George Wright
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George Wright (1823 - 1904)

George Wright
Born in Selby, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdommap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married 1847 (to 25 Aug 1892) in Goole, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdommap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 81 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United Statesmap
Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lin Wright private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 12 Nov 2015
This page has been accessed 821 times.


Contents

Biography

George Wright was born on 1 Mar 1823[1] and christened 23 Mar 1823 in Selby, the son of George Wright and Martha Shipstone.[2]

He was married in Goole during the third quarter of 1847 to Ann Huntington.[3]

George Wright was living with his parents and siblings in Hook, Yorkshire, England in 1841 where he was employed as a cooper apprentice.[4] In 1851 he was enumerated at 2 Wesley Square, Hook, where he was living with his wife and two children, William E and Emily, and working as a cooper. His brother-in-law, Thomas Huntington was living at 4 Wesley Square.[5]

He and his parents and siblings were enumerated in the 1841 census living on George Street in Hook, Yorkshire, England. All were born in Yorkshire.

George Wright, 50, pilot
Martha Wright, 40
George Wright, 15, cooper apprentice
Martha Wright, 15
William E Wright, 14, ship wright apprentice
John Wright, 10
Hy Wright, 12
Samuel Wright, 9
Robert Wright, 7
Rose Ann Wright, 4[6]

In 1851 he was living at 2 Wesley Square, Hook, Yorkshire, England.

George Wright, head, married, 28, cooper, b. Selby
Ann Wright, wife, married, 29, b. Airmyn
William E Wright, 2, unmarried, b. Goole
Emily Wright, 11 mo, unmarried, b. Goole

George Wright and his brother, Henry, along with their wives, Ann and Elizabeth, and George and Ann's children William and Emily, emigrated from England, departing Liverpool and arriving in Boston 4 Oct 1851 on the Old England.

George and Ann in East Boston

By 1854, George was found in the Boston city directory, working as a cooper and living at 19 Chelsea, East Boston. George’s son, John Samuel, was born in June 1853 at Trenton Street although George was living that year on Bennington Street. George and Ann weren’t at Bennington Street long, as by the next year they were on Chelsea St; perhaps Ann giving birth on Trenton Street rather than her own home was because of the presence of her sisters-in-law to assist or perhaps they moved to Chelsea St between the time they were on Bennington and the time they were on Chelsea. There are several errors in the birth record – George is called John and both parents were listed as having been born in Hingham, rather than England; perhaps the Trenton Street address was also in error. The son, John Samuel, only lived for two months.[7]

On 3 Nov 1855 he filed his declaration of intent to become naturalized and foreswore allegiance to Queen Victoria. Nearly three years later, on 30 Oct 1858 he became a naturalized citizen of the United States.[8]

George and Ann both soon became active in the local Methodist Church. His mother had joined the Bennington Street Methodist Episcopal Church (which soon moved to Saratoga Street and was renamed Saratoga St Methodist Episcopal Church). Other members of the family are found in the Bennington/Saratoga church records. George and Ann became active members of the Meridian Street Methodist Episcopal Church. At one time when the church was in arrears on their mortgage, George was one of several members of the church who loaned the church money to pay off that mortgage and set up a new mortgage which the church paid off in full.[9]

Four more sons followed, Walter in 1856; Roland in 1859; Warren in 1862; and Albert Lincoln, probably named Lincoln in honor of the recently assassinated President in 1866.[10]

In 1871 George, Ann, and young Albert travelled to England, almost certainly to visit family. Two of his brothers, Samuel and Robert had returned to Yorkshire and Ann's father had died in England two years before and perhaps she knew she might never have another opportunity to see her surviving siblings and extended family. Albert died the year after they returned.[11]

Asbury Grove

A few years their arrival in East Boston, the Methodist churches in the Boston and Lynn regions acquired land and established a camp meeting in Hamilton, which they named Asbury Grove. They had previously attended camp meeting on Martha’s Vineyard but that was not easily accessible for them. The camp meeting movement was an outgrowth of the second great awakening, providing the religious, interested and the merely curious an opportunity to gather together for an intense period of public and private worship in many forms: sermonizing, hymn singing, exhortation, prayer, praise and fellowship away from the urban areas.[12]

It is not known when exactly George and Ann started attending camp meetings, but the East Boston church had a large tent there on an elevated platform which later became enclosed. That East Boston house is one of the few that has survived. In 1870 Asbury Grove allowed permanent structures to be built, and George was one of the original cottage owners. His cottage still survives, but in a much modified form.[13]

Asbury Grove had a newspaper called the Asbury Mentor. Four issues were published each summer beginning in 1901 and continuing at least until 1909. They printed historical pieces as well as information about current happenings. In the second issue this piece was published:

