Theresa Wainwright

With the publication of the 1911 census we learned that Ann Maria Hughes gave birth to 12 children, and not 11 as we believed.  Some research showed us that she had a baby girl, named Theresa, born on June 17, 1879.  She only lived a short time, possibly a few days, or weeks.

Thomas Wainwright

One of the advantages from our recent trip to Australia was a chance to exchange photos with our new found relatives. This is a picture of Thomas Wainwright, who was born in 1876 in Manchester, England. He was the seventh child born to James and Ann Maria Wainwright. In this photo he was about 20. This photo was shared with us by our cousin Jean, who was Thomas's daughter-in-law.

Visiting Australia

In April my sister and I visited Australia and met our long lost cousins for the first time. We were met at the airport in Perth by 11 relatives in two groups--two groups who did not know each other; so my sister and I had the pleasure of not only meeting our new found relations for the first time, but also of introducing some of our Australian relatives to each other, also for the first time. It was a thrill for both of us to see such a positive tangible result from the fruits of our research.

While I was only able to be in Australia for 2 and a half weeks, my sister, who was joined by her daughter just before I left, was able to stay in for an additional week and a half longer. Still, in 2 and a half weeks, we met 69 relatives! Of the 6 Wainwright siblings who emigrated to Australia, only 3 had children in Australia (Richard Wainwright's daughter remained in England when he emigrated). So the 69 descendants that we met were all descended from either Thomas or Samuel Wainwright, or from their sister, Elizabeth Stubbs (nee Wainwright).

So the connection has been reestablished and new friendships made and it will be up to all of us to keep it going for the next generation. It is a unique thing for distant kin in two counties so far apart as Canada and Australia to have found each other and hopefully we can all profit from it.

Death in the state of Western Australia

I have received the death certificate from Western Australia which correctly identifies William Wainwright as the son James Wainwright and Ann Maria Hughes

He died of Lobar Pneumonia on July 11, 1916 and was buried two days later at Wagin Cemetery. He was 45 years old. He is listed as a farmer and the place of death is listed as Pingarning East, Dumbleyung. The residence information was supplied in writing by his brother, George, whose address is listed as simply, Pingarning.

The certificate lists Williams birthplace as Manchester, England, and that he had been in Western Australia for six years.

His death was registered at Katanning on July 17, 1916.

The occupation of the father, James, is listed as "farmer," and this is most intriguing, because we have never seen James described as a farmer before, and this makes me suspect that the family story of James accompanying his children to Australia is true! And most likely he was working on the farm with William and George when William died.

Concerning William

In order to help unlock the mystery of William Wainwright, the fifth child born to James and Ann Maria, I ordered the marriage certificate from England for William Wainwright and Mary Ellen Gorst, who I believed he was married to. However, upon receiving the certificate I have discovered that this is not our William Wainwright. This William is the son of another William Wainwright, who was a dairyman. A different person, entirely. So neither this William, nor Mary Ellen Gorst are a part of this branch of the Wainwright family. I am now going to turn my attention to Australia, where it is believed, according to family story, that William died of pneumonia while farming with his brothers. There is a William Wainwright who died in Kukerin in 1916. As this is where they were farming, it is likely that this is him. I will send for his death certificate to ascertain if it is.

Frederick Jackson

Frederick Jackson was the youngest child born to Harriet Ann, the oldest of the 11 Wainwright children of James and Ann Maria. He was born about 1898 and was the youngest of 8 children. He is the soldier on the right pictured at the left.  The soldier on his left is his uncle Samuel Wainwright from Australia.  The photo was found among my grandmother's effects.

We know that Frederick was born in Sale, Cheshire, and enlisted at Ashton-On-Mersey, Lancashire. He was a private with the 9th Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment and he was killed in action at Flanders, France on November 16, 1916. He would only have been 18 or 19 year of age.

Sometime after his death Harriet and her husband, George, contributed to this stained glass war memorial at the Congregational Church, Ashton-On-Mersey commemorating those of the church who died in the Great War.


The script of the window reads:
THIS WINDOW IS ERECTED TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN HONOUR OF THOSE OF OUR CHURCH & SUNDAY SCHOOL WHO DIED FOR US AND OUR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919.

Those listed are:
C. ACKERLEY
B. ANDERSON
J. ARTHUR
C. BRIDGEWOOD
J. BURGESS
W.T. CARRIER
A. CHADWICK
L.S. CRAVEN
P.L.GREAVES
R. HUGHES
F. JACKSON
A. JOHNSON
W. KELSALL
E. LAMB
C.L. LEES
E. MATTHEWS
W. MILLS
J.W. SOUTHERN
N. TRUEBLOOD
J.A. VIETCH
F. WILLIAMS
H. WOOD

Wainwrights At War

Of the 11 children of James and Ann Maria, I have identified 3, of the 9 brothers that took part in World War One. They all enlisted in Australia and their service records are viewable online at the National Archives of Australia website ( http://www.naa.gov.au/).

