Miss Mary Kelly

Who was Mary Kelly?

Mary Kelly was a 22 (twenty-two) year old Irish passenger who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born on March 9, 1890, in Dernagaragh, Castlepollard, Co Westmeath, Ireland, she embarked on a journey that would change her life forever.

Early Life and Background

Family and Upbringing

Mary Kelly came from a large Roman Catholic family in rural Ireland. Her parents were:

• Father: Lawrence Kelly (b. 1855), a farmer
• Mother: Mary McKeon (b. 1862)

Mary was the eldest daughter among eight children:

1. James (b. April 28, 1888)
2. Mary (b. March 9, 1890)
3. Kate (b. March 16, 1892)
4. Anne (b. January 14, 1894)
5. James “John” (b. March 18, 1895)
6. Edward (b. April 6, 1897)
7. Bridget (b. October 15, 1899)
8. Margaret (b. April 20, 1902)

Tragedy Strikes

On November 16, 1901, tragedy struck the Kelly family when Mary’s father died from tuberculosis at the age of 46.

This loss had a profound impact on the family, with Mary’s mother pregnant with her youngest child at the time. Sadly, Margaret, born six months after her father’s death, apparently died shortly after birth.

Life Before Titanic

Prior to her fateful journey, Mary worked as a domestic servant in Castlepollard. She harbored dreams of finding employment with wealthy families in New York, hoping for better opportunities across the Atlantic.

Titanic Journey

Embarking on a New Life

Mary Kelly boarded the Titanic as a third-class passenger in Queenstown, Co Cork on April 11, 1912. Her ticket (number 14312) cost £7 15s, a significant sum for a young woman of her background.

Companions on Board

During the voyage, Mary shared a cabin with two other young women from Cork:

• Annie Jane Jermyn
• Bridget Driscoll

This camaraderie would prove crucial in the hours to come.

What Happened on the Night of the Disaster?

On the fateful night of April 14-15, 1912, Mary and her cabin mates found themselves in a fight for survival. They managed to make their way to the upper decks and eventually to the forward boat deck. There, they were fortunate enough to secure places in a lifeboat, though the exact number remains uncertain.

An Act of Compassion

While afloat in the lifeboat, Mary demonstrated remarkable compassion. She helped look after two young French boys, Edmond and Michel Navratil, whose father had placed them in the lifeboat before stepping back and perishing with the ship.

Life After Titanic

A New Beginning in America

Mary eventually reached New York, where she was reunited with her fiancé, John Heslin. The couple married around 1913 and settled in Brooklyn, starting a new chapter in their lives.

Family Life

Mary and John had six children:

1. Howard Vincent (b. December 18, 1914)
2. Maureen (b. March 4, 1921)
3. Margaret (b. May 7, 1922)
4. Jacqueline Elizabeth (b. September 29, 1923)
5. John Lawrence (b. June 25, 1927)
6. James William (b. April 28, 1930)

Residences and Occupations

The family’s journey in America saw them living in various locations:

Did Mary Ever Return to Ireland?

While Mary remained in Brooklyn for most of her life, she did cross the Atlantic again. In 1919, she and her son visited her sister Anne in London. It’s possible she also made a trip to Ireland in later years, though details are uncertain.

Legacy and Final Years

Mary Kelly Heslin passed away at her home in Brooklyn on December 27, 1950, at the age of 60 (sixty). She was laid to rest in Holy Cross Cemetery. Her husband, John, followed her in death less than a year later, on July 1, 1951.

Mary’s survival of the Titanic disaster and her subsequent life in America stand as a testament to the resilience and determination of many immigrants who sought a new life across the Atlantic. Her story, intertwined with one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters, continues to fascinate and inspire more than a century later.