J.F.E Wright came from a naval family of lengthy traditions, and after serving for some time in the navy himself, joined his brothers in Wellington in the early 1850’s. John Fortescue Evelyn Wright (1827 – 1891) acquired large land interests in the south-west of the city and in 1878 he laid off a portion of his land as Vogeltown.
Fortunatus
A family name, held by one of John’s brothers and his Great grandfather. Of note one of the Forunatas' was a privateer.
WRIGHT, FORTUNATUS (d. 1757), merchant and privateer seems to have served in early life on board merchant ships or privateers, and later on to have been in business in Liverpool. Owing to some lawsuit or political entanglement, the details of which are unknown, he left Liverpool in 1741 with his wife and family, went to Italy, and finally settled at Leghorn as a merchant, probably making occasional voyages.
In 1746 he commanded the privateer Fame, a brigantine fitted out by the merchants of Leghorn, making a large number of prizes. It was said that they were worth 400,000l., his share of which would have made Wright a rich man, and this he never was. On 19 Dec. 1746 the Fame captured a French ship with the Prince of Campo Florida's baggage on board, and sent her into Leghorn. In some way she had a pass from the king of England, but she was not named in it, and Wright maintained that it was a good capture, and refused to restore her on the representation of the consul. Eventually, on the suggestion of (Sir) Horace Mann [q. v.], the English minister at Florence, the matter was referred to the naval commander-in-chief, who decided against Wright.
The name Fortunatas was passed down with many other Wrights bearing this name.
The nomenclature of the Wright family can be found primarily in Vogeltown, although the memory of J.F.E. Wright is recognised in Wright Street, in the adjoining suburb of Mount Cook. Other streets named for the family are
- Mofitt Street. John’s youngest sister married a Moffit in 1857 and, after the death of John’s father, his mother married the sisters father-in-law.
- Evelyn Place. John’s paternal grandmother was Susannah Prideaux Evelyn and thus the name Evelyn became part of the Wright family nomenclature through to the early 1900’s.
- Dorking Road. Takes it name from the Evelyn Estate, near Dorking in Surry.
- Mills Road. Named after the husband of John’s oldest sister, Edward Mills.
- Vennell Street. Named after relations living in Wellington in the mid/late 1800’s.
A number of both the Wright, and Liardet family members are buried in the Bolton Street cemetery – some being reinterred when the motorway was build in the 1970’s.
This close to private property. Please respect the owner privacy by not entering their land. The cache is on public land. Please take care with muggles and replace the cache as you found it. The cache only contains a logbook. Bring your own pen.