Drooko!

“Drooko” was the trading name of Joseph Wright, Glasgow umbrella maker.

His parents, James Wright and Margaret Kelly Shearer were married

in Paisley on 29^th August 1831.

Joseph was born between 1846 and 1849 in Airdrie, Lanarkshire.

He can be found living with his parents and siblings at 50 Stirling Street, Airdrie

although the 1851 Census states ‘New Monkland’

James Wright, Head, age 40, Hairdresser, born Paisley, Renfrewshire

Margaret Wright, Wife, age 37, born Paisley, Renfrewshire

John Wright, Son, age 15, born Paisley, Renfrewshire

Margaret Wright, Daughter, age 5, born Airdrie

William Wright, Son, age 3, born Airdrie

Joseph Wright, Son, age 2, born Airdrie

James Wright, Head, age 40, Hairdresser, born Paisley, Renfrewshire

Margaret Wright, Wife, age 37, born Paisley, Renfrewshire

John Wright, Son, age 15, born Paisley, Renfrewshire

Margaret Wright, Daughter, age 5, born Airdrie

William Wright, Son, age 3, born Airdrie

Joseph Wright, Son, age 2, born Airdrie

By 1861, the family which had expanded, had moved a few miles west

and were living at ‘Bank Buildings’ Coatbridge

James Wright, Head, age 50, Hairdresser, born Paisley, Renfrewshire

Margaret Wright, Wife, age 48, born Paisley, Renfrewshire

Margaret Wright, Daughter, age 15, born Airdrie

William Wright, Son, age 14, born Airdrie

Joseph Wright, Son, age 12, born Airdrie

James Wright, Son, age 9, born Airdrie

Catherine Wright, Daughter, age 7, born Airdrie

Joseph’s elder brother John had married and was living with his wife

Margaret at 54 Stirling Street, Airdrie.

10 years later, in 1871, Joseph was still living at home with his parents

At Main Street, Coatbridge – this may or may not have been ‘Bank Buildings’.

James Wright, Head, age 60, Hairdresser, born Paisley, Renfrewshire

Margaret Wright, Wife, age 58, born Paisley, Renfrewshire

Margaret Wright, Daughter, age 25, Shopwoman, born Airdrie

Joseph Wright, Son, age 22, Barber, born Airdrie

James Wright, Son, age 20, Shopman, born Airdrie

Catherine Wright, Daughter, age18, Shopwoman, born Airdrie

Joseph’s mother Margaret Shearer died at Academy Street, Coatbridge

on 1^st May 1874, aged 63 years.

Academy Street, Coatbridge

The remaining family are Academy Street on the 1881 Census

as follows:

James Wright, Head, age 60, Portioner, born Paisley, Renfrewshire

Margaret Wright, Daughter, age 35, Draper, born Airdrie

Joseph Wright, Son, age 32, Umbrella Manufacturer, born Airdrie

James Wright, Son, age 30, Fancy Goods Merchant, born Airdrie

On 6^th March 1884, Joseph aged 35 married Agnes Cowan aged 23,

of 6 Douglas Terrace, Hamilton, daughter of

Henry Cowan, Pawnbroker and Agnes Rowland Cowan nee Wilson

The 1886/87 Glasgow Post Office Directory lists:

“Wright, Joseph, Umbrella Manufacturer, 48 Argyle Arcade, Glasgow;

House: Aimer Villa, Albert Place, Coatbridge”

Argyle Arcade

Joseph and his wife Agnes moved sometime between 1881 and 1891

to 77 Shields Road, Tradeston/Pollokshields, Glasgow,

perhaps to be closer to Joseph’s workplace and various shops

in the City Centre.

On the 1891 Census, they are listed as follows:

Joseph Wright, Head, age 42, Umbrella Maker, born Airdrie

Agnes Wright, Wife, age 30. born Coatbridge

James D. Wright, Son, age 3, born Coatbridge

Henry C. Wright, Son ,age 3, born Busby, Renfrewshire.

Business was apparently booming!

In the next few years, adverts were placed in publications as far afield

as New Zealand, and the one below appeared in the Otago Witness (1892).

Another full page advert appeared in

‘Portraits and Autographs, An Album for the People”

By William Thomas Stead (published 1891)

In February 1895, a poster designed by Frances and Margaret MacDonald was

commissioned. (Margaret being the future wife of Charles Rennie Macintosh).

Adverts were consistently placed in the Glasgow Post Office Directories.

By the time the 1901 Census was taken, Joseph’s family had grown

and they had moved from Shields Road to Sauchiehall Street :

Joseph Wright, Head, age 52, Umbrella Maker, born Airdrie

Agnes Wright, Wife, age 40. born Coatbridge

Henry C. Wright, Son age 13, born Busby, Renfrewshire

Gordon R. Wright, son, age 3, born East Kilbride, Lanarkshire

Oswald M. Wright, son, age 9 months, born East Kilbride, Lanarkshire

(Eldest son James D. Wright was not included)

Union Street, Glasgow

The 1911 Census states that Agnes had had 5 children – 4 still living but it is

unknown when the 5^th child was born or died.

Now living at Rowancliff, Egidea Avenue, Eastwood, Renfrewshire

Joseph Wright, Head, age 62, Umbrella Maker, born Airdrie

Agnes Wright, Wife, age 50. born Coatbridge

Douglas James Wright, Son, age 25 Medical Student, born Coatbridge

Henry C. Wright, Son, age 23, Umbrella Manufacturer, born Busby, Renfrewshire

Gordon R. Wright, son, age 13, born Giffnock, Lanarkshire

Oswald M. Wright, son, age 10, born Giffnock, Lanarkshire

(Note that eldest son James, or now referred to as Douglas James

is back with the family)

Presumably son Henry carried on the Family Business after his father

Joseph died of heart failure on the 16^th November 1915, aged 66

 in the covered passage leading from the Railway Station to the Pier

at Wemyss Bay, North Ayrshire.

In the Register of Corrected Entries, his cause of death is recorded as

‘Cardiac Debilitation accelerated by Diabetes’

The Notice of his death was published in the Glasgow Herald

in two subsequent issues, his home address given as

Rowancliffe, Giffnock.

Joseph was buried in Woodside Cemetery, Paisley,

on Friday 19^th November 1915

Joseph’s eldest son James Douglas Wright, L.R.C.P. & S. (Edinburgh)

Registered with the Medical Recruiting Scheme in 1916.

He was 30 years of age at was engaged at the

Scottish National Red Cross Hospital, Bellahouston

Additional details:

Group A, Lieutenant, Royal Army Medical Corps, General Service.

Further research and with the kind assistance of Renfrewshire Council

confirms that a number of the family were interred in

Woodside Cemetery, Paisley,

Section/Compartment 15 Lair 593

Still born child, died 13^th November 1888

at 6 Maxwell Terrace, Pollokshields

Still born child, died 30^th November 1889

at 6 Maxwell Terrace, Pollokshields

Joseph Wright junior, died 5^th March 1900 age 6

at 477 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow

Joseph Wright senior, died 16^th November 1915 age 66

at Wemyss Bay, residence Giffnock

Oswald Wright died 5^th November 1917 age 17 at Rowancliffe, Giffnock

Dr. James Wright died 13^th August 1929 age 44

At Royal Victoria Hospital Glasgow, residence Essex

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