Her father was a blacksmith and a Chartist and her mother was a Baptist from Cardiganshire, moved the family to London in 1845.

Her husband's family helped financially and she worked as a rag sorter and laundress to support her daughters - despite also developing a drinking problem.

In 1868 she was assisted at the home of William and Catherine Booth, and the following year she work at the "Limehouse centre" an old music-hall converted by the mission.

[1] In 1878, "Mother Shepherd" was sent to Aberdare by the Salvation Army at the start of a period of growth for their mission.

Being a native Welsh speaker, she effectively preached on street corners on Fridays and Saturdays, addressing an audience primarily consisting of ironworkers and miners visiting local taverns.