Mary Agnes was born around August 1890 in Blackburn, Lancashire. She was the second of five children born to William Burke, a Tailor, and his wife Isabella (nee Wright). Their first child, Mary Ann, died after one year. So when the April 1891 census was taken, there was just Mary Agnes and her parents living at 20 John Street in the Larkhill district of Blackburn.

Around May 1896 Mary Agnes's mother Isabella died, either during, or complications from, the birth of their fifth child. The child was named Isabella most likely in memory of her mother. Sadly, the child Isabella also died within a few weeks.

It seems that her father wasn't able to raise the three remaining young girls. He appears in the March 1901 census boarding alone at house in Larkhill Street, described as a Widower and working as a Journeyman Tailor. The girls are recorded living at 27 Cromwell Terrace, the home of 55 years old Margaret Fitzpatrick and three of her children. The Burke girls are described as 'Adopted'.

By April 1911, the census shows Mary Agnes working as a Kitchen Maid to a Dressmaker at 73 New Park Road In Blackburn.

On the 12th of July 1911, Mary Agnes married Isaiah Jackson at St Mark's Church on Buncer Lane in Blackburn. His occupation was recorded as 'Iron Fitter' and hers as 'Domestic Service'. The marriage was witnessed by Isaiah's brother Alfred and Mary's sister Margaret Ellen. Their first child, a girl they named Rachel, was born almost exactly nine months later. They had four more children together up to early 1918.

In early 1912, Isaiah started working for the local engineering company of Clayton and Goodfellows as an Outfitter, which meant he travelled around Britain installing machinery in mills and factories. He would be away from home for weeks at a time. Unbeknown to Mary Agnes, during one of his trips to the Sheffield area, Isaiah had begun a relationship with a sixteen years old girl named Florence Emma Jackson, who became pregnant and gave birth to their first child in July 1913.

For the next few years Isaiah led a double life, having more children with both Mary in Blackburn, and Florence in Sheffield. It's difficult be certain but it appears that Isaiah finally left Mary in 1918 or 1919, after the birth of their twins, Frank and Edith. The electoral registers for Blackburn show that Mary Agnes was living alone with her children at 29 Pleasington Street between 1921 and 1931.

Mary and Isaiah had five children together:

Rachel Jackson ...1912-1986
Walter Jackson ...1913-1992
William H Jackson ...1914-1915
Frank Jackson ...1918-1981
Edith Jackson ...1918-1992

Isaiah and Mary Agnes didn't divorce, probably due to the high cost in those days (around £250 in the 1920's, which is almost £8,000 in today's money).

The next record for her is, sadly, her suicide. At the end of March 1934, Mary Agnes was accused of stealing £9 from a man she met in a pub. She claimed that he gave her the money but the fear of going to jail led her to commit suicide by gassing herself. See the attached newspaper extracts for more details. At the time of her death, Mary Agnes was living at 124 Wensley Street in Blackburn (in the St Pauls Ward). The head of the household was Charles Edward Donelan who was married to Margaret Ellen (a sister of Mary Agnes). At the same address were three of Mary Agnes's children; Rachel, Walter and Frank Jackson.

The Death Certificate records that Mary Agnes died from Asphyxia due to inhaling coal gas at her home. An inquest was held on the 31st March and the 4th April 1934, which concluded that she had taken her own life (Felo de se). The Burial Register for Blackburn Cemetery, records that she was buried on the 4th of April 1934 and describes her as the wife of Isaiah Jackson.

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