Dr. Christopher St John # Wright MB, FRCS, LSA

  Notes:

Christopher St John Wright (probably named after his Uncle Christopher Rands) was born in 1854 in Priors Marston, Warwicks and was educated as Repton School. He qualified as a Doctor at Guys Hospital (MRCS in 1879) and Aberdeen (MB in 1880) before working as a House Surgeon at Sheffield District Infirmary (1881 census). He married in 1882 and by the time of the 1891 census he was the Resident Medical Superintendant at St.Mary Islington Workhouse Infirmary. He then moved to Felsted in Essex to work as a Surgeon and Physician, probably in 1897 (as this is when his sons started at Felsted School). Possibly he was also the Doctor to Felsted School, although this cannot be proved. At some point (presumably after 1907 - see medical registers) he moved to Sussex, where he died aged 56 in 1911.

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Research etc;
Precise birth date from Old Reptonian Society.

1861 Census (Age 7); Living at Priors Marston ('South of Village') with parents, 5 siblings, 2 cousins (Eleanor and Charlotte Lamb) and 4 servants.

1871 Census (age 17); Is a boarder at Repton School. Specifically he is (appropriately enough given his later career) in the Sanatorium. On ancestry if search it says born in Devon - but clearly says Priors Marston on the actual form and doesn't mention Devon at all?? According to Old Reptonians he was there from Sep '69 till Apr '72.

1875; GUY'S HOSPITAL REPORTS; C. St. John Wright, Daventry, Certificate.

1879; Old Reptonians have him as qualifying as MRCS at Guys Hospital.

1880; Old Reptonians have him as qualifiying as MB at Aberdeen.

1880; THE STUDENTS' JOURNAL AND HOSPITAL GAZETTE: A FORNIGHTLY REVIEW OF MEDICINE, SURGERY, & THE ALLIED SCIENCES: CHRONICLE OF STUDENT NEWS AND MEDICAL PROGRESS; Mr.C.St John Wright has been appointed House-Surgeon to the Sheffield General Infirmary.

Sheffield Independent; 19 Jun 1880; Sheffield General Infimary; ... St. John Wright, M.B., Aberdeen, was appointed his successor, being selected out of three candidates

1881; Guys Hospital Reports; Final Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine; C.St.J.Wright.

1881 Census (age 27) is House Surgeon is Sheffield District Infirmary. In rank/profession it shows MB, FRCS, LSA. Incorrect indexed in Ancestry as M.J. more likely St.J. Birthplace clearly Priors Marston, although says Northants rather than Warwickshire? From Wendy; LSA is Licentiate of Society of Apothecaries.

Sheffield Independent; 7 Sep 1882; Sheffield General Infirmary; ....C. St. John Wright, having resigned his appointment"

1882; MEDICAL TIMES AND GAZETTE, A JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE, LITERATURE, CRITICISM, AND NEWS ; Appointments; St Mary (Islington) Parish; Christopher St John Wright M.B. M.C. Aber. M.R.C.S. Eng L.S.A. to the Workhouse and Infirmary.

Wonder if met his wife 'cos he was working in Islington (in which case must have moved there soon after '81) or if moved to job in Islington 'cos wife's family lived there? Presumably the former, how would they have met otherwise?? However Anthony has pointed out that Agnes' brother Alfred George was also in Aberdeen around the same time as Christopher.

From Wendy H; The Times July 15 1882; Marriages; On the 12th inst at St Saviour's, Aberdeen Park by the Rev Geo.Beilby MA (qv) cousin of the bride, assisted by the Rev J Allen Bell MA Vicar of Hayling Island, Hants, CHRISTOPHER ST JOHN WRIGHT MB FRCS of Priors Marston, Warwickshire to AGNES LOUISA daughter of the late HENRY BATEMAN FRCS of 13 Canonbury Lane N.
The Rev Allen Bell of Hayling Island (later Canon of Norwich Cathedral) who assisted at the Wright/Bateman wedding ; his son was later chaplain to the Arch of Cantab. and eventually Bishop of Chichester (1929). After Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany, Bell jnr secured asylum in England for Jews and non-Aryan Christians fleeing from the Nazi regime. Bell snr’s wife was Sarah Georgina Megaw. Not sure if there is a family link of not, might be friend of Beilby.

1882; THE MEDICAL TIMES AND GAZETTE A JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE, LITERATURE, CRITICISM, AND NEWS; WRIGHT - BATEMAN - On July 12, at St Saviours, Aberdeen Park, N. Christopher St John Wright M.B. M.R.C.S. of Priors Marston, Warwickshire to Agnes Louise, daughter of the late Henry Bateman, F.R.C.S. of 13 Canonbury N.

Wedding cert (Ancestry on-line); John Pirkins Wright, Gent, Henry Bateman, Surgeon. Witnesses Robert Nesbitt, Maud Agatha Bateman and Elizabeth Helen Bateman.

