William# Wright

  Notes:

William Wright was born in Irthlingborough at the end of 1785. His mother died when he was two. In 1816 he was the sole beneficiary of his fathers will (apart from £50pa to his step mother Mary) including "freehold and copyhold estate or estates and houses or herditatments which I now possess situate at Irthlingborough or elsewhere ....and all my personal estate and effects, ready money or securities for money and stock crops of corn and hay growing or in those implements of husbandry, household goods, linen, plate china and effects whatsoever and wheresoever to hold".

William married Sarah Pirkins of Pattishall in 1818 and had four children with her - two of whom married Rands' siblings (one having first married a Vanderplank) and two of whom married Holbrook siblings. Sarah died in 1831 and the following year William married the widow Fanny Holbrook in London. Fanny was born in London, whilst the Holbrook brother's who married William's daughters were from Shropshire, however it seems too much of a coincidence for these Holbrooks not to be connected in some way or another.

William seems to switch residence between Irthlingborough and Pattishall and occupation between 'Farmer', 'Yeoman' and 'Gent' . You would almost think they were different people but they're not.
In 1818 he was 'Yeoman of Irthlingborough'
In 1820 he was described as 'Farmer'
1819-1825 has 4 children born in Pattishall (possibly at Pattishall Manor)
In 1827 he was described as 'Yeoman'
In 1832 he was 'of Pattishall'
In 1841 he was living in Irthlingborough on census night.
In 1847 he was described as 'Gentleman'
In 1849 he was listed as an resident of Irthlingborough, but not listed as a farmer, indeed he is the only person listed for the town with no specific occupation given.
In 1851 he was a lodger in Leamington Priors (near his son) on census night, occupation of 'Landed Property'
In 1856 he is named in the will of Stephen Sumpter (of Irthlingborough, his cousin) as being "of Irthlingborough, gentleman, tenant for life", William's son John Pirkins Wright was Sumpter's executor.
In 1857 (Guildford contract) he is still 'of Irthlingborough'.
In 1861 he was living in Brighton on census night, occupation 'Landed Proprietor'
On 1868 death cert. he is still in Brighton and is 'Gentleman'.

I suspect that he initially owned the land in Irthlingborough inherited from his father and that he was also involved in managing Sarah's father's holdings at Pattishall, most of this land appears to have eventually gone to William's son, John Pirkins Wright. Later I suspect he went into retirement in Leamington Priors and then Brighton and possibly rented out or sold the land at Irthlingborough (see bottom of page for possible sale in 1855).

It also sounds as if he was a tenant of his cousin Stephen Sumpter's land in Irthlingborough, Sumpter's father being a farmer, but Sumpter chiefly being a publican (although he does sometimes also claim to be 'farmer'). Having said that 'tenant for life' usually means the land was granted in a will, but I'm not sure who's will, or why it would revert to Sumpter. Either way any excess from Sumpter's estate (after £1,200 of specific bequests) goes to William, and then to his children.

The changing occupation makes William's social status rather hard to ascertain, although presumably it was of sufficient standing for his son John Pirkins Wright to marry the soon-to-be-wealthy Elizabeth Jane Vanderplank. I cannot currently see anything obvious happening between 1827 and 1847 to elevate him from 'Yeoman' to 'Gent'.

William died in Brighton in 1868, the whereabouts of his grave and will are currently unknown, his widow was still living in Brighton three years later (occupation of 'Funds and House Property Holder'), and his will was proved in Brighton.

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Further picture of him under entry for his granddau Sarah Fanny Wright.

His baptism entry is next to Eleanor Outlaw's (qv) in the Irthlingborough PR !

Research etc;
Can't find birth on familysearch.
From Ann-Marie Ell; Found bapt record as shown, which gave parents.
Wm Wright the elder's will confirms he was the only son.

