Wright, Thomas (1839-1912)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1912

Transcription of obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by P.J.F.

Born at Aldersey seventy-three years ago, Thomas Wright early in life dedicated himself to God. He had the honour of being one of the founders of our Alpraham and Bunbury Sunday Schools, and worked hard for the erection of the present chapel at Alpraham in 1882. He was a trustee of this property, and of that at Bunbury and Wettenhall.

Always eager for the prosperity of the Church, he must have collected hundreds of pounds on its behalf. His later years were spent in membership with Wettenhall Society, and he was Superintendent of the Sunday School until the day of his death. He had the buoyancy, the hope, the gentleness and geniality of a man unspoiled and unembittered by the multifarious experiences of a long lifetime. He was diligent in business, given to hospitality, constant in kindly ministries.

He was interred in Bunbury churchyard, Mar, 23rd. A memorial service was held on the 31st.

Family

Thomas was born abt1839 at Aldersey, Cheshire, to parents William, a labourer, and Sarah.

Census returns identify the following occupations for Thomas.

1851 errand boy
1861 agricultural labourer
1871 agricultural labourer
1881 carter
1891 farmer
1901 farmer
1911 farmer

He married Martha (1837-1900) on 23 January 1861 at Bunbury, Cheshire. Census returns identify eleven children.

Elizabeth (b1861)
William (1863-1945) – a farmer (1911)
Joseph (1865-1942) – auctioneer & valuer (1911)
Sarah (b1867) – married Lewis Evans in 1908
Thomas (1869-1953) – working on father’s farm 91911)
Annie (1871-1954) – married Richard Carr, a cattle dealer, in1893
Prudence Mary (1874-1944) – married Edward Yates, a retired boot & shoe dealer (1939), in 1916
Clara (1876-1914) – a children’s industrial nurse in workhouse (1901); married John Arthur New, a journeyman tailor (1911), in 1907
Ada (1878- – married Frederick Randle Major in 1904; emigrated to Canada in 1927
Florence (1881-1952) – a dairy farmer (1939)
Lena (1883-1967) – married Charlie Abbott, a postal clerk (1939), in 1915

Thomas died in March 1912 at Wettenhall, Cheshire.

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1912/829

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers