William Wright

William was the son of John Tilley Wright and Mary Elizabeth Wright nee Tansley. John Tilley Wright was born in Nottingham in 1863 (J/A/S Nottingham, mother's maiden name Swaby) and Mary Elizabeth Wright was also born in Nottingham on 23 June 1863 (J/A/S Nottingham, mother's maiden name Arnold). They were married on 18 December 1881 (O/N/D Nottingham) at St Matthias Church, Sneinton. It was recorded on the 1911 Census that they had had eleven children of whom four had died: seven children were named on the census between 1891 and 1911 but three of the four who died in infancy or early childhood have been traced on the birth registrations: Tom b. 1893 (O/N/D Nottingham), Arthur b. 1894 (O/N/D Nottingham) bap. 14 December 1895 St Stephen, Sneinton, and Ernest b. 1903 (O/N/D Nottingham). Their seven surviving children were: Kate b. 1883 (J/A/S Nottingham) bap. 9 September 1883 St Philip Sneinton, Albert b. 23 November 1885 (O/N/D Nottingham) bap 14 December 1885 St Stephen Sneinton, John Tilley b. 1887 (O/N/D Nottingham), William b. 1889 (O/N/D Nottingham), Mary Elizabeth b. 1891 (A/M/J Nottingham), Nellie b. 1896 bap. 3 March 1896 St Stephen Sneinton, and Ada birth registered 1898 (J/F/M Nottingham) bap. 18 January 1898 St Stephen Sneinton. From information given on the baptismal records, John and Mary were living at 31 Water Street, Nottingham, when Kate was baptised in 1883 and at Fredville Street, Nottingham, in 1885 when Albert was baptised. However, by 1891 John (28) a skinner, and Elizabeth (27) were living at Bayford Cottages, Banbury Street, Nottingham, with their four children Kate (7), Albert (5), John (3) and William (1). Also in the home on the night of the census was John's widowed father, Richard Wright (60) who also worked as a skinner. Two sons were born a few years later, Tom in 1893 and Arthur in 1894, but both had died by the time of the 1901 Census. The family had moved to 66 Sutton Street, Meadow Lane, by 1895 according to the address given on Arthur's baptismal record, and they were still living there in 1901. John (38), a leather dresser, and Mary (37) now had seven children: Kate (17) a pattern girl (lace finishing firm), Albert (15) and John (13) who were both leather dressers, William (11), Mary (9), Nelly (5) and Ada (3). Another child, Ernest, was born two years later in 1903 but died before the 1911 Census. By 1911 the family was living at 43 Meadow Lane, Nottingham. John (47) was a splitter of skins. Five of their seven children were in the home on the night of the census: John (23) a bricklayer, William (21) a flesher of skins, Mary Elizabeth (19) a pattern girl, Nellie (15) a machinist (frillings), and Ada (13) who was still at school. William married Freda Cartledge in 1914 (J/F/M Nottingham). The Register of Soldiers' Effects recorded that his widow Freda was his sole legatee and that she had children; it is likely that she and William had two sons, William A. b. 1914 (O/N/D Nottingham) and Bernard b. 1916 (O/N/D Nottingham). According to the 'In Memoriam' notices published in the local paper in 1918 he had lived at 58 Sutton Street. William's father, John Tilley, was not named in the family's 'In Memoriam' notices published in the local paper in 1918, so can be presumed to have died sometime between April 1911 and April 1918. His brother John Tilley attested in the Territorial Force on 22 October 1914 and named his mother, Mary E Wright of 28 Bathley Street, Meadows, Nottingham, as his next of kin. John served in the Army Service Corps 8th Provisional Brigade (NMD Train) and attached to the Home Service Company on 7 July 1915. He was discharged from the army on 28 September 1916 after serving for 1 year 342 days being 'no longer physically fit for further war service (KRR 392 Para xvi).' John had been kicked by a horse in January 1916 and was admitted to hospital on 22 January for an operation on a 'ruptured (-) cartilage' The injury resulted in synovitis of the right knee joint with 'marked grating of knee joint on movement' which was considered to be permanent. John was discharged to 58 Sutton Street, Meadow Lane, Nottingham, the address given for his brother in the 'In Memoriam' notices of 1918. According to the family notices in the local paper in 1918, Albert was then serving in France. In 1939 he was living at 99 North Sherwood Street, Nottingham, probably as a lodger. The register gave his date of birth as 23 November 1885, occupation builder's scaffolder, and his status as married although his wife was not living with him. William's mother, Mary Elizabeth, was living at 58 Sutton Street, Nottingham, in 1939 at the time of the England & Wales Register; she was widowed and living on her own. She probably died in 1954 (J/A/S Nottingham) aged 91.