She was the second daughter of a family with four sisters, Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Caroline and Maria and five brothers, Thomas, John, William, Joseph and Robert Bragg.

They moved to the United States due to the influence of Benjamin Pitman's brother, Isaac, who wanted to establish and spread phonographic shorthand before it was popularized.

In Cincinnati, Bragg learned the publication of phonographic and phonetic works, engraving and type setting, and typography.

Bragg was also noted to work with her husband in assisting his court case reports and dictating matter from testimonies.

In 1872, Jane and her daughter, Agnes, carved several pieces of furniture, doors, and other architectural woodwork which was submitted to the Third Annual Cincinnati Industrial Exhibition.