My Great x3 Uncle Henry (1851 - 1915) was a tin plate worker, father of nine, and an elder brother of my Great Great Grandfather Francis 'Frank' George Wright (1868 - 1939).
Henry was born in Jul/Aug/Sep 1851 in Exeter, Devon to William Wright (about 30), a man of many occupations but at the time of Henry' birth a boot and shoe maker, and Sarah Wright (nee Emberry) (about 23), a housewife and later an outdoor servant and laundress.
Unlike his siblings, it doesn't look like Henry was baptised.
Henry was the second of eight children (six sons and two daughters):
- Thomas William 1849 - 1931 (82)
- Henry John 1851 - 1915 (63)
- Frederick Emberry 1854 - (59)
- Ellen 1857 -
- Walter Charles 1861 - (78)
- Alfred Frank 1864 -
- Francis 'Frank' George 1868 - 1939 (70)
- Bessie T 1870 -
1861 Census:
1871 Census:
On 3rd November 1878, Henry (27), a tinman, married Leonora Coombe (26), a tailoress, in St Mary Major, Exeter. At the time of their marriage, both Henry and Leonora lived on Prospect Place - were likely neighbours. They married in the presence of Edwin and Rosalina Coombe, Leonora's father and seemingly her sister.
Henry and Leonora had nine children, including seven daughters (according to 1911 Census, they had nine children, four of whom had passed away):
- Florence Ellen 1879 - 1883 (3 years old)
- Alice Emberry 1881
- Laura Coombe 1882
- Lily Rose 1884
- Lena Ethel 1885
- Mary Ann 1886 - 1986 (6 months)
- Ada Pollie 1887
- ? 18?? - before 1911
- ? 18?? - before 1911
I presently cannot find the names of two of their children, who passed away before the 1911 Census. They may have passed away very young, without being given names.
I also cannot find Henry and Leonora on the 1881 Census. Their one-year-old daughter Florence is staying with her maternal grandparents in Old Castle Street, Exeter.
The family were living at Prospect Place from the 1870s - 1883 (their address, when daughters Florence, Alice and Laura was baptised) They were living at Castle Street, Exeter, in 1884 (their address, when daughter Lily was baptised). They had moved to Albert Place by 1885 (their address, when daughter Lena was baptised). And were living back on Prospect Place by 1886 and beyond (their address, when daughters Mary and Ada were baptised).
From the Express and Echo of 22nd March 1883, announcing the death of Henry and Leonora's eldest daughter, Florence, aged three and half years:
From the Express and Echo of 2nd October 1886, announcing the death of Henry and Leonora's then youngest daughter, Mary, aged only six months:
1891 Census:
1901 Census:
Interesting on the 1901 and 1911 Censuses, Henry is listed as an employer, rather than an employee, implying he may be running his own tin plate business.
Henry and Leonora's daughters seem to have gone into factory work as teenagers. In 1901, Alice (20) and Lily (17) both worked at a mineral water works; whilst Lena (16) was a tobacco factory hand. Second daughter Laura had no occupation listed; however, as her mother Leonora was working at home as a tailoress, it may have become Laura's responsibility to run the home.
In 1903, Henry and Leonora's daughter Laura (21) had an illegitimate daughter called Violet May Wright. After Laura's marriage and move to Wales, young Violet would continue to live with her maternal grandparents.
1911 Census:
They lived on a square off of the famous Stepcote Hill. Living on the same Street, at 26 Stepcote Hill, at the same time, was my great x3 aunt by marriage Elizabeth Griffin (formally Vernon), her second husband Thomas Griffin, and children from both of her marriages. Thomas Griffin was a rather scandalous neighbour to have: a thief, who committed adultery and child neglect. Whilst Elizabeth ran their fried fish shop, let lodgings and worked as a charwoman.
In Jan/Feb 1915, Henry passed away, aged sixty-three, in Exeter. He was buried on 6th February 1915 in St George, Exeter.
In Jan/Feb/Mar 1920, Henry's widow Leonora passed away, aged sixty-seven, in Exeter.
After Henry and Leonora's death, their married daughter Lily would continue to live at 10 George's Square, with her two daughters, as well as her niece Violet.
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