These original letters from my 3rd great uncle Wright Higginbottom, to his sister, my 3rd great-grandmother Eliza Ann (Higginbottom) McDonald, have been passed down from generation to generation, likely kept by my great grandmother Minnie — Eliza being her grandmother — then to my grandmother Jane.
In every letter, Wright signs “I Am Your Affectionate Brother, Wright Higginbottom” or other endearing sentiments.
Eliza Higginbottom was twenty years old when she married John Joseph McDonald. After having their first child, John, the family would travel to America around 1848, settling in Benton County, Indiana. Her brother Wright, who was 8 years younger, began writing Eliza when he was in his early twenties. This collection of letters was written between 1854-1876.
His early letters provide updates on their parents, Wright and Nancy (Whittaker) and their 6 siblings; their health, marriages, children, and work prospects. His later letters state that he’d like to come to America and wonders if she might provide referrals for work — presumably in farming given that this was the conventional occupation in Indiana.
1859 Letter
Wright marries Anne Lodge, he writes to Eliza and lovingly describes Anne — her physical attributes and character — and mentions his upcoming wedding. He also mentions his niece Sarah and her frail health — suggesting the Lord take her to him.
1860 Indiana Census
Sadly, Eliza’s husband John would pass at the young age of 30 leaving Eliza Ann and her 2 children on their own in Indiana. In an 1860 census, Eliza (listed incorrectly as Hannah instead of Ann, or Eliza) is shown living with her children, John age 11, and Anna E. age 9 and his working as a housekeeper.
1871 Manchester Census
In an 1871 Manchester, England census, Wright is listed as a builder with 40 men and 2 boys as employees. However, it seems his desire to move to America was strong — he and Anne and their 5 children would move to Chicago around sometime between 1871 and 1876 — his 6th child John, is born in Chicago in 1876.
1876 Letter
Sometime in the early 1870s in Chicago, he goes into partnership with a man that left him “pretty badly fixed.” He then purchases a laundry mat that was burned out — he lost everything except for a “few clothes and bedding,” and he didn’t receive “a cent of insurance,” leaving him “very poor.”
1881 Census
Its unclear if Wright ever made it to Indiana — but just 3 years following his Chicago letter — in an 1881 census, he and his family are back in England and Wright and Anne have another daughter, Elisabeth, and Wright’s occupation is listed as an asphalt layer (pavior).
It seems Wright’s American dream did not come to fruition, even after sacrificing is occupation has a successful builder in England. I do wonder if he had hoped to care for Eliza and her children, but given all of the hardships he faced in America, it seems he opted to return to England with the hope of better employment and to support his family.
In a letter from 1876 (83 Hoyne W., Chicago) Wright describes his misfortunes since arriving in Chicago: