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I am researching a James Robert Wright (1910-1959) who was born on Newcastle upon Tyne. His parents were William Wright and Sarah Isabella Hogg. However, on his marriage certificate in Australia in 1950, he stated that his parents were William James Wright (chemist) and Alice Dawson. I have found a James Wright and Alice Dawson in Swinton Lancashire, but this James is a "General Carrier", not a chemist, and they don't appear to be related in any way to his birth family in Newcastle. This has proved to be a great puzzle to me, and I am wondering if anyone may be able to throw any light on it.

Janeene

Is this him in 1911?

1911 England Census
about James Robert Wright Name: James Robert Wright
Age in 1911: 1 3/12
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1910
Relation to Head: Son
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Troyan Street Stakeford, Northumberland, England
Civil Parish: Bedlington
County/Island: Northumberland
Country: England
Street Address: Troyan Street Stakeford Northumberland
Marital Status: Single
Registration District: Morpeth
Registration District Number: 564
Sub-registration District: Bedlington
ED, institution, or vessel: 15
Piece: 31029
Household Members: Name Age
William Wright 40
Sarah Isabbella Wright 35
Margaret Wright 11
William Wright 9
Eliza Ellen Wright 7
Violet Elsie Wright 4
James Robert Wright 1 3/12

But father is a coal miner.

The fathers occupation may have been 'made' for the marriage cert

Is this the family?


1911 England Census


Name:
William Wright

Age in 1911:40

Estimated Birth Year:abt 1871

Relation to Head:
Head
Gender:Male

Birth Place:Newcastle, Northumberland, England

Civil Parish:Bedlington

County/Island:Northumberland
Country:England

Street Address:
Troyan Street Stakeford Northumberland

Marital Status:Married

Occupation:
Underground Labourer

Registration District:Morpeth

Registration District Number:564

Sub-registration District:Bedlington

ED, institution, or vessel:15
Piece:31029


William Wright 40
Sarah Isabbella Wright 35
Margaret Wright 11
William Wright 9
Eliza Ellen Wright 7
Violet Elsie Wright 4
James Robert Wright

This looks like the one from the 1911 going to Australia:

UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960

Name: James R Wright
Gender: Male
Age: 17
Birth Date: abt 1910
Departure Date: 13 Oct 1927
Port of Departure: London, England
Destination Port: Sydney, Australia
Ship Name: Bendigo
Shipping Line: Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co
Official Number: 145603
Master: Captain R C Nicholl

He was a miner. Home address in England had been 7 Harrington Gardens, Stakeford.

Janeene - how do you know that the James Robert Wright who married in 1950 is the same one that is from Newcastle?

ADDED: This death also gives the same parent names as the marriage:

Registration Number Last Name Given Name(s) Father's Given Name(s) Mother's Given Name(s) District
12759/1959 WRIGHT ROBERT JAMES WILLIAM JAMES ALICE HAMILTON

The birth of the child on 1911 census...............but he was not from Newcastle

Births Mar 1910 (>99%)
WRIGHT James Robert Morpeth 10b 431

If there was no-one to contradict him, he could have 'enhanced' his father's details.........what did his father-in-law do for a living?

There is no other recorded birth anywhere near Newcastle..................

The other possible scenario is that he was not 'Wright' at birth

Another scenario is that there are two different James Robert Wrights and wires have got crossed somewhere.

Who did he marry in 1950, and where?

Not this one.....................

Births Jun 1909 (>99%)
WRIGHT James Robert Burnley 8e 181

1911 census


Person: WRIGHT, James Robert Address: 32 Leyland Road Burnley
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Name Relation Condition /
Yrs married Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where born Image
WRIGHT, James Robert Head Married M 42 1869 Coal Miner Hewer Lancs Burnley VIEW
WRIGHT, Fanny Wife Married17 years F 40 1871 Cotton Manufactur Lancs Burnley VIEW
WRIGHT, Joe Son Single M 16 1895 Cork Burner Lancs Burnley VIEW
WRIGHT, Maria Daughter Single F 13 1898 School Girl Lancs Burnley VIEW
WRIGHT, Susan Daughter Single F 8 1903 Lancs Burnley VIEW
WRIGHT, Sarah Jane Daughter Single F 6 1905 Lancs Burnley VIEW
WRIGHT, James Robert Son M 1 1910 Lancs Burnley VIEW
PICKERING, Sarah Boarder Widow F 68 1843 Lancs Burnley VIEW

What was his age when he married?