Locations;
1785 Born in Irthlingborough
1816 His father's will in Irthlingborough
1818 1st marriage in Pattishall he was 'of Irthlingborough'
1820's presumably living in Pattishall as children born and bapt there and on JPW's bapt he was definately 'of Pattishall'.
1822 ANOTHER Wm Wright, gent, will in Pattishall! Confusing, but presumably irrelevant.
1832 2nd marriage was 'of Pattishall'
1841 Census; back living in Irtlingborough
In 1848 his son JPW moved to Priors Marston
Then moved around once retired.

Irth hist Soc; Northampton Mercury 28th January, 1815 Higham Ferrers Society for the Prosecution of Felons etc. AGM at Green Dragon on 6th February at 11 o'clock . Penalty for non-attendance 2/6d. Dinner 2pm precisely. Members from Irthlingborough - Thomas OUTLAW, Joseph Aris, Joseph Brown, Richard Bird, John Wallis & William WRIGHT. (In the days before an organised police force such Societies were a common necessity for protecting the property and interests of a rural community. The Society originally based at the Hind Inn in Wellingborough continues to meet socially to this day.)

1816; Sole beneficiary of his father's will, apart from £50pa annuity to his step mother Mary.

1818, his marriage, was 'of Irthlingborough'
Wendy found; Jacksons Oxford Journal Saturday 31 January 1818: Married: Mr Wm Wright of Irthlingboro' to Miss Sarah Perkins of Pattishall near Towcester.

1820 John P's baptism - occupation listed as Farmer.

1825; Northampton Mercury; " Mr. WM. WRIGHT, of the Parish of PATTISHALL, in the County of Northampton, on Sunday Night, or early on Monday Morning last, A Dark-bay Welsh Nag Horse, Rising five Years old, about fourteen Hands two Inches high, with a short cut Tail, the near Heel swelled, said Mr. WRIGHT, of PATTISHALL, shall be handsomely rewarded for their Trouble, and have all reasonable Expenses paid them. "

Report of Charity Commissioners 1826; Young's Charity; http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HTZbAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA304&dq=%22william+wright%22+pattishall#v=onepage&q=%22william%20wright%22%20pattishall&f=false <http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HTZbAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA304&dq=%22william+wright%22+pattishall>
Mentions Thomas Perkins of Pattishall and Wm Wright ?

1827 Julia's baptism - occupation listed asYeoman.#

1829; Northampton Mercury; ".... WILLIAM WRIGHT, of Pattishall, a Member of this Association. Whoever will give such Information as may lead tn the Apprehension ofthe Offender or Offenders, so that he or they may be brought to Justice, shall, on Conviction, receive a reward of THIRTY-FIVE, said Mr. WRIGHT, or Mr. THOS. HOWES, and they shall be handsomely rewarded for their Trouble. THOS. HOWES, Solicitor to the said Association. Northampton, 16t/> Oct. 1829."

1832 second marriage;
http://www.northants1841.fsnet.co.uk/northants%20strays%20m%20to%20y.html
"WRIGHT William of Pattishall, co. Northampton, wid Fanny HOLBROOK otp spin 1832 St George, Hanover Square LND by licence".

1832; Copies of the polls taken at the several elections for members to represent ..... Wm Wright, Escott (Pattishall). This could be Astcote OR Eastcote.

1841 Census (age 50) Incorrecly indexed as 'Waight'. occupation Farmer. Living with second wife and 3 children at High Street, Irthlingborough. NB; Ages rounded to nearest 5 in '41 census. Possibly the numerous people listed below the Wrights on the census are living in the same house?

1847; Listed as 'Gentleman' at Sarah Ann's wedding.

The Gentleman's Magazine - marriages (1847/9? perhaps) - "At Irthlingborough, John, eldest son of John Holbrook Esq of Penley, Co. Flint to Mary Elizabeth, second dau of William Wright Esq of Irthlingborough". Didn't previously know about this ! It would appear a new dau and she married the sibling of her sisters husband and possibly related to step mother .... I now think this is the person we previously had as a male 'May', which solves that mystery.

