Great x3 Uncle Alfred Frank Wright

My Great x3 Uncle Alfred (1864 - 1936) was a French polisher, piano polisher at a music warehouse, father of one, and an elder brother of my Great Great Grandfather Francis 'Frank' George Wright (1868 - 1939).

Alfred c 1900

Alfred was born on in Jul/Aug/Sep 1864 in Exeter, Devon to William Wright (about 43), a man of many occupations but at the time of Alfred's birth a labourer, and Sarah Wright (nee Emberry) (about 35), a housewife and later an outdoor servant and laundress.

Alfred was baptised on 5th October 1864 in St Mary Major, Exeter.

Alfred was the sixth of eight children (six sons and two daughters):

• Thomas William  1849 - 1931  (82)
• Henry John  1851 - 1915  (63)
• Frederick Emberry  1854 - 1913  (59)
• Ellen  1857 - 1948  (91)
• Walter Charles  1861 - 1940  (78)
• Alfred Frank  1864 - 1936  (71)
• Francis 'Frank' George  1868 - 1939  (70)
• Bessie T  1870 -

1871 Census: 

1881 Census: 

1891 Census: 

On 19th December 1896, Alfred (32), a French polisher, married Rosina Davey (38), a housemaid, in St Mary Major, Exeter. The Wright family had lived on Sun Street in the 1860's, as had the Davey family. Did Alfred and Rosina know each other from a young age? 

Around 1891, Rosina worked as a housemaid on Baring Crescent near Heavitree, Exeter. Around 2015, as a young woman, when I worked in a nursery around the corner, I would often slowly walk along the curve of Baring Crescent, gazing up at the large majestic Georgian houses, in wonder and want. I would be cold, with numb fingers and toes, in the dark of the early morning on my way to work, while the occupiers of the houses, privileged, were still asleep in the warm. I remember one had a rocking horse in the window - I had always wanted a rocking horse as a child but never had one. Such wealth is another world.

At the time of marriage, Alfred was living at 3 Prospect Place, Rack Street. Whilst Rosina lived in Heavitree. 

Alfred and Rosina had one son, born when Rosina was in her early forties. Sadly, he died as a baby:

• Alfred Edward  1901 - 1901  St Thomas  28 Union Street  (3 months)

Photograph of Sarah in old age (centre) with most of her adult children, c 1900

Standing left to right: Alfred, Walter, Frank and Frederick

Sitting left to right: Thomas, Sarah and either Ellen or Thomas' wife Mary

1901 Census: 

1911 Census: 

1921 Census: 

25 - 28 Union Street, St Thomas, Exeter.
Alfred and Rosina lived in 28 around 1901, 25 around 1911
and then 27 from 1912 - at least 1926

In Jan/Feb/Mar 1936, Alfred passed away, aged seventy-one, in the district of St Thomas.

In Apr/May/Jun 1936, Alfred's widow Rosina passed away, aged seventy-seven, in the district of Exeter.

They passed away within months - if not within weeks or days - of each other.