Wright
Selected Biographies
Wright, Albert Arthur – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 9.4.1896.[1] Parents: William Wright of Long Melford (Agricultural Labourer) [see details below] and Jane [née Deeks] (Horsehair Washer). Family Connections: Brother to Thomas William Wright [b1888] and George Wright [b1890]. Home: Station Road, Long Melford (1901 to 1911).[2] Occupation: Milkman on Farm (1911). Service Record: Albert enlisted as Tpr.8070 with 6th Reserve Cavalry, later the Dragoon Guards. The former unit was stationed at Marlborough Barracks in Dublin and acted as a training depot, supplying men to various Lancer and Yeomanry Regiments. Troopers from the Dublin Barracks were used to put down the Irish Rebellion of 1916.[3] Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1938.
Wright, Edward Ballantine – Born: Wrentham, Suffolk on 5.12.1880.[4] Parents: Edward Wright of Gatfield, Suffolk (Saddler) and Margaret [née Farrer]. Family Connections: Son-in-law of Harry Stanhope [b1859]; also, brother-in-law of Percy James Stanhope [b1886], William Harold Stanhope [b1889], Bertie Stanhope [b1897] and Charles John Stanhope [b1900]. Home: High Street, Wrentham, Suffolk (1881 to 1891), Little St Marys, Long Melford (1911] to [1948]. Occupation: Grocer (1911 to 1939). Married: Eliza ‘Daisy’ Stanhope of Long Melford in 1903. Service Record: Edward was a member of the Long Melford Volunteer Training Corps in 1915.[5] In January 1917 he made an application to the Military Service Tribunal in Long Melford to be exempt from conscription, which was refused.[6] He was given one month to get his business affairs in order and was subsequently conscripted as Gnr.210092 with the Royal Field Artillery.[7] Died: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1948.
Wright, Edward Stanley Stanhope – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 2.3.1906.[8] Parents: Edward Ballentine Wright of Wrentham, Suffolk [Grocer] [see details above] and Eliza ‘Daisy’ [née Stanhope] of Long Melford. Family Connections: Grandson to Harry Stanhope [b1859], and nephew of Percy James Stanhope [b1886], William Harold Stanhope [b1889], Bertie Stanhope [b1897] and Charles John Stanhope [b1900]. Home: St Marys Street, Long Melford (1911 to 1921), St Catherines Road, Long Melford (1939), The Top Shop, The Green, Long Melford [1984]. Occupation: Carpenter’s Apprentice (1921), Carpenter (1939). Married: Alice Maud Smith in 1931. Service Record: Arthur was a member of the Local Defence Volunteers in Long Melford, being part of ‘H’ Company, 10th Battalion, Suffolk Home Guard when it was formed in August 1942. His name is recorded in the official tribute to the organization entitled The Lion Roared his Defiance, photographed in and around Long Melford in 1944.[9] Died: Long Melford, Suffolk on 16.1.1984.[10]
Wright, George – Born: Cork, Ireland on 7.9.1890.[11] Parents: William Wright of Long Melford (Agricultural Labourer) [see details below] and Jane [née Deeks] (Horsehair Washer). Family Connections: Brother to Thomas William Wright [b1888] and Albert Arthur Wright [b1896]. Home: Station Road, Long Melford (1901 and 1911), 10 Church Street, Sudbury, Suffolk [1917]. Occupation: Milkman on Jenning Mills’s Farm at Rodbridge, Long Melford (1911). Married: Edith Fitch in 1915. Service Record: At the Melford Military Service Tribunal in April 1916 Jennings Mills, George’s employer applied for his exemption. Although originally hired as a milker he was now working the farm’s three hundred and thirty acres as a ploughman. Mills said that he had only twelve men left and some of these had varying degrees of physical weakness or ill health. The Tribunal was unsympathetic and granted Wright only three months exemption.[12] George was conscripted as Pte. G/39458 with 10th [Service] Battalion, The Queen’s [Royal West Surrey] Regiment, posted to France and transferring to 1st Battalion, The Queen’s as part of 100th Brigade, 33rd Division.[13] Died: Private Wright was listed as missing presumed killed in action on 25.9.1917 near Veldhoek, during the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge one of a series of engagements known collectively as the Third Battles of Ypres. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing [panel 14 to 17 and 162 to 162a], Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium and on the Long Melford War Memorial.[14]
