Violet BROADHURST was born in 03 Feb 1893 in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England. She was the youngest daughter and ninth child of Richard BROADHURST and Sarah Ann JONES. On 22 November 1917 she married James E. HUGHES in Lowell, MA. Sometime later she married William DAVIS. Violet is associated with one child in some records but it is unclear if she was the birth-mother:

1. Evelyn (b 1918 Massachusetts)

1901 England Census. Seven year old Violet lived in Heywood, Lancashire at the Peel Street family home.

To America – 1907. The S.S. Adriatic manifest indicates that Violet had been to America before, in 1907. The is an arrival record into Canada in February 1907 that lists a married Frank CROSSLEY and Violet CROSSLEY, perhaps was really Violet Broadhurst as other records show this family to be close and to travel together. The ship was the Empress of Ireland which arrived into New Brunswick, Canada on 16 February 1907 in from Liverpool. John J WOODWARD is also aboard; he is the husband of Sarah BROADHURST. I don’t find her listing on board.

To America – 1911. With her 35 year old sister, Frances M CROSSLEY nee Broadhurst and her nine year old daughter Elizabeth, 17 year old Violet head to America on the S.S. Adriatic. They leave from Liverpool on 26 August 1911 and arrive in New York on September 3^rd. They are headed to the Crossley house at 18 Second St in Lowell, MA. Next of kin in England is listed as her brother John Broadhurst at 17 (unintelligible) Street, Newton Heath. Violet’s occupation, at 17, is listed as “cutter.” Violet’s passage was paid by her brother-in-law, Frank CROSSLEY.

Lowell City Directory – 1917. Violet BROADHURST is listed: “operative bds 26 Read”

Evelyn – 1918. A daughter, Evelyn was born in 1918.  At this time, I cannot find any record of James and Violet being together beyond their marriage announcement in 1917. However, I have located a 1920 US Census record of a William T. Davis living with his sister and his 30-month old daughter, Evelyn. No spouse is recorded.

1930 US Census. By now, Violet (36) is Mrs. William DAVIS (he is 42) living in Whitestown, Oneida County, NY. They rented their place at 462 Main Street for $26 a month. Along with 12 year old daughter Evelyn Davis, Violet’s younger brother and his family live with them. William BROADHURST (32), his wife Emily BROADHURST (30) and their son Lawrence BROADHURST (6) share the household. Both Williams work at the gas and electric company, Davis as a machinist and Broadhurst as a laborer.  Violet is a “finisher” in a cotton mill. It appears that William DAVIS had been married before as it’s reported that he was 25 years old at his first marriage. Violet is reported at 24 at her first marriage.

The death of Violet and William. After a long illness, Violet died at the age of 88 in the Rome Hospital, NY, on Wednesday, 20 October, 1982. Surviving her was her daughter Evelyn, now Mrs. Evelyn FARR of Kissimmee, FL. Previously, she lived at 12 Curran Road, Whitesboro, NY. She is buried in Oriskany Cemetery. She was predeceased by her husband William Davis.

The marriage didn’t last as I note in my posting about her family …

1930 US Census. By now, Violet (36) is Mrs. William DAVIS (he is 42) living in Whitestown, Oneida County, NY. They rented their place at 462 Main Street for $26 a month. Along with 12 year old daughter Evelyn Davis, Violet’s younger brother and his family live with them. William BROADHURST (32), his wife Emily BROADHURST (30) and their son Lawrence BROADHURST (6) share the household. Both Williams work at the gas and electric company, Davis as a machinist and Broadhurst as a laborer.  Violet is a “finisher” in a cotton mill. It appears that William DAVIS had been married before as it’s reported that he was 25 years old at his first marriage. Violet is reported at 24 at her first marriage.

By the the 1910s at least there were more lodges or “Herds” as they were called. One, Lowell Herd Number 10 had a few of our family members, let me know of others!

James E. Hughes

He was the first husband of Violet Broadhurst and by 1915 was the “Supreme Trustee” and in 1916 was the General Manager of the Herd

John Richard Broadhurst

My grand-uncle and in 1916 was on the reception committee along with ..

Peter Ernest Broadhurst

My Grandfather.

Frank A. Crossley

Husband of Frances Mary Broadhurst and Past President of the Herd and in 1916 he was the Assistant Manager

You can read about their third annual concert and dance from the January 28, 1916, Lowell Sun here …

And their 1915 meeting from the Lowell Sun of October 2, 1915 here …

And one more …

From the 1907 The cyclopædia of fraternities By Albert Clark Stevens:

“untraced and unsuspected Benevolent Order of Buffaloes Whether or not the original Benevolent Order of Buffaloes a social secret organization in England had any more to do with the forming of the American secret society by the same name which consists of one Lodge in Philadelphia and one in New York has not been ascertained The New York body was organized May 1 1881 The Order pays sick and death benefits and in reply to inquiries states that the Philadelphia and New York Lodges are the only ones in existence”