Mary was born on 22 September 1809, in Smith County, TN. She probably was called “Polly,” a common nickname for Mary in those days. Mary married a fellow by the name of Robert Rowland, probably there in Smith County. At some unknown point in her life, she and her husband left Tennessee and settled in southern Collin County, Texas, a few miles north of a small town called Dallas. The Rowlands were farmers. They had nine children, including sons: James F., William H., John W., and Robert A. Mary died on May 23, 1875 in Dallas. She is buried in Jacob Routh Cemetery in Plano, Texas.