Mary Gertrude (Keene) Wright (1893 - 1935)

Born 10 Aug 1893 in Malden, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA

Ancestors

Wife of Frederick Carlton Wright Sr. — married 17 Feb 1916 (to 1929) in Thompsonville, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA

Descendants

Died 27 Nov 1935 at age 42 in Everett, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA

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Biography

Mary Gertrude Keene, sometimes known as Margaret Keene, was born on 10 August 1893 in Malden, Massachusetts, the daughter of Richard and Ella (Ritchie) Keene.^[1]

She appeared on the Federal Census of 14 June 1900 at Townsend, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the household of Vernal Barber as a boarder as Mary G. Keene, born Dec 1893 (sic) in Mass., age 6, father's birthplace unknown, mother born Mass., at school.^[2] She was enumerated in the Federal Census of 19 April 1910 at 57 Central St., Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, in the household of Margaret R. Abbott as Margaret Kean, companion, age 16, single, born Mass., parents born Mass., occupation companion, wage earner.^[3]

She attended Abbot Academy in Andover, Mass. (later Phillips Academy), and became a teacher in Andover. ^[4]

She married Frederick Carlton Wright, son of William Clifford Wright and his wife Temperance Emma Fish, on 17 February 1916 at Thompsonville, Connecticut, USA.^[5] The marriage ended in divorce in 1929.^[6][7][8]

Mary was mentioned in the obituary of her brother, James A. Keen in 1918 as residing in Everett. He had died during WW I.^[9]

Mary appeared in the Federal Census of 6 January 1920 at 22 Dowse St., Ward 3, Everett, Massachusetts, in the household of her husband Frederick Carlton Wright as Mary G. Wright, wife, age 25, born in Mass., as were both her parents, no occupation was given.^[10]

Mary was named as the head of household in the Census of 5 April 1930 at 26 Summer St., Everett, Massachusetts, as Mary K. Wright, head, $55 rent, no radio, age 31, divorced, married at 20 yrs, born Mass., parents born Mass. She was a bookeeper for an Auctioneer. Also enumerated in the home were her daughters Vivian Elizabeth and Gertrude Frederica Wright, and her maternal uncle Elliot James Ritchie.ref name="1930Cen" />

Before her marriage, she was a teacher in Andover, MA. By 1930 she was a bookkeeper for an auctioneer in Everett. Mary arranged for nursing school tuition for daughter Trudy when Mary became ill.^[6]

Mary Gertrude (Keene) Wright died on 27 November 1935 at 43 Kinsman St, Everett, Massachusetts, of cancer at age 41 years 3 months and 17 days.^[8] She was buried on 30 November 1935 at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett.^[8][11] A memorial and photograph of her gravestone can be seen on Findagrave Memorial #128884243 courtesy of Findagrave volunteer Dino.

Mary died of a hereditary form of colon cancer, as did her father, one of her daughters, and a granddaughter. This disease is now know as Lynch Syndrome.

After Mary's death, Vivian was sent to live with Mary's best friend, Effie Herne.^[6]

Frederick and Mary (Keene) Wright had two children together:

1. Gertrude Frederica Wright, b. 27 Sep 1917 Springfield, Mass.
2. Vivian Elizabeth Wright, b. 27 May 1920 Everett, Mass.

Sources

1. ↑ Mary G. Keene entry, MA Birth Registrations Vol. 431:270, entry #433 (1893), Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts.

   "Mary Gertrude Keene, b. 10 Aug 1893 at Malden, father Richard, born MA, a plumber, mother Ella G. Ritchie, born MA, parent's residence Malden."

2. ↑ 1900 US Census, population schedule, Middlesex Co., MA, ED 967, Sheet 10, lines 74-75, enumeration #243/266, NARA Micropublication T623, Roll 666.
3. ↑ 1910 US Census, population schedule, Essex Co., MA, ED 264, sheet 5a, p. 137, lines 14-15, enumeration #58/73, NARA Micropublication T624, Roll 580.
4. ↑ Robert Morley, "Family of Mary (Keene) Wright," research sent via e-mail to Bobbie Hall, 2013.
5. ↑ Marriage Record of Frederick C Wright & Mary Keene: 1916:637:405, entry #7, Registry of Vital Records, Boston, Massachusetts.

   "Frederick C Wright, age 20, 1st marriage, res Rockport, mechanic, b Sandwich to William C & T Emma Fish, bride "Margaret" G Keene, age 22, 1st marriage, res Andover, teacher, b. Malden to Richard & Ella G. Ritchie."

6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Interview with her daughter, by Bobbie Hall, 1998.
7. ↑ 1930 US Census, population schedule, Middlesex Co., MA, ED 230, sheet 4B, lines 56-59, enumeration #58/96 (divorced), NARA Micropublication T626, Roll 918.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} Mary Keene Wright, Death Record Vol. 38:64 (1935), Registry of Vital Records, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

   "Place of death- 43 Kinsman St, Everett, residence-same, date of death 27 Nov 1935, divorced, female, white, spouse Frederick C Wright, died at age 41y 3m 17d, occ- at home, own home, last worked at this occ 1933, 20 yrs spent in occ, birthplace Malden, MA, father's name Richard Keene born ME, mother's name Ella G Richie born MA, cause of death Carcinoma of Sigmoid and general carcinomatosis from Feb 1935, place of burial Woodlawn Cem, Everett, MA, funeral director- JE Henderson Co, Everett, informant-Gertrude Wright."

9. ↑ Eben Putnam, editor, The Gold Star Record of Massachusetts (Boston, MA: Commonwealth of MA, 1929), Vol 2, p. 360.
10. ↑ 1920 US Census, population schedule, Middlesex Co., MA, Ward 3, ED132, Sheet 6A; Lines 19-21, NARA Micropublication T625, Roll 709.
11. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/128884243/mary-gertrude-wright: accessed 05 February 2023), memorial page for Mary Gertrude “Margaret” Keene Wright (10 Aug 1893–27 Nov 1935), Find A Grave: Memorial #128884243, citing Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Bobbie Hall (contributor 47564366).