David Joy Wright (1851-1908) W2

So here is some information on my Grant Grandfather David Joy Wright.  Back in February I posted his obituary so some of this wont be new.  

David Joy Wright and Family

David Joy Wright (1851-1908) (W2)
Birth: February 9th, 1851 in Northampton, MA
Father: Asa Wright (1819-1883) (W4)
Mother: Harriet Clark (1822-1894) (W5)

Married: Jane Caroline Reed (1846-1936) (W3) on October 8th, 1878 in Northampton, MA.

Children:
Edward Nims Wright (1884-1947)
David Sanders Wright (1887-1967)(W1)

Death: March 2nd, 1908 in Northampton, MA


1851-1870

David Joy Wright was born to Asa Wright and Harriet Clark on February 9th, 1951 in Northampton, MA.  David was the second child, though his older brother Francis Clark Wright had died of congestion of the brain before he reached a year of age (April 15th, 1849-April 5th, 1850).  Asa was a farmer and own land in Northampton.  David's younger brother, Charles Blake Wright was born on June 27th, 1855.  The 1855 Massachusetts Census shows them all living together but unfortunately does not give an address.

According to the 1860 United States Census, they where all living together and both David and Charles were attending school.  Fortunately, David was to young to participated in the Civil War and his father seemed to stay home to support the family.

The 1865 Massachusetts Census shows that at age 15,  David had moved out of the house and is working as a laborer on the farm of Martin L. Clark.  I don't know if there is any relation between Martin and David's mother but suspect them to be cousins.  I suppose that David could have been bond out to learn framing tricks from someone out.

In 1970, based on the United States Census, he had moved back in with his family and was working as a farm laborer, presumably for his father.

1871-1890

The 1873 County Land Ownership Map shows where Asa's house was:

1873 Land Ownership Map of Northampton

David married Jane Caroline Reed on October 8th, 1879 in Northampton, MA.  Jane was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Reed and Sarah Wheeler Sanders and was born on February 12th, 1846 in Whately, MA.  On the marriage license, David is age 29 and listed as being a merchant.  Jane, listed as Jennie, is older at age 34.  The officiant was Gordon Hall.

Based on the 1880 United States Census, David and Jane moved in with David's parents.  On May 11th, 1883 his father, Asa, passes away.  Either before that or soon after David and Jane moved out and started living at 19 West Street.  His business, listed as agricultural tools and grocer is at 36 Main St.

D.J. Wright Storefront

David and Jane's first child, Edward Nims Wright, was born April 3rd, 1884.  David Sanders Wright (W1) was born November 16th, 1887. Both were born in Northampton.

1891-1908

The family moved at some point between 1887 and 1891 as the 1891 city directory has them living at 67 West St. and David's store at 56 Main St.






David was involved with the Edwards Church at the corner of Main and State Streets.  in 1893 he was listed as the church librarian and sat of the Committee of the Parish.  Interestingly, an individual named Edward B. Nims.  This is likely who they named their first child after.  Therefore they must have known him since before 1884.

We know based on his obituary that he was also active in the community, including acting as the treasurer of the Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden Agricultural Society.  I've seen some books that list the makeup of some of the composts he tested.  I'll try and post these at some point.

The family is still living at 67 West Street in the 1900 United States Census.  the have a live in servant, Nallia Conway, age 20 from Ireland.  The census states that David can read, write and speak English.  He owns the house, but has a mortgage.  This was likely take to fund his business.

Some of David Joy Wright's horses

David Joy Wright and some of his carriages 

67 West Street with some of the horses and carriages

In 1902, he moved the store to 62 Main St.  in the city directory, it is listed as a seed store.

David passed away on March 2nd, 1908 in his home.  The death certificate list Heart Disease secondary to repeated attacks of rheumatism.   It also states that he had been suffering from acute rheumatism for the previous month.  He was listed as being a merchant and auctioneer. He was buried in the Bridge Street Cemetery on March 4th, 1908.

David Joy Wright's grave in Bridge Street Cemetery

There are a few interesting points that I might research.  Why did he move in with and work as farm laborer for Martin L. Clark?  Who was Edward B. Nims and what was his relationship to the family?  For now, it will have to wait.  The next post will include a transcription of document investigating David Joy Wright's estate.

Sources:

• U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989, Northampton, MA-1883, 1884, 1885, 1891, 1893, 1898, 1901, 1902, 1903 
• Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Birth Records, 1840-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
• Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, Record for David J Wright
• Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915, Record for David J Wright
• Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840-1915, Record for David J Wright and Jane Caroline Reed
• Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage, & Death Announcements, 1851-2003, search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=proquestnews&h=152731 9&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt
• Massachusetts, State Census, 1855, Household Number 863, Reel Number 13, Volume Number 18
• Massachusetts, State Census, 1865, Household Number 907, Reel Number 14, Volume Number 17
• 1860 United States Federal Census, Database online. Year: 1860; Census Place: Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: ; Page: 886; Image: 892.
• 1870 United States Federal Census, Year: 1870; Census Place: Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: M593_621; Page: 390B; Image: 325; Family History Library Film: 552120
• 1880 United States Federal Census, Database online. Year: 1880; Census Place: Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: 538; Family History Film: 1254538; Page: 447C; Enumeration District: 347; Image: 0105.
• 1900 United States Federal Census, Database online. Year: 1900; Census Place: Northampton Ward 2, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: T623_31077_4113839; Page: 16B; Enumeration District: 0631; FHL microfilm: 1240654.
• Web: Massachusetts, Find A Grave Index, 1620-2013, Find a Grave