The Ratcliffe Highway Murders

On December 7th 1811, the Marr family was massacred inside their own home for what seemed like no reason. Terrified at the lack of an apparent motive, locals tried to convince themselves that a vicious foreigner had sailed into the London docks to kill the family and then fled. The Marrs must’ve had a target on their back and this was an isolated event.

Until two weeks later, when another innocent family met the same fate.

This is the story of the infamous Ratcliffe Highway Murders and who was responsible for horrifically taking 7 lives.

A reward poster for the Marr family’s killer

Newspaper reporting of the Williamson murders

When Jack the Ripper began his killing spree in 1888, many compared his crimes to the Ratcliffe Highway murders

Portrait of John Williams drawn in prison

John Williams body paraded down the street

John Williams body paraded down the street

The ‘whiskers’ style facial hair popular in the 19th century

Location of the Marr house in present day

Sources:

The Maul and the Pear Tree: The Ratcliffe Highway Murders, by T. A. Critchley and P. D. James

What The Devil Knows by C.S Harris

A Very British Murder by Lucy Worsley 

https://www.newspapers.com/image/393197562/?terms=Marr&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/812768590/?terms=Cornelius%20Hart&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/392113840/?terms=Cornelius%20Hart&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/258654945/?terms=Marr&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/396848165/?terms=marr%20sister&match=1

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KVB6-9X4

https://www.newspapers.com/image/393197649/?terms=Marr&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/393197743/?terms=Marr&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/390134343/?terms=Marr&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/389074763/?terms=Marr&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/396848829/?terms=Marr&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/392036642/?terms=Marr%20timothy&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/392113563/?terms=Marr%20seaman&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/392112816/?terms=Marr%20brother%20edward&match=2

http://www.stgitehistory.org.uk/ratcliffhighway.html

https://www.newspapers.com/image/392112890/?terms=williamson%20turner&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/392113563/?terms=williamson%20turner&match=4

https://www.newspapers.com/image/396848451/?terms=Williamson&match=1

The Thames River Police, Forefathers of Modern Policing

https://www.newspapers.com/image/390134738/?terms=Williams%20dead&match=1