Child Abuse: The 1874 Case Of Mary Ellen Wilson

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The 1874 case of Mary Ellen Wilson (McCormack) was unfortunately the face of child abuse. Her story began the fight against child abuse, and neglect of children in the foster care system. Mary Ellen was orphaned as a baby, and sent to an orphanage on Blackwell Island. Thomas and Mary McCormack then adopted Mary Ellen a few years later; however Thomas died shortly after the adoption and Mary remarried Francis Connolly. After the death of Mary Husband, Mary the adoptive mother took to abusing and beating her adoptive daughter. Although Mary Ellen was apart of the foster care system once she was adopted her case manager no longer check on the case. In 1873 the poorly beaten Mary Ellen attracted attention from her neighbors whom noticed the young

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