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According to family records, Benjamin Howarth was born 1 July 1820 in Accrington, Lancashire, England (LDS branch records for Manchester say 21 Jul 1821--obviously an error). His christening was recorded 23 July 1820 in the Church (or Church Kirk or Church Town), Lancs, Eng. parish register. His parents were George and Nanny (Cuthbert) Howarth.
Apparently George and Nanny's family stayed in the Accrington area until sometime after 1 April 1827, when his sister Mary Ann was christened in Church and his parents were listed as "of Accrington." According to family records the next few children in George and Nanny's family were born in Plantation Hill, Lancs and christened in Accrington (1829), and in Upper Darwin (probably Over Darwen), Lancs, Eng. (1831).
On 6 Oct 1842 Benjamin was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to the Manchester Branch Records of members, early to 1860 (FHL film #087,017). At this time he lived at 1 Boundary Street, Salford, Lancs, England. His baptism and confirmation were performed by John Banks. Benjamin married Ellen Gregory 21 May 1843 in Prestwich, Lancs, Eng.
Ellen Gregory was born 11 February 1825 in Manchester, Lancs, England, the daughter of William Gregory and Elizabeth Hancock. She was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 23 August 1840 by James Mahon and confirmed by Brigham Young. Benjamin and Ellen's first child was a daughter, Elizabeth. She was born 5 April 1844 in Manchester, Lancs, Eng. Their son Benjamin Nephi was born 29 Dec 1845 in Bridgeton, Barony, Glasgow, Scotland. Their daughter Dorathy (Dorothy) was born 7 Apr 1846 in Manchester, and their daughter Mable was born 4 Sep 1851 in Warrington, Lancs, England. Little Mable lived less than four years; she died 15 Feb 1855. The family should be in the 1851 census of Warrington, for according to Manchester branch records they moved from there back to Manchester 16 Nov 1851. Since family records say their daughter Mable was born 4 Sep 1851 in Warrington, we know they were there then.
According to Manchester branch records the family moved 10 Feb 1853, but the record does not say where they went. The records also say they moved to Staffordshire 11 Jan 1854. On 4 June 1854 their son William was born in Burslem, Staffordshire, England. He only lived three months, and died 15 Sep 1854.
They moved again, back to Manchester, for their son Moroni was born there 2 August 1856. Benjamin was rebaptized in the LDS church 16 May 1857, according to Manchester branch records. 16 March 1859 their son Orson was born in Chorley, Lancs, Eng, and 28 Sep 1861 their daughter Ellen was born in Ramsbottom, Lancs, Eng. Ellen only lived 7 years; she died 4 Sptember 1868. I don't know yet where she died; on 28 Jul 1868 she arrived with her mother in New York. However, if we can find Ellen's birth listed in Civil Registration, it should give the place to check for her family in the 1861 census. The 1861 census of Tottington Lower End, New Parish of Ramsbottom, has already been searched. The family was not found there.
9 July 1864 Benjamin was once more rebaptized in the LDS church in Tottington, Lancs., Eng (according to Tottington branch records). He was baptized by Thomas Schofield and confirmed 10 July 1864 by Thomas Taylor. On 4 January 1865 Benjamin and Ellen's final child, daughter Alice, was born in Ramsbottom, Lancs., England. She also died as a child. After accompanying her mother and three siblings to America, she died 27 Aug 1868, at age three. In August 1865 Benjamin emigrated to America, according to Tottington branch records. Elizabeth emigrated in April 1867, and Ellen and four of their children followed the next year. The British Mission Emigration Records, Liverpool Office (FHL film #025,692) has: |
