"Sir Francis" of Two Rivers, a Waterloo Veteran

My wife's Irish ancestors came to the province of New Brunswick, Canada, before eventually moving to Bangor, Maine. The surnames involved are Wright, Mackey, McClay, and Flynn.

The earliest known Wright ancestor is Francis M. Wright (Laurie's 3rd great grandfather), born in 1777 in Ireland. He and his wife, Frances "Fanny" Bowman immigrated to Miramichi, New Brunswick, in 1819 (according to his obituary). Miramichi was a lumber town, although the lumber economy began to decline after 1825 (says Wikipedia). 

He entered the U.S. in 1848 at Buffalo, according to his naturalization record  (although his obituary gives 1847). In the 1850 census Francis and Fanny are living in Milwaukee.  He gained citizenship in 1854. In 1860 they are in Two Rivers (about 90 miles north of Milwaukee on the western shore of Lake Michigan).

Francis and Fanny may have had as many as 14 children along the way, but the one in Laurie's direct line would be Francis "Frank" B. Wright. Although there is some uncertainty here, he was born around 1811 (but possibly later) in either Ireland or New Brunswick (my money's on Ireland). This kind of inconsistency is not uncommon in these matters, but what we do know is that young Frank married Mary Ann Mackey in 1840 in Miramichi. 

But Frank and Mary Ann did not enter the U.S. along with Frank's parents in Buffalo. They, like the rest of my wife's Irish ancestors, stayed on a little longer in Miramichi and eventually traveled down to Bangor, Maine.

Now, Frank and Mary Ann would have a daughter, Catherine, my wife's great grandmother. She was born in 1844 in New Brunswick, and her death cert would report her coming to the U.S. in 1855, presumably along with her mother and father.

So here's the timeline of relevant dates so far:

• 1877 Francis M. Wright is born in Ireland.
• 1811 Birth of his son Frank B. Wright.
• 1815 Takes part in the Battle of Waterloo.
• 1819 Immigrates to New Brunswick (though this might have happened earlier)
• 1840 Son Frank marries Mary Ann Mackey in Miramichi, New Brunswick.
• 1844 Frank and Mary Ann's daughter, Catherine, is born in Miramechi.
• 1847 Francis moves to Wisconsin (according to obituary).
• 1850 Francis and Fanny are living in Milwaukee
• 1854 Francis' naturalization
• 1855 Frank and family come to Bangor, Maine, from Miramichi.
• 1860 Francis and Fanny are living at Two Rivers, Wisconsin.

When Francis M. Wright came to Wisconsin 1847 he was already about 70 years old. When he became a naturalized citizen he was 76. He was known as "Sir Francis" to his neighbors and friends and there is some reason to believe, according to family lore, that he self-reported as English, not Irish. He would live to the ripe old age of 95, telling stories about Waterloo to all who would listen. The closing line of his obituary is worth noting.

He retained all the powers of a vigorous mind to the last days, particularly the scenes at Waterloo on the 18th of June, 1815, in which he took part under Wellington.