Wright, Henry – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1859. Parents: Samuel Wright (General Labourer) and Alice [née Murphy]. Family Connections: Brother to Samuel Wright [b1854] and William Wright [b1862]; also, uncle of William Wright [b1874] and cousin of William Wright [b1855]. Home: The Green, Long Melford (1861), Back Lane, Long Melford (1871), HM Prison, Ipswich, Suffolk (1881). Occupation: Coconut Mat Maker (1881). Criminal Record: At the Melford Petty Sessions in February 1879 Henry was fined in absentia for being drunk and disorderly at The Swan in Long Melford. In December in league with his brother William, he was fined for wilful damage, demanding money from George Shave and smashing the windows of Shave’s cottage. In January 1881 he was fined again in absentia for attacking Henry Salter a fellow drinker and habitué of The Swan with a seven-pound lump of stone. A matter of months after he release from prison for the earlier assault, he was in March 1882 again before the Bench when he was sentenced to three more months in Ipswich gaol, this time for stealing five live chickens belonging to the landlord of his home from home, The Swan Inn.[15]
Wright, Herbert – Born: East Dean, Hampshire in 1871. Parents: Charles Wright (Railway Gatekeeper) and Ann [née Paterson]. Home: Railway Gate House, East Dean, Hampshire (1871 and 1881), Froyle Park Bothay, Froyle, Hampshire (1891), Shrivenham, Berkshire (1901), The Gardens, Melford Hall, Long Melford (1911). Occupation: Gardener (1891 and 1901), Estate Gardener at Melford Hall (1911). Married: Rosa Elizabeth Reeves in 1897. Service Record: Herbert was a member of the Long Melford Volunteer Training Corps in 1915.[16]
Wright, Samuel – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1854. Parents: Samuel Wright (General Labourer) and Alice [née Murphy]. Family Connections: Father to William Wright [b1874] and brother of Henry Wright [b1859] and William Wright [b1862]; also, cousin of William Wright [b1855]. Home: The Green, Long Melford (1861), Back Lane, Long Melford (1871), 102 Cross Street, Sudbury, Suffolk (1881), 2 Fines Court, Bromley-by-Bow, London (1891), 224 Parkhurst Road, East Ham, Essex (1901), 132 Grantham Road, Manor Park, East Ham (1911). Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1871), Coconut Mat Maker (1881 to 1911). Married: Maria Ambrose in 1874. Criminal Record: Samuel was brought before the Melford Petty Sessions in February 1882 on a charge of poaching, receiving a sentence of one month in prison. He was further charged with assaulting Police Constable Towler who had been sent to apprehend the miscreant, being handed an additional one month inside.[17]
Wright, Thomas William – Born: Gosport, Hampshire on 6.11.1888.[18] Parents: William Wright of Long Melford (Agricultural Labourer) [see details below] and Jane [née Deeks] (Horsehair Washer). Family Connections: Brother to George Wright [b1890] and Albert Arthur Wright [b1896]. Home: Station Road, Long Melford (1901), Military Barracks in Egypt (1911). Occupation: Agricultural Labourer for Charles Westropp at Melford Place Farm [1907], Soldier [1907 to 1914]. Service Record: Thomas enlisted at Gosport in 1907 as Pte.7575 with 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment have previously served as Pte.7454 in the regiment’s 3rd [Militia] Battalion. He was posted to Egypt and then to the Sudan.[19] Died: Thomas lost his life on 10.7.1914 in the River Nile near Khartoum.[20]
Wright, William – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1855. Parents: Thomas Wright (Agricultural Labourer) and Mary Ann [née Howe] (Horsehair Weaver). Family Connections: Father to Thomas William Wright [b1888], George Wright [b1890] and Albert Arthur Wright [b1896]; also, cousin of Samuel Wright [b1854], Henry Wright [b1859] and William Wright [b1862]. Home: Rodbridge Street, Long Melford (1861 to 1871), Station Road, Long Melford (1901 to 1911), 6 Queens Road, Sudbury, Suffolk (1921). Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1871), Soldier [1874 to 1895], Agricultural Labourer (1901 to 1911), General Labourer (1921). Married: Jane Deeks in 1886. Service Record: William enlisted in 1874 as Gnr.3170 with the Regiment of Royal Artillery, being posted to India from 1876 to 1886, in 1880 taking part in the Second Anglo-Afghan War. His first period of engagement ending, he re-enlisted as No.24554 advancing steadily through the ranks to Battery Sergeant Major with The Cork Artillery, part of the Royal Artillery’s South Irish Division, stationed in Ireland. He retired from the army in 1895 having completed his second term of engagement.[21] Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1934.
