Mary was born 13 Feb 1864 on the Burns family farm, East 1/2 Lot 10, Con. 12 in Ramsay Twp, Ontario. She was baptized on 05 Dec 1868 at St Michael's RC Church in nearby Corkery, Huntley Twp (together with her younger brother Michael Patrick).

Her father Patrick died of a sunstroke while working in the fields when she was just 4 years old. After his death, her father's unmarried brother, Martin Burns, came back to live with their family and helped their mother Mariah operate the farm and raise her 4 children, until his death in 1907.

Mary literally married the boy next door who she'd known since birth, Samuel Drummond, on 26 Apr 1888 at a Catholic church in Ottawa. The Drummond family (on Lot 9, Con. 12) were her family's immediate next-door neighbours to the south.

Samuel & Mary made their home in nearby Almonte, and Samuel immediately opened a horse & carriage for-hire business there called 'The Popular Livery'. It closed sometime shortly before the birth of a daughter in Jan 1897, by which time the family had left Almonte and moved back to Ramsay Twp to live on the Drummond farm. Samuel resumed farming there. They had 7 children in total, though 3 died in infancy.

Mary gave birth to their youngest child in July 1898. She died two weeks later, on 01 Aug 1898 of childbirth-related 'complications', at age 35. [H. Presley, g-grandnephew]

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The Almonte Gazette

Almonte, Ontario, Canada

Friday, August 5, 1898, p. 1

The Late Mrs. S. Drummond.

We regret to record the death of Mary Burns, wife of Mr. Samuel Drummond, of Ramsay, which took place on Monday last, two weeks after the birth of her daughter. She was 36 years of age. Deceased had been making good progress for some time after her confinement, but complications arose, with a fatal result. Mrs. Drummond was well and favourably known, and was highly esteemed for her excellence of head and heart. With an unusual bright and cheerful disposition, a kind nature, and the spirit of generosity well developed, she won for herself a large circle of warm friends, who now mourn her untimely demise, while the sympathy of the whole community is with Mr. Drummond and his four little children in their irreparable loss. The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon, to the eighth line cemetery, and the cortege was a mile in length as it left the house, a tangible evidence of the respect and sympathy of the countryside. The Oddfellows of this town attended in a body to mark their condolence with their bereft brother. Rev. R. J. Hutcheon, M.A. officiated at the funeral, deceased having been a member of St. Andrews congregation.