Thanks everyone. Yes, it's the one at Stakeford. We know that's the one because James Robert Wright's daughter in Australia found a photograph of a woman with "Wright" written on the back, and we emailed it to the family of the 1911 Census Wrights in Stakeford, and they confirmed this was Sarah Isabella Wright of the 1911 census. The question is, why did he nominate these other Wrights from Swinton as his parents (on his marriage cert 1950), and how did he know them anyway, because he left for Australia when he was 17, and they don't appear to be related to the Stakeford Wrights. ????

One of the unanswerable questions..........at the moment

In any case. there is no evidence to support the idea that any of these Wrights was a chemist...........................

Janeene, so is that the only corroboration that you have? Yes, the family from Stakeford did have a son that went to Australia - have you seen any photos of Sarah Isabella that her descendants had so you can compare them?

Do you know the exact date of birth for your James Robert?

As asked, who did he marry in 1950? (Just so we can try to work through all available records)

Marie Celeste,

Yes, the photo matched with one the present family from Newcastle upon Tyne has.

His birthday was 12 Jan, according to his daughter in Australia, and the birth cert for James Robert Wright from Stakeford has been ordered just to double check the birth date against our JRW's birthday.

He married Rosalie Crockett in 1950 in Cundletown, Taree (Aust), and died in 1959, when his daughter was only 8.

It certainly is an enigma, isn't it? A birthday of 12 January would fit that Morpeth birth (which covers Stakeford) - do let us know when you get the cert as we like to see loose ends tied up!

Meanwhile, will see if any other records available.

One other question - what was his occupation when he married?

Is this them in 1958?

Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980

Name: Rosalie Wright
Gender: Female
Electoral Year: 1958
State: New South Wales
District: Newcastle
Subdistrict: Mayfield

Living 7 Maud Street with Robert James Wright, a stores clerk.

The name is shown as Robert James (and not vice versa) - that's also the way it's recorded on the 1950 death.

Looks like Rosalie had been previously married:


Registration Number Groom's Surname Groom's Given Name(s) Bride's Last Name at Time of Marriage Bride's Given Name(s) District *

20748/1946 HILL JAMES ROBERT CROCKETT ROSALIE MAYFIELD
12524/1950 WRIGHT ROBERT JAMES CROCKETT ROSALIE TAREE

Note his name on marriage is also "Robert James"

Her first husband's given names are interesting ...


This is her in 1943:

Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980

Name: Rosalie Crockett
Gender: Female
Electoral Year: 1943
State: New South Wales
District: Newcastle
Subdistrict: Mayfield

She's at 7 Maude Street with James Crockett, a lorry driver.
.....................................................................................................

and in 1949:

Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980

Name: Rosalie Crockett
Gender: Female
Electoral Year: 1949
State: New South Wales
District: Shortland
Subdistrict: Lambton

Still at Maude Street, no other Crockett's at the address.

Marie Celeste. Yes, that's them in 1958. Not sure why the name reversal, but think that may have been a fairly common thing...my grandfather was variously called edward william... and william edward...
Occupation when he married: electrical instrument fitter

Yes, it's certainly an enigma! Has us scratching our heads! :-)

Janeene, what I'd suggest is going to your first post at the top and click "edit" - you can then get back to your heading. If you add the word Australia to the title then one of our Australian researchers is more likely to spot it - they often have access to records that we don't.

James Robert seemed to change occupations didn't he? A miner in 1927, an electrical instrument fitter in 1950 and a stores clerk in 1958. He doesn't make it easy for us.

Now, if you want complicated name reversals you should try my grandfather William Patrick x and his brother Patrick William x !!!