Mary Croft Whatley was born in 1806 to David Whatley and Henrietta Ambrose.  Being the daughter of a solicitor, Mary grew up in a fairly well-to-do household and would have received some education.

When she was 20 years old, Mary married another solicitor, Samuel Lediard, with whom she had nine children between 1830 and 1847.  Her husband died suddenly of typhoid fever in 1852 when Mary was 46, and she was forced to look after her large family alone.

Mary moved to Cranham and then to Cheltenham so that her daughter Clara could attend Cheltenham Ladies College, and her son Henry Cheltenham College.  They moved into 4 Pittville Terrace (now the Holst Birthplace Museum).
Mary was very religious, attending church regularly and frequently receiving visits from her local clergy.  When Clara married Adolphus von Holst, Mary left 4 Pittville Terrace and moved to Cowley, near Oxford.  She died in 1895.