Mary Elizabeth Swinnerton was the daughter of Joseph Swinnerton and Ann (nee Weston). The Weston family were tenant farmers at Stivichall Grange and the Swinnertons at Cryfield Grange; thus the two families farmed significant tracts of land on the Leigh estate.
Mary Elizabeth was baptised at Westwood in the Parish of Stoneleigh on 30 May 1847 and continued to live at Cryfield Grange throughout her life - first with her father as farmer and later with her brother Edward. After his death in 1894 she herself became farmer and employer, with the assistance of a farm bailiff. She died on 1 July 1935.