Laura was a daughter of William Backhouse Astor Sr. This area is full of local history found in the Backhouse Homestead. Her paternal grandparents were William Backhouse Astor Sr. His opponent was announced as Steven Backhouse. Backhouse's constant is a mathematical constant named after Nigel Backhouse. William Backhouse Astor Jr. was the son of William Backhouse Astor Sr. John Smith acquired the Backhouse & Hartley brewery in 1852. Amongst them, Joseph Pease, John Bright, Fowell Buxton, John Ellis, Edmund Backhouse, and Charles Gilpin. In 1845 Jane Hartley mortgaged the brewery to David Backhouse and John Hartley. Astor was the eldest son of real estate businessman William Backhouse Astor Sr. Colonel T.M. Backhouse, Major H.G. Murton-Neale, Capt. Astor's paternal grandfather William Backhouse Astor Sr. was a prominent real estate businessman. The most famous member of this family was of William Backhouse, the Rosicrucian philosopher. While in China, Magee married a missionary from Helmingham in Suffolk, England, Faith Emmeline Backhouse. Virginia and Vincent were appointed the godparents of William Backhouse Astor III.