1882 The Medical Times and Gazette "Christopher St. John Wright, MB, MC Aber., MRCS. Eng., L.S.A., to the Workhouse and Infirmary. ..."

Brit Medical Register 1883; WRIGHT, Christopher St John, St Mary's Infirmary, St. John's Road, Holloway, London
Date of Qualification; 1879 Nov 19 E
Qualifications; Mem R Coll. Surg Eng 1879, Lic.Soc.Apoth. London 1879, M.B.Mast Surg. 1880, Univ Aberd.

1884 The Lancet contains the text "On the 26th nit, the wife of Dr. C. St. John Wright, ..."

1889 Reports by St Bartholomew's Hospital "Presented by Dr. C. St. John Wright and Mr. HE Whitehead. SERIES XLII. DISEASES OF THE UTERINE APPENDAGES. ..."

1891 Census (age 37) is resident medical superintendant (Superintending Surgeon and General Practioner) at St.Mary Islington Workhouse Infirmary - there is a picture of this is Christopher Jnr's photo album.

Brit Medical Register 1891; WRIGHT, Christopher St John, St Mary's Infirmary, St. John's Road, Holloway, London
Rest as per prior entries (see 1883)

Times 25 May 1891; Inquests; At the Islington Coroner's court on Sat. Dr G.Danford Thomas held an inquest on the body of Reuben Brave, aged, 72, an inmate of the Islington Workhouse ..... Dr.C.St.John Wright, the medical officer of the institution, stated that it was probable that the deceased had been lying dead all the night.

Times 01 Dec 1891; Inquests; Dr W Wynn Westcott held an inquest at Islington Coroner's Court on the body of George Rose, aged 28, a timber hauler, who did in the Islington Workhouse Infirmary on Thurs last from the effects of wounds he had sustained. ...... Dr.C.St.John Wright, medical officer of the workhouse infirmary, gave it as his opinion that the deceased died from exhaustion consequent upon tetanus following injuries to the head and face.

From http://www.bethlemheritage.org.uk/explorebethlem/WICKHAM.ASP
On 27th May 1893, whilst working at Islington Infirmary, he produced Medical Certificate regarding lunacy of one Mary Emily Wickham "She is maniacal. Incessantly shouting, talking in a rambling and at times incoherent manner. She does not answer any question rationally but only laughs and answers irrationally. She is violent and has to be restrained."

Times 02 Feb 1894; Inquests; At the Islington Coroner's Court, yesterday, Dr. Danford Thomas, held an inquest on the body of Bertie Lawrance, aged 3 yrs, son of a labourer, who has no fixed abode, and is at present under remand from North London Police court charged with deserting his family. Evidence was given the on the 17th the mother, who was then an inmate of the workhouse, left and went out into the street with her 4 young children. She got drunk, went to her mother's house, broke the windows, and fought with one of her brothers. At 1:30 the next morning she met her husband in the streets, and they went together to the workhouse, where they left the children on the steps and ran away. Dr Christopher St John Wright said that the deceased was apparantely healthy when taken from the workhouse on the 17th, but when readmitted was suffering from meningitis. He died on the 27th from this disease.....

Unknown date and publication; At North London, Wm Cripps, described as lodging-house deputy, of Campbell Road, Holloway was summoned by the guardians of St.Mary, Islington, "for that he, being a person wholly or in part able to maintain himself, did wilfully neglect to do so" ..... proceedings were taken under Sec 3 of the Vagrant Act. This was, perhaps, the first action of the kind that had been heard before a magistrate ...... Dr.Christopher St J Wright, medical superintendent of the Islington Workhouse, said that Cripps was discharged on the 29th.

Brit Medical Register 1895; WRIGHT, Christopher St John, St Mary's Infirmary, St. John's Road, Holloway, London. Rest as per prior entries (see 1883)

1897 British Medical Journal "Dr. St. John Wright, who has just resigned the position of Medical Superintendent of St. Mary's Infirmary and Workhouse, Islington, was last week presented ..."

1897 ; Chelmsford Chronicle; Presentation to Dr Wright of Felsted; " Dr. Christopher St. John Wright, who has recently taken over the practice of Dr. John McKee Holiingsworth. of Felsted, was presented with a handsome silver candelabrum and illuminated address the Guardians, Justices of the Peace, nt of St. Mary's lnfirmary aud Workhouse, Islington. The nurses also presented Dr. Wright with a silver salver and an address. The presentation was made by Mr. Elliott, L.C.C., the chairman the Board, who paid a high tribute to the ability Dr. Wright....."

Brit Medical Register 1899 - later; WRIGHT, Christopher St John, Felstead, Essex.
Rest as per prior entries (see 1883)

Essex Newsman; Sat 17 Mar 1900; House Parlour Maid wanted, immediately, about 18; been out before; good character. Apply Mrs St John Wright, Felsted, Chelmsford, Essex.