Or individually click on:
Richard Wainwright

Samuel Wainwright

Thomas Wainwright

This photograph is of Thomas Wainwright (right) and Richard Wainwright (left). The middle soldier may possibly be Sam. If anyone has any younger photos of Sam that would identify the middle soldier as him they can contact me at the contact email address and let me know. That would be appreciated.

Southern Cemetery

The gravestone in Southern Cemetery in Chorlton-cum-Hardy in Manchester for James Wainwright reads:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
JAMES WAINWRIGHT
WHO DIED AUGUST 24th 1927
AGED 86 YEARS.
ALSO ANN BELOVED WIFE OF
ABOVE, WHO DIED OCT 2nd 1916
AGED 70 YEARS.
ALSO FRANK STUBBS THEIR SON
IN LAW WHO DIED JULY 24th 1910
AGED 37 YEARS.
ALSO ELIZABETH HIS BELOVED
WIFE, WHO DIED IN AUSTRALIA.
ALSO MARY JANE BELOVED WIFE
OF JOSEPH WAINWRIGHT
WHO DIED MARCH 7th 1936
IN HER 69th YEAR.
ALSO JOSEPH BELOVED HUSBAND
OF MARY JANE WHO DIED
FEB 15th 1941 AGED 75 YEARS

This information was given to my aunt by her cousin Joseph Wainwright (grandson of the above named Joseph Wainwright). He visited the cemetery and wrote down the inscription. Although James and his daughter Elizabeth are listed on this headstone they are not actually buried here. This grave site is listed as Section 1 Non Conformist grave #2296. James is buried in Section 1 Non Conformist grave #7327. Elizabeth died on Jan. 18, 1917 and is buried in Wooroloo Cemetery, Western Australia, Church of England, Grave #39

Robert Hughes and Harriet Williams

The parents of Ann Maria Hughes were Robert Hughes and Harriet Williams. Robert Hughes was born in Holywell, Flintshire, Wales about 1815 and Harriet Williams was born in Manchester, Lancashire, England around 1814. They were married at Manchester Cathedral on April 18, 1831. Their son Joseph was born in 1837, followed by Elijah in 1838. Our Ann Maria was born in 1847 and another daughter, Mary Jane was born in 1851. I have not been able to find any evidence of the whereabouts of Robert or Harriet after the 1851 census, nor of their eldest son, Joseph. Elijah, Mary Jane, and of course, Ann Maria all married and had several children.

James Wainwright (1807-1853)

I have received a copy of the death certificate for James Wainwright (born Nov. 1807). He died on July 17th 1853. His occupation is listed as "Coachman," and it states that he was 44 years old. This is at odds with his believed birth in 1807 and would mean that he was born in 1808 or 1809, but it is not uncommon to find similar discrepancies when dealing with past records. In the 1841 census James is listed as 30 years old, which would give him a birth date of 1810 or 1811. However, Parish records indicate that the 1807 date is the correct one.

James died of Bronchitis and his wife, Elizabeth, was present at his death, and being illiterate, signed the certificate with her mark X. James died at home at 27 Hope Street, in Chorlton Upon Medlock, Manchester, Lancashire, England. Elizabeth was probably not aware that she was about one month pregnant at the time of her husband's death. Her last child, Richard, was christened 8 months later, on March 19th, 1854.

James Wainwright and Elizabeth Lewis

More information on James Wainwright and Elizabeth Lewis has come to light. James was born on Nov. 4, 1807 and married Elizabeth Lewis on Oct. 6, 1831. They had 7 children: William (born 1834), John Samuel (1837), Ann (1840), James (1842), Elizabeth (1847), Joseph (1848), and Richard (1854).

I have located the family on the 1850 city directory living at 27 Hope Street, in Chorlton, Manchester. Many records in the 1851 census in Manchester were water damaged and unfortunately the records for residents living at 27 Hope Street were included in the damaged section. Only one occupant's name at 27 Hope Street was legible: Elizabeth. However, in the 1855 city directory Elizabeth is listed as a widow, living at 27 Hope Street, leading me to believe that her husband, James died between 1851 and 1855. I have discovered a James Wainwright, who passed away in 1853 in Chorlton and have sent for his death certificate. This would mean that the youngest child, Richard was born posthumously.

It was difficult to find the family in the 1861 census, but I did find them with the surname misspelled, as Wainright. Elizabeth was listed as Betsy. She was 49 years old and working as a Charwoman. William was now 27 and working as a Spindle Maker. Elizabeth, at 15, was working as a Cotton Corder. Joseph, 13, was a Bobbin Carrier ( a common occupation in a Spinning Mill). Young Richard, at 9 years old, was attending school.

