Mary Sykes was born in Manchester in 1862 and was the daughter of Jane and an unknown man called Sykes. In 1871 she was living in the household of John Ashworth in Pump Street, Manchester, with her widowed mother and sister. In 1881 she was living at 71 Thomas Street, Newton, and was working as a cap maker. She married John Waite (1860) in Manchester in 1885 - she was his first wife. In 1891 she was living with John and her mother, Jane Sykes, at 50 Addington Street. She died in Manchester in 1895, aged 33.

Sources
• 1. 1891 Census. 50 Addington Street, Manchester. Mary Waite. Wife. Age 28. Born Manchester. • 2. Marriage Registers. Waite, John & Sykes, Mary. Mar. 1885. 8d. 207. Manchester. • 3. 1881 Census. 71 Thomas Street, Newton. Mary Sykes. Daughter. Age 19. Cap Maker. Born Manchester. • 4. 1871 Census. 12 Pump Street, New Cross, Manchester. Mary Sykes. Orphan. Age 9. Scholar. Born Manchester. • 5. Death Registers. Waite, Mary. Mar. 1895. 8d. 144. Manchester. Age 33. • 6. Marriage Certificate. Parish Church of St. Barnabas, Manchester. No. 12. March 1 1885. John Waite, 25, Bachelor, Boiler Maker, Kelly’s Buildings. Father: Benjamin Waite, Draper. Mary Sykes, 23, Spinster, Mellon Street. Father: John Sykes, Baker. Married: Thomas Bellamy. Witnesses: David Stretch, Lilly Stretch.