Great x3 Uncle Thomas William Wright

My Great x3 Uncle Thomas (1849 - 1931) was a tinplate worker, father of three, and the eldest brother of my Great Great Grandfather Francis 'Frank' George Wright (1868 - 1939).

Thomas. c 1900

Thomas was born on 10th January 1849 in St Mary Steps, Exeter, Devon to William Wright (about 28), a man of many occupations but around the time of Thomas' birth a boot and shoe maker, and Sarah Wright (nee Emberry) (about 20), a housewife and later an outdoor servant and laundress.

Thomas was baptised on 28th January 1849, at the Wesleyan Methodist church, in Exeter.

Thomas was the eldest of eight children (six sons and two daughters):

• Thomas William  1849 - 1931  (82)
• Henry John  1851 -
• Frederick Emberry  1854 -
• Ellen  1857 -
• Walter Charles  1861 -
• Alfred Frank  1864 -
• Francis 'Frank' George  1868 - 1939  (70)
• Bessie T  1870 -

1851 Census: 

Aged twelve, Thomas was already working as an errand boy.

1861 Census: 

1871 Census:

On Christmas Day (25th December) 1874, Thomas (25), a tinman, married Mary Ann Gatter (25) in St Mary Major. Exeter. At the time of their marriage, Thomas and Mary both lived on Prospect Place - were then neighbours. Both groom and bride could sign their name. The wedding was witnessed by Thomas' younger sister Ellen.

Thomas and Mary had three children (two daughters and one son):

• Maud Annie  1875
• Bessie  1877
• William Thomas  1884

1881 Census: 

1891 Census: 

In 1896, Thomas and Mary Ann's eldest daughter Maude, her husband Samuel Bartlett and young daughter, Mabel, went to Quebec, Canada. Their next child, a daughter called Agnes, would be born in Lachine, Quebec, Canada, in 1897. However, the young family moved back to Exeter by 1899, where their next two children, Hilda and Violet, were born. Why did they move to Canada for a few years? And then move back to Exeter?

Photograph of Thomas, most of his siblings, and their mother Sarah, c 1900

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

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

1901 Census: 

As seen on the 1911 Census, Thomas and Mary Ann's son William worked as an asylum attendant at the Western Counties Asylum, also known as the Devon County Lunatic Asylum, in Exminster. The grand building remains and is now housing - I pass it every day on the bus to and from work. He later married and had children, moved to Bideford, and worked as a plumber and gas fitter. 

1911 Census: 

Thomas' wife Mary Ann passed away, aged about 62, in Apr/May/Jun 1911, in Exeter.

Afterwards Thomas would live with his married daughter Bessie and her family.

1921 Census: 

An advertisement for Thomas' place of work from the Western Times of 27th March 1909:

In Jan/Feb/Mar 1931, Thomas passed away, aged eight-two, in Exeter.