Hannah Brough

Hannah Brough (1820-1887)

and Thomas Vawdrey (1827-1899)

of England and their American Descendants

On July 25, 2015, the Brough Family Organization (BFO) was asked by a descendant of Thomas Vawdrey (1827-1899) and Hannah Brough (1820-1887) to investigate the parentage of Hannah Brough, because "Some family histories say [Hannah Brough's] parents were William Brough and Sarah [while] others say William Brough and Ellen [and I] would appreciate any help you could give me in finding the correct information."

Thomas Vawdrey and Hannah Brough were born in England--where they joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). They were married in 1853 (see marriage certificate below), immigrated to the United States in 1859, and as Mormon pioneers arrived in Utah in 1861. Thomas and Hannah Vawdrey had six children: Hannah Vawdrey (1856-1917), Thomas Vawdrey Jr. (1857-1911), Nephi Vawdrey (1858-1920), Sarah Vawdrey (1859-1927), Harriet Vawdrey (1861-1861), and Betty Vawdrey (1863-1863). Thomas and Hannah Vawdrey, along with three of their children, are buried in the Draper City Cemetery in Salt Lake Co., Utah. Today, many of the descendants of Thomas and Hannah Vawdrey reside in Utah or the western United States.

On July 29, 2015, the BFO Research Committee determined that the correct parents of Hannah Brough were, in fact, William Brough (1790-1831) and Sarah Swales (b.abt.1798-1821), who were married on 13 April 1818 in Bucknall Cum Bagnall, Staffordshire, England. Specific information and notes and sources about Hannah Brough have now been placed by the BFO on FamilySearch Tree, PID#: KWV2-RGT.

Research Notes and Sources about Thomas Vawdrey (1827-1899)

The birth of "Thomas Vawdray" is listed in the Special Collections section of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. The "Living Endowment" of Thomas Vawdray is listed in FHL Film# 183405 (page 124)--which is entitled "[LDS] Endowment House, Book E, 1864-1866". This record states that on 22 April 1865, Thomas Vawdray took out his own LDS Endowment, during which time personal information about him was recorded as follows: Name: "Thomas Vawdray"; Born: "10 June 1827"; Birthplace: "Sevetenham, Chester, England"; When Baptized into the LDS Church: "27 March 1853"; Parents: "Peter & Betty". Note: It is probable that the recorded location of "Sevetenham" is the same as "Swettenham" in Cheshire, England.

The birth and death of "Thomas Vawdrey" is listed in the online FindAGrave, Memorial # 9029753, which states that he was born on 10 April 1827 in Sandbach, Cheshire, England, died on 16 June 1899 in Draper, Salt Lake Co., Utah, and is buried in the Draper City Cemetery in Draper, Salt Lake Co., Utah.

The christening of "Thomas Vawdrey" is listed in FamilySearch (via FHL Film # 1751852), which states that he was christened on 10 June 1827 in Swettenham, Cheshire, England, and that his parents were "Peter Vawdrey" and "Elizabeth".

On 29 July 2015, the Brough Family Organization obtained a copy of the 1853 marriage certificate of “Thomas Vawdrey” and “Hannah Brough” from England. The certificate stated that they were married by “Banns” on 31 October 1853 at St. George’s church in the parish of Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire, England; that Thomas Vawdrey was 27 years old (born about 1826), a “Bachelor” and “Cord-winder” of Fletcher Street, and that his father was Peter Vawdrey, a “Cabinet Maker”; and that Hannah Brough was 30 years old (born about 1823), a “Spinster” of Hassell Street, and that her father was William Brough, a “Brick Maker”. Thomas Vawdrey signed his own name. Hannah Brough did not sign her own name but instead an "x" was used as "her mark". The marriage was witnessed by Charles Rowe and Jane Hill.

In the 1870 U.S. Census, 'Thomas Vawdrey" is listed as being 45 years old (born about 1825), born in England, working as a "Shoemaker", and residing with his apparent wife, Hannah (age 47), and their apparent four children (Hannah--age 14, Thomas--age 13, Nephi--age 11, and Sarah--age 10), at: Willow Creek Ward, Draperville, Salt Lake, Utah Territory.

"Thomas Vawdrey" is listed in the "Mormon Migration" records, which states that on 18 March 1859, Thomas--who as "31" years old (born about 1828) and a "Shoemaker", along with his wife "Hannah"--age 35 (born about 1824), and their three children: "Hannah"--age 3 (born about 1856), Thomas--age 2 (born about 1857), and Nephi--an "infant" (born about 1858-1859), were "Transferred" from the "Stafford [LDS] Conference" to Liverpool, from which they then sailed on 11 April 1859 aboard the ship "The William Tapscott" to New York, arriving in America on 13 May 1859. The above information about "Thomas Vawdrey" can be viewed on the following website:

http://mormonmigration.lib.byu.edu/Search/showDetails/db:MM_

MII/t:passenger/id:58116/keywords:Thomas+Vawdrey

Research Notes and Sources about Hannah Brough (1820-1887)

The birth of "Hannah Brough" is listed in the Special Collections section of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. The "Living Endowment" of Hannah Brough is listed in FHL Film# 183405 (page 123)--which is entitled "[LDS] Endowment House, Book E, 1864-1866". This record states that on 22 April 1865, Hannah Brough took out her own LDS Endowment, during which time personal information about her was recorded as follows: Name: "Hannah Brough"; Born: "5 April 1823"; Birthplace: "New Easter, England"; When Baptized into the LDS Church: "19 February 1840"; Parents: "Wm. & Sarah Brough". Note: It is possible that the recorder mistakenly heard and/or wrote down "New Easter" instead of "Newcastle" in Staffordshire, England.

