunity, except once when her Husband was out of Town"),
**Ann Nichols. Placed on trial for theft in 1729. She reportedly stole "a Linnen Shirt and other Goods , and found guilty to the Value of 39 s". She was sentened to "transportation".
**Mary Nichols. Witness in the trial of robber Williamson Goodman in 1730. Goodman had reportedly assaulted Henry Thompson and stolen "9 s. 6 d." from him. Goodman had also threatened to sodomize Thompson. "Mary Nichols thus depos'd: I fell Apples at the Door where Mr. Thompson came in, and the Prisoner follow'd him; Mr. Thompson was very much surpriz'd, and said, he was dogg'd by the Prisoner, and wanted a Constable - A Constable, said the Prisoner, and lift up his Hand, and would have struck Mr. Thompson, but he avoided the Blow; then the Prisoner ran away, and Mr. Thompson ask'd for a person to Aid him Home; he said the Prisoner had Robb'd him already, and he did not know what further Designs he had." Goodman was found guilty and sentenced to death.
**Mary and Ann Nichols. Witnesses in the trial of forger John Andrews in 1752. Andrews used a forged acquittance to receive "14 l. 10 s. 10 d." Mary was the mother, Ann the daughter. Elizabeth Nichols, daughter-in-law of Mary and sister-in-law of Ann was an accomplice of Andrews. "Ann Nichols . I live with my mother Mary Nichols . I know the prisoner; I never saw him above four times before: he came once to our house and asked for Elizabeth Nichols (her husband is my brother) she was in bed; he sat down till she got up and came down; they then went up stairs together, but he did not stay long there, and I never saw him after that till I saw him in the Compter. Q. How many names has E. Nichols gone by? Ann Nichols: She never went by any other name than Marks and Nichols. Cross examined.Q. How came you to go to the Compter? Ann Nichols: I heard such a person was taken, and went out of curiosity to see if it was him." Andrews was found guilty and sentenced to death.
**Mary Nichols. She was "branded" in 1752 for unknown offenses. No other details on her trial survive.
**Anne Nichols. Witness in the trial of alleged highwayman Joseph Kettle in 1753. Kettle was accused of robbing John Molye on 4 April at about midnight. "Anne Nichols , wife to the last evidence, confirmed the account given by her husband, with this addition, that she saw the prisoner in bed when she went into the room." Kettle and his wife were lodgers in the Nichols' house. At midnight Anne was to go wash clothes for a Mr. Pratt and arranged for the Kettles to babysit her child. Since she reported Kettle to be in bed at midnight, her testimony resulted in his acquittal.
**Ann Nichols. Witness in the trial of thief Mary Askow in 1754. Askow was accused of stealing "one diaper table cloth, value 7 s. two gold rings, value 15 s. one silver tea spoon, value 1 s. one muslin apron, value 3 s. one linnen handkerchief, value 1 s. one yard of cambrick, value 4 s". This Nichols was a widow. "Ann Nichols. I lost the things mentioned out of my lodgings in Holborn , March 18, there were some of them found again at the pawnbroker's." Askow was found guilty, no information survives on her sentence.
**Mary Nichols. Withness in the trial of thief Lawrence Comings in 1764. He was accused of stealing "eleven silk handkerchiefs, value 4 s" from Margaret Johnson. This Nichols was described as "a little girl". "Mary Nichols . I was taking in the things at the next window to the prosecutrix, and saw the prisoner as he came by take this piece of handkerchiefs out of the side of the window: I called, Stop thief, and the last witness ran and catched him, and brought him and the handkerchiefs back." Comings was found guilty, no details survive on his sentence.
**Mary Nichols. Placed on trial for "grand larceny" in 1771. A spinster accused of stealing "a silver watch, value 30 s. and a linen handkerchief" from Thomas Fidell. She was acquitted though few details survive on her case.
**Mary Nichols. Witness in the trial of thief William Gearing in 1778. Gearing was accused of stealing "seventeen silver table-spoons, value 10 l. twelve silver desert spoons, value 5 l. two silver gravy spoons, value 50 s. a silver marrow spoon, value 8 s. two silver bottle labels, value 4 s. and a pair of steel snuffers, value 2 s." from John Eddison, his former employer. "MARY NICHOLS sworn:I am servant to Mr. Bland; on the Sunday these things were stolen, the prisoner was at our house to dinner; he left the house between four and five in the afternoon." Gearing was found guilty but the case does not mention his sentence.
