Introduction

While I am confident with the integrity of most of the information on the spouses and children of the succeeding generations of Wright descendants, some is speculative, pending verification (or otherwise) by sighting original sources where such documentation exists.

The 2nd Generation Wrights - children of Ann and Thomas Wright  - are dealt with below. Thereafter the general format for succeeding generations - Wrights - Gen 3 & Beyond  - is a short introduction, family tree charts to show who 'stars'  and the details provided in the accompanying linked pdf document.

Generation 2 - The Children of Ann (née Fretwell) and Thomas Wright

Ann Wright

Ann was the elder of two children born to Thomas and Ann Wright (née Fretwell). Nothing much is really known about her father except that he was a clothworker, but her mother was sixth child of John and Isabella Fretwell and she was born in Tadcaster in 1760 and baptised there on 28th September of that year at St Mary’s parish church.

Ann was probably born in Leeds in 1799 and according to an IGI record married Peter Mayking on 28th April 1825 at the parish church of St Peter, Leeds. The Mayking family is proving most elusive to track. For instance, it is likely that Peter Mayking was not a native of Yorkshire, but where he was born in not known. He was probably born around 1793. However we do know that he was an artist/miniature portraitist. Baines has recorded him as a miniature portrait painter of 65 Norfolk Street, Sheffield in 1822. Peter then moved to Leeds sometime before 1826, where he was living at 26 St Peter’s Square. According to one trade directory, he was still there in 1829 as he was listed under the category Artists as “Mayking Peter (miniature painter) 36 St. Peter's square”. In 1837 another directory listed him as “Mayking Peter, artist, Sheepscar”.

Moving now to the 1841 census return, we find Ann and Peter (transcribed as Marking) and their family living in Millwright Street. Only Peter was recorded as not having been born in Yorkshire.

Peter Mayking             45

Ann Mayking               45

William Mayking        13

Alfred Mayking           11

Mary Mayking               9

Maria Mayking             5

As with the nephews and nieces of his other sisters, John Fretwell provided for the Mayking family in his will drawn up on 2nd December 1848 and from the bequests we learn quite a bit about the state of the family at the end of 1848.

"To the three children of my late niece Ann Mayking the wife of the late Peter Mayking of Leeds Painter 15 pounds".

"To my great nephew Alfred Mayking a minor son of my said late niece Ann Mayking 50 pounds".

"To the children of my late niece Ann Mayking one fourth of the remaining fourth part thereof (Talbot Estate)".

So, by 1848 the Mayking children are orphans. In fact, they had been orphans for just over three years. According to the death certificate of portrait painter Peter Mayking, he died on 29th December 1842, at home at 4 Millwright Street, aged 49. The cause of death was recorded as phthisis, more commonly known as the chronic wasting away disease of tuberculosis. His widow Ann followed him just 2½ years later. The family may have moved after Peter’s death because Ann died on 14th July 1845 at 5 Camp Street, Leeds, of consumption, at the relatively young age of 46. Present with her when she died was one Sarah Hallewell who made her mark on the certificate when it was registered two days later.

The 1890 Talbot Estate Capital Account document lists the 3 children of Ann Mayking as :

William Mayking

Alfred Mayking (deceased)

Anna Maria Leonard (Assignee of)

William and Alfred are included in the 1841 Census and we can deduce that William was over, and Alfred under, the age of 21 in December 1848. The will/Talbot Estate documents make no mention of Mary which suggests that sometime between 1841 and December 1848 she had died, but no record has yet been located to confirm this. The “‘Maria” of the 1841 census listing is presumably the Anna Maria Leonard of the Talbot Account document.

There is no record of where the children lived after their parents died, or who looked after them.

Eliza Wright

Eliza was the second of the two known daughters born to Thomas and Ann Wright (née Fretwell). An IGI reference for Eliza’s christening puts it as 21st June 1801, at St Peter’s, Leeds. A further IGI record has Eliza marrying William Hollings on 7th February 1828 at Leeds. Based on the IGI records cited above, and the census data provided later in these notes, Eliza would have been about 24 at the time of her marriage. William was born in Yeadon Yorkshire around 1806 and would have been 22 when they married.

The 1841 census records Eliza and William, with 3 children, living at Lane End, Holbeck., and all are recorded as having been born in Yorkshire.

Eliza Hollings              40

William Hollings         36            Woolen Cloth Dresser

Ann Hollings               12

Eliza Hollings                9

Harriet Hollings            7

The parents’ ages are rounded up/down and the 1851 census allows for a different calculation - note also in subsequent census returns the different 'interpretation' for Eliza's age!

John Fretwell, in his will, dated December 1848, refers to William and Eliza as follows :

To the 3 children of my niece Eliza Hollings, wife of William Hollings of Leeds Cloth Dresser £15.

To my niece Eliza Hollings an annuity of £32.

...another fourth thereof [the Talbot Estate] to the children of my niece Eliza Hollings.

It is evident therefore that in 1848 Eliza and William had 3 living children. However these were Ann, Harriet and William, the latter not appearing on the 1840 census as he was not born until 1844. So from this we learn that daughter Eliza had, most likely, died before John drew up his will. There is a record of the death of an Eliza Hollings in Leeds in 1849 but this has been followed up with no success.

The 1851 census finds the family at a new address, 98 Anchor Street, Hunslet, with son William now included and with William now having different occupation.

William Hollings            45       Belt Maker                                Yeadon, Yorkshire

Eliza Hollings                 42                                                           Leeds

Ann Hollings                  22        Formerly Waiting Maid          Leeds

William Hollings             7         Scholar                                    Holbeck

Daughter Harriet is not at home but has been located elsewhere as a Nursegirl.

William and Eliza have not been located in the 1861 census but reappear for the 1871 census (name transcribed as Hollins). Between 1851 and 1871 they had moved again, and are now found at 24 Roscoe Street, next door to  their married daughter Ann, living at number 22.

William Hollings       66      Belt Maker      Yeadon, Yorkshire

Eliza Hollings            69                                Leeds

They are still living at the same address in 1881, but William's place of birth is stated as Leeds and he still seems to be working. Daughter Ann and her family are still next door at number 22.

William Hollings        76    Machine Belt Maker (Leather Goods)     Leeds

Eliza Hutchinson       79                                                                             Leeds

William lived a further 7 years. He died on 14th July 1888 at 22 Coxhill Place, Leeds, aged 83. He was described as a Flax Mill Hand, and the cause of death was “Cerebral Haemorrhage, Convulsions, Coma” as certified by H M Cross, MB. Daughter Ann Hutchinson was present at the death and was the informant. She gave her address as 22 Coxhill Place, which was close to Roscoe Street, being situated off the Buslingthorpe Road and across the Chapeltown Road, suggesting that either she nursed her father at home or both her parents were living with the Hutchinsons at the time.

His widow outlived her husband by some 15 months. We know from the Talbot Estate Capital Account document, that Mrs. Eliza Hollings, the last surviving annuitant, died on 19th October 1889 just short of her 90th birthday and this is confirmed by her death certificate. Eliza, widow of William Hollings, Machine Belt Maker (Journeyman) did die on 19th October 1899, and her death was registered on the same day. She was 89 years old and the cause of death as certified by J.G. Holmes, LRCB, was “Natural Decay” which is a rather blunt description but nonetheless apt for a lady who lived to such a good age. Her son William was present at the death and was the informant. He gave his address as 4 Grant Terrace Leeds, which was the stated place of Eliza’s death. It would seem that after William Snr died, Eliza went to live with her son.