A posed photograph of James typical of the late Victorian/Early Edwardian era. Perhaps on the back of the photo is the name of the photographer and the studio where it was taken. James is resting his right arm on a small table upon which sits a small book, perhaps a bible to show his supposed devotion (but more likely placed to keep his arm in the same position), a classical work or a mere prop. Because of the long exposure times of film at this time this would explain why he has been posed as in this position the photographer has tried to make the shot interesting but at the same time easy for James to keep still. It is far easier to remain still while seated than standing up, he is also leaning one arm on the table which also will help the subject to remain still. There is a stylised background behind him of what looks to be a Greek, Roman or Etruscan scene. You can clearly see that this is a hanging curtain. Photographs of this era were very rare and very costly, particularly to a Coal Miner. This is typical of the very formal style of photography, it is more of a statement than an everyday snapshot. This may have been taken by a travelling photographer perhaps at the Town Moor as photographers of the time travelled the country with shows and fairs.
It was always said that James was very militant and always protesting against wage cuts and other unfairness of the coal mining world. According to Bill “ he was thrown out of Birtley “ for being a protesting trouble maker. I’m not quite sure what that means, evicted ?
Peter said he wrote a small book or pamphlet about the condition of pits . This too would have instigated trouble with the coal owners . He got beaten up a few times as well. They must have thought something of him though as he was given an aged miners home at the Joseph Hopper homes along from the Coach and Horses in Birtley.
Bill remembers going to the aged miners homes in Birtley with Carl and Victor, James had a big collie dog apparently and they used to take it for walks . James was sat in the alcove in a chair, Billy said he was ill then . One day Jane came in with a bottle of medicine and said it might do him some good , he died not long after that Bill says which is right, he died in 1933 when Bill was five. Eva also mentioned the alcove , when she came in he would say , “ which one’s this then eh ?” . She described him as ‘ a very nice old man’ .
James appears to be of typical Durham miner stature, I’d estimate he isn’t taller than 6′ tall and probably between 5’7″ and 5’11”. The shoes could be his own and as the jacket looks too big for him perhaps that too was a prop.
1911 James and family at 358 Sunderland Road
1901 James and family at 1 Emily Street, Gateshead.
1891 James and family at Heworth
1881 James and family at Framwellgate Moor, Co. Durham
1871 Still trying to locate James on this census if indeed he was registered at all.
1861 James at Chowdean, Lamesley (Aged 8)
Maureen says that she was 4 years old when James died which would mean circa 1934 and that is indeed the case. She also recalls that there was a large photo of the Family outside their grocers shop on the Sunderland road in Gateshead near Blacks Music hall (1 Emily Street is where they lived in the 1901 census). Sunderland Road is near the Gateshead stadium Metro station. According to Maureen the shop sold groceries and fruit and vegetables. Sunderland Road is very close to Jackson Street where Hannah Davison’s sister (Nellie?) lived.
| Name | Relation to Head | Age | Sex | Occupation | Place of Birth |
| James Wright | Father | 59 | M | Coal Miner, Shifter | Durham |
| Jane Elizabeth | Mother | 56 | F | Cockfield, Barnard Castle | |
| James Arthur | Son | 29 | M | Labourer | Durham |
| Eva Louisa | Daughter | 27 | F | Dress Maker | Durham |
| Clara Jane | Daughter | 25 | F | Out of work domestic | Durham |
| Donald Robin | Son | 16 | M | Clerk | Gateshead |
| Charles Lewis | Son | 12 | M | Scholar | Gateshead |
Listed as living at 358 Sunderland road which may possibly be 1 Emily street where they were previously living. No mention of Stella who would have been 32 and married. Eva was about to marry William B Osborne. Herbert has gone missing, he would have been 23. Alice is married with three children and living at Easington . John William must have died recently.
n the 1901 census the Wrights live at No. 1 Emily Street which is off the Sunderland Road, presumably on the corner of the two streets. I have extrapolated the details here:
| Name | Relation to head of family | Age last birthday | Profession | Employer or worker | Place of birth |
| James Wright | Head | 49 | Coal Miner, Hewer | Worker | Durham, Co.Durham |
| Jane Elizabeth Wright (Nee Booth) | Wife | 46 | Durham, Co.Durham | ||
| Stella Clarissa | Dau. | 22 | Cook, Restaurant | Worker | Durham, Co.Durham |
| Alice Warner. | Dau. | 21 | General Servant, Son David 3 | Worker | Durham, Co.Durham |
| James Arthur | Son | 19 | Cook, Restaurant | Worker | Durham, Co.Durham |
| Eva Louisa | Dau. | 17 | Dressmaker | Worker | Durham, Co.Durham |
| Jane Clara | Dau. | 15 | Durham, Co.Durham | ||
| Herbert Orlando | Son | 13 | Durham, Co.Durham | ||
| John William | Son | 9 | Low Fell, Co. Durham | ||
| Donald Robin | Son | 5 | Gateshead, Co. Durham | ||
| Charles Lewis | Son | 2 | Gateshead, Co.Durham |
James is on RG13/4758 Folio 13 page 17 to be precise while the rest are on page 18 so he was born between 1st April 1851 and 31st march 1852
The census took place on 31st March 1901.
