Granniss In 1845, Billings married Frederick Granniss, also of Litchfield, who was a wealthy silk merchant. They moved to
Hartford, Connecticut, and joined the Hartford Universalist congregation. The years 1859–60, she traveled abroad with him, and put the result of her experiences and observations into a series of letters called "Thither-Side Sketches" for ''Ladies' Repository''. After returning from their foreign trip, they built a suburban home, known as "Lilfred's Rest." Here, for several years, she led a happy, quiet, intellectual life, reading what she enjoyed, and writing when the spirit moved her. Her first book,
Emma Clermont was published in 1849.
Webster In 1869, the widow married the Universalist minister and publisher, Rev. Charles Henry Webster. She assisted her husband in his pulpit ministry as a lay preacher while Charles was performing missionary work. Though never ordained, she often back-filled for absent ministers. During this time, she was interested in every project for the welfare of women, including serving as Vice President of the Woman's Centenary Association for seven years, as well as writing prose and verse for the denominational periodical press. In 1877, Charles died. At some point of time in the 1870's, Mary took in her niece, Charlotte Henrietta Ward, daughter of her older brother, Henry Ward, after his death. Mary and her brother, Henry, were close as it was he who had converted to Universalism earlier and then influenced the conversion of Mary to the cause.
Billings In 1885, in
Waco, Texas, she married Rev. James Billings, another Universalist minister and publisher. They settled in
Hico, Texas, where she was licensed in 1886 and ordained as a Universalist minister on October 3, 1892. She was widowed again in 1898. Mary Billings died March 2, 1904, in Hico, and is buried at Hico Cemetery. ==Selected works==