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. 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.
Moffitt
Charles Henry Moffitt and his two sons, John Lindsay Moffitt(1835 – 1907), and Charles Henry Moffitt (1840 - ?) came to New Zealand aboard the 'Louisa Campbell' in 1842. John and his father were both dentists. In 1864 John was a Lieutant in the Auckland regiment of the Military.
John Moffitt married Susannah Evelyn Prideaux Wright (1834 - 1915). Susannah was the older sister of John Fortescue Evelyn (JFE) Wright. Charles Moffitt senior, married Susannah’s mother, Louisa Felicia Wright, widow and mother of JFE Wright. One of John Moffitt’s sons married a niece of JFE Wright. This is the third time that members of the Moffit and Wright family had married.
John Moffit, Susannah and John’s father are all buried in the same grave in Bolton Street cemetery.
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
- Fortunatus Street.-A family name, including of one of John’s brothers and his Great grandfather.
- 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.
You will need to bring your own pen