Summary
Personal Information
Voyage
Transportation
James Wright was transported on the Scarborough, departing 13th May 1787 and arriving 26th Jan 1788 with 26 passengers.
430 tons, built Scarborough 1782. One of the ships of the First Fleet to Australia. (Details of these convicts transported are found under 'Lady Penrhyn, Scarborough & Alexander)
Scarborough (generic)References
| Primary Source | Gillen, Mollie; The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet. Baxter, Carol, Ed. Musters of New South Wales and Norfolk Island; 1806, 1811 and 1814. |
Claims
"My 7th Great-Grandfather through his daughter Shepherdesses"
Photos
No photos have been added for James Wright.
Convict Notes
Family connections for James (Wright) are: Some amendments added Dec 2025. WRIGHT James (Wright) was born in 1762 & became a baker. He was tried for highway robbery at Kent Maidstone Assizes in August 1783, sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 26 1 1788 after a voyage of 8months on First Fleet ship SCARBOROUGH. He became the first baker in the colony. He lived with Ann (Guest) alias Lititia (Holland) from about 1792 & married her on 10 4 1810 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. In 1804 he is recorded as a publican. In 1806 He was Free by Servitude & leased .25acre at Parramatta. He died on 15 3 1825 age68 at Parramatta. [Some details taken from this Website] Ann (Guest) was born in 1764. She was tried w/2others for assault, on 18 11 1790. & stealing a watch etc of John (Fogg) at Old Bailey, sentenced to death reprieved to Life, held probably at London/Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW on 9 7 1791 after a voyage of 5months on Fleet ship MARY ANNE where she used the name Letitia (Holland). She, as Letitia (Holland alias Ann (Guest)) emancipist wife of James (Wright), died at Parramatta on 26 6 1827 age63 & was buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta.. [Some details taken from this Website] James (Wright) & Ann (Guest)/Letitia (Holland) produced 4children: 1.James (Wright was born in 1792 & died on 8 7 1792 age<1 & was buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta. 2.George (Wright) was born in 1794. 3.Jane (Wright) was born in 1797. She had an association firstly with Thomas (Raine his first relationship) & produced 2children. ..Thomas (Raine) was born on 21 6 1793 in England. He arrived in NSW as a naval Captain on 28 7 1814 on SURREY-he had had many voyages on the SURREY. He established the first whaling station at Twofold Bay in 1818. He became a partner in the firm Raine & Ramsey-general merchants agents & shipowners established 1822. He went to Bathurst about 1823 where he was granted land (on which he settled in 1831). He was a merchant when he married Fanny Eleanor (Worsley) on 6 4 1826 at St James CofE Sydney. He built 'Rainham' in 1832 at Queen Charlottes Vale & owned 2,000acres named 'Rainville' at O'Connell, used for wheat & dairy farming & cheesemaking. He died on 6 6 1860 age67- at Paddington father of 12children in Sydney & was buried at Camperdown. ..Details of Thomas (Raine)s family are given in entry for Eliza (Dunlop BLACKFRIAR 1851) on this Website. 4.Shepherdess (Wright) was born in 1799. She married firstly John (Agland his first marriage) on 20 10 1820 at St Johns CofE Parramatta.>>> ..John (Agland) was born on 1 10 1783. He was tried for sheep stealing at Somerset Assizes, sentenced to Life & arrived in NSW on 31 3 1812 after a voyage of 3months on GUILDFORD. He was Free by Servitude by 1820. ..[Some details taken from this Website] .. >>>Shepherdess (Wright) had a second relationship with John/James (Peasley/Piesley/Peisley his second relationship) & produced 1child. She died on 6/8 6 1826 age27 mother of 4children & was buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ..John/James (Peasley/Piesley/Peisley) married firstly Elizabeth (Boswell) in 1793 in Surrey. He was tried for stealing at Croydon Surrey Summer Assizes on 3 8 1801, sentenced to be hanged reprieved to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict with his family on 14 8 1802 after a journey of 7months on PERSEUS. In 1810 he was a camp overseer of a public gang at Parramatta. In February 1811 he obtained a beer licence (although he is recorded as receiving beer in 1807). He was Free by Servitude by 1812. He is recorded as a publican at Parramatta in 1825-with his Conditional Pardon. In 1825 he was granted 500acres. He was a butcher when he died on 14 2 1828 age53 at Parramatta father of 10children & was buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta. ..[Some details taken from this Website] ..Details of John/James (Peasley/Piesley/Peisley)s family are given in entry for John (Peasley PERSEUS 1802) on this Website. REFERENCES Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony. Irene Schaffer & Thelma McKay 'Exiled Three Times Over! Profiles of Norfolk Islanders Exiled in Van Diemens Land 1807-1813' James Hugh Donohoe 'Norfolk Island 1788-1813-The People and Their Families' Reg Wright 'Forgotten Generation of Norfolk Island & Van Diemens Land'
17/3/1825 Sydney Gazette: DIED.—On Tuesday last, after an illness of five months, Mr. JAMES WRIGHT, of Parramatta, in his 68th year. The deceased came to this Colony in the first fleet, and was the first baker in Australia, having served in that capacity under Governor Phillip.
The memorial plaque was placed over their graves… To the memory of Mr. JAS WRIGHT who departed this life Octb.15th 182- aged 68 years. Also SHEPHERDESS AGLAND Daughter of the above who died June 6th A.D. 1826 aged 27 years. Likewise LITITIA WRIGHT widow of J.W. who died June 26th A.D. 1827 aged 63 years. [FIRST FLEETERS PLAQUE] JAMES WRIGHT arrived First Fleet 26-1-1788 Died 15-3-1825 Fellowship of First Fleeters 1983
Baxter, Carol; Musters of New South Wales and Norfolk Island. 1806….... [A4370] James Wright, Scarborough, FBS, Leases ¼ acre. [B0306] James Wright, Lease at Parramatta. Not victualed, wife and 3 children not victualed. [A1820] Ann Guess, Mary Ann, with James Wright at Parramatta. 1811…... [6432] James Wright, Scarborough, Tried August 1783 at Maidstone, 7 years. [2454] Ann Guest, Mary Ann, Tried Old Bailey 1789, Life. 1814…... [2050] James Wright, Scarborough, Free, Off Stores, Publican. [3182] Ann Guest, Mary Ann, Off Stores. Wife to James Wright. (# No children mentioned)
In the colony, James lived with Ann Guest (Convict, Mary Ann, 1791). They had 4 children, James (1792-1792), George (C1794), Jane (1797) and Shepherdess (1799). The couple were married after the birth of the children, April 10th 1810 at Parramatta. James Wright a batchelor [sic] of the parish of St John Parramatta and Letitia Holland of the same place, a spinster were married in this church by license this tenth day of April in the year one thousand eight hundred and ten by me William Cowper. James signed the register and Letitia made her X mark in the presence of James Gardner and Mary Gardner who both signed the register. ## Note Ann Guest went by the alias of Letitia Holland in her private life.