Wright, William – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1862. Parents: Samuel Wright (General Labourer) and Alice [née Murphy]. Family Connections: Brother to Samuel Wright [b1854] and Henry Wright [b1859]; also, uncle of William Wright [b1874] and cousin of William Wright [b1855]. Home: Back Lane, Long Melford (1841 to 1871), 69 Cross Street, Sudbury, Suffolk (1891 to 1901). Occupation: Cattle Drover (1891 to 1901). Criminal Record: William was fined at Melford Petty Sessions in December 1879 for demanding money from George Shave, assaulting him with a stick and smashing the windows of his cottage. He was up before the Bench again in June 1882 when he was convicted of assaulting John Albon landlord of The Swan Inn.[22]
Wright, William – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 17.9.1874. Parents: Samuel Wright (Coconut Mat Maker) [see details above] and Maria [née Ambrose]. Family Connections: Nephew of Henry Wright [b1859] and William Wright [b1862]. Home: 102 Cross Street, Sudbury, Suffolk (1881), Newton Colliery, Newton-on-the-Moor, Northumberland (1891), 58 Southborough Road, East Ham, Essex (1901), 208 Mare Street, Hackney, London [1914]. Occupation: Coal Miner (1891), Stoker in a Factory (1901), Horse Keeper [1914]. Married: Catherine ‘Kate’ Yearley in 1903. Service Record: William enlisted in 1891 as Pte.3117 with 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, transferring to 2nd Suffolks in 1894 and posted to India and Burma, receiving his discharge in 1897. He re-enlisted on 20.10.1914 as Dvr.50429 with 11th [Reserve] Battery, Royal Field Artillery and being discharged a little more than a month later.[23]
Notes – [1] Baptism Register 16.4.1896 St Catherines Mission Church, Long Melford. [2] Recorded as Arthur Wright. [3] Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923. [4] 1939 Register. [5] Suffolk and Essex Free Press 29.12.1915. [6] For details of the hearing see SEFP 10.1.1917. [7] Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [8] 1939 Register. [9] Published by Marten & Son, Ltd., of Market Hill, Sudbury, Suffolk in 1946. [10] National Probate Calendar. My thanks to Mark Field for sharing this image of Edward Wright. [11] Date of birth from Admission Register 3.2.1896, St Catherines Infants School, Long Melford, corroborated by information on his father’s military record. [12] For details of the Tribunal’s ruling see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 5.4.1916. [13] For details of 1st Royal West Surrey’s movements see War Diary [WO 95/2430/1]. For details of 1st Royal West Surrey’s movements see War Diary [WO 95/2430/1]. [14] British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 file [ref: 729985] and Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. [15] Bury and Norwich Post 25.2.1879, 16.12.1879 and 25.1.1881, and the Bury Free Press 11.3.1882. [16] For Training Corps articles see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 10.3.1915 and 29.12.1915. [17] Bury and Norwich Post 21.2.1882. [18] Date of birth taken from his father’s military record. [19] Militia Service Records 1806-1915 [WO 96] and Chelsea Hospital British Army Service Record [WO 97]. [20] British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 file [ref: 133194]. [21] Chelsea Pensioners British Army Service Records 1760-1913 [WO 97]. [22] Bury and Norwich Post 16.12.1879 and 11.7.1882. [23] Baptism Register 12.12.1877, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. See also his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363].
Genealogical Tables
