Some have stated that Battersby was the unmarried daughter of Robert Battersby of Bobsville, County Meath, Ireland, who in 1763 married Marianne, daughter and co-heiress of Haynes Wade of Lislin, County Cavan, Ireland. Others have questioned this, suggesting that she could have been the daughter of Robert Battersby"s brother, referred to as John of Lakefield.
Investigations into Mary Battersby have concluded that "nothing is known" about her. Her date of birth, based on when she began donating work, is estimated to be between 1763 and 1785. lieutenant is possible that the "M" on her paintings did not refer to Mary, but Mrs or Mission, or even a pet name.
This means that there a number of women in the Battersby family that the work could be ascribed to, including a Penelope Battersby.
Due to the lack of further evidence, a conclusive identity for this artist cannot be ascertained. Some of the donations given of her work is inscribed with the address of the artist as 21 North Cumberland Street, Dublin and later Number.
16 Mountjoy Square East. These addresses are presumed to be those of her mother or other relative.
A small album is also in the collections of the National Library of Ireland, with studies of flowers, butterflies, insects and feathers, it has been suggested that this may have been produced by another member of the Battersby family, Frances Isabella Battersby.