1847; There is a letter to the Lord High Chancellor singing the praises of a Rev Michael Augustus Gathercole and approving of "his conduct in the arduous struggle in which he is engaged against the enemies of the church by John Hinds"
signed by LOTS of people inc;
W Wright, Farmer, Irthlingborough
W.P. Wright, Gent, Irthlingborough ; WHO is this ?
John Holbrook, Gent, Ithlingborough
Stephen Sumpter, Farmer, Irthlingborough

"History, gazetteer, and directory of Northamptonshire; comprising a general survey of the county" 1849; Wm Wright is listed at Irtlingborough, but not listed as farmer, indeed no occupation is given - he's the only person listed with no occupation, which ties in with him being a 'Gent' I suppose.

1851 Census (age 64) occupation 'Landed Property'. Living with second wife and others as Lodger at 31 Dale St (?), Leamington Priors, Leamington Spa. Place of birth given but hard to read. Could be Wellingborough or Kettering, certainly Northants.

Wright, William, Irthlingborough, Gentleman, was a shareholder of the Northamptonshire Union Bank circa 1851.

May 1856; Is named in the will of Stephen Sumpter of Irthlingborough "Wright, William of Irthlingborough, gentleman, tenant for life".

http://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/GetRecord/SHCOL_1750
Abstract of title of Mr Richard Elkins to a wharf at Guildford, described as Lot 18: Mortgage for £2000, 15 May 1857 1. William Edmund Elkins of Stoke, brewer 2. The Rev John Sturges Lievre of Little Ashby, Leics, WILLIAM WRIGHT, ESQ OF IRTHLINGOBOROUGH, NORTHANTS and John Rand Capron of Guildford, gent Piece of ground in Friary Street in parish of St Mary, 210ft deep extending to River Wey to which it presents a frontage of 25 ft on which two messuages or shops had recently been built (tenants named); also plot of ground adjoining with frontage of 26ft 8ins to Friary Street and 215ft deep, 25ft frontage to River Wey, with two cottages and a beer store and coal shed then in tenure of W E Elkins and Casteels Cooper; which plots were part of hereditaments formerly described as a capital messuage near the Great Bridge bounded on road from bridge east into High Street, south by tenement of Mrs Sarah Roberts (previous tenants named) west other buildings of Bridgett Moore, formerly a dye house; also the brew house and malthouses etc used with the capital messuage, purchased by Frances Skurray of Bridgett Moore, 26 and 27 Dec 1769 Transfer to Charles Gordon of Guildford, corn dealer, 26 Apr 1864 Release by W E Elkins to Charles Gordon on payment of £2000, 24 Feb 1872; Mortgage by W E Elkins to John Upfold of Shere, yeoman, for £2000, 24 Feb 1872 Articles of agreement between W E Elkins and Richard Elkins his son re tenancy of Brewery business and public houses, 11 Apr 1874; Will of W E Elkins, (d. 26 Dec 1874), 21 Nov 1874: trustees and executors Frederick Elkins, son; William Cooper Woodhams, nephew, and Thomas Joseph Street of Chertsey, architect; Conveyance subject to mortgage, 5 Feb 1877: trustees to R Elkins on payment of £7410 3s with covenants; Release by John Upfold to trustees for £2034 14s 10d, 17 Jul 1879; W C Woodhams discharged from trusts, 29 Mar 1886; F Elkins died, 31 Mar 1887; Conveyance by T J Street (remaining trustee) to R Elkins, 17 Sep 1887.
And
Acknowledgement and undertaking re production of mortgage of 5 May 1857 by William Elkins to the Rev John Sturges Lievre, WILLIAM WRIGHT and John Rand Capron, transfer of 26 Apr 1864 and reconveyance of 24 Feb 1872 [see -/1/13] 1. Thomas Joseph Street, surviving trustee of William Elkins' will 2. Charles Holden
NB; John Sturges Lievre was, I think, a relation of John Wesley. And John RAND Capron was a solicitor who was big in crop circles and aurora http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rand_Capron ; I don't think there's any family connection (Capron's father was a leather dealer, hence the Rand presumably), but there might be. Wm Edmund Elkins was a brewer and 4 time mayor of Guildford.

