James Wright

74

iain Frazier on 13th October 2023

Family connections for James (Wright) are: WRIGHT James (Wright) was born about 1786 & became a soldier & labourer. He was tried for stealing, on 12 5 1809, 2geldings etc of William (Smart) at Old Bailey on 17 5 1809, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery, sentenced to death commuted to Life & arrived in NSW as a convict on 16 12 1810 after a voyage of 5months on INDIAN. He was assigned to John (Turnbull). He married Mary Ann (Turnbull her second marriage) on 11 11 1816 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. He was free by Servitude by 1817. He was tried for murder, on 5 2 1825, of his perhaps second wife by 5blows of an axe for continued adultery at Hawkesbury on 27 5 1825 & executed on 30 5 1825 age39. [Some details taken from this Website] Mary Ann (Turnbull) was born on 23 12 1797 in London. She arrived in NSW with her parents on 14 8 1802 after a voyage of 7.5months on COROMANDEL. She married firstly at age16 Joseph (Hartley) on 22 12 1813 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. She was murdered by her husband by 5blows of an axe for continued adultery on 5 2 1825 age27/9 at Upper Branch mother of 3children & buried on 9 2 1825 at St Matthews CofE Windsor. Details of Mary Ann (Turnbull)s family are given in entry for John (Turnbull COROMANDEL 1802) on this Website. James (Wright) & Mary Ann (Turnbull) produced 3children: 1.Jane (Wright) was born on 23 3 1817. She died on 13 1 1898 age80. 2.Thomas (Wright) was born on 23 10 1821. 3.Ann (Wright) was born in 1824. Reference: 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.

221

D Wong on 11th October 2019

Old Bailey: JAMES WRIGHT. Theft: animal theft. 17th May 1809 Verdict Guilty Sentence Death JAMES WRIGHT was indicted for feloniously stealing on the 12th of May, two geldings, value 20 l. and a set of harness, value 2 l. the property of William Smart. SECOND COUNT for like offence, stating it to be the property of William Girdler. Prisoner's Defence. I had been punished by the regiment a great deal; it made me quite careless almost to think I should be punished, and not in fault; for that reason, I was careless what I did. I did not take the horses with intent to make money of them, or steal them. A gentleman that I never saw in my life before, persuaded me to ride the saddle horse, and be rode the other. We went on the road, I cannot tell what place it was; I never was in the country before. The other man took the traces off the horses; I asked him what he was going to do with them, I thought it was wrong; he said you never mind; he told me to put up at the house where the ostler lived, he would call at eight o'clock in the morning. As we were riding along, I perceived the horse I was riding, go lame; I said we had better get him shod, than for the horse to go lame. When I came to the stable in the morning, I asked the ostler where I could get a blacksmith, he told me. I took him to the blacksmith; I saw the other horse wanted shoeing all round. I told the blacksmith to fetch him. GUILTY - DEATH, aged 23. C1814: Was assigned to John Turnball. 1816: Married Turnbull's daughter Mary Ann. 1822: TOL 2/6/1825 Sydney Gazette: MURDER. FRIDAY, MAY 27.—James Wright was indicted for the wilful murder of his wife, Mary Ann Wright, in the district of the Hawkesbury, on the 5th of February last. It appeared in evidence, that the improper conduct of the deceased had been a constant source of disquiet to the unfortunate man ; and was eventually the cause of his committing the dreadful act, for which he stood his trial. He confessed to the Magistrate, after he was apprehended, that having had reason to suspect the deceased of an adulterous intercourse with a man named Cavanagh, he spoke to her on the subject, when she told him that—"he knew she had been common both before and since he married her, and that she would be so to any man she pleased ;"—in the unguarded impulse of the moment, he seized an axe which was at hand, and committed the dreadful act, which deprived the wretched victim of existence. He declared, that he had no desire to escape from justice, and only absconded for the purpose of gaining time to pray to God for forgiveness.—He was described by William Cox, Esq. a Magistrate at Windsor, who had known him for some years, to have been a quiet industrious man, somewhat irritable in temper, and of quick and sensitive feelings.—No defence being set up, the Jury returned a verdict, without retiring, of guilty.—Sentenced to die on Monday ; on which day the unhappy but penitent man expiated his direful offence by the untimely forfeiture of his life. May such awful exits be attended with lasting benefits to that society which crime has thus ignominiously deprived of another member ! 2/6/1825 The Australian, Sydney: On Monday last James Wright, who had been found guilty the preceding Friday of the wilful murder of his wife, was executed pursuant to his sentence,— When he ascended the scaffold he appeared perfectly resigned to his fate.