**Mary Nichols. Placed on trial for "grand larceny" in 1779. She and a female friend reportedly stole "a Bank note, value 10 l." from Robert Spinks. "NICHOLS's DEFENCE.The man picked us up; he was very much in liquor; he dropped the note." They were found not guilty, simply picking the note off the street.
**Ann Nichols. Witness in the trial of thief Elizabeth Trimbeth in 1795. "ANN NICHOLS sworn. I am a sailor's wife, I live in East Smithfield; I have known the prisoner not quite three months, she is a poor misfortunate girl, and did what she could for her living; this young woman has been very honest since I knew her, she lives in Vinegar-yard, just by Well-street. Q. You never heard whether she had in the last three months lived at Stepney Causeway? - Her father and mother lived there. Q. She then lived with her father and mother? - No, she did not." Trimbeth was found guilty, "Imprisoned three months in Newgate and fined 1s."
**Ann Nichols/Wilson. Born c. 1761, placed on trial for grand larceny in 1799. She was a domestic servant who reportedly stole "a cloth cloak, value 9s. a cotton gown, value 3s. a child's cotton frock, value 2s. a muslin shawl, value IS. 6d. and a half silk handkerchief, value 6d" from Patrick Jennings, her employer. "Prisoner:I never had any wages from her, I was not her servant." Jenning's wife explained that Nichols did receive "victuals (food), drink, lodging and clothes" for her services, anything but cash. Nichols was to be "Confined six months in the House of Correction, fined 1s. and discharged".
**Ann Nichols. Witness in the trial of alleged thief Elizabeth Dore in 1803. Dore reportedly stole "a cloak, value 7s. a gown, value 5s. and a handkerchief, value 6d" from Nichols. However Nichols was found to have been using a false identity, her actual name being "Eleanor" and her testimony was underminded. Dore was acquitted.
**Ann Nichols. Witness in the trial of Sarah Armstrong, Sarah Butler and Henry Isaacs in 1812. All three were accused of creating and distributing "base" coins (forgeries). "ANN NICHOLS . I am the wife of John Nicholls . My husband keeps the house No. 60, in Skinner-street. Q. Did the women prisoners lodge with you - A. Yes, they occupied the one pair back room; I let it to them weekly at 2 s. 3 d. a week; the old lady, the mother, paid it always; she paid me in copper; one week she paid me in a eighteenpenny piece. Q. Do you know the prisoner Isaacs - A. Yes; he was in the habit of coming to the other prisoners. He used to come more. Q. How long had they lodged with you - A. Five weeks. Q. On Monday, the 30th of November, do you remember his coming - A. Yes; and when he came there I shut the door, and detained him until Miller came. Q. Before Miller came had Isaacs gone up stairs - A. Yes, he went up stairs and tried whether the one pair stair door was open; that was the door where the prisoners lodged; he tried to get in; it was locked; and while he was gone up I fastened the street door. He threw himself down into the passage and holloaed out murder; he said we were going to murder him. Q. Was there any body to murder him - A. No, there was only two women. He went to the other door in the yard; he jumped over the pales; they caught him outside, a man of the name of Smith, he is not here. Miller took him in custody. Mr. Alley:This man came and courted, which, the old lady or the young one, the young one I should think - A. I do not know. Q. Had this woman any husband living - A. I do not know; I am told he is at sea. Q. Did you speak loud enough for him to hear you - A. I spoke as I do now." ... "Q. to Mrs. Nicolls. You have been there only five weeks - A. No; the prisoners I found there, and they have been lodging there about two years." All three prisoners were sentenced to death.
**Ann Nichols. Witness in the trial of forger Thomas Ricketts Lyon in 1813. Lyon reportedly forged letters of attorney, claiming prize money owed to various men of the Royal Navy. "ANN NICHOLS . Q. Where do you live - A. I live at No. 10, Walbrook-place, City-road. Q. Do you know the prisoner - A. Yes. Q. Did he at any time lodge in your house - A. Yes; he came there on the 26th of May; he remained there seven weeks. I knew him by the name of Thomas Bailey ; that is the name he gave me; that is the name I called him. I never knew him by any other name." Lyon was found to have been an actual serviceman who had "run away" in 1809. He impersonated various of his former comrades in order to pocket the payments and prizes due to them. He was found guilty and executed.
