Mary Partington (c. 1755 -September 10, 1833) was a Shaker leader. One of the founders of the Shaker communities in the Americas.
She was born in Meretown (likely Marton), Cheshire. Her father John Partington was an active Shaker and their home was used for Shaker meetings.
At age 18 she was one of nine Shakers who travelled under the leadership of Ann Lee to the American colonies aboard the Mariah in 1774. Her father joined her in America the next year, leasing 422 acres of land in Niskayuna, New York next to that which had been leased by fellow Shaker John Hocknell.
During the Revolutionary War Ann Lee and most of the Shaker elders were arrested under suspicion of disloyalty to the American cause due to their pacifist beliefs and recent arrival from England. The military intended to expel them into British controlled territory, but this proved unfeasible and the two women were imprisoned at Poughkeepsie. Mary was not herself arrested, but accompanied Ann to the prison and was allowed to bring in groceries to the prisoner.
Their imprisonment became a cause celebre. Being jailed for religious beliefs by a colony fighting for its freedom caused much controversy. They were released on order of Governor George Clinton.
The fame brought by their imprisonment increased the visibility of the Shakers and they took the opportunity over the next years to recruit converts through a series of missionary trips through New England. Sister Mary was one of the leaders of these expeditions. She travelled both with Ann Lee, and on her own missionary trips.
She was the last surviving of the original Shakers who had travelled with Ann Lee and was a primary source for the Shaker community in relaying the teachings of Lee and the other founders of the community. During the 1820s the Shaker community was attacked by a series of former members, and Mary Partington's memories of Ann Lee and the early days of the community were recorded in a defence for the community.
Her father left the Shaker community in 1784 over disputes with James Whittaker, but Mary remain with the Shakers. She died at the Shaker community of Watervliet, New York in 1833 at the age of 78.
She was portrayed by Thomasin McKenzie in the 2025 film The Testament of Ann Lee. Her character serves as the films narrator.