Josephenna Theresa Wright (nee Cramer) is my maternal Great Grandmother (Cyril Wright’s mother).
Josephenna was born 15th August, 1877 in Port Pirie, South Australia. Her parents were Heinrich Christoph Cramer (1835-1885) and Margaret McNamara (1842-1910).
Josephenna married Frederick George Wright in Wentworth, NSW in 1897. They had 7 children, Cyril being their 3rd child.
Josephenna’s husband George died in Mildura in 1942. She died in 1958 in Castlemaine, Victoria at the age of 85 years.
These are the places where Josephenna lived along with key life events:
- 1877 Born in Port Pirie, South Australia
- 1877 Bendigo, Victoria
1880 Josephenna is 3 years old when her father, Heinrich deserts her mother, Margaret. He attempts suicide and is jailed for this – for 3 months.
1885 Josephenna is 8 years old when her father suicides by gunshot wound to his head.
1887 (1 April) Josephenna’s mother marries John Hill Sedgman in Balranald, NSW (Registration Number 1887/003844).
1887 (July 8) Josephenna Theresa (10 years) and her siblings, John (8 years) and Matilda Cramer (6 years) are ordered to the Royal Park Industrial School in Flemington, Victoria. Their mother, Margaret Sedgman (Cramer/McNamara) is destitute since her husband (John Hall Sedgman) has deserted her.
Josephenna (Theresa), John & Matilda: Neglected, found wandering about. Father (Henry) dead, Stepfather, J.H. Sedgman deserted
- Mother: Margaret Sedgman, Sandhurst, destitute
- Relations: Brother 16.71, & Sister 16.73
- State on Admission: Good
- Vaccinated: Yes
- 8 July – Girls’ School
- 20 July – Fostered to: Margaret O’Leary, Ballarat West
1891 (October 20) Josephenna Theresa Cramer, daughter of Margaret McNamara and Henry Cramer, is listed as living in Abbotsford during her time as a Ward of the State. She is 14 years old.
Reference: Index to the Children’s Registers of State Wards 1850-1893 (Victoria) BB=Boys’ Book, RH=Receiving House
Volume BB7, page 174 TC & TSN. RH6, page 150 (TC & TSR)
1896 Balranald, New South Wales
1896 (March 11) Theresa, John and Matilda are discharged to their sister (Mrs. Dean) in Gampang, Balranald, NSW. There is no trace of their Step-father, John Hill Sedgman. Their mother is also living in Balranald.
Reference: Index to the Children’s Registers of State Wards 1850-1893 (Victoria):
(Matilda and John) Volume BB7 (Boys’ Book), page 173 & Vol RH6 (Receiving House), page 155.
(Theresa), Volume BB7, page 174 TC and TSN & RH6, page 150 TC and TSR
- 1897 Wentworth, New South Wales
- 1901 Gives birth to Cyril Jesse Wright
- 1903 Koorlong Avenue, Mildura
- 1909 Mildura
- 1912, 1914, 1919 Irymple Avenue, Mildura
- 1924 90 Magnolia Avenue, Mildura
- 1931 Mildura, Victoria
- Year unknown – 1958 Castlemaine, Victoria where she dies