East Boston Bethel Home
This is one of the first of the buildings put up on the grounds for Chapel, Parsonage, and Home purposes.
At the time it was built it was the largest. Its cost was $775. Additions and improvements since have brought up the amount to $1000.
It was built while Rev. L B. Bates, D. D., was pastor, he securing the funds.
Mr. Geo. Wright superintended its construction, and toiled early and late that everything might be done in the best possible manner, and he succeeded so well, that the general plan has been followed by several other societies on the ground, and even by societies on other camp grounds.
Dr. Bates paid at the beginning for one eighth of the building and he and some of his family have occupied his room a part of the time each year. As many as sixty at the height of the camp meeting have at one time lodged comfortably in this building.[14]

With his retirement around 1881, George was able to become more involved in running the camp meeting. The first mention of George Wright in the minutes of the Association was on 12 January 1887 when he was elected to a 5-year term and placed on the Committee on Grounds. A year later, on 11 January 1888, he was appointed to the Nominating Committee, the Committee on Grounds, the Committee on Police, and elected Auditor.[15]

George's involvement on the Asbury Grove Board:[16]

11 Jan 1888 - appointed to the Nominating Committee, the Committee on Grounds, the Committee on Police and elected Auditor.
11 Oct 1888 - voted on committee regarding the sale of the stable (a buyer was never found).
9 Jan 1889 - elected Auditor, to the Committee on Grounds Chairman and probably Superintendent of Grounds (although it is not clear in the minutes), and to the Committee on Police.
30 May 1880 - appointed to a committee to oversee the erection of the Tabernacle.
13 Jan 1890 - elected Auditor, to the Committee on Grounds (Chairman and probably Superintendent) and Committee on Police as chairman.
12 Jan 1891 - elected Auditor, to the Committee on Grounds (Chairman and Superintendent at a salary of $200), Committee on Police as chairman.
4 Jun 1891 - voted on to the Committee on Victualing. It was also voted to give the Superintendent $200 for the previous year as a salary.
1 Jan 1892 - elected Auditor, to the Committee on Grounds (Chairman and Superintendent at $200), the Committee on Police (Chairman) and the Committee on Victualing.
26 Aug 1892 Special Meeting - action was taken upon the death of Mrs Wright. A committee was appointed to frame a resolution conveying their sympathy, appropriate floral arrangements made and members were selected to attend the funeral and serve as pallbearers.

Cooperage

George was an apprentice cooper by 1841 when he was 18, and once he finished his apprenticeship became a cooper. He probably worked for one of the other cooperages once he arrived in East Boston, perhaps for the man who would become his partner, Henry B. Hill. Hill, but not Wright, is listed in the 1857 Boston Business Directory. That same year the cooperage of Hill & Wright was established. Hill was the president of the company, but he was involved in much more over time, serving in the state legislature in both the House and the Senate, as a Republican and later an Independent. In later years he served later as director of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as well as founder and director of the First Ward National Bank, served as an early president of the East Boston Trade Association and was involved as president or director of other businesses. He is associated with the Universalist Church. Unlike his partner, George Wright appears to have concentrated on the production end of the business.

The book Commerce, Manufactures & Resources of Boston, Mass: A Historical, Statistical & Descriptive Review wrote of the company:

HILL & WRIGHT, Manufacturers of Casks, Vats, Tanks, Etc., 129 to 161 Sumner Street, East Boston.
The cooper’s trade is one of great antiquity, and few industries are of more indispensable necessity in connection with commercial and manufacturing operations. The extent to which machinery is now employed in the production of cooperage can only be fully appreciated by a visit to the leading establishment of the kind – that of Messers. Hill & Wright of East Boston. This is one of the oldest concerns in the business in New England, having been founded in 1857; and it is also the most extensive.
Two plants are owned and operated by the firm – one at Salem, and one at East Boston. Both are supplied with all the latest-improved machinery for facilitating operations, and are operated by steam-power; employment being found in the works for about fifty skilled workmen.
The products of the house comprise Casks and Vats of all descriptions, Cypress Tanks, for manufacturers, brewers, dyers, etc. Water and Oil Casks, Shooks, Syrup-Barrels, etc.; their specialty being the manufacture of Lead Buckets and Kegs. These latter are made in large quantities, from oak, and many of the styles are quite unique, and belong only to this house, which, so far as price is concerned, is enabled, by reason of their unsurpassed facilities, to execute large orders as a less cost than any other concern in New England, as well as in much less time.
It is therefore gratifying to state that a trade has been established which is only limited by the confines of the country; besides which large consignments of the products are exported.
The individual members of the firm are Messrs. Henry B. Hill and George Wright; the former a native of Salem, and the latter a native of England. Both are closely identified with the commercial and manufacturing advancement of this city; and Mr. Hill has also devoted much of his time to public service, having been a member of the lower branch of the State Legislature in 1872, 1873 and 1876, and a member of the Senate in 1877 and 1878.
By the exercise of enterprise, energy, and integrity, the house of Messrs. Hill & Wright has attained a prominence in the trade which is accorded only those whose operations are characterized by principles of strict mercantile honor.[17]

