Money For The Baby.

 On 1st August 1763 Margaret Middleton was hanged at Durham Prison for the murder of a girl. Margaret was employed by the City Of Durham to transport and accompany a child from poverty to Northallerton. She was to stay a couple of days until the child was settled with a family and then return. 

Margaret received the money before setting off for the journey, sadly a few miles out of the city the child was drowned in a streamlet called The Browney near St Oswald's Church. This occurence was not unusual as City officials often paid people to accompany minors to foster families. However, often it was deemed a better idea by the person being paid, to get rid of the child and go and spend the money. The girl's body was found and officials had Margaret arrested.