George Alexander Wright

[tom mix]

Can you please help?

George Wright died in 1873  and is buried in the Nelligen Cemetery in NSW Australia. His headstone says he was born in Scotland. Yes, I know, wide scope.
Other material suggests he was born c. 1825.
He marries in Australia, Florence (Flora) McKay, who had arrived with some of her family, parents believed to have died on the voyage, on the ship Ontario in 1852.
George was believed to have been a Mariner and in 1862 we can find the name as Captain of the ship "Geelong" sailing from Mauritius to Australia.
His life in Australia with Flora, after marriage, if indeed a marriage did occur, is well documented.

Other than being born in Scotland, we know nothing of his earlier life, particularly how he arrived in Australia. Nor can we find any evidence of marriage.

NSW BDM Death Reg., says George's parents were George & Eliza.

Sketchy, I know, but maybe someone can connect the dots.

Thanks

Alan
 

[buckhyne]

It doesn't help much but the only birth I can find in the IGI for 1825 +/- 5 years is this:
Name:   George Wright
Birth Date:   20 Oct 1826, GORBALS, LANARK, SCOTLAND
Father:   George Wright
Mother:   Elizabeth Burnside

[tom mix]

A great start.
Thanks. Something to pursue.
Alan

[buckhyne]

I checked out the 1841 census for a George & Elizabeth Wright with a son George.
The only thing I found was this - a George with a son George
1841 census: Davidsons Land, 10, Bridgeton Rumford Street, Lanark, Scotland
George   Wright   Male   44   1797   Lanarkshire, Scotland   
Janet   Wright   Female   30   1811   Scotland   
George   Wright   Male   14   1827   Lanarkshire, Scotland   
Hugh   Wright   Male   5   1836   Scotland   
Margaret   Wright   Female   3   1838   Scotland   
William   Wright   Male   1   1840   Scotland   

I also found this - John & Elizabeth Wright with a son George
1841 census: Holm Street, North Side, Barony, Lanarkshire, Scotland
John   Wright   Male   35   1806   Lanarkshire, Scotland   
Elizabeth   Wright   Female   30   1811   Lanarkshire, Scotland   
George   Wright   Male   12   1829   England   
Elizabeth   Wright   Female   10   1831   England   
Margaret   Wright   Female   8   1833   England   
Mary   Wright   Female   6   1835   England   

and this looks like the same family in the 1851 census
1851 census: Gallowgate, 492, St Johns, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Elizabeth   Wright   Head   Widow   Female   40   1811   - Glasgow, Scotland   
George   Wright   Son   Unmarried   Male   24   1827   Hair Dresser   Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland   
Elizabeth   Wright   Daughter   Unmarried   Female   19   1832   Dress Maker   Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland   
Margaret   Wright   Daughter   Unmarried   Female   17   1834   Dress Maker   Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland   
Mary   Wright   Daughter   Unmarried   Female   15   1836   Warehouse Girl   Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland   

[buckhyne]

I think those censuses I posted are irrelevant.
They do not have parents George & Elizabeth Wright.
Using a different approach I found this
1841 census: Clyde Street, Barony, Lanarkshire, Scotland
George   Wright   Male   35   1806   Scotland   
Elizabeth   Wright   Female   35   1806   Scotland   
James   Wright   Male   9   1832   Scotland   
William   Kilgour   Male   20   1821   Scotland   
John   Reid   Male   20   1821   Scotland

But I now believe this is that family.
Name:   George Wright
Spouse:   Elizabeth Thomson
Marriage:   08 Nov 1828, Gorbals, Lanark, Scotland

I went back to the IGI and got these
Name:   George Wright
Spouse:   Elisabeth Burnside
Marriage:   05 Sep 1814, Carmunnock, Lanark, Scotland

Contributed IGI
Name:   Catherine Wright
Birth:   28 June 1815, Carmunnock, Lanark, Scotland

Name:   John Wright
Birth   7 June 1817, Carmunnock, Lanark, Scotland
   
Indexed IGI
Name:   Mary Wright
Birth:   10 Nov 1821, NEILSTON, RENFREW, SCOTLAND

Name:   Robert Wright
Birth:   01 Jul 1824, NEILSTON, RENFREW, SCOTLAND

Name:   George Wright
Birth:   20 Oct 1826, GORBALS, LANARK, SCOTLAND

Name:   Elizabeth Wright
Birth:   06 Sep 1830, GORBALS, LANARK, SCOTLAND

I cannot find any of that family in the 1841 census.

Young George would be 15 years old in 1841 and quite possibly on board a ship (IF he is yours).
I tried to look for a George Wright aged about 15 and there were 279 in Britain.
I declined to check any further. 

[tom mix]

I am much appreciative.
Thank you again.
Alan

[tom mix]

A little step further.
In Australia we have the Trove site for digitalised newspapers. VERY, Very good. When I put in Flora+Wright, who was either the wife or a daughter of George Wright , a newspaper clipping came up.

Which said amongst other things,

"Her father, a retired sea captain, and her mother Mrs Flora Wright, settled on the Clyde River (South Coast of NSW) almost a century ago."

In am not a 10 year old computer whiz. To access Trove, if you want to follow this up, put in
www.trove.nla.gov.au      and then ask for digital newspapers. And touch NSW on the map of Australia.

The Sea Captain intrigues me. The ship Geelong has been mentioned. I have not yet found a connection.
Look in NSW and the Braidwood paper if you access the Trove site.

Not very professional but the way I bumble around.

Alan

[buckhyne]

Hi Alan,
I ken about the Trove site as I have used it in the past.
The obvious thing for you to do is to try and find his seaman's ticket.
It's like a driving licence only this one allows you to work at sea.

My g/g/grandfather was a seaman who fell from the topsailyard of a Schooner on Christmas day, 1865 and drowned in the Atlantic.
Incidentally, my avatar is of one of his sons, my g/grandparents.
I eventually found a newspaper report detailing the accident but I also found his seaman's ticket.
I cannot remember where I found it but it was on-line and I didn't have to pay for it.
It's a brilliant form as it gave his birth date.
His birth isn't in the OPR so I was fortunate to get it from the form.
It also tells you where he lived and describes his appearance.
Obviously if you can find George Alexander Wright's ticket it should give you all the information you need.
 

[tom mix]

A great find. I will start looking.
Alan