Mrs Mary Mack

Who was Mrs Mary Mack?

Mrs Mary Mack was a 57 (fifty-seven) year-old English widow who tragically lost her life as a second-class passenger aboard the RMS Titanic. Born in 1855, she was en route to Manhattan to live with her daughter when the disaster struck, cutting short her journey and life.

Early Life and Background

What was Mary Mack’s family history?

Mary Mack, née Lacey, was born in Harborne, Staffordshire, England in late 1854 or early 1855. She was baptized on January 7, 1855. Her parents were:

Father: George Lacey (born 1828 in Edgbaston, Warwickshire), a coachman
Mother: Mary Every (born 1822 in Bewdley, Worcestershire)

Mary had six known siblings:

John (born 1854)
Emma Maria (born 1856)
Harry (born 1857)
Elizabeth Agnes (born 1859)
Mary Amy (born 1861)
Edith (born 1863)

How did Mary’s early life unfold?

Mary’s early life was marked by several significant events:

In 1875, she married John Arber.
On August 12, 1877, her daughter Agnes Mary was born in Marsden, Surrey.
By 1881, Mary was listed as a visitor at 6 Spear Mews, Kensington, London, describing herself as an unmarried domestic servant.
The fate of her first husband, John Arber, remains uncertain.

Mary’s Second Marriage

Who was Edward Mack?

Later in life, Mary became involved with Edward Mack, born in 1841. Edward was a bookmaker commission agent. While it’s unclear if they were officially married, they lived together as husband and wife.

“Mary became involved with another man, Edward Mack (b. 1841), a bookmaker commission agent, although it is not clear if they were ever officially married.”

Their living arrangements included:

1901: Mary lived alone at 7 Wimpson Lane, Millbrook, Hampshire
1911: Mary and Edward lived together at 46 Clarendon Road, Shirley Hampshire

Tragically, Edward Mack died in early 1912 and was buried on February 27, just weeks before Mary’s fateful journey.

The Titanic Journey

Why was Mary Mack traveling on the Titanic?

Following her husband’s death, Mrs. Mack decided to join her daughter Agnes in Manhattan. Agnes had married Bernard Joseph Haran in 1901 and emigrated to America, settling at 446 West 55th Street, Manhattan.

What were the details of Mary’s Titanic voyage?

Embarkation: Southampton
Ticket: S.O./C. 3
Cabin: E77
Class: Second Class
Fare: £10 10s

During the voyage, Mrs. Mack shared a table in the saloon with Benjamin Hart and his family, as well as Thomas Brown and his family.

Fate During the Disaster

What happened to Mrs. Mack during the sinking?

Tragically, Mrs. Mary Mack did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. Her body was later recovered by the Mackay Bennett and was given the designation Body No. 52.

The description of her recovered body provides a poignant snapshot of her final moments:

Detail	Description
Estimated Age	60
Hair	Grey
Clothing	Black coat and skirt; fur boa; striped cotton chemise; woolen singlet; black button boots; stockings

What personal effects were found with Mrs. Mack?

The following items were recovered with Mrs. Mack’s body:

Wedding ring and seal keeper (chariot and horse)
Green stone ring on right hand
Visiting card to Mrs. Wotherspoon, Ashbourne Rd., West Southborne
Photo in frame
Purse containing £15 10s in gold; 4 1/4d in silver and copper
Second Class Ticket E 77

These personal effects were later returned to her daughter Agnes in June 1912.

Legacy and Impact

How did Mary Mack’s death affect her family?

The loss of Mrs. Mack had a profound impact on her family:

Her daughter Agnes filed an insurance claim for £15,000 for her mother’s life and £500 for property loss.
The American Red Cross provided financial assistance to Agnes’s family, noting the loss of Mary’s household goods and cash she was bringing to America.

What became of Mary Mack’s descendants?

The tragedy of the Titanic was not the last to befall Mary’s family:

Agnes’s son Frank died on October 16, 1926, at the age of 26, just two years after his marriage.
Agnes herself passed away on June 12, 1932, and was buried in St. Raymond’s Cemetery.
Bernard Haran, Agnes’s widower, remarried but became a widower again after less than two months. He died on February 14, 1944, and was also buried in St. Raymond’s Cemetery.

Mrs. Mary Mack’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the many lives cut short by the Titanic disaster, and the far-reaching impact on the families left behind. Her journey, intended to start a new chapter of her life with her daughter in America, instead became part of one of the most tragic maritime disasters in history.