**Ann Nichols. Witness in the trial of thief Thomas Whitfield in 1814. He reportedly stole from her "a pair of stockings, value 1 s. and a handkerchief, value 6 d". "ANN NICHOLS . I am a widow; live at No. 8, May-place, at the bottom of Brook-street, Hampstead-road. I lost my stockings and handkerchief the last day in June; I left them in the watchhouse on the Wednesday night at eleven o'clock." Q. Who took them - A. I believe the prisoner. They broke open the place. They wrenched the post, and broke part of the post away to get the bolt back." Whitfield was found guilty and was "transported" for seven years.
**Ann Nichols. Placed on trial for "grand larceny" in 1815. She reportedly stole "two gowns, value 6 s" from Elizabeth Watts. However only one gown was found on her person and she claimed to have bought it "in Petticoat-lane". Nichols was found not guilty.
**Ann Nichols. Witness in the trial of pickpocket George Wilson in 1824. She was a laundress and Wilson stole "two shirts, value 6 s.; two pair of stockings, value 2 s.; a handkerchief, value 6 d., and an apron, value 6 d" from her. "ANN NICHOLS . I live in the Hampstead-road, and am a laundress . I was going with a child on the 18th of September to take some linen home; the child had the bundle, and was close to me. I was knocking at the door of Mr. Cooke, in Little Russel-street, opposite the church , when the child had the bundle snatched from him which contained Mr. Cooke's things - he ran and cried Stop thief! I did not get sight of the person he was following; but he was stopped, and I saw him at the watch-house: the bundle was picked up and put into my hand before I get to the watch-house; it was the bundle the little boy was carrying for me." Wilson was "transported for life" (exiled).
**Ann Nichols. Witness in the trial of alleged thief Sarah Franklin in 1829. Franklin took "6 sheets, value 2l." from the servants of Jonathan Hayne under the pretext of bringing them to Nichols, Hayne's laundress. She passed for Nichols' daughter and/or assistant. "ANN NICHOLS . I am a laundress, and wash for Mr. Haynes. I do not know the prisoner - she never worked for me; I never sent her for linen - neither the sheets nor basket came to my house." ... "Neither the prisoner nor her sister worked for me; I have seen the sister go up and down the steps of the next house - the sister might know that I washed for Mr. Haynes, from George Ballard , who took my linen out on Saturday night, which was the first time I had sent him there; I never knew any thing amiss of him." Franklin was found not guilty as the servants could not tell her apart from her older sister, making it doubtful which of them was the thief.
**Ann Nichols, testifying against twelve-year-old burglar Thomas Whittard in 1832. On 26, May, Thomas reportedly stole "1 shirt, value 15d" from her house. "ANN NICHOLS . I live in Goldsmith's-row, in the parish of Shoreditch . On Sunday morning (I cannot say whether it was one or two Sundays before Whitsuntide) I missed this shirt, which I had put into a box on Thursday morning - the prisoner lives next door to me; he was in custody early in June at his mother's house, and I heard him say, voluntarily, that he had pawned the shirt at Mr. Harris', Hackney-road - he said he got in at my back window; I cannot say whether that was open or shut."On 2 June, Thomas again entered Nichols' house, stealing "1 gown, value 5s., and 1 pinafore, value 1d." Despite Whittard admitting of stealing and pawning the clothing, he was only fined one shilling before being discharged!
**Mary Ann Nichols. Born c. 1824, placed on trial in 1838 for housebreaking. She and two female friends were accused of breaking and entering the house of Nichols' own mother, stealing "1 ring, value 6s.; 1 sovereign, 7 half-sovereigns, 12 crowns, 24 half-crowns, 200 shillings, and 100 sixpences". "Nichols's Defence. I did not take the box out—it was Mrs. Hayes went into the house, took it into her own place, and brought it in a basket—she broke open the chest—she told me she threw the gold ring over the wall, and said it was a brass one, and a duplicate she threw into the fire—she opened the door with a false key, and kept me locked in the room while she took the things."
**Mary Ann Nichols, a post office assistant in 1870. She testified against a Henry Chapman who was arrested for using "bad" coins (forgeries). "MARY ANN NICHOLS :I am assistant to John Henry Withenden, who keeps a Post Office at Cambridge Street, Pimlico—on 30th April I served the prisoner with 1l. worth of postage stamps, he gave me eight bad half-crowns, I called out but he would not stop—I gave them to Inspector Holmes."
All in all hardly a naming rarity.
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