Finding them in 1871 was again a challenge, but I did find them. It seems that in the interim Elizabeth had remarried. She was now Elizabeth Hines and married to Thomas Hines, who is listed as the head of the family. The eldest child, William, and the youngest, Richard, are still living with them and are listed as stepsons, with their surnames spelled correctly as Wainwright. Further research showed that Elizabeth had married Thomas in the Sept. quarter of 1866.

Further research, stretching back in time has revealed both the parents and the grandparents of this James, but more about that in another post.

James and John Samuel

I received confirmation today, in the form of a birth certificate, that James Wainwright was indeed the brother of John Samuel Wainwright. The certificate states that James was born on January 27th, 1842. The father was James and his occupation was "Coachman." The mother was Elizabeth, formerly Lewis. The family was living on Hope Street, and this is in conjunction with the 1841 city directory, which also places the family on Hope Street. Through the linking of these two brothers we can now put together the various pieces of the puzzle. In the 1841 census, we also find living at Hope Street with James and Elizabeth are several other children: William (7), John (4-that would be John Samuel), and Ann (16 months).

John Samuel Wainwright

By doing a little detective work I have stumbled upon a new ancestor of ours, who I believe may turn out to be the brother of our James Wainwright, who married Ann Maria Hughes. Below is the 1861 Census from Manchester:
This is where we first find James Wainwright. He is listed as being 19 years old and employed as a Lath Maker. The address is 13 Prospect Street in Chorlton-Upon-Medlock, in Manchester. He is listed as a boarder. This is the same address that is on James and Ann Maria's marriage certificate a year later, so there is no doubt that this is him. The head of the household and his wife are also listed as witnesses on James and Ann Maria's marriage certificate.

I was looking at the names listed below James's closely and could see that the census taker had been having some difficulty with writing the names below James's and had crossed a part of it out. I could tell that their first names were John S. (22) and Jane (21) and that they were married and were also living as boarders. They were also listed as being born in Chorlton, the same district as James was born and I wondered if their surnames could actually be Wainwright and that the census taker had run out of room when inscribing their names and by sqeezing the surname in had made the "Wainwright" illegible. I noted that the occupation of John was a "Packing Case Maker". On a hunch I did a search in the 1871 Census for a John Wainwright, Packing Case Maker, and was surprised and delighted to find both John and Jane Wainwright listed! He was a Packing Case Maker still, and their ages were 33 and 32, which is close enough! They now have 3 children: Elizabeth, 9; Richard, 2; and Fred, 2 months. In 1881, John is still toiling as a Packing Case Maker and they also have 3 more children: Henry, Louisa, and Adelaide.

Further investigation led me to find that the "S" in John's name was Samuel, which I could now see was what the original census inscriber was trying to write in 1861 before he tried to cross it out. I also discovered that John Samuel Wainwright married Jane Smith on Aug. 5, 1860. For further confirmation as to John being the brother of our James, I sent away for his birth certificate and found that John Samuel Wainwright was born on September 1st, 1837. His father is James Wainwright and his mother is Elizabeth Wainwright, formerly Lewis. His father's occupation is listed as a "Coachman."

I have now sent away for James's birth certificate. Once I have this and if it identifies the same James and Elizabeth as the parents, then we will know for sure that the two, James and John Samuel, are brothers and who their parents are for certain.

Also, now that we know that the occupation of this senior James as a Coachman, it is possible to find the family on the 1841 census, which would be a year before our James (Ann Maria's husband) was born. But still, the 1841 census gives us even more potential siblings of our James: James (30), Coachman; and his wife, Elizabeth (27). Children: William (7), John (4), and Ann (16 months). Our James should be born the following year in 1842. I should know in 2 weeks.

Revisions

I've just returned from a short holiday and I want to say thanks to all who have sent emails and comments regarding THE WAINWRIGHT EXCHANGE. Thanks to your comments and suggestions we know a little more who we are and who we are not! I will be making a few corrections over the next few days regarding some of the photos posted, as well as posting some newly discovered Wainwrights of long ago.

Cheers,

Sam

Christmas Letter from Jim to Elijah 1940

In 1940 James Wainwright, the son of James and Ann Maria, wrote this letter from England to his brother, Elijah in Canada:

241 Kings Rd.
C c N
Tuesday 3rd Dec/40

Dear Elij & Annie,

Your letter to hand also the calendar, many thanks. Glad to hear you are enjoying better health since your hospital experience and that all is well at your end of the universe.

