Robert Wright was born 20 October 1866 in St Mary Maldon.
Dorothy Olive Wright remembers in August 1998 that her Grandfather Edwin James had a brother called Robert. He went to America - probably in the early 1900s.
Have learnt from Steve Bush a descendant of Robert that he went to America in 1902. Steve writes:-
"Robert Wright owned a publicans house in north London, at the corner of Weedington Road and Marsden Street, what is now Talacre Road and Marsden St. The building was destroyed in the blitz.
( In September 2000 Steve Bush and I visited the London Metropolitan Archives where we discovered that Robert had been the licensee for the "Prince Albert" for only one year - from 14th April 1897 to April 20 1898. The owner of the premises was The Camden Brewery Co. of Hawley Crescent. )
"Robert married Alice Sarah Jacobs from Bethnal Green, London, and they had nine children, of whom four survived infancy: Isabella Mary, Grace Evaline, Robert James, and Harold. The children were all born in north London, excepting Robert, who was born in Southend on Sea. They came to the US on the S.S. Philadelphia in the fall of 1902, and it seems that Uncle Charlie (William Charles) had lined up a job with Singer in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for my great grandfather. They all lived out their lives in Pittsburgh. He sold life insurance door to door and bought a 78 acre farm in Saxonburg, PA where he lived for the rest of his life."
In 1891 - 95 Tubbs Road, Harlesden.
Robert Wright, Head, age 24, Publican, born Maldon, Essex.
Alice Wright, Wife, age 26, No trade, born Hackney, London.
The other occupiers of the house were William Coombe, his wife Martha, and their seven children, and a boarder John Hurst.
At 305 Green Lanes, Wood Green in 1901 Ref RG13/1258/177 page 11
Robert Wright aged 34, a publican born in Maldon, Essex
Alice S Wright his wife aged 38 born in Bethnal Green
Isabella Wright his daughter aged 8 born in Willesden
Robert J Wright his son aged 6 born in Southend Essex
Evelyn G Wright his daughter aged 1 born in Wood Green
Robert became a US citizen on December 29 1922.
Steve Bush has found a 1904 Pittsburgh City Directory listing Robert Wright as a sewing machine agent.
Robert's daughter Isabella's birth certificate lists him as a canvasser, life assurance company in 1892. On his daughter Grace's birth certificate in 1899 he is a public house manager.
Steve Bush writes the following :-
"I found Robert and family on the S.S. Philadelphia which sailed out of
Southampton Sept 6, 1902 and arrived in NY September 13, 1902. They
travelled in third class (steerage), had $65 with them, and were bound
directly for Pittsburgh to meet up with William Charles. His address was
the same as the one in the 1902 Pittsburgh City Directory that I found. It
appears that Robert replaced him at the Pittsburgh Singer agency and he
moved (back?) to NY."
From the Ellis Island web site - The " S. S. Philadelphia" was built by J. & G. Thomson Limited, Glasgow, Scotland in 1889. She was 10499 gross tons; 560 (bp) feet long; 63 feet wide with steam triple expansion engines and twin screw. Service speed was 20 knots. She could carry 1740 passengers ( 540 first class, 200 second class, 1000 third class ). " S.S. Philadelphia" was on the Liverpool-New York service. She was the world's fastest ship 1889-92. When sold to American Line in 1892 she was renamed "Paris" and was transferred to the Southampton-New York service. She was transferred to United States Navy, American flag, in 1898 and renamed "USS Yale" for the Spanish-American war service. The ship was returned to American Line in 1898 and reverted to "Paris" and was again used on the Liverpool-New York service. She was nearly lost after grounding off Cornwall on May 21, 1899. She was renamed "Philadelphia" in 1899. Transferred to Additional Arrivals, in 1917 and renamed "USS Harrisburg" the ship became part of the US Navy service. She returned to American Line in 1919 and reverted to the name "Philadelphia", again on the Southampton-New York service. She was laid up by the New York-Naples Steamship Company, American flag, in 1922 and was scrapped as "Genoa" in 1923.
1930 US CENSUS
Family of Robert Wright (Allegheny County, PA) - 1930 census
6738 Reynolds Street, Pittsburgh: Robert Wright Sr., age 64, born England, rented home for $55, age 28 when married, Occupation: none. Wife Alice Wright, age 67, born England, age 31 when married. Son Harold Wright, age 29, born England, age 23 when married, occupation sign painter. Daughter-in-law Eleanor P. Wright, age 30, born Pennsylvania, age 24 when married. Granddaughter Jeanne E. Wright , age 5.