Page in Progress:
Mary MENARY of Gilford Castle was a significant researcher
whose work has played a key role in the evolution of this
site - even thoughshe died almost half a century before I
began my work.
Sharon Oddie Brown. August 1, 2005.
James Francis WRIGHT |
Mary MENARY |
Born:17 Nov 1874 at Co. Monaghan
|
Born: 05 Nov 1872 at Maghery, Co. Armagh |
| Died: 22 Apr 1954 at Gilford Castle* |
Died: 29 Aug 1946 |
| Father: Robert WRIGHT |
Father: William MENARY |
| Mother: Sarah Jane REED |
Mother: Mary JACKSON |
Married: 02 Apr 1902 at Cathedral Church,
Victoria, Hong Kong** |
* On his death certificate,
it indicates James Francis died as a result of "carcinoma
lung and chest".
** The
Certificate of Marriage gives the residence of James Francis
as "Ballinode, Macdonell Road". The witnesses were
T. JACKSON and R.T. WRIGHT. The acting Chaplain was George
A. BUNBURY. The document was issued 3 August 1902 and signed
by the Manilla Consular service.
NOTE: Mary MENARY was baptised by Rev. Jackson SMYTHE of Armagh.
NOTE: The photos on this page were initially
given by Mary MENARY to my great-grandmother,
Bessie BROWN (nee JACKSON), who was her aunt.
They were given to me by Eilie RYDER of Bangor,
Co. Down on my 2005 trip to Ireland. I am eternally
grateful.
Sharon Oddie Brown. July 30, 2005
|
 |
The wedding at St. John's Place,
Hong Kong April 2nd, 1902.
The bride and groom are James Francis WRIGHT and Mary MENARY. Between
them, is Sir Thomas JACKSON (uncle of the bride). On the extreme
left is Mr. JOHNSTON, Mr. (REV.) BUNBURY, Lucie WRIGHT née DANBY (wife of Robert Thomas WRIGHT of HSBC in Yokohama), (I am unsure of who the woman
is right behind "Jim" WRIGHT - ), Louisa JACKSON
(wife of David JACKSON with the boater-style hat), unnamed woman,
unnamed man, unnamed woman (seated behind and between Sir Thomas
and Mary MENARY), two more unnamed women, and unnamed man, another
unnamed woman, Mr. Edwards, Sallie Danby (Sarah DANBY wife of Royden PADFIELD, and a sister of Lucie
DANBY ), Kathleen
JACKSON (daughter of Sir Thomas JACKSON). BACK ROW: A familiar face - possibly Andrew Coulter Bradford JACKSON - brother
of Sir Thomas JACKSON and also uncle of the bride), Robert Thomas
WRIGHT of HSBC Yokohama - brother of the groom.
(See back of photo beneath.) |
 |
MARRIAGE OF J.F. WRIGHT AND MISS MARY MENARY
(News account)
James Francis Wright of Ballinode, county Monaghan, Ireland,
and managing director, representing Benjamin, Kelly and
Potts*, of the Oriete Hotel
Co. Ltd., the Manilla Investment Co. and the Phillipines
Tobacco Trust, and Miss Menary, daughter of Wm. Menary,
of Maghery, county Armagh, Ireland, and niece of Sir Thomas
Jackson, were married at St. St. John’s Cathedral,
Hong Kong on April 2. Reverend J.A. Bombury officiated.
Only the immediate friends and relatives were present, and
the affair passed off quietly, although the contracting
parties were popular in social circles.
Mr. & Mrs. Wright arrived at the Zafiro, yesterday,
and are registered at the Oriente. Mr. Wright was the recipient
of congratulations from his many friends in the city.
The marriage ceremony took place in the presence of Sir
Thomas Jackson, uncle of the bride, Mrs. D. Jackson, sister
of the groom Mr. And Mrs. Todd of Smith, Bell & Co.
who arrived with the party yesterday, and a couple of intimate
friends.
Sir Thomas Jackson is the general manager of the Hongkong
and Shanghai Banking Corporation.
The marriage is a very popular one, as both families are
among the oldest in the North of Ireland.
Mr. Wright is an attorney-at-law, and one of the foremost
business men in the Orient. Though one of the most modest
men in Manilla, Mr. Wright has had adventurous experience.
He has had service in South Africa, where he was badly wounded,
but has now forged his sword into a pruning hook, and means
to pursue a domestic, peaceful life under his own vine and
a big tree.
*A brokerage
started in 1880 by Eliezer "Elly" KADOORIE.
|
BIRTH of their child: Almost nine months after
their marriage, Mary gave birth to their first and only child, James
Francis WRIGHT at the Peak Hospital in Hong Kong. J.F. WRIGHT is
described as "of Manilla. The baby was baptised by F.T. JOHNSON
on January 7th, 1903. James Francis Sr. is still described as living
in Manilla and his profession was described as "Merchant".
A.P. ROSE was the assistant Chaplain.
PASSPORTS: In their 1924 passports,
James Francis is described as a "stock Broker", resident
in the UK and being 6'2" with blue eyes and fair hair. Mary
was domiciled in Norther Ireland and was 5'6" with grey eyes
and white hair.
WRIGHT & CO was the name on company
letterhead in Hong Kong dated 1939 and accompanying a photo of the
wedding of Thomas Jackson HOUSTON and Margaret Emilie BAYNE. One
can infer this was one of James' business interests.
|
