John Wright Jr. (fl. 1634–1684)

Identifiers

  • Grubstreet: 27076

Occupations

  • Bookseller

John Wright Junior, bookseller, 1634–1684; at the King's Head, Old Bailey, 1634–1667; next door to the Globe in Little Britain, 1667–1677; at the Globe in Little Britain, 1668–1677; at the Crown, Ludgate Hill, 1678–1684.

Woodhead has Wright's address as at "the Glove," but this is a typographic error or misreading of "the Globe."

A Dictionary of the Booksellers and Printers who were at Work in England, Scotland and Ireland from 1641 to 1667, by Henry Plomer (1907)

WRIGHT (JOHN), junior, bookseller in London; Kings Head, Old Bailey, 1634-67. Son of John Wright, senior, and in partnership with him. On June 13th, 1642, he took over the copyrights, sixty-two in number, which had belonged to Robert Bird and Edward Brewster. In addition to theological literature it included The History of Gargantua, A Book of Riddles, and Robinson's Citharine book. [Stationers' Registers.] Either he or his father was a large holder in the ballad stock of the Company, and with Fr. Coles, T. Vere, and W. Gilbertson was the chief publisher of this class of literature.

A Dictionary of the Printers and Booksellers who were at Work in England, Scotland and Ireland from 1668 to 1725, by Henry Plomer (1922)

WRIGHT (JOHN), junior, bookseller in London, (i) King's Head, Old Bailey, –1667 (?); (2) next door to the Globe in Little Britain, 1667; (3) Globe in Little Britain, 1667–77; (4) Crown, Ludgate Hill, 1678–93. 1634–93. See Dictionary, 1641–67, He must surely also be identical with the J. Wright there given as publishing "next door to the Globe in Little Britain" in 1667. He succeeded his father in 1658, and carried on and increased a large business. It was mostly in ballad-stock and chap-books, in partnership with Coles, Vere, and others, and he therefore did not use the Term Catalogues much, but made a certain number of entries in them between 1669 and 1693. [T.C. I. 23, II. 458.] In 1681 he was with Chiswell defendant in an action for debt. [C.P.R. Mich. 33 Chas. II, 2996, m. 260 r.] In the Parish Register of Leeds is recorded the death on March 6th, 1675/6 of "Mary daughter of Mr. John Wright bookeseller in London", which may refer either to his sister or daughter. [Thoresby Soc. Publ. X. 160.]

The Rulers of London, 1660–1689: A Biographical Record of the Aldermen and Common Councilmen of the City of London, by J.R. Woodhead (1965)

WRIGHT, John (C). Co Co [ed.: Common Councilman] Farringdon Without, (St Martin Ludgate), 1682. The 'King's Head', Old Bailey, 1634–67; the 'Glove', Little Britain, St Botolph Aldersgate, 1668–77 (1); the 'Crown', Ludgate Hill, 1678-84 (2). STA [ed.: Stationers’ Company], fr, 1663, by P; L, 1664 (3). b: St Sepulchre; d: Oct 1684 (4). Will: PCC [ed. Prerogative Court of Canterbury] 133 Hare pr, 20 Oct 1684. f: John Wright, STA, bookseller at the 'King's Head', Old Bailey, 1605-58; m: ? Katherine, da of Christopher Hatfield, CUT [ed.: Cutlers’ Company]; mar: Rebecca (5). Bookseller, in partnership with f. Defender for debt with Richard CHISWELL. Associated in business with Thomas VERE (6). City property; land Essex, Berks, Surr (4). Whig, "very naught, ruled by [John] STARKEY; a poor fellow'' (7).

(1) Plomer, Booksellers, 1641–67, p. 198; Booksellers, 1668–1725, p. 321. (2) Plomer, Booksellers, 1668–1725, p. 321, gives dates 1678–93, but Co Co was dead by 1684, leaving a son John then under age (will). (3) Will; STA, Appr Bound, etc., II, p. 130. (4) Will. (5) Plomer, Booksellers, 1641–67, p. 198; will. (6) Plomer, Booksellers, 1668–1725, p. 321; Booksellers, 1641–68, p. 186. (7) SP/29/418/199.