Wright, Elizabeth

Elizabeth Wright (nee Hedley) was born at the Heugh, Birtley on 31 December 1882. Her father was William Hedley, a shepherd born in Elsdon and her mother Hannah Hedley, a native of Bellingham. Her father died just after the 1901 Census leaving her mother, now described as a farmer, to run the farm together with her bachelor son, Ralph. In neither the 1901 or 1911 censuses is Elizabeth given an occupation although her two sisters are dressmaker and schoolteacher. In 1913 Elizabeth married William John Wright who worked in the offices at the Ordnance Proof Works in Ridsdale. In 1921 they were living at 3 Percy Terrace, Bellingham. William was working as a cashier and clerk, and they had two children – Ralph Hedley Wright (6) and Hannah Jane Wright (4). By 1939 William had taken up farming, although grassland only at his childhood haunts of Broomhope. Elizabeth and daughter, Hannah were both assisting him on the farm. Willliam died in June 1940 and it would appear that Elizabeth died very shortly afterwards.