You will be relieved to hear that we are safe and sound up to now, despite the terrible times we are living under, what with Blackout, Syrens, Bombs, and Guns "we dunno where we are". I suppose you will read all about what is happening in Britain in your newspapers. Nearly every night Jerry planes are overhead, sometimes we get a short turn, some nights he comes over several times. Picture to yourself, the syren goes off, everyone jumps too, dash in their shelters, if they have one, then when he passes over, dropping a bomb or two, "all clear" signal is given. You go back to bed then he decides to return with the result you have to "Ditto Repeatto". When he passes near us, the gun barrage goes off and the house rocks again. You think the blooming house is coming on top of you. We had a nine hours "Blitz: last week, about three weeks ago a large bomb dropped about 200 to 300 yds away from our house and failed to go off, they left it for four days, then drew it's fangs and removed it, we were thankful when they removed it. It is common for delayed action bombs to explode days after it has been dropped. All this happen in the night time. We don't trouble about Jerry's planes in the daytime, it is all reconnaissance flying, rarely day bombing goes on in our way, but they have a rotten time in the South & London day & night.

You will be pleased to hear all our people are safe up to now. Edna was in Sale last week, with the exception of colds, Harriet and George are well. Joe Jackson is improving wonderfully but I don't think he has got back to business. Brother Joe is well or Harriet would have mentioned it to Edna. So all the "Best of Luck" to you and yours for the New Year. Excuse writing, paper is bad write on will write you again before long & let you know how things are.

Jim

(please note, no queueing up for food as we did in the last war)

Searching for William Wainwright

The previous post that reported that William Wainwright married Mary Ellen Gorst may be incorrect due to recent discoveries. In her recorded memories Elizabeth (Betty) Marshall (nee Stubbs) remembers visiting uncles Will and George Wainwright on a farming property at Kukerin, in the southwest of Western Australia, where she believed they were farming prior to 1910.

Also, the 1913 Western Australia Postal Directory lists Samuel and William Wainwright both living at 12 Plain Street in Perth. William is also listed with a second residence at 43 Melbourne Rd., also in Perth. His occupation is listed as tobacconist. Further research shows that a William has been at the Melbourne Rd. address since 1904. He is sometimes listed as a tobacconist and hairdresser. In 1906 he is joined by a Fanny Wainwright and in 1916 by a Lawrence Wainwright at the Melbourne address. Is this our William Wainwright?

Wainwrights in Australia (1956)

Front row (seated) left to right: Elizabeth Mary Wainwright (aka Polly), (nee Granshaw), wife of George Wainwright; Annie Wainwright (nee Singleton), wife of Elijah Wainwright; Lucy Eliza Wainwright, (nee Grocott), wife of Thomas Wainwright.

Back row (standing) left to right: Elsie Wilson, (nee Wainwright), (Thomas's daughter); Norm Wilson (husband of Elsie); Sam Wainwright; Elizabeth (Betty) Marshall (nee Stubbs), daughter of Elizabeth & Frank Stubbs; Tom Wainwright, (Thomas's son); Lyn Marshall (husband of Betty); Jean, (Tom's wife); Richard (Dick) Wainwright.

This Photo was taken in 1956 when my grandmother, Annie Wainwright, visited Australia.

Wainwright Stores

For many years Sam Wainwright and his son ran a store in East Victoria Park, Perth, called WAINWRIGHT STORES. Here are 2 photos from long ago.

Samuel Wainwright

Samuel Wainwright was born in 1886 in Manchester, England. He was the eleventh and last child born to James and Ann Maria Wainwright.

In 1901, for reasons we do not know, James and his wife, Ann Maria were living in separate residences. While James and his son, George were living with daughter Elizabeth and her family, Sam and his brother, Elijah, were living with their mother in Blackpool. Sam was working as a Plumber's Apprentice. He was 14.

In 1906 Sam married Harriett Henrietta Granshaw, and they had a son, Samuel Jr., born the same year. Sam's brother, George, had married Harriett's sister, Elizabeth Mary Granshaw in 1904.

The family immigrated to Australia in 1912 and shortly after Sam opened "Wainwright Stores."

In 1916 Sam enlisted in the army and served in France during World War One, until his discharge in 1918. After the war he visited England before returning home and sent the postcard below to his brother, Elijah.
The back of the postcard reads: "These are a few mates of mine. We were on leave together and I stayed at Harriet's and had a good time. Bye bye, Sam" The postcard is dated "France 10/12/18."

In 1955 Sam's wife passed away and the following year he planned a grand journey to Canada and then on England. In Canada he was reunited with his brother, Elijah, after a separation of more than 44 years. It was a grand reunion for both brothers. Unfortunately, after the brothers were reunited for only 16 days, Elijah suffered a heart attack and passed away. After staying on for a while it was decided that Elijah's wife, Annie, would accompany Sam to England and then travel on to Australia and meet her husband's brothers that she hadn't seen for almost half a century, and their families.

Samuel Wainwright passed away on Aug. 28, 1969. He was 82 years old.

Death Ends Reunion of Brothers Long Apart

This newspaper clipping is from the Vancouver Province newspaper published on July 5th, 1956