Wrights Ropes of Uuniverse Works, Garrison St, B`Hham : Founder, 1770

[shyster2008]

Hi All.
Still have not got the name of the Founder of Wrights Ropes of Uniiverse Works Garrison St, Birmingham.
Founded in 1770.
His Grandsons, or it could be his Great Grandsons, took over the Business in the 1850`s and built the Translantic Telephone Cable in 1865 but the link back to the Founder eludes me.
His Grandsons or , I am convinced that they were his Great Grandsons, were John and Edwin Peyton Wright.
Can anyone help??
There seems to be 3 Generations missing.
Need help!!!
Need to get the missing Links.
Brian

[shyster2008]

Hi all.

Still no replies to my request.

There must  be someone out there that has some Information on the Founder of WRIGHTS ROPES.

Help Please.

Brian

[Dawn Macqueen]

Hi Brian, I am also interested in this family. I think that Edwin Payton Wright's father was William, and that his father was also William - although I am having a struggle to confirm any details. The works was in Dartmouth Street by 1770 and moved to Garrison Lane later. I believe that there is an etching of the works at the Birmingham Art Gallery, though I have not seen it there. It is available on the revolutionaryplayers website, and also in Hipkins (1896) book on The Wire Rope and its Applications - you can find that online at archive.org with some wonderful illustrations.
sincerely
Dawn

[ciderdrinker]

Hello
It's quite a common surname but this seems to be them
1841 20 Dartmouth Sr
Ann 35 rope maker N
William 16 y
John 14 y
Edwin 12 y

John Turner Wright baptised Aston 28.6.1826 born 15th To William And Ann rope spinner
Edwin Paton Wright  St Phillips Birmingham born 14.10.1828 bapt 26.2.1834 of Dartmouth St rope spinner.

 Marriage at Stafford st Mary 2.5.1822 William Wirght and Ann Turner
They married by licence and this gives us the information that William was a rope maker 21 and over  from St Martin's Birmingham.She was from Stafford under 21 who had to get the consent of her father.
He was a widower and she a spinster.
Witnesses John Turner and Elizabeth Adams.

Awkwardly by 1851 both brothers have married and are living next to each other in Highgate Birminghm with no sign of their parents.
Edwin married Marriana Augusta  Turner 17.2.1849 at Aston father Edward Palmer Turner coal dealer
John married Mary Harriet Turner at Yardley 10.11.1847 her sister.No mention of William's decease on either or witnesses William or Ann Wright.

William Wright owns the rope works in Dartmouth Street in 1838 so he must have been alive then,but by 1848 Ann is the owner occupier and is still there 1851 rate book.

Ciderdrinker

[Dawn Macqueen]

Thank you this. I was aware of most of that, but not the (very important) marriage details -- and they indicate that William was a widower, so that is very interesting and a new path to follow!!
MS 58/1/20 record at Bham archives discusses a re-assigned mortgage redemtion and makes reference to John and Edwin Wright, Ann Wright (widow) and Wm Alston of Elmdon Hall. Properties on DArtmouth St, Lister St, Heneage St, ad Brewery St. This was at the time of building the Millwall investment I think.

[Al in Vane]

I am sure Shyster 2008 has seen it by now but on Birmingham History Forum is -

J. & E. Wright's rope works at Garrison Street similarly owed its growth to a patent for the production of rope composed of hemp and wire. This had a high degree of strength and resistance to corrosion, yet was light and was used for the Atlantic cable of 1866. (fn. 499) The business had been founded in 1770 by William Wright of Dartmouth Street, was continued first by his son William and then his daughter-in-law Ann, and after 1846 by his grandsons John and Edwin. They were the patentees and brought the firm to its later size.

[Dawn Macqueen]

I have had another look at the picture from Hipkiss (1896), which positions the established business of 1770 in Dartmouth Street. I am not sure Dartmouth Street existed then (see Hanson's map of 1778), and the earliest reference I found for Wrights in Dartmouth Street is an 1822 lease. So Hipkiss (MD of the Wrights firm in 1896) and the Company records may not have been correct on the location timing. Certainly the business pops up in Dartmouth Street in the 1841 census (by which time that area was definitely developed) but looking at the picture, the chimney stacks and the tall hats imply a 19th century scene. So, I am not at all sure where the works actually was in 1770. I am not sure that the Birmingham Archives will have an answer to this one, but I have asked a map expert for some advice - and if anyone else can come up with some evidence that would be marvellous!