John Bradshaw

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John Bradshaw was born December 14, 1795 at Cossall, Nottingham, England. His parents were John Bradshaw and Olinda Haseldine who were married January 20, 1795. Just before John was four months old, his father died and was buried in the church yard at Cossall on April 12, 1796. His mother married William Chambers on April 27, 1801, and they had at least one child named Elizabeth in 1802. Ann White was born May 21, 1799 at Shipley, Derbyshire, England. Her parents were George White and Mary (last name unknown).
John and Ann were married in the Parish of Heanor in Derbyshire on August 27, 1817. The couple must have moved soon after to Likeston because it was here that their first four children were christened. They were Mary, John White, George and Samuel. The next two children, Richard and Edward, were christened in St. Alkmund's Church in Derby, Derbyshire, England. Catherine, the youngest child, was christened in St. Werbert's Church in Derby. It was the requirement in England that everyone be christened in a church.
When John was 52 years old and Ann was 48 years old, they listened to the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and were baptized on August 10, 1848. Their son, John White Bradshaw, and his wife Harriet Moore Burgess, were baptized three months previous to this. Within one year, the entire family had joined the church.
John White and Harriet and their three children (Julia Mary, age 7, Agnes, age 5, and Fredrick J, age 3) set sail for America on the ship Berlin in the early sixties. during an epidemic of dysentery on the ship, the three children took sick and died. They were buried at sea. John W. was a great believer in dreams, and after they settled in Minersville, Utah, he dreamed that he went into the mountains north of town and arrived at a cave that had never been seen by anyone before. He peeked inside and found nuggets of gold and there were many rats' nests there. He was so impressed with the dream that he went looking for the mine. Finally, after walking through timber that became so thick he thought he would get lost, he tied strings along the trees so he would be able to find his way back, and he found the mine just as it was in his dream. He persuaded others to join him and the famous Cave Mine of the Bradshaw district was developed. It was a great producer of gold, silver and lead for many years. John never realized much from the mine; according to reports, he was swindled so much in this venture. He died in Minersville.
The only information on the third child, George, is his birth and christening dates.
Samuel, the fourth child, came to America with his parents when he was 27 years old. He first settled in Cedar City. An early map of Cedar City shows a sketch of the fort and two sections are identified as the dwellings of John and Samuel Bradshaw. Samuel went to Salt Lake the following year, and while there married Mary Ann Elsey and returned with her to Cedar City. A short time later, they moved to Virgin City, Utah, and spent the remaining of the lives there.
The family lost track of their fifth child, Richard, after December 14, 1852. It is unknown whether he came to America, although some think he went to Canada and others believe he stayed in England.
The sixth child, Edward, and his wife, Sarah Bagshaw, sailed on the ship Constitution on June 24, 1868. When they arrived, they settled in Minersville. There is a history written about him, so I will not include his story in this narrative.
The only information I have found regarding Catherine is her birth and christening record.
Fifteen months after John White Bradshaw and his family left for America, John and Ann and their two unmarried children (Mary, age 32 and Samuel, age 27) left Liverpool, England, on the ship Ellen. They were to set sail on November 1, 1850, but did not leave until January 4, 1851.
After their arrival in New Orleans, they left almost immediately for St. Joseph. They are listed on the Church membership records in the branch there. Although Mary is listed in these records, she is not listed with any emigrating company. Some say she married outside the Church while she was there, and it made the family so unhappy that they seldom spoke of her. Records in Buchanan, Missouri, show her married to William C. Cure on December 28, 1851.
On August 15, 1853, John and Ann joined Captain Daniel A. Miller's company to emigrate to the Salt Lake Valley. On September 9, 1853 they arrived in Salt Lake, two years and eight months since they had left England.
John and Ann followed their son Samuel to Virgin City and spent the rest of their lives there.
John died August 27, 1865, at the age of 70 years old. He was one of the first to be buried in the cemetery there.
Late in 1871, Ann's daughter-in-law Mary Ann was outside in the bitter cold taking the fat from the entrails of an animal to use in making soap. She caught a cold that turned into pneumonia which resulted in her death. This was soon after the birth and death of her tenth child, Joseph Elsey, on December 10, 1871. Ann went to live with Samuel and took care of his family until her death four years later on August 25, 1875.
An interesting story is told of Ann: "The Indians had camped a little less than a mile up the river from Virgin. One poor old member of the tribe, Old Totsapab, contracted consumption and it was their practice to move away and leave the afflicted person to starve, which these Indians did. Had it not been for the kindness of Sister Ann Bradshaw, Old Totsapab would have suffered from starvation as well as consumption. She took food to him every few days to relieve his suffering as long as he lived."
Her grandson, David, remembered seeing a corn-cob pipe which belonged to his grandmother lying on the mantle above the fireplace. It held quite a fascination for this six- or seven-year old boy. When our progenitors joined the Church they did not always shed the habits which are contrary to the Word of Wisdom. The strict adherence of this day and time was not required of them.
Ann White Bradshaw lived ten years after the death of her husband. Her obituary in the Millennial Star had this to say "...In Virgin City, Kane County, Utah, August 25, 1875, at a quarter to 4 p.m., Ann White, wife of John Bradshaw, Sen., aged 76 years, 3 months and 4 days. Deceased was born at Likeston, Derbyshire, England; attended to her domestic duties until a few days of her death; died in full faith of the Gospel; was one of the first to obey the Gospel in Derby; her house was a home for the Elders."

NOTE: This history was written by Betty Liddell Johnson on October 6, 1995. It is a compilation of histories written by Carol Bradshaw Sampson, a granddaughter of Samuel Bradshaw, and a history dated June 29, 1953, author not listed, copy in my possession. Further information was found on microfilms at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. John and Ann White Bradshaw are my great grandparents. -- Betty Liddell Johnson