1896 Letters from British Settlers: The Wright Siblings Begin Their Journey to Canada
1896 Letters from British Settlers: The Wright Siblings Begin Their Journey to Canada
May 6, 2025
The Hazeley Letters 🎥 Watch the narrated version of this 1896 letter from Agassiz, BC About the Wright Family In February 1896, a young British settler wrote to her father back in England, describing her new life in Agassiz, British Columbia. These pioneer letters offer a rare…
The Hazeley Letters
🎥 Watch the narrated journey of this 1896 letter from Agassiz, BC
About the Wright Family
In February 1896, a young British settler wrote to her father back in England, describing her new life in Agassiz, British Columbia. These pioneer letters offer a rare window into settler experiences during a time of hope, hardship, and transformation in the Canadian West.
The four English siblings of the Wright family, May, Cecil, Harold, and Jack Wright, left their home in England and set sail across the Atlantic on board the RMS Majestic to a remote ranch their parents had rented in Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada. They were apart of part of the larger wave of British migration encouraged by land opportunities in Western Canada, their letters capture the raw experience of settlement life—before paved roads, reliable weather forecasts, or financial security.
Over the years, this collection has passed between those who believed that the story of the Wright family deserved to be heard. At last, the letters have returned home to Agassiz, the very place where their words were first written.
Each week in this series, The Hazeley Letters, I will share their letters alongside the insights uncovered through my ongoing research into the Wright family. Through the weeks, we will piece together their world and deepen our understanding of their lives and what it was like to live in Agassiz in 1896.
The Letter- Full Transcript
Cecil’s Letter to Mother – February 25, 1896
RMS “Majestic”
Dear Mother
We have not got a bad sort of fellow in our cabin; he makes himself very friendly. We have only just found Jack’s bag we were afraid that it must have been put in the hole.
The landing stage was simply crowded when the Majestic turned around. It was very nice you being able to come on just for those few minutes. I never thought they would allow you on deck because they made such a fuss when I went down for the parcels. I will add some more to this before I get to Ireland if I can but if not,
I remain yourAff. Son
Cecil
Captain Edward Smith
The Captain of the RMS Majestic when the Wrights were onboard was Captain Edward J. Smith. Later on, he was assigned by the White Star Line to captain their ships on their maiden voyages. Does his name sound familiar to you? His last voyage was as the captain of the RMS Titanic in 1912. After a long career as a captain for the White Star Line, serving in the Royal Naval Reserve during the Second Boer War, he is most famously known as the captain who went down with the ship when the Titanic sank on her maiden voyage.
How These Letters Returned to Agassiz
In early 2025, the Agassiz-Harrison Museum received a letter from Cornwall, UK, telling us about the collection and asking if we would be interested in accepting it. Absolutely!
These letters to the parents of the Wright siblings had stayed in the UK, kept safe with a journalist known for her gift of storytelling. When she passed away, the letters nearly ended up in the trash. Thankfully, they were rescued just in time and passed along to someone else who believed their story was worth telling.
Nearly 130 years later, the letters are back to where they were originally written, and it’s time to share their story. The Hazeley Letter series can also be viewed on the Agassiz Harrison Museum website.
Pioneer Life in Agassiz, 1896
- Weather and Climate
Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada, is located in the Fraser Valley. It is an area surrounded by forested mountains with the Fraser River running through it. The area is known for being very rainy. The spring in the Fraser Valley is traditionally very wet and cold, which can delay planting. In 1948 and 2021, the Fraser Valley experienced severe flooding as a result. - Gold Speculation
The gold rushes were in full swing at the time of these letters. A new spot had just been discovered along Harrison Lake near Agassiz. Settlers and miners would come from far and wide to attempt to strike it rich. - Agriculture and Farming
Agassiz and the Fraser Valley have a long history of agriculture and farming. Notably, the first hop yards in British Columbia were located in Agassiz. In 1896, domestic farming was essential for food security and often useful in trade. Today, the town is still primarily agricultural and farming-focused. - Community Pride
The Wright family was a part of the new town of Agassiz and was involved in setting up the churches and local establishments in the area. The Agassiz family, who the town is named after, are often mentioned in the letters. The Agassiz and Wright families were friends and frequently socialized together.
Historical Context: British Immigration to BC in the 1890s
Post-confederation, there was a push for settlers to immigrate to Canada. In particular, for English families to settle in the Fraser Valley. It was rich in agriculture, gold, and natural resources. To entice families to settle in the Fraser Valley, the Canadian government would offer free land grants to settlers. Only requiring a promise to develop the land and use for agriculture, families would receive hundreds or thousands of acres for free from the Canadian government.
The Canadian Pacific Railway had a line established across Canada at this time. It connected newly arrived settlers from Europe to the West coast where they received land grants. In Agassiz, the Wright family lived only a few miles from the train station that helped them stay connected to the rest of Canada. The Agassiz Harrison Museum sits in an old CPR station right next to the very tracks often spoken of in the letters.
Why The Hazeley Letters Are A Treasure of Early
Canadian History
These letters were nearly destroyed as they were passed through multiple sets of people to tell the story of the Wright family.
After arriving at the Agassiz Harrison Museum, it was clear that these letters were rich in local history, captured the early years of the town with great specificity, and offered a peek into the family and settler life in 1896.
Letters like these humanize the settler experience. They show the daily lives of the people who lived during this time and make it more relevant to people today.
Through transcription and research of these letters, new insights into settler life and the town have been discovered.
- Frozen Solid: The Wright Siblings’ First Winter in Canada, 1896
- Gold Mines and a Winter Trip to Yale, B.C.
- Autumn in Agassiz 1896