1901 census (age 47) living in Felsted Village, Essex with wife and 3 sons.
Occupation; Surgeon and Physician (NB: Probable he was also Doctor to Felsted School, although School History book makes no mention of him).
Also in house were 2 x visitors - Charles BATEMAN (age 25, something Government something something, born in Maidenhead) and Rowland A BRYDEN(maybe) (age 18, medical student) and two servants - Constance (Housemaid) and Percy Brass (Groom). Bryden is his nephew. Originally I thought Charles Bateman just a coincidence, however if trace him back to 1881 census his father is Henry Bateman, born ~1840 in London, this appears to be Agnes Louisa's half brother Henry.

Essex Newsman; Sat 24 Aug 1901; A Wasp In A Man's Ear. As Joseph Tyler, of Dunmow, was driving the mail cart from Chelmsford to that town early on Saturday morning, a wasp flew into one of his ears, causing him great pain. He called at PC Harris's house in Howe Street, Great Waltham, at 4:20am, and the constable did his best to extract the insect, but his efforts were futile. Accordingly he accompanied Tyler to Felsted, where the wasp was removed by Mr.C.St.John Wright, surgeon, after which Tyler continued his journey to Dunmow. While the wasp remained in the poor man's ear he suffered great agony.

Brit Medical Register 1907; WRIGHT, Christopher St John, Felstead(sic) Essex.
Rest as per prior entries (see 1883)

Brit Medical Register 1907; WRIGHT, Christopher St John, Felstead(sic) Essex.
Rest as per prior entries (see 1883)

Found his death record on ancestry 'Wright, Christopher St J age 56 and died in Battle, Sussex (ie close to Bexhill) in Q1 1911.

Newspaper: "The death has occurred at 12 Bedford Ave, Bexhill of Dr Christopher St John Wright late of Felsted. Dr Wright was for many years in practise at Felsted, where he was District Medical Officer to the Dunmow Board of Guardians, but he resigned last year owing to ill-health, and sold his practice to Dr Smallpiece. Dr Wright and his family removed to Bexhilll."

Google Books;
C.St John Wright appears (In some form or other) in the Guy's Hospital annual report in 1915 ..... 4 years after he died !?

Also Wendy has found him as a co-author of a number of reports in the Guy's Hospital Reports.

Dr.C.St.John Wright, Felsted, Essex appears in the 'Badminton Magazine of Sports and Pastimes' 1902. Looks possibly like a list of subscribers. Also there is a picture entitled 'Before Lunch' taken by Dr.C.St John Wright of Felsted, Essex in the 1902 edition (pg 574).

Aberdeen University Studies Serial pub 1970 "Wright, Christopher St. John, MB, CM 1880. S. of John Perkins W. ; b. Priors Marston, Warwick, 23rd Mar. 1854. Medical Superintendent, St. Mary Islington ..."

THE MEDICAL TIMES AND GAZETTE 1880. Reference to a Christopher JOHN Wright of Priors Marston

Ann G-P (nee Wright) still getting letters re his estate in 1979 ! (due to Kate dying).

Will dated 4th June 1905, summary from solicitors thus; executors 'his friend George Thomas Willes' (Google indicates a London solicitor ... of same firm have letters from) and his sons Arthur St John Wright and George St John Wright.
After making "various bequests he devised his real property and the residue of his personal estate not thereby otherwise disposed off" thus;
To divide his residual estate as follows; 3/5ths upon trust for all or any of my three sons who shall attain the age of 25 and the remaining 2/5ths upon trust that his trustees shall retain the same and shall in case and when my dau Kate St John Wright attains the age of 25 or marries under that age pay the income of such share to her and after the death of my said dau shall hold such share and the future income thereof upon trust for all or such one or more exlusively of the others or other of the children or remoter issue of my said dau etc. ....... if she dies without issue then her share "shall be held by my trustees for such of my said three sons as shall be living at the death of my said dau and the children then living of such of my said sons ..... the share their parent would have taken" etc. He died 2 Feb 1911 and his will was proved 9 Mar 1911.
Kate did NOT provide for this 2/5th interest in HER will, therefore each of the seven grandchildren (her siblings having all predeceased Kate) got 1/7th of the trusts funds gradually between 1977 and 1979. (although reading the summary Ann SHOULD have got 1/3rd not 1/7th!).

Christopher married Agnes Louisa# Bateman, daughter of Dr. Henry Charles# Bateman FRCS, LSA and Elizabeth Helen (pref Helen)# Senior, on 12 Jul 1882 in St.Saviour's, Aberdeen Park, Islington, London. (Agnes Louisa# Bateman was born on 15 Jul 1860 in Highbury, London and died on 21 Sep 1932 in Battle, Sussex.)