Mary was born on 22nd February 1870 in Navenby, Lincolnshire as the baptised daughter of Benjamin and Emma Foottit. Mary had five younger siblings named Sarah, Arthur, Florence, Walter and Kate.
By the 1891 census the family were living on 57 Cross Street in Lincoln. Benjamin was working as a bricklayer at the time. The family also lived with a boarder named Benjamin Boldock at that address.
By the 1901 census the family were living at 62 Vernon Street, Lincolnshire. Arthur and Walter were both working as bricklayers alongside their father, whilst their Florence was doing domestic work.
Meanwhile, Mary was working as a lady’s maid to Margaret E Harlech at The Lodge on Wrexham Road in Malpas, Cheshire amongst 5 other maids. Notably Jane Foulkes also worked for Lady Harlech as a House Maid, alongside Elizabeth Rigg (a cook), Sophia Goodwin (a kitchen maid), Thomas Jones (a footman) and Albert E Shipton (a pony boy).
By 1939 Mary was still working as a lady’s maid to Lady Harlech, although here she was working at Lydham Manor in Clun.
Mary later passed away in 1957 in Lincolnshire.