Edwin James Wright was a tin plate worker living in Twickenham in 1880 (From marriage certificate).
He was a zinc worker, living at 7 Clements Road, Bermondsey, in 1881 (From son's birth certificate).
This was the grandfather of Dorothy Olive Wright. She told the following tale in June 1998.
Edwin James ran a cycle store in Richmond Avenue, off the High Street, Southend on Sea in the 1880s. He made cycles and also gave cycling lessons. Dorothy's mother, then a young girl, took cycling lessons and met and fell in love with Edwin's son - also Edwin James. This cycle factory was on the opposite side of the road to the shop that existed until 1964.
Edwin James (the elder) had a younger brother Bob who went to America. He wrote home about the invalid carriages and baby carriages that he saw in the States and this prompted Edwin to open a hire service, supplying these items to the public.
Wright's hire service was established in 1884 at number 1, Richmond Avenue and was demolished in 1964 to make way for a ring road. It was run at that time by Herbert Henry Wright the grandson of Edwin James the founder. The ring road was never built and at this time (June 1998) a car park stands on the site.
Further information gained from Dorothy Olive Wright in August 1998. Edwin James senior lived at Holly Lodge, Grove Road before renting 1 Richmond Avenue, Southend on Sea. He also lived at one time in Brewery Road, Southend on Sea.
Dorothy also remembers that Edwin James had two sisters, Popsie (which could be a nickname) and Ann. Popsie had a daughter Natalie, who married an Asian doctor. Ann lived in Barking at one time and gave elocution lessons. Popsie lived in Westcliff on Sea and used to visit Edwin James senior in Southend.
Edwin was born in Wants Road, Maldon, Essex - Dorothy remembers her grandfather saying he was born in Wants and had been living in wants ever since.
The 1891 census shows the following people living at 3 Albion Villas, Brewery Road, Southend on Sea, Essex.
Edwin James Wright aged 30 a gasfitter who was born in Maldon
Emily E his wife aged 30 who was born in Colchester
Edwin J his son aged 10 who was born in London
Winifred E his daughter aged 7 who was born in Southend
Isabel his daughter aged 4 who was born in Southend
Grace his daughter aged 1 who was born in Southend
Alice I Wright his sister aged 22 (acting as servant) who was born in Maldon. (This could be Popsie)
Hannah Briton a servant aged 15 who was born in Cold Norton
In 1901 the family were living at 28 Grove Road, Southend on Sea
E Wright aged 41 a cycle maker born in England
EE Wright his wife aged 41 born in England
EJ Wright jr. his son aged 20 a cycle maker born in England
Winnie Wright his daughter aged 17 born in England
Gerald Wright his son aged 8 born in England
Dorothy also remembers cousins of Edwin James, named Ralph and Dollie Herring, living in Heygate Avenue, Southend on Sea. Other members of the Herring family lived in "a big house not far from St John's Church". This would have been in the late 1910s to 1920s.
Edwin James died of morbus cordis & congestion of liver at 1 Richmond Avenue, Southend on Christmas Eve 1921. He was buried in grave number 3452, Sutton Road Cemetery, Southend.