John Bright (1787 - 1847)

Born 1 Aug 1787 in Lincoln County, Kentucky, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 30 Mar 1847 at age 59 in Lincoln County, Kentucky, United States

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Biography

John was born in 1787. He was the son of Henry Bright and Elizabeth Pope. He passed away in 1847.

John was born to Henry/Heinrich Bright/Brecht (1760-1856) (German names were early anglicized in Pennsylvania) and Elizabeth/Elisabeth Pope/Popst/Pabst/Bobst (1763-1822) (and i don't know how many other spellings). His mother was born in Lincoln County, KY (where she was married), and his father in Lebanon County, PA (see grave http://kykinfolk.com/lincoln/2Cemeteries/Bright_Henry.JPG). He married Elizabeth Morrison (1797-1881), daughter of Elizabeth Spears (1755-1823) and Ezra Asher Morrison (1756-1844) 14 Aug 1816. Siblings: Sarah Ann (Culbertson)(1788-1873), Elizabeth (Robinson) (b abt 1790), David (1794-1890), Catherine/Kitty (Luck)(1808-1886), Greenberry (1803-1896), Henry/Harry (1809-1885), Margaret. Children: Elizabeth Morrison (Carpenter)(1818-1898), Henry Clay (1821-1900), Mary (Williams, then Lillard)(1823-1907), George Carpenter (b abt 1825), America (Gentry)(b abt 1826), Margaret (Givens)(b abt 1828), John (1833-1915), William Morrison (1835-1920), Sarah Frances/Francis (Medcalf/Metcalf)(b abt 1837).

a grandson left a record of Capt. Bright

see

http://searches2.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/BRECHT/2000-05/0957333087

Excerpted from book:

"Lillard: Thomas Madison Lillard. Mary Bright Lillard Title Page: A Short History of Thomas Madison Lillard and Mary Bright Lillard, of Boyle County, Kentucky. Written by their son and admirer, John T. Lillard, and dedicated to them, and to their posterity. 1890." (from pp. 53-69)

Mary Bright Lillard, wife of Thomas Madison Lillard, was born on March 16, 1823, on her father's farm about one mile from Stanford, the county seat of Lincoln county, Kentucky. Her father, John Bright, was born in 1786, of Dutch [they were 'Pennsylvania Dutch,' that is, German, being the Brecht family; Brecht later anglicized to 'Bright' - bcs] parents. He was a man of unusually large size, being over six feet in height, and his normal weight being over three hundred and fifty pounds. He was a soldier and captain in the war of 1812 (the only soldier in our family so far as I know), and all his after life was called "Captain Bright." As he died at about sixty-two years of age, in 1848, I never saw him; but I have seen a vest which he had worn, and which could have been buttoned around two men of ordinary size. For a number of years before his death his great size impeded his walking, and he then rode much of his time on horseback, conducting his farming and other business. Besides farming he had, in conjunction with his house, located on the turnpike at the front of his farm, a sort of inn, where the stage coaches and passengers made stops for rest and refreshment. He conducted this tavern principally for company and his own entertainment, and never, by the prices charged or otherwise, sought especially to make money out of it. He was a man of social disposition, and, for that day, a rich man. I have heard related that he usually had on his farm about three hundred head of mules in lots of various stages of preparation for market, and at one time made a sale of one hundred head to Chiles Brothers for $10,000 cash, which was then so large a sale that the item went through all the newspapers of the country, being of much greater magnitude than a sale for $100,000 would now be regarded. The stage coach of that day, now an antiquated relic and quite obsolete in its romantic old style, was then practically the only public conveyance for local and inter-state travel. ...The state taverns were places of no mean distinction, and among them Capt. Bright's was no mean tavern. Near the house and stage house, on Capt. Bright's farm, was a cave which had