Lydia Sherman was born Lydia Danbury on December 24, 1824, in Burlington, New Jersey. She lost her parents at an early age and became an orphan. After her parents' death, she was raised by her uncle, John Claygay, who was a farmer. Growing up without her parents was difficult for Lydia, and she had to adapt to her new life with her uncle.

By the time Lydia turned 16, she was working as a tailor. At the age of 17, she met her first husband, Edward Struck. They met through the Methodist church, which was an important part of their lives. After their marriage, Lydia and Edward moved to New York City, looking for new opportunities.

Lydia Sherman, also known as the Derby Poisoner, was a serial killer who committed her crimes between 1863 and 1877. Her first crime was the poisoning of her husband, Edward Struck, with arsenic in 1864. This happened after he became depressed when he lost his job. She then poisoned three of her young children about six weeks later and poisoned two more children in 1865. In these cases, their death certificates stated they died from "typhoid fever."

In 1868, Lydia married her second husband, a widower named Dennis Hurlburt. She poisoned him with arsenic as well, noticing his declining health. Two years later, in 1870, she married Horatio Sherman. Lydia killed him the following year in May 1871.

Lydia was eventually caught and convicted of second-degree murder in 1872. She was sentenced to life in prison at Wethersfield State Prison in Connecticut. Job-related events occurred during her time in prison. Lydia managed to escape for a short period but was soon recaptured. She died in prison from cancer on May 16, 1878. During her life, she was responsible for the deaths of her three husbands and eight children, six of whom were her own.