Charles Charlton Wright (1817 - 1901)

Born 25 Aug 1817 in Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 5 Apr 1901 at age 83 in Yankalilla, South Australia, Australia

Biography

Charles Wright came free to the Colony of South Australia (1836-1900)

OLD TIME MEMORIES
Interview with Pioneers
The Brothers Wright of Yankalilla
In Tuesday's Register we published a paragraph stating that a postcard had been recieved from the Brothers Wright of Yankalilla, stating that they were colonists of 1836, and were enjoying good health. On Thursday a representative of this paper waited upon them at their home, Boord's Flat, near Yankalilla, and, wishing them the compliments of the season, had a chat about old-time memories. He found the two brothers living in a comfortable home on their own land, and although aged seventy-three and seventy-six years respectively, they dispense with the services of a house-keeper, prefering to "batch" which they do in true colonial style, as they both have always enjoyed "single blessedness". The weight of their years still rests lightly upon them, and the old men appear exceedingly hale and hearty, their mental faculties being even more vigorous than their bodily health. They are true "Cockneys" having been born within the sound of "Bow Bells" - Charles on August 25 1817 and Robert on October 29 1820. Their father (Dr Wright) was Medical Superintendent of a neighbouring hospital. They were educated at the Merchant Tailors' School, Charles afterwards studying at King's College. He walked the wards of St Thomas's Hospital with a view to the medical profession, but the determination of his father that the family should be early colonists of South Australia prevented him taking his diploma. He is proud to remember among the professors at College the distinguished scientists Wheatstone and Faraday. He vividly remembers the former stating in the lecture-room on one occasion "that he believed that whom the power of electricity, magnetism and galvanism was better known a man would be able to carry an instrument under his arm that would contain the force of a thousand horsepower." They both well recollect the excitement amongst the intending colonists who frequented the South Australian Rooms during the passage of the Bill to establish the province through the two houses of Parliament. One man zealously interviewed the members of the House of Lords and besought the Peers to pass the Bill and help his wife and family, but the joke was only seen by those who knew the zealous advocate to be a bachelor. When the measure had passed both Houses a banquet was held to celebrate the event, which Charles attended, and he remembers that when George Stevenson was speaking, he stated "We have a fool for a Governor, and we must rule him".
The Wright family came to the colony in the ship Cygnet, which was the fifth vessel to reach Kangaroo Island from the old country, which she did on September 11, 1836, and amongst their fellow passengers were John Morphett, George S Kingston, B. T. Finnis, Captain T Lipson, the Hon. Littleton Paywest, George Stevenson, W. H. Neale and T Gilbert. She was under the command of Captain Rolls, who was a hot-tempered man, and Robert added slily "we had hot rolls every day." She had a good run to the Cape, when a contrary wind drove them to the coast of Rio de Janeiro. A mutiny having broken out amongst the sailors owing to the drunkenness of the mate, a fresh mate was shipped at Rio de Janeiro, viz., Captain Quin, who afterwards was for many years harbourmaster at Port Adelaide.
When nearing Kangaroo Island the captain ordered two "six pounders'" to be hauled out of the hold to fire a salute, not expecting any other vessel to be there, but to his surprise there were four. The passengers formed their settlement on what is now known as Cygnet River. The Brothers Wright sailed from Kangaroo Island for Holdfast Bay in the brig Rapid, landing in the month of November, and had to haul their "things" from Glenelg to Adelaide in a handcart, a task that they saw Sir John Morphett and "Parson" Howard performing.
When asked if they remembered anything particular about the proclamation of the colony, they replied that they well remembered several ludicrous things. In reply to the question if they were very comic, Robert replied - "Nothing but what one could tell the angels in Heaven." He stated that Governor Hindmarsh took their stand beneath the "Temple Bar" tree, and the marines from the Buffalo were drawn up in line on one side, and the natives on the other. When the proclamation had been read Governor Hindmarsh gave a shilling to a man called Cooper, from Kangaroo Island, who was acting as interpreter, saying "show that to the natives and tell them I am King, but don't let them keep it." He then ordered the marines to fire a feu-de-joie. "Fire all together" said he, "as it will make more noise" - evidently meant to impress the natives. On the way here the Buffalo called at the Cape, where the Governor secured a German wagon and two mules. These formed the State coach, and after the festivities at the Bay, he ordered his men to take the mules out of the wagon and they themselves to pull him in triumph from Glenelg to Adelaide.
When the land was being distributed in 1837 the ballot system was used, and two younger brothers of the Wrights were chosen to draw the lots, and for performing this task they were presented with half an acre of land each. The brother Charles went with the rush to the Melbourne diggings, where he did fairly well; whilst Robert went to Van Diemen's Land, where he engaged in the timber trade, exporting to South Australia. Eventually they both returned to this colony, and in October 1854, they went to Yankalilla to live, where they have resided ever since, engaging in pastoral pursuits. Charles's knowledge of medicine was a great boon to the neighbourhood, in the early days. In closing the interview Robert remarked "Our lives have not been romantic, perhaps because we are not romantic, for those that like romance usually get it." Pointing to a large pile of "Letts's Diaries" he said, "There is my journal, which I have faithfully kept for over thirty years, together with a financial statement of every penny that I have earned or spent." - "OLD-TIME MEMORIES." South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) 10 January 1894: 6. Web. 11 Feb 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article53637924>.

AN OLD PIONEER.
Mr. J. W. Clayton, of Yankalilla, courteously writes to inform us that one of the earliest pioneers of the colony, Mr. Charles Charleston Wright, of Yankalilla, is still alive and though in his eighty-first year enjoys the best of health. He, with Mr. Boyle Travers Finniss, Sir George Kingston, Sir John Morphett. Captain Lipson, and Mr. Thomas Gilbert, all of whom are now dead, arrived at Holdfast Bay on September 11, 1836, in the Cygnet, and every little incident of interest which occurred on the journey is still fresh in his memory. He is one of the few survivors of the little band who were present under the gum tree at Glenelg at the proclamation of the colony on December 28. 1836. Mr. Wright has never entered the bonds of matrimony, [ and still acts as his own cook, in which capacity he is an adept. He also believes in the precept "Early to bed and early to rise." - AN OLD PIONEER. (1897, December 28). The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35100952

Sources

• Reconstructed Passenger list Cygnet 1836 (State Library of South Australia, Bound For South Australia Collection, https://bound-for-south-australia.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/ : accessed 11 Feb 2022) Surgeon: Dr Edward Wright, also Mrs and 3/4 sons Robert, Septimus, Thomas plus Charles Wright.

• CORONERS INQUESTS. (1838, September 22). South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register (Adelaide, SA : 1836 - 1839), p. 4. Retrieved February 11, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31750143

• "Epitome of General News." Christian Colonist (SA : 1878 - 1894) 12 January 1894: 6. Web. 11 Feb 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214709759>.

• "A PIONEER OF 1836." The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) 9 January 1896: 5. Web. 11 Feb 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article34534034>.

• South Australia Death Index. (Genealogy SA, https://www.genealogysa.org.au/index.php : accessed 11 Feb 2022) database entry for Charles Charlton Wright (Death date 5 Apr 1901, age 84, marital status N, place of death Yankalilla, residence Yankalilla) Reference: District Yankalilla, Book/Page 277/104

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 12 February 2022), memorial page for Charles Wright (unknown–1901), Find A Grave: Memorial #113053778, citing Yankalilla Public Cemetery, Yankalilla, District Council of Yankalilla, South Australia, Australia ; Maintained by Kellie Underwood (contributor 47927135) .