When researching your family tree, be warned by this tale - even the most straightforward evidence can prove misleading.
John Steer WRIGHT was born at Newport, Monmouthshire on November 10, 1888. He worked for the Great Western Railway initially as a fireman, eventually as an engine driver on the Paddington expresses - every schoolboy's dream!
William Henry WRIGHT and Mary Ann STEER, like many others, had migrated to South Wales from Devonshire, in their case from the village of Colebrooke, near Crediton. Amongst John's effects was a small prayer book with an inscription inside the front cover:
"Mary Ann Wright. October 23, 1871. Wedding present from her pastor, Revd Thomas Crosier, Colebrooke, Devon".
How fortunate for a family history researcher to be given a marriage date without having to search - this detective work is easy!
On their marriage certificate, William's address at the time of the marriage was Holy Trinity, Pillgwenlly in Monmouthshire and the couple's names were given as William Henry WRIGHT and Mary Ann STEER. William's father, Samuel was a labourer.
John Steer WRIGHT's birth certificate shows his father's name of William Henry WRIGHT, but his mother's name is written as Mary Ann WRIGHT, late WRIGHT, formerly STEER. And the 1891 Census shows their names and birthplace, Colebrooke, Devonshire, with two older children, but stepdaughter and stepson. Perhaps detectives don't have things as easy, after all.
Some careful searching produced a second marriage certificate, December 25, 1880 at Holy Trinity, Pillgwenlly, between William Henry WRIGHT (batchelor), son of William WRIGHT, labourer, and Mary Ann WRIGHT (widow), daughter of Robert STEER.
So the prayer book inscription, though interesting, almost sent me in search of a different family altogether! I could so easily have come off the rails. Who would have thought that Mary Ann would marry two William Henry WRIGHT's, both from the same village in Devon, both of whom had migrated to Newport.
Incidentally, Mary Ann's father, Robert STEER also had a son called Robert - not unusual. In fact, the 1881 Census shows the younger Robert residing in Crediton, with his wife and family. So who is the Robert STEER, licensee of the Castle Hotel at Bedwellty, Monmouthshire, birthplace, Colebrooke, Devonshire? Here we go again!
Click here for a brief history of the Steer surname.
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