Benjamin Nephi Howarth was born 29 December 1845 in Bridgeton, Barony, Glasgow, Scotland. We don't yet know why he was born here, for his family was from Manchester, Lancs, Eng. I haven't been able to find him in Scotland vital records. He was the second child and first son of Benjamin and Ellen (Gregory) Howarth. Bridgeton is a quoad sacra parish in the parish of Barony, in the suburbs of Glasgow, county of Lanark, Scotland.

British Mission, Manchester Conference, Manchester Branch Records of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FHL film #087,017) has his baptism into the LDS church on page 83

We know from other branch records that his family moved to Warrington, Lancs and then returned to Manchester 16 Nov 1851.

Benjamin Nephi married Betsey Cook on 31 March 1868 in Bury, Lancs, Eng. The information on this marriage was obtained from a family Bible. I checked the index to British Civil Registration to make sure there was a marriage listed there for Benjamin and Betsey. On page 594 in Vol. 8C of the Bury Subdistrict were listed Howarth, Benjamin and Cooke, Betsy. We still need to send for this certificate.

Betsey Cook was born 7 May 1847 in Stony Brow, Tottington, Bury, Lancs, the daughter of Richard Kearsley Cook and Betty Greenhalgh.

The British Mission Emigration Records, Liverpool office, #1048, 1049 (FHL film #025,692) tell when "Nephi" Howarth and Betsy, as newlyweds, emigrated to the United States.

The Orson travelling with them is probably his younger brother (born 1859, which would make him 9, not 7).

In the "Crossing the Plains" Index (FHL film 298,441) Benjamin N. Howarth, Betsy and Orson are listed as "arrived in G.S.L. city in Capt. Edward T. Mumford's mule train 24 Sep 1868." The reference is J. H. 24 Sep 1868 (the Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).

Benjamin Nephi and Betsey received their endowments, and their marriage was sealed for time and all eternity on 25 January 1869 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City.

Benjamin Nephi and Betsey's first child, a son Nephi, was born--and died--on 30 March 1870 in Centerville, Davis, Utah.

The 1870 census for Centreville (sic), Davis County, Utah has the following entry:

Interesting to note is that Nephi was said not to be able to write. I do not know who the Warrens listed living with them are.

Their second child, Alice Louise, was born 5 June 1871 in Nephi, Juab, Utah. Their third, George, was born 9 March 1874 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Benjamin Nephi was found in the 1874 Salt Lake Directory (the precursor to telephone books). He is listed as being a photographer living on 11th East between 4th and 5th South. I know from some of the photographs we still have that he worked with the famous Salt Lake photographer, C. R. Savage.

Benjamin Nephi married a second wife, Amelia Elizabeth Price, on 3 September 1875 in Salt Lake City, SL, Utah. They were sealed on 6 Sep 1875 in the Endowment House. This was a polygamous marriage.

Nephi (as he is called in most of the records I have found) and Betsey's fourth child, William Cooke, was born 21 October 1876 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Their next, James, was born 9 July 1879 in Nephi, Juab, Utah. James only lived three years--he died on 25 November 1882.

Benjamin Nephi and both his families are found in the 1880 census of Mount Pleasant, Sanpete County, Utah.

Alice, George, William and James are Betsy's children, while Elizabeth, John and Charles are Amelia's.

Nephi and Betsey's sixth child, Sam, was born 12 August 1881 in Mt. Pleasant, Sanpete, Utah. Their seventh and last child, Moroni, was born 23 September 1884 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah. Here are their entries from the records of Salt Lake LDS 10th Ward (FHL film #026,642):

The ward records have different dates than the family records I had, so more research will need to be done to see which dates are correct. Also, records I had showed the sixth child's name as just Sam, not Samuel (with notes that it was "Sam") so I'll need to check on that, too.

Since these two records say the family moved to Ogden in 1900, I checked Ogden ward records. There are a lot of them for Nephi and Betsey Howarth's family. (Ogden 2nd Ward, Weber Stake, LDS Ward Records, FHL film #026,249, Record of members 1901-1908)

Betsey (Cook) Howarth died 5 September 1915 in Salt Lake City, Utah and was buried there on 8 September 1915.

Benjamin Nephi Howarth died 2 March 1929 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Research compiled by Julia Howarth West

Family Group Sheet for Benjamin Nephi and Betsey (Cook) Howarth

Pedigrees for Benjamin Nephi Howarth and Betsey Cook