Mary Hobry facts for kids

Mary Hobry (sometimes spelled Mary Hobrey or Aubrey) was a midwife in England during the 1600s. She is known for a tragic event involving her husband and the serious legal consequences she faced in her time.

Early Life and Challenges

Mary Hobry was a French Catholic woman who worked as a midwife in London. She married Denis Hobry in 1684. Their marriage was very difficult. Her husband had serious problems and treated her very badly, which caused her great distress. Mary tried to separate from him, but he did not agree. Feeling desperate because of the constant mistreatment, Mary warned her husband that if his behavior didn't change, she "would kill him."

The Incident and Its Aftermath

One night in January 1687, a terrible event occurred involving Mary's husband. Following this incident, Mary was arrested. The authorities identified her husband from what was found. She was brought to trial at the Old Bailey on February 22. Mary admitted to her actions, and the very next day, she was given a severe sentence: she was to be executed by burning.

Public Reaction and Legacy

Mary Hobry's case caused a lot of discussion and shock across England. Her trial and what she said were widely reported in small books called pamphlets, and a song was even made about her story. She was executed on March 2, 1688.

Several writers were interested in her story. Roger L'Estrange wrote a book called A Hellish Murder after speaking with her. Another writer, the poet Elkanah Settle, also shared his view of the event in a piece called An Epilogue to the French Midwife's Tragedy.