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All Saints' Church, Weston, Wednesday, 23 October, 2024 Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence. |
William Wright (bap. 9 Jul 1826 in Elford, Staffordshire), School Master, Bachelor, of the parish of Northfield, in the County of Worcestershire, son of Samuel Wright and Ann Bosworth, married Caroline Masters (b. 1837 in Southwark), Spinster, daughter of George Sparrow Masters and Mary Pope, after Banns, at All Saints' Church, Weston, Bath on 26 May 1861.
The couple had six children, of whom three survived:
- William Henry Wright b. 1862 M Quarter in KINGS NORTON Volume 06C Page 430, bap. 1 Sep 1862 in North Harborne, Stafford, England. Mother's maiden name is not listed on GRO birth registration. On the baptism transcript, the father isn't listed, but mother is Caroline.
- Ernest William Wright b. 14 Mar 1863 (1863 J Quarter in KINGS NORTON Volume 06C Page 455), bap. 3 May 1863 at St Mary's Church, Selly Oak. Died on 3 Jul 1863 and was buried on 7 Jul 1863, also at St Mary's Church, Selly Oak. The notice in the Birmingham Journal of 11 Jul 1863, reads: "On the 3rd inst., at Selly Oak, aged 4 months, Ernest William, son of Mr W. Wright, Schoolmaster."
- Herbert George Wright b. 15 Mar 1864 (1864 J Quarter in KINGS NORTON Volume 06C Page 439), bap. 17 Jun 1864 at St Mary's Church, Selly Oak, again, son of William and Caroline Wright.
- Alice Mary Wright b. 12 Jul 1865 (1865 S Quarter in KING'S NORTON Volume 06C Page 408), bap. 3 Sep 1865 at St Mary's Church, Selly Oak.
- William Alfred Wright b. 9 Sep 1866 (1866 D Qtr in KINGS NORTON Vol 06C Page 445), bap. 4 Nov 1866 at St Mary's Church, Selly Oak.
- Maria Ellen Wright b. 16 Nov 1867 (1867 D Quarter in KINGS NORTON Volume 06C Page 424), bap. 2 Feb 1868 at St Mary's Church, Selly Oak.
The mother's maiden name on the 2nd to 6th births is MASTERS.
William Wright died, aged 41, on 11 Nov 1867 (1867 D Quarter in KINGS NORTON Volume 06C Page 236), at St Mary's Schoolhouse, Selly Oak. One notice read, "On the 10th inst. (sic), very suddenly, Mr. Wm. Wright, of St Mary's Schools, Selly Oak." (St Mary's CofE Primary School, Selly Oak.)
An inquest was held on 13 Nov 1867 and the opinion of Ralph Docker, Coroner for Worcestershire (a solicitor, not a doctor), was that Wright had died from Natural Causes 'Syncopal Asphyxia'. That term doesn't really exist medically: it's a portmanteau of syncope (fainting) and asphyxia (shortage of breath). Perhaps he had an underlying condition (heart problem maybe) that he wasn't even aware of and he simply did just 'drop down dead'.
Sixth child, Maria, was born posthumously, five days after her father's death.
The baptisms of Ernest William, Herbert George, Alice Mary and William Alfred list William Wright's occupation as Parochial Schoolmaster. On that for Maria Ellen, she is clearly listed as the daughter of William (deceased) and Caroline and the word 'late' has been inserted above her father's calling.
In 1871, Caroline Wright (34) Widow, Mantle Maker, was lodging at 301 Breck Road, Everton, West Derby, Lancashire, with Alce Mary Wright (5), William Alfred Wright (4), Maria Ellen Wright (3) and Mary Matthews (sic) [Mary Masters] (68) Widow, Annuitant (Caroline's mother).
From 9 Aug 1875 until 8 Aug 1877, Maria Helen Wright (sic) was a pupil at Princess Mary Village Homes (former children's home for little girls), in Addlestone, Surrey. It seems an odd choice, given that these homes were set up, principally, for children whose parents had committed a crime.
In 1881, Caroline Wright (43) Widow, from Southwark, Surrey, Occupation Matron, was an Inmate of 7 & 8 House of Rest, 7, Cambridge Gardens, Willesden, Middlesex. My guess is this was one of The Houses of Rest for Christian Workers. [Haven't yet been able to locate the children.]
In 1891, Caroline Wright (52) from London, Living on her own means, Alice M Wright (25), William A Wright (24) Student of CofE Lay Worker; and Helen M Wright (23) [Maria Helen], birthplaces listed as Selly Oak, Worcestershire, were living at 66, Cornwall Road, Bexhill, Battle, Sussex.
In 1901, Caroline Wright (63) Widow, from Southwark, Surrey and Alice M Wright (35) from Selly Oak, Worcestershire, were living in Barrack Road, Bexhill, Battle, Sussex. Neither of them has an occupation listed.
In 1911, Caroline Wright (73) Widow from Southwark, London and Alice Mary Wright (45) from Birmingham, Worcestershire, both of Private Means, were living at 13 Rutland Road, Hove, Sussex. On this census schedule, Caroline has listed that she had six children, of whom three had died and three were then still living. It seems obvious that for a son to be named William in 1866, his elder brother born 1862 must have died in infancy, but I have found no record of his death. Likewise, I have found no record of the death of the third child, Herbert George, either, but neither have I been able to find any sign of him alive, so I have to assume he also died as an infant.
Caroline Wright died, at 78, in 1916 J Qtr in STEYNING Vol 02B Page 388.
- In 1921, Alice Wright (55) from Selly Oak, Worcestershire, of no occupation, was living alone at 95, Trafalgar Road, Portslade by Sea, Sussex. Maria Helen Wright (53) from Selly Oak, Birmingham, was Housekeeper to Annette Jeckell (72) Widow at Milton House, Hollier's Hill, Bexhill, Sussex. Alice Mary Wright died, at 73, in 1939 M Quarter in HOVE Volume 02B Page 481. So far, I've found no further records for William Alfred or Maria Ellen.