Sarah Griggs (1793-1839)
Sarah Griggs was born on Norfolk Island 30th May 1793.
Her parents were Sarah Griggs and Lieutenant John Townson. She had a daughter, Anne Jane Griggs, in Sydney on 13th April 1810, her father was Nathaniel Collins of the New South Wales Corps. Anne Jane married Thomas Fleming in St Johns Church in Launceston in 1825.
Sarah Griggs(2) married Joseph Wright in St. Phillips Church in Sydney 30th May 1811. Joseph was the eldest son of the First Fleet convict, Joseph Wright and his wife Ellen Gott who had been transported aboard the "Neptune" in 1790.
Sarah and Joseph Wright had a daughter born in Sydney before moving to Van Diemens Land.
After arrival in Hobart Town, Joseph ran the "Red Lion Inn" in Elizabeth St. Joseph took up land at York Plains (Mt. Seymour) in 1815 and in 1817 . He was granted 50 acres.
Joseph built the first substantial dwelling in the district, a stone and rubble dwelling which for was used as an inn.
The inn accommodated a corporal and several soldiers who inspected loaded carts proceeding through the district.
The Hobart Town Gazette of 17th May 1817 included a notice indicating the change of residence of Joseph Wright...... "Joseph Wright, who lately kept the "Red Lion Inn" in Hobart Town has completed a comodious house on Scantling's Plains nearly half way to Port Dalrymple which must be a great accomodation to travellers and for which Mr. Wright is justly entitled to the thanks of the public."
In the same year Joseph was supplying meat to the government , he received £25/11/.4 for 876½ lb, and a further 776lb for which he received £22/1/-
Joseph employed a tutor for his children,. The Hobart Town Gazette of 16th August 1826 included the following notice.
" On Wednesday William Kerr (free, better known by the name of Hopping Kerr), was found guilty of forging the name of the Chief Justice to a draft upon the Colonial Treasurer for £8 1s. 6d. and presenting the same for payment on the 24th July last. This man had been employed as a teacher in the family of Mr. Joseph Wright of York Plains, and pretends to be a near relation of the Earl of Roxborough, and the brother of Lord Kerr."
When Governor Sorell ordered the soldiers to Jericho the inn became a rendezvous for sheep and cattle thieves where many a good fat steer was melted down.
The inn commonly known as "Joe Wright's" became "Meadowbanks" at the suggestion of Governor Macquarie who spent the night of the 2nd June within its walls on his second and last visit to Van Diemens Land.
By 1822 Joseph Wright owned 230 acres. Wheat was sown in 5 acres, 175 acres were in pasture and the balance was uncleared. His stock consisted of 2 horses, 130 cattle and 1,200 sheep. He employed two assigned servants and a tutor for his children. Samuel Horton of "Somercotes" described some of his neighbours to Lt.Gov. George Arthur in 1827; "......... a very loose set of neighbours: amongst them being the wife of Joseph Wright, formerly of York Plains and her daughter, Mrs. Sutton and others"
Sarah Wright gave birth to another seven children in Tasmania, she died 4th May 1839. Joseph Wright died at his daughter's residence, "Wilmot Arms", Oatlands 6th April 1862, aged 74 years.