Person:Edward Wright (32)

According to family "legend", Edward was a strapping baker who approached Grace's parents for marriage and found they disapproved of the match. Being somewhat a pair of action, together they planned to leave for Australia. They left seperately (under Assistance schemes perhaps?) and Grace arrived first, staying with relatives in Adelaide, South Australia until Edward arrived. They had their first baby there before they were married, but it is unknown if she was pregnant before leaving the UK. The gold rush first lured Edward to Creswick after their first 3 children were born, and their fourth was born in the goldfields. However they returned to Adelaide where their fifth child was born. But the call of the gold appeared to have been too much and they returned (this time permanently) to Creswick where the rest of the children were born (the registrations of the births were in the nearest office at Ballarat East). Edward is known to have worked in the gold shares and made enough money before the bottom fell out of the market to purchase a bakery (where the fire station is now after a fire in the 1930's took out the original building) and return to his old trade. This business was successful.

Not a trace of either of them are proven in passenger lists to Australia. Also, the family legend of an absconded romance may yet be found to be lacking in substance... Perhaps the truth was not quite so pretty?

There is a David Wright, Baker, listed in Bury St Edmunds around the time that Edward would have been growing up in the area. This David Wright is the grandfather of Quaker Edmund Wright Brooks. However it is not known if this is how Edward received his training. Given that the family were not well off, and a father who died / otherwise later in the 1840's, he was lucky indeed to be able to work at a trade. His brothers appear to have moved out of the area (most to London?).

Their son John Thomas Wright was a true redhead who loved music (playing the accordian and fiddle) but it is not known which parent passed these traits on.

1. ↑ District 6, St Mary, Suffolk, in England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class: HO107; Piece: 1042; Book: 7; Civil Parish: St Mary; County: Suffolk; Enumeration District: 6; Folio: 35; Page: 15; Line: 1; GSU roll: 474645.

   John Wright, 45 year old male, Painter, born in county
   Susan Wright, 35, born in county
   William Wright, 12 year old male, born in county
   Eliza Wright, 10, born in county
   James Wright, 8 year old male, born in county
   Joseph Wright, 6 year old male, born in county
   Edward Wright, 3 year old male, born in county
   Alfred Wright, 1 month old male, born in county

2. ↑ District 1f, Bury St Edmunds St Mary, Suffolk, in England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class: HO107; Piece: 1792; Folio: 185; Page: 40; GSU roll: 207441.

   Susan Wright, Head, Widow, 40 year old female, Pauper, born in Suff Bury St Edmonds
   Joseph Wright, Son , 15 year old male, Brick Finisher, born in Suff Bury St Edmonds
   Edward Wright, Son, 10 year old male, Scholar, born in Suff Bury St Edmonds
   Alfred Wright, Son, 8 year old male, Scholar, born in Suff Bury St Edmonds
   Fredrick Wright, Son, 6 year old male, Scholar, born in Suff Bury St Edmonds
   John Wright, Son, 4 year old male, Scholar, born in Suff Bury St Edmonds

3. ↑ Edward Wright and Grace Thomas Marriage Certificate.
4. ↑ Creswick, Victoria, Australia. Creswick Advertiser. (Creswick, Victoria, Australia)
   19 Nov 1906.

   Another old resident of the town, Mr Edward Wright, of Church Hill passed away yesterday morning at the age of 72 years. Deceased leaves a widow and grown up family, and for a number of years carried on a bakery business. The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon.

5. ↑ Creswick, Victoria, Australia. Creswick Advertiser. (Creswick, Victoria, Australia)
   21 Nov 1906.

   The funeral of the late Mr Edward Wright took place yesterday afternoon was largely attended, The coffin bearers were Messrs F. Wade,G.Heskin, W Kelly, C.Trinder, C.Porter and J.Mason. The pall bearers were Meesrs J.Felnstead, S.Morgan, H.Robinson, C.Jebb, J.Mader, A.Wade, G.Tait and W.Woods. Rev J.W.Arnold officiated at the house and grave. Messrs A.Pasco and Sons were the undertakers.

6. ↑ Death of Edwd Wright, in Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Edwardian Index, Victoria, 1902-1913: Index to Births, Deaths and Marriages in Victoria
   Year 1906, Index #12658.

   Name: Edwd Wright
   Death Place: Creswick, Victoria
   Age: 72
   Father: Jas Wright
   Mother: Susannah Burton
   Year: 1906
   Registration: 12658

7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3} Edward Wright Death Certificate, in Edward Wright Death Certificate 12658.
8. ↑ CRESWICK, in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Ballarat Star. (Ballarat, Victoria, Australia)
   No. 11,632 page 3 (Thursday 13 July 1893), 9 Apr 2017.

   (FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT)
   Tuesday
   At the Police Court today, Constable Barr, stationed at Miners' Rest, proceeded against Edward Wright, baker, of Creswick, for permitting a horse owned by him to be worked while it was suffering from sore shoulders. Defendant was fined 20s, with £2 5s 6d costs. Borough Council v E. Wright was an action to recover £1 9 for water rates.- The amount was awarded with 15s 6d costs. A debt case completed the list.
   The local School of Mines has got into low water financially. For some time no assistance whatever has been received from the State, and the council of the institution are at their wits' end to know how to raise funds to carry on the work of the school.

9. ↑ CRESWICK, in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Ballarat Star. (Ballarat, Victoria, Australia)
   No. 15, 773 page 6 (Tuesday 27 November 1906), 9 Apr 2017.

   CRESWICK.
   [...]
   MEMORIAL SERVICE
   At St. John's Church of England on Sunday evening the Rev. J. W. Arnold made feeling reference to the removal by death of Mr Edward Wright, who was a devoted member of the church. The vicar spoke of the late Mr Wright as possessed of a kindly disposition, and being an honest man.
   [...]

10. ↑ CRESWICK, in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Ballarat Star. (Ballarat, Victoria, Australia)
    No. 15,767 page 6 (Tuesday 20 November 1906), 9 Apr 2017.

    DEATH OF AN OLD RESIDENT
    Mr Edward Wright, who for many years carried on business as a baker in this town, died on Sunday. the deceased had only been ailing a few days. The late Mr Wright was very popular, and respected by a wide circle of acquaintances. Corporal Wright, who fought in the African war, was a son of the deceased.

11. ↑ ^11.0 11.1 England. FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1983. (Free UK Genealogy).

    Name: Edward Wright
    Registration Year: 1839
    Registration Quarter: Apr-May-Jun
    Registration District: Bury St Edmunds

12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2} 6 Farrington Place, St Giles, in England. 1861 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
    Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
    The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
    Class: RG 9; Piece: 173; Folio: 127; Page: 15; GSU roll: 542586; Enumeration District: 11.

    Rosina Parsons, Daughter, Unmarried, 21 year old female, Baker's Daughter, born
    [..]
    Edward Wright, Servant, Unmarried, 22 year old male, Journeyman Baker, born in Bury St. Edmunds