1861 Census (age 73) occupation; Landed Proprietor) Living with second wife, 2 grandchildren (Thomas and Sarah Holbrook) and 2 'Domestic Servants' at St Peters Parish, Brighton. PoB here almost looks like 'Fetheington', but prbly Irthlingborough.

A William Wright died in Brighton in Q2 1868, age 82 = near enough match. Vol 2b, Page 192.
Sent for death cert ; 24th May 1868 at 4 London Rd, Brighton. William Wright, Male, 82 years, Gentleman. Cause; Old Age. Informant; 'X' the mark of Eliza Carter, present at the death, of 21 Barker St, Brighton. Registered 28th May 1868.

Northampton Mercury; Sat 30 Apr 1868; Deaths; May 24, at 4 London Road, Brighton, William Wright, Esq., late of Irthlingborough, in this county, in the 83rd year of his age.

There is a WP Wright, Gent of Irthlingborough mentioned in "Testimonies to the Value and usefullness to the Church, and the Constituion of the Country" .

Possibly this all or part of this farm for sale (from http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=c5ADAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PT51&dq=%22george+rands%22&lr=#v=onepage&q=%22george%20rands%22&f=false) could be his;
The Law Times, 9th June, 1855;
To be sold by auction by Messrs Freeman and Son at Hind Hotel in Wellingborough, on Wednesday the 20th day of June 1855 (I think) at Four O'Clock in the afternoon (for FIVE punctually) in the following or such other lots as may be agreed upon at the time of the sale, and subject to conditions which shall be then and there produced.
Lot 1; All that very compact and valuable estate situated at Irthlingborough in the county of Northampton, in a ring fence comprising 64a 3r 22p or thereabouts, of first rate land, with an excellent farmhouse, yard, garden, malthouse, convenient outbuildings, and a labourers cottage, the whole now in the occupation of Mr.Thomas Freestone, a highly respectable tenant; together with all mines and minerals in and under the same. The whole of the estate is freehold of inheritance, except about 4 acres, which is copyhold to the manor of Irthlingborough. The estate is situated on the line of railway from Northampton to Peterborough and near to the Irthlingborough Station, which brings it within easy distances of Birmingham and the Iron and manufacturing districts of the Midland Counties. The land is of first-rate quality, in a good state of cultivation, and extremely rich and productive. Part of the meadows being irrigable. The estates is free from tithes, and the parochial payments are small.
Lot 2; All that compact Freehold Estate, situate in the parishes of Newton Broomshold and Higham Ferrers, in the county of Northampton (nearly all in a ring fence), comprising 177a 0r 13p of useful Land convenient for occupation, with a farmhouse, yard, garden, outbuildings, and a labourer's cottage adjoining, the whole let to Mr John Harrison, as tenant from year to year; together with all mines and minerals in and under the same. The last mentioned estate is about 8 miles from Thrapstone and Wellingborough, and 3 from Higham Ferrers.
Further information may be obtained from;
Messrs Holbeche & Addenbroke, Solicitors, Sutton Coldfield, Warwicks
George Rands esq, Solicitor, Northampton
John Holbeche, Land Agent, Bennett's Hill, Birmingham.
Reasons it might be Wm Wright's land;
1.George Rands in one of the Solicitors.
2.The other solicitors/land agents are in the Warwicks/Birmingham area.
3.The House in 1841 is described as 'High Street', which would be near the station.

William# married Sarah A.# Perkins, daughter of John# Perkins and Sarah#, on 19 Jan 1818 in Pattishall, Northants. (Sarah A.# Perkins was born in 1799, christened on 23 Jan 1799 in Pattishall, Northants, died in 1831 in Irthlingborough, Northants. and was buried on 31 Oct 1831 in St.Peter's, Irthlingborough, Northants..)

William# next married Fanny Holbrook, daughter of James Holbrook and Unknown, on 3 Dec 1832 in St.George's, Hanover Square, London. (Fanny Holbrook was born in 1803 in London.)