During the Civil War, the firm aided the war effort as reported in 1862:

Messrs. Hill & Wright, the proprietors of a large coopering establishment in East Boston, have made a generous offer to the men in their employ. They had offered to give to each married man in their employ who will enlist the sum of $25, and give him his situation when he returns. They have offered to give each one of their apprentices his time while he is gone, and agreed to take him back on his return, and pay him journeyman wages.[18]

The fortunes of the company changed with the economy and they were apparently able to ramp up quickly. An article from 1881 used Hill & Wright as an example of “the improved business condition of the Island Ward” :

…The enlarged business of Messrs. Hill & Wright, coopers, who have contracted to furnish East Boston Sugar Refinery with 1,500 barrels per day, and who have arranged with the Boston and Albany Railroad Company to receive 400 carloads of lumber per year, to be delivered near their premises on Jeffries’ Point. The labor of making these barrels will involve the employment by Messrs. Hill & Wright of at least 100 extra men in addition to their present force.[19]

Running a business in that era was not without hazard. The New York Herald reported on 5 Feb 1869:

The large cooper shop of Hill & Wright, in East Boston, was destroyed by fire yesterday morning. The loss was $12,000 and the insurance $7,000.[20]

Two years later the Boston Traveler reported:

The alarm of fire at 2:40 A.M. yesterday from box 153 was caused by fire in the brass foundry, Nos. 57 and 80 Sumner street, East Boston, owned by Hill & Wright, which was entirely consumed. Loss $1000; insured.A cooper-shop owned by the same firm was damages $300 worth.[21]

There was a smaller fire again at the property they still owned but had leased to the Eastern Nipple Mfg. Co. in June 1898. And in 1890 the new company, now called New England Steam Cooperage and located at the corner of Chelsea and Marion streets, East Boston, with an estimated damage loss from $7000 to $10,000.

Obituary

George Wright passed away in 1904.[22]

East Boston Cooper Dies Suddenly

George Wright, 81 years, one of East Boston's most prominent citizens, died yesterday afternoon at his home, 173 Webster street. Mr. Wright was for thirty-five years in the coopering business on Sumner street, East Boston, being one of the firm of Mills [sic] & Wright. He had been ill but a short time.[23]

Funeral Notice

WRIGHT--At East Boston, April 11, George Wright, 81 yrs. Funeral from 174 Webster st, Wednesday, April 13, at 2 o'clock.[24]

Associated Facts

  • Fact: Christening (23 March 1823) Selby, Yorkshire, England
  • Fact: Christening (23 Mar 1823) SELBY,YORK,ENGLAND
  • Fact: Residence (Before 1851) England
  • Fact: Nationality England
  • Fact: Immigration (1851)
  • Fact: Immigration (1851) United States
  • Fact: Immigration (1851) Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
  • Fact: Immigration (11 Oct 1851)
  • Fact: Immigration - Arrival (4 October 1851) On SS Old England departing Liverpool, accompanied by wife Ann, children William and Emily, brother Henry and his wife Elizabeth Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
  • Fact: Immigration (11 Oct 1851)
  • Fact: Immigration (14 October 1851) Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA
  • Fact: Immigration (2 October 1871) Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA
  • Fact: Immigration (11 October 1897) Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA
  • Fact: Immigration (9 November 1899) Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA
  • Fact: Residence (1851) East Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA
  • Fact: Residence (1853) Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA
  • Fact: Naturalization (1858) Massachusetts
  • Fact: Residence (1860) Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA
  • Fact: Census (1860) Ward 2 City of Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
  • Fact: Residence (15 Jul 1862) East Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA
  • Fact: Residence (1865) Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA
  • Fact: Residence (1865) Boston, Ward 02, Suffolk, Massachusetts
  • Fact: Residence (1870) Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA
  • Fact: Census (1870) Massachusetts, United States
  • Fact: Residence (1880) Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA
  • Fact: Census (1880) Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
  • Fact: Residence (1893) East Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA
  • Fact: Residence (1900) Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA
  • Fact: Census (1900) Precinct 7 Boston city Ward 2, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
  • Fact: Residence (11 Apr 1904) Boston
  • Fact: Burial Everett, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States
  • Fact: Occupation Cooper

