Trafford

Born during the June quarter 1884 in the Altrincham R.D. - ref: 8a/193, the
youngest son of Robert Wright & Mary Sutton (nee Clare).

His father - Robert Wright Sutton died in late 1885, aged: 32. 

1891 Census - Post Office, Stamford Road, Bowdon.   Son - aged: 6 - Scholar
- born: Bowdon.   Head of household - Mary Sutton - Widow - aged: 47 - occ:
Sub-Postmistress & Drapers Shop - born: Manchester.   Plus 2 elder siblings
and 1 Drapery Shop Saleswoman.

1901 Census - Post Office, Stamford Road, Bowdon (next door but one to the
Griffin Hotel).   Son - aged: 16 - Jeweller's Shop Assistant - born:
Bowdon.   Head of household - Mary Sutton - Widow - aged: 38 - occ:
Postmistress, Draper & Stationer - born: Manchester.   Plus 1 elder sister
and 1 General Servant..

1911 Census - "Glen Meay", Stamford Road, Bowdon.   Son - aged: 26 - occ:
Salesman & Assistant in a Retail Jeweller's Shop - born: Bowdon.   Head of
household - Mary Sutton - Widow - aged: 58 - occ: Boarding House Keeper -
born: Manchester.   Plus 1 domestic servant.

Native of Bowdon.   Member of the Altrincham Hockey Club.

Enlisted in October 1914 and specialised in musketry obtaining a 1st class
certificate for musketry.    Eventually he became the sergeant in charge of
his Battalion's Machine Gun Section.

Robert made his (Military) Will on the 21st April 1915, naming his mother
as the executor and main beneficiary.   The Will was witnessed by two Army
Sergeants.

Death reported in the 14/07/1916 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.

MIC - Awarded the 15 Star, the BWM & the VM.   Posted to France on the 8th
November 1915.

Commemorated on the private family gravestone in St. Mary's, Bowdon. Grave
No. 2265.    M.I. - "Father in thy gracious keeping, leave we now our loved
one sleeping".

His father, Robert Wright died 22/10/1885 aged 32 years and his mother Mary
died 16/03/1935 aged 81 years.

Listed in the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1917.

His mother - Mary Sutton, received financial support from the "John Sington
Fund".
 
The John Sington Fund - John Sington was the son of Adolphus Sington, a
Jewish Prussian shipping merchant who came to Britain and in 1845 became a
naturalised citizen.   Adolphus had his own company, involved originally in
the production of linen and cotton, and later the import and export of
machinery for the cotton industry.  John and at least one of his brothers
worked in their father's business in Princess Street, Manchester.

In 1885 John married Mildred Campbell Maclure, daughter of Sir John William
Maclure, Bt., who became MP for Stretford the following year.  John and
Mildred had two sons, Alan John Campbell Sington and Edward Claude Sington.
 In 1914 both sons enlisted in the British Army, and their father is listed
in The Gazette in 1915 as Major John Sington, Royal Engineers Territorial
Force Reserve.   In 1909 the Sington family moved from Whalley Range to
Dunham House, on Charcoal Road, Dunham.

When Major John Sington's two sons returned safely from active service
during WW1 he established a fund 'as a Thanksgiving Offering for their safe
return for the benefit of the wives, children and dependants of any men
who, as a result of service with His Majesty's Forces or the Mercantile
Marine, have died or been killed or disabled, and for the benefit of any
members of His Majesty's Forces or the Mercantile Marine who have been
disabled as a result of such service.'   The fund's scope was limited to
those who had been resident in the Urban District of Bowdon or the village
of Dunham Town for at least six months.

Six trustees were appointed, namely, John Bleckly, Henry Edwin Gaddum,
William Alfred Hampson, Joseph Kenworthy, Joseph Watson Sidebotham and the
Major himself.  The Clerk to the Trustees was Willis Paterson the Bowdon
UDC Solicitor, 11 Stamford Street, Altrincham to whom applications for
grants had to be made.    Information about the Fund and its beneficiaries
was kindly supplied by Cynthia Hollingworth from the records kept in
Trafford Local Studies Library.