If you’ve ever heard the British phrase “sweet Fanny Adams” and wondered where it comes from, this YouTube video from Well, I Never takes you through the tragic murder that rocked a small UK village over a century ago and led to the creation of the phrase.
Fanny Adams was born in the 1850s in a large family of five siblings in the small town of Alton in Hampshire, United Kingdom. Today, Alton has a population of around 18,000 people, so during that time period, it was even smaller, and it’s very likely that everyone pretty well knew one another.
Fanny was often found playing in fields and meadows around town with her friends. She was described by friends and family as an intelligent young girl who possessed a happy demeanor.
In the late summer of 1867, Fanny was a carefree 8-year-old playing outside with her best friend and neighbor Minnie along with her 5-year-old sister, Lizzy. The three had been playing in the family’s garden for much of the morning, but when they wanted a change of scenery, Fanny asked her mother if they could go and play in the nearby Flood Meadow.
When Fanny’s mom agreed, the girls made their way to Flood Meadow and were soon met by a man in a dark waistcoat and tall hat. His name was Frederick Baker, and he had been in town for only two months, but the girls knew him from church.
In a rather odd request, Frederick asked Fanny if she would accompany him on a walk to the next town, Sheldon. When Fanny refused, Frederick used his size and strength to his advantage, picked her up and soon disappeared into the nearby hops fields, leaving Minnie and Lizzy behind in disbelief.
To learn how Fanny’s body was later discovered and what happened to her killer, watch the video in full.
