Thomas Lorenzo Obray & Martha Shelton

  • They are the parents of Annie Shelton Obray.
  • Life history of Thomas Lorenzo Obray by his granddaughter Annie Obray Oldham.
  • Obray Family History by his son George Shelton Obray.
  • Biography of Thomas Lorenzo Obray.
  • Thomas Lorenzo Obray and Martha Shelton were the parents of 5 children: Louisa Shelton Obray, Emma Jane Shelton Obray, Thomas Lorenzo Shelton Obray (), George Shelton Obray, Annie Shelton Obray.
  • Family group sheet
  • Spouses:
      1. Louise Shelton (1837-) Married 24 June 1854 in Fort Leavenworth, Leavenworth, Kansas, United States
      2. Martha Shelton (1830-1887) Married 17 October 1854 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
      3. Caroline Brenchley (1830-1910) Married 02 August 1857 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
      4. Ruth Nuttall Bradshaw (1847-1916) Married 30 April 1864 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
  • Summary: Thomas was born in Wales in 1821. He was baptized at age 23 and spent 6 years preaching the gospel. Became a friend of Lorenzo Snow, who ordained him a high priest, and Thomas took on the middle name Lorenzo. Her served as President of the Malta Mission from May 1852 to March 1854. After his release from missionary work, he emigrated to Utah in 1854. On the journey, he met up with the Shelton family and married their daughter Louise. Louise died of cholera 3 weeks later. Thomas later married Louise’s sister Martha and moved to Wellsville. A year later, he married Caroline Brenchley, and later Ruth Nuttall Bradshaw. He had 28 children with these 3 polygamist wives. Thomas served two 5-month terms in the Utah Penitentiary for practicing polygamy. He moved to Paradise in 1862. He served in the British Mission from October 1881 to July 1882.
  • Note from Welsh Mormon History: Page 1 of the Biography of Thomas Obray it is mentioned that the steamship “City of Manchester” stopped at New Brunswick, Canada. That is true but it did not pick up the Shelton Family. Go to overland travel records, James Brown Company 18 June 1854, then to sources and then read the trail except of Charles Shelton a brother to Louisa and Martha Shelton and follow their journey to St. Louis. His journal entry is more complete than that of his sister Eliza Shelton, a child of 13 at the time. (Thanks to Dee Anne Major (DAnneMajor@msn.com) for this correction.

Thomas Lorenzo Obray is Annie Shelton Obray's father

Thomas Lorenzo Obray is Annie Shelton Obray’s father

Thomas Lorenzo Obray

Thomas Lorenzo Obray

Thomas Lorenzo Obray, Mormon Latter-day Saint men imprisoned in the Utah Penitentiary for polygamy/plural marriage.

Photograph of a group of polygamous Latter-day Saint (Mormon) men imprisoned in the Utah Penitentiary for polygamy/plural marriage. Inscription on bottom right is No. 1 – June 7 1890. Thomas Lorenzo Obray, shown second from the right, had 28 children with his 3 wives. He served two jail terms for polygamy.

See close-up detail of the above photo: 1, 2, 3.

This photo may or may not include Thomas Lorenzo Obray. See <a href=

Martha Shelton Obray is Annie Shelton Obray's mother

Martha Shelton Obray is Annie Shelton Obray’s mother

Martha Shelton Obray is Annie Shelton Obray's mother

Martha Shelton Obray is Annie Shelton Obray’s mother

Headstone of Martha Shelton Obray & Thomas L. Obray

Headstone of Martha Shelton Obray & Thomas L. Obray

Caroline Brenchley, a polygamist wife of Thomas Lorenzo Obray

Caroline Brenchley, a polygamist wife of Thomas Lorenzo Obray

Ruth Nuttall Bradshaw, a polygamist wife of Thomas Lorenzo Obray

Ruth Nuttall Bradshaw, a polygamist wife of Thomas Lorenzo Obray