Mary Mangan

Maria "Mary" Mangan was born in Carrowskeheen, Addergoole, Co Mayo, Ireland on 8 September 1879.¹

She was the daughter of John Mangan (b. circa 1849), a farmer, and Bridget Bourke (b. circa 1846), Mayo natives who had married on 18 February 1874.

She had four known siblings: Michael (b. 4 March 1874), Patrick (b. 14 April 1875), Edward (b. 1 September 1881) and Ellen (b. 16 July 1883). 

Mary's father died when she was still very young, succumbing to pulmonary tuberculosis on 19 May 1884; her mother never remarried. The remaining family appear on the 1901 census living at house 5, Carrowskeheen and Mary, like the rest of her family, was described as a farmer.

Mary and her sister Ellen would later leave Irish shores bound for the USA, although exactly when is not clear, possibly in August 1906. Her brother Edward had emigrated to the USA sometime around 1905, initially living in St Louis, Missouri but later settling in Chicago at 1843 Lincoln Avenue where he lived with his wife, the former Margaret Timoney. Brother Michael would also make the leap. 

By 1911 Mary's mother was living at 4 Carrowskeheen, Addergoole, being joined by her spinster sister-in-law, also named Bridget (1850-1918). Mary and her sister Ellen were to pay a visit to their family back in Ireland in early 1912, possibly also an occasion to announce the former's engagement although the identity of her suitor remains unknown.²

With her sister Ellen opting to remain in Ireland, Mary boarded the Titanic at Queenstown as a third class passenger (ticket number 364850 which cost £7, 15s). She was travelling with a large group of Mayo passengers now referred to as the Addergoole fourteen. Among the group, led by Catherine McGowan, were the Bourkes, siblings John and Mary and the former's wife Catherine  and who were possibly cousins. They were also destined for Chicago. 

The only known mention of Mary during the sinking comes from Mayo survivor Annie Kelly who described being accompanied by Mary and the Bourkes as they rushed toward a ladder that would have taken them up to second class. Whether Mary made it to the upper decks remains uncertain.

Mary died in the sinking; her body was recovered by the MacKay Bennett (#61) and was buried at sea on 22 April 1912.

Her possessions were later sent back to her family in Ireland and for many years her gold watch remained in the possession of her nephew Anthony Mangan. The solitaire ring, however, mysteriously never made it back to the family and its eventual whereabouts remain unknown.

Her brother Edward later attempted to sue the White Star Line for the loss of his sister. In later life he lived at 6340 Addison Street, Chicago and died on 25 April 1933; he is buried in River Grove Cemetery. His widow Margaret later passed away in 1982 aged 96.

Her brother Michael died in Chicago, Illinois on 21 September 1960.

Mary's mother remained in Carrowskeheen and outlived her by over two decades before her passing on 30 November 1935 aged in her late 80s. 
Mary's sister Ellen who remained in Ireland was married in 1918 to Patrick J. Walsh, a farmer from Ludbridge. She died in Carrowskeheen on 9 August 1960.