By ‘hewer’ that meant he lay on his side (often in 6 inches of water) hacking away at a coal face.
The eldest child is Stella Clarissa who is aged 22. That means she was born when he was about 27. The first Boer war was 1880-81 so he would have been around 27 then. Stella was born in 1878, or at least registered in the first quarter of that year
Alice Warner Wright was registered between Jan-Feb-Mar in 1880
Herbert was 13 in 1901 and was born in Durham while John/Jack was 9 and born in Low Fell so sometime in those 4 years they moved from Durham to there. Donald and Charlie were both born in Gateshead so they must have spent a few years in Low Fell before moving to Emily St. If, as indeed is stated, Charles was 2 on 2nd April he must have been born in 1899, which indeed he was. Jenny would have been 44 when she gave birth to Charlie. Donald was registered as Donald ROBIN in 1895 between Jan, Feb and Mar:
John William was registered between Jul, Aug and Sep 1890
The 1891 census took place on 5th April . The Wrights had moved to 10 St Mary’s Terrace in Heworth, Gateshead. Heworth is very close to Emily Street. The church in Heworth is St Mary’s so was St Mary’s Terrace very close to it? There are some wonderful old photos of Heworth here
Note that on this census Eva L is down as Louisa. Also Clara appears on the 1891 census but becomes Jane C. in the 1901 one . Note also that James A. has become Arthur in the 1891 census. The change of name depends on whether a child chooses a name for himself/herself or the pedantry or laziness of the census taker. We know Jane Booth wasn’t actually born in Barnard Castle but in Cockfield, which of course is close by. Barnard Castle would be the registration area for Cockfield as Chester-Le-St was the registration area for Gateshead.
| Name | Relationship | Age last birthday | Occupation | Place of birth |
| James | Head | 39 | Coal Miner | Pittington, Co. Durham |
| Jane | 36 | Barnard Castle | ||
| Stella C. | 13 | Durham | ||
| Alice W. | 11 | Durham | ||
| Arthur | 9 | Durham | ||
| Louisa | 7 | Durham | ||
| Clara | 5 | Durham | ||
| Herbert | 3 | Durham | ||
| John W. | 9 months | Durham |
In 1881 James was living in Framwellgate Moor, a town on the outskirts of Durham city. The 1881 census took place on the night of the 3rd of April. I have written an extensive word document on Framwellgate and the Wright connection here. Trust me, it’s worth a read.
Note that James is listed as being born in Pittington. Pittington is between Durham and Hetton-Le-Hole. Note also the lodger James Todd who turns out to be Jane’s uncle, her mothers brother.
| Name | Relation to head of family | Age last birthday | Occupation | Where born |
| James | Head | 28 | Coal Miner | Durham |
| Jane E. | Wife | 27 | Ho. Wife | Durham, Cockfield |
| Stella C. | Daughter | 3 | Durham, Framwellgate Moor | |
| Alice W. | Daughter | 1 | Durham, Framwellgate Moor | |
| James Todd | Boarder | 63 | Pensioner, from Army | Worcester |
The 1871 census took place on 2nd April. James would then have been aged 17 or more likely 18, as yet I cannot find his record if he was indeed registered.
Here is the entry in the register of births for the ONLY James Wright registered in Durham between 1851 and 1853 apart from a James Ralph Wright born in 1851 who would be just too old. This entry is for JLY-AUG-SEP 1852
James would have been between 81 and 83 when he died. This James Wright was registered as died at Chester-Le-Street in the records for OCT-NOV-DEC 1933. Birtley is halfway between Gateshead and Chester-Le Street. Chester-Le-St was the registration centre for Births, Marriages and Deaths, note that he is aged 81 which is the correct age so this is certainly James..
James’ Descendants
- James Wright m Jane Booth
- Stella Clarissa
- Alice Warner
- James Arthur
- Eva Louise
- Jane/Jinny Clara
- Herbert Orlando
- John William
- Donald Robin
- Charles Lewis
The Wrights Family History 