The birth and death of "Hannah Brough Vawdrey" is listed in the online FindAGrave, Memorial # 9029752, which states that she was born on 5 April 1820 in Staffordshire, England, married on 31 October 1853, died on 3 March 1887 in Draper, Salt Lake Co., Utah, and is buried in the Draper City Cemetery in Draper, Salt Lake Co., Utah.

The christening of "Hannah Brough" is listed in the parish register of Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire (FHL Film # 1040774, Item #3), which states that she was christened on 8 April 1820, that his parents were "William and Sarah Brough" of "Newcastle", and that William Brough was a "Brickmaker".

In the 1841 Census, "Hannah Brough" is listed as being 20 years old (born about 1817-1821), born in Staffordshire, England, and residing with her two step-sisters (Elizabeth Brough--age 15, and Ann Brough--age 11) in the residence of James and Elizabeth Martin located at 3 Drayton Street, Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire.

In the 1851 British Census, "Hannah Brough" is listed as being 30 years old (born about 1821), born in "Newcastle", Staffordshire, unmarried and working as a "Silkwinder", and residing as a "Lodger" in the home of David and Maria Lowe, at: 38 Wheelock Street, Sheelock, Cheshire, England. Note: Wikipedia states the following about Wheelock: "Wheelock is a long village in the civil parish of Sandbach which is in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is south of Sandbach on the road to Crewe. It was named after the River Wheelock."

In the 1870 U.S. Census, 'Hannah Vawdrey" is listed as being 47 years old (born about 1823), born in England, and residing with her apparent husband, Thomas Vawdrey (age 47), and their apparent four children (Hannah--age 14, Thomas--age 13, Nephi--age 11, and Sarah--age 10), at: Willow Creek Ward, Draperville, Salt Lake, Utah Territory.

"Hannah Vawdrey" is listed in the "Mormon Migration" records, which states that on 18 March 1859, Hannah--who was 35 years old (born about 1824), along with her husband, Thomas Vawdrey--age 31 (born about 1828), and their three children: "Hannah"--age 3 (born about 1856), Thomas--age 2 (born about 1857), and Nephi--an "infant" (born about 1858-1859), were "Transferred" from the "Stafford [LDS] Conference" to Liverpool, from which they then sailed on 11 April 1859 aboard the ship "The William Tapscott" to New York, arriving in America on 13 May 1859. The above information about "Hannah Vawdrey" can be viewed on the following website:

http://mormonmigration.lib.byu.edu/Search/showDetails/db:MM_

MII/t:passenger/id:58117/keywords:Thomas+Vawdrey

Research Notes and Sources about William Brough (1790-1831)

The birth and christening of "Wm. Brough" is listed in the parish record of Trentham, Staffordshire (FHL book: 942.46, B4pr, V.39, p.323), which states that he was born on 1 March 1790 and christened on 23 May 1790 in Trentham, Staffordshire, and that his parents were Thos. Brough and Hannah, and that Thos. Brough was a "Labr" (or Labourer) of "Hem H." (or Hem Heath).

The marriage of "William Brough" and "Sarah Swales" is listed in the parish register of Bucknall, Staffordshire (FHL Film # 1278889, Item# 23), which states that they were married by Banns "in this Chapel" of Bucknall on 13 April 1818; that William Brough was of "this Par[ish"; and that Sarah Swales was of "this Par[ish]". The marriage was witnessed by "John Brough" and "Hannah Brough". Note: William Brough had an older brother John Brough--who was christened in 1782, and a younger sister Hannah Brough--who was christened in 1793.

The marriage of "William Brough" and "Elizabeth Edwards" is listed in the parish register of Norton-le-Moors, Staffordshire (FHL Book # 942.46pr, V.19, page 188), which states that they were married on 21 September 1821, and that the marriage was witnessed by Wm. Steel and Joseph Steel.

The burial of "William Brough" is listed in the parish register of St. Giles, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire (FHL Film# 1040776, Item# 5), which states that he was buried on 30 January 1831, and that he died when he was "41 yrs" old (born about 1790).

During his adult life, "William Brough" resided in Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire, where he worked as a "Brickmaker". He was identified as a "Brickmaker" in the christening records of his children: Hannah (chr.1820), William Brough (chr.1822), and Elizabeth Brough (chr.1824), and in the marriage record of his daughter Hannah Brough (chr.1820), who married Thomas Vawdrey in 1853 in Newcastle.