Mary Ann Alker was born in 1844 in Blackrod and was the daughter of William Holding (1818) and Alice Alker. In 1851 she was living at Bottoms, Blackrod. In 1861 she was living in Dove Lane, Hindley, and working as a reeler in a cotton factory.

Sources
• 1. 1851 Census. Bottoms, Blackrod. Maryann Holding. Daughter. Age 7. Scholar. Born Barnsley. • 2. 1861 Census. Dove Lane, Hindley. Mary Ann Alker. Daughter. Age 17. Cotton Factory Reeler. Born Blackrod.