The first documented case of child abuse

In 1874 at the age of 10 Mary Ellen took the stand and testified about the abuse that she had experienced at the hands of her adoptive mother “Mamma has been in the habit of whipping and beating me almost every day,” the little girl testified.
“I have now on my head two black-and-blue marks which were made by Mamma with the whip, and a cut on the left side of my forehead which was made by a pair of scissors in Mamma’s hand; she struck me with the scissors and cut me.... I never dared speak to anybody, because if I did I would get whipped.”

Mary Ellen Wilson was born into a poor family. After Mr. Wilson's death, Mary Ellen's mother struggled to care for her and also work. Mrs. Wilson made the choice to leave her daughter with another caregiver, this way she was able to work days and nights. Mrs. Wilson made regular payments to the caregiver. But after unemployment and falling deeper into poverty Mrs. Wilson was unable to make those regular payments. The caregiver then took Mary Ellen to the Department for Charities. Shortly after this Ms. Wilson went to pick Mary Ellen up from the caregiver, she was told that Mary Ellen had died. But she was alive and had just turned two at the Department of Charities.

Mary Ellen was adopted by the McCormack family. Shortly after the adoption Mr. McCormack died and Mrs. McCormack remarried to Mr. McConnell.

Mary Ellen was beaten, starved, cut and burned for more than seven years and no one came to help her. Often times neighbors could hear Mary Ellen scream while Mrs. McConnell beat her, sometimes 15 minutes straight. The family moved and more neighbors took notice of the beating. Mrs. Wheeler was sent to investigate the matter further.

Mrs. Wheeler managed to get into the home and see Mary Ellen. She had scares all over her arms and face. Mrs. McConnell was yelling at Mary Ellen.
Mrs. Wheeler horrified about the condition she found this little girl in, stared calling a ton of different agencies asking for help. Although none of them were willing to help. That's when Mrs. Wheeler called the ASPCA, they were willing to help but needed evidence of the abuse. Mrs. Wheeler managed to get the evidence and the case went to court.

In 1874 there weren't any laws to protect children from physical abuse.
Mary Ellen is the first documented case of child abuse, and finally got people talking about the rights of a child

After the hearing Mary Ellen was removed from Mrs. McConnell's care and was eventually adopted again this time to a caring family. She was married at the age of 24. She had two kids of her own and also adopted a little girl, she was a sweet, caring and loving mother. She died in 1956 at the age of 92.

TL;DR Mary Ellen was the first documented child abuse case. The ASPCA was the only agencies that helped her. She was remove from her home, got adopted and lived happily ever after.