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The name Mary was incredibly common at the time, as any family history enthusiast will sadly confirm.
Many Mary's used their middle names to differentiate themselves from other family members with the same name. Middle names like Jane and Ann were the commonest ones used. They still were when I was born, my middle name is Jane and my sister's is Ann.
The name Ann or Annie was also very very common as a forename. As were Elizabeth and Catherine too. Polly was usually a nickname, but again very common indeed.
Until very recently most people's forenames were chosen from a very small pool of traditional names.
So whilst this looks like a pattern it is almost certainly just the sheer ubiquitousness of a handful of names.
The name Mary was incredibly common at the time, as any family history enthusiast will sadly confirm.
Many Mary's used their middle names to differentiate themselves from other family members with the same name. Middle names like Jane and Ann were the commonest ones used. They still were when I was born, my middle name is Jane and my sister's is Ann.
The name Ann or Annie was also very very common as a forename. As were Elizabeth and Catherine too. Polly was usually a nickname, but again very common indeed.
Until very recently most people's forenames were chosen from a very small pool of traditional names.
So whilst this looks like a pattern it is almost certainly just the sheer ubiquitousness of a handful of names.
Yes they are common. Which although would be a nice way to falsify this hypothesis may only add to why such a number where killed so quickly before suddenly stopping.
Mary was the most popular girl's name in England and Wales between 1800 and 1880. All the forenames of the Ripper victims were in the top twelve of female names in 1880.
Charles Goodchild, Private 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards.
Gatekeeper of the Guards hospital in Rochester Row Westminister.
Alleged assault on Emily M'enie, wife of a chemist living at 32 Cologne road Clapham.
She testified she was visiting a friend in Lillington street, between 11 and 12 she was waiting for a cab with her hostess Emily Crane and her servant on the corner of Rochester Row.
Goodchild came by and uttered a very offensive expression, then put his hand under her chin, when this conduct was resented, he pushed a baked potato into her face and knocked her into the roadway.
He went into the hospital a few yards distant, she went there and rang the bell with the object of obtaining his name, whereupon he appeared at the gate, siezed her by the throat, dragged her inside and very roughly handled her.
He then threw her into the street, this last witnessed by PC Pocock 482B who was responding to screams and cries for help.
Emily Crane's evidence contained discrepancies according to the magistrate.
Goodchild's defence was that her conduct was not that of a respectable married woman, she pushed against him and when he brushed her aside she became excited and tore his tunic, she then followed him to the hospital where he ejected her.
He was 'certainly drunk' according to the press report. An officer of the CG testified to his good character and he was bailed pending remand.
(Welsh Newspapers Online)
All the best.
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