Biographies
Meet those who write and are referenced in the Hazeley Letter Series written in 1896 from Canada to England.
The Wright Family
The Wright family siblings wrote the letters that you have been reading in the Hazeley Letter Series. It was their journey from their home in England to the farm in Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada in 1896.
John Preston Wright (1843-1927)
The father of the Wright family. John dedicated his life to the Church as did his brother and grandfather, both who held positions of reverends and priests. John would be posted to various churches around England and his family would usually move with him to where he was needed. He lived a life of luxury in large houses and on first-class voyages.
Edith Jane Purton (1849-1915)
The mother of the Wright family. Edith also came from a family that dedicated their life to the Church. She continued to move around in her childhood wherever her father was posted, and that continued when she married John Preston Wright. She was the mother of six children, four daughters and two sons. She lived a life of luxury in large houses and took first-class voyages.
Ernest Wright (1874-1889)
The oldest sibling and son of John Preston Wright and Edith Jane Purton. Ernest only lived to the age of 15 and died before his sibling’s journey to Canada.
May Wright (1873-19??)
The oldest sibling and daughter of John Preston Wright and Edith Jane Purton. May is our main letter writer. After returning to England, May became a nurse and continued to travel the world. You can read more about her here.
Cecil Wright (1876-19??)
Born William Cecil Wright, he went by his middle name.
Harold Purton Wright (1876-1926)
The fourth sibling in the Wright family, Harold isn’t as frequent of a letter writer home to his parents. Harold is brave and couragous which is demonstrated while in Agassiz and in the future when he is a part of the British Army. You can read more about him here.
Jack Wright (1875-????)
Born John Howard Wright in 1876, he went by the nickname Jack in the letters. The youngest sibling to travel to Canada.
Dorothy Wright (1883-1970)
Born Edith Dorothy Phillipa Wright in 1883 and named after her mother, she went by her middle name Dorothy. Being the youngest sibling in the Wright family, she did not join her siblings on their adventure to Canada.
Aunt Leila
Born Leila Laura Preston, she was the sister of John Preston Wright.
Aunt Hesta
Born Hester M J Purton, she was the sister of Edith Jane Purton.
The Agassiz Family
The Agassiz family was a prominent family and the namesake of the town where the Wright siblings wrote. Originally from Switzerland, their family can be traced back to the 13th century. Tales of friendship with the King of Prussia, socializing with governors and bishops, gives you some insight into the Agassiz family. On the other side, they were a large farming family who deeply believed in their community, which was named after them.
Mrs. Agassiz
Born Mary Constance Scharn to a family of Dutch settlers in New York.
Mr. Agassiz (1827-1880)
Born Lewis Nunn Agassiz,
Arthur Agassiz (1853-1941)
Born Lewis Arthur Agassiz, he went by the nickname Arthur.
Florence Agassiz (1854-1940)
Born Margaret Eliza Florance Agassiz, she went by her middle name, Florence. In 1876, she married the manager of a Bank of British North America and had nine sons and two daughters, and lived in Victoria, British Columbia.
Jinny Agassiz (1856-1916)
Born Jane Vaudine Caroline Agassiz, she went by the nickname Jinny. She married a businessman from Vancouver and had three children with him.
James Burwell Agassiz (1858-1923)
Minnie Agassiz (1863-1930)
Born Mary Louise Agassiz, she went by the nickname Minnie.
Connie Agassiz (1864-1946)
Born Constance Therese Agassiz, she went by the nickname Connie.
Dick Agassiz (1865-1844)
Born Richard Roland Agassiz, he went by the nickname Dick. He had two daughters and moved to Saskatchewan to farm.
Nellie Agassiz (1867-1941)
Born Eleanor Maude Agassiz, she went by the nickname Nellie. Miss Ellie is a frequent visitor with May and her family.
Luella Beatrice Agassiz (1869-1954)
Luella married the founder of the St. Alice Hotel in Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia. They had six sons and one daughter, and later moved to Vancouver, British Columbia.
Edith Harrison Agassiz (1872-1951)
Miss Edith is a frequent visitor with May and her family in Agassiz, BC.
Friends and Neighbours Living in Agassiz
People who lived in Agassiz, British Columbia, and were associated with or mentioned in connection with the Wrights during their time there.
Mr. Hamerseley
Born Alfred St. George Hamersley, Mr. Hamersley plays a significant role in both the history of Agassiz and in the daily lives of the Wright siblings. Mr. Hamerseley was the first Reeve (local official) in the district when it was incorporated in 1865. Mr. Hamereley came from England with his wife and practiced law, and was later elected as a city solicitor in Vancouver.
He was also a pioneer of growing hops, and his land was designated the original farming location of hops in the province. Through his work as a local official, he defined the county land boundaries, organized, and obtained grants from the government to have a road through Kent to Harrison Lake.
Connections in Brandon, Manitoba
Individuals who were mentioned in the letters from the time the Wrights passed through Brandon, or who had notable interactions with them during that transitional period.