Sources

  1. Petitions and Records of Naturalization
  2. England Births and Christenings.
  3. FreeBMD.org.uk.
  4. 1841 England Census.
  5. 1851 England Census.
  6. 1841 England Census.
  7. Boston City Directories, Boston Athenaeum.
  8. Naturalization Records.
  9. New England United Methodist Church Records for Bennington, Saratoga and Meridian Street United Methodist Churches; and Boston Deeds.
  10. 'Massachusetts Births.'
  11. Arrival passenger list for the Calabria, Boston 2 Oct 1871 and "Boston Deaths." Information about Samuel and Robert's return to England from England Census in 1871 and later and marriage record for Robert Wright and death record for Richard Huntington.
  12. Asbury Grove Historical Society [1], Transcriptions of Newspaper accounts for 1859 [2] and 1860 [3].
  13. "Early Cottage Construction Dates and Owners." [4] and personal knowledge Lin Wright.
  14. The Asbury Mentor, 1:2, 17 Jul 1901, p. 18.
  15. Asbury Grove Minute Books, unpublished; copy in possession of Lin Wright.
  16. Asbury Grove Minute Books, unpublished; copy in possession of Lin Wright.
  17. Commerce, Manufactures & Resources of Boston, Mass: A Historical, Statistical & Descriptive Review (1883) ,
  18. "Military Matters," in Boston Traveler, 6 Aug 1862.
  19. Boston Post, 4 Jun 1881, copied from the East Boston Advocate.
  20. The New York Herald, 5 Feb 1869.
  21. The Boston Traveler, 23 Oct 1871.
  22. Massachusetts Deaths.
  23. Boston Journal, 12 Apr 1904.
  24. Boston Journal, 13 Apr 1904.
  • "1841 England Census", Civil Parish: Hook; County: Yorkshire; Enumeration District: 6; Folio: 30; Page: 24; Line: 22; GSU roll: 464266, Ancestry,com. Original: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1841.
  • "1851 England Census", Civil Parish: Hook; County: Yorkshire; Enumeration District: 2b; Folio: 239; Page: 18; Line: 13; GSU roll: 87610, Ancestry,com. Original: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1851.
  • Boston City Directories, 1859-1900. Boston Athenaeum. [5]
  • "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J74C-3XP : 30 December 2014), George Wright, 23 Mar 1823; citing SELBY,YORK,ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 991,089, 991,090.
  • "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 29 April 2017, 21:40), entry for George Wright(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:MPDD-M51); contributed by various users.
  • "Massachusetts, Boston Passenger Lists, 1820-1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KCHX-J4N : 1 September 2016), George Wright, 1851; citing p. 2357, Ship , NARA microfilm publication M277 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 039; FHL microfilm 419,933.
  • "Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NWNF-JQ2 : 10 December 2014), George Wright, 11 Apr 1904; citing Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, v 11 cn 173, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 2,069,337.
  • "Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FH4J-YD4 : 10 December 2014), George Wright, 11 Apr 1904; citing , reference 3286; FHL microfilm 804,545.
  • "Massachusetts State Census, 1865," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQH7-CGR : 15 November 2014), Geo Wright, Boston, Ward 02, Suffolk, Massachusetts; State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 954,374.
  • New England, United Methodist Church Records, 1787–1922. Baptism, marriage, and death registers. Microfilm and textual records. New England Methodist Church Commission on Archives and History, Boston School of Theology Library, Boston, Massachusetts. Ancestry.com.
  • National Archives at Boston; Waltham, Massachusetts; ARC Title: Petitions and Records of Naturalization , 8/1845 - 12/1911; NAI Number: 3000057; Record Group Title: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009; Record Group Number: RG 21
  • "Public Member Trees", database, Ancestry.com (http://person.ancestry.com/tree/58370767/person/44546765958/facts : accessed 20 February 2017), profile for George Wright.
  • "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZC7-28P : 30 December 2015), Geo Wright, 1860.
  • "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD3J-K79 : 17 October 2014), George Wright, Massachusetts, United States; citing p. 31, family 233, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,139.
  • "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHXF-861 : 11 August 2016), George Wright, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district ED 587, sheet 238A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0552; FHL microfilm 1,254,552.
  • "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9YS-DJN : accessed 10 May 2017), George Wright, Precinct 7 Boston city Ward 2, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 1182, sheet 16B, family 296, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,676.
  • "United States Index to Passenger Arrivals, Atlantic and Gulf Ports, 1820-1874," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KDRF-Z59 : 4 December 2014), George Wright, 1851; citing Immigration, NARA microfilm publication M334 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 418,347.
  • "United States, New England Petitions for Naturalization Index, 1791-1906," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXRD-W9G : 3 December 2014), George Wright, 1858; citing Massachusetts, NARA microfilm publication M1299 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 116; FHL microfilm 1,429,786.




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