Born in Ecclesfield in about 1819, Mary Snape’s husband was Edward, a pen and pocket knife manufacturer.  In 1841, they were living and working in Charles Street, alongside another cutler, William Robinson.  However, Edward Snape died on 19 February 1850, aged 34,.  He was buried in the General Cemetery.  In 1852, his widow was listed as a spring knife manufacturer in Charles Street.  By 1861, Mary was living in Brittain Street, with her two daughters.  She was next door to the family of William Robinson (aged 49), who was a scale and spring knife maker, employing two men and three boys.  Mary described herself as a ‘cutler’ and apparently she tried to continue her husband’s business.  In 1868, she was listed as spring knife manufacturer in Matilda Street; in 1871, the directory listed ‘Edward Snape (Mary)’, as a spring knife maker in Brittain Street.  By 1881, she was a warehouse woman and had retired by 1891, when she was living in Brittain Street with her daughter, Emily, who was a blade and fork flyer.  Mary died on 31 January 1897, aged 78, and was buried in the General Cemetery.