Mary’s life, as recorded in federal census records, reflects a journey shaped by changing identities, communities, and cultural ties in northern New York. She first appeared in the 1850 U.S. Census as a five-year-old child living in Malone, Franklin County. Born around 1845 in New York, Mary was identified as Black and resided in the Degan household alongside a family of six, suggesting she may have been living or working within that household from an early age.
Fifty years later, in the 1900 U.S. Census, Mary was living on the St. Regis Reservation in Franklin County. Now fifty-five years old and widowed, she was identified as Native American (Indian) and served as the head of her household. Her life at this time reflects deep connections to the Akwesasne community, with her home including her son Mitchell, her daughter Annie Sandy, and her son-in-law Richard Sandy.
Mary reported that she had given birth to six children, though only two were still living by 1900. She worked as a basket maker, a traditional and culturally significant craft within the St. Regis Mohawk community. Despite being unable to read, write, or speak English, she owned her home outright, without a mortgage—an indication of stability and independence.
Her parents were both born in Canada, further connecting her story to the cross-border histories of Indigenous and Black communities in the region. Mary’s life illustrates the complexity of identity in the 19th century, as well as the enduring strength of family, culture, and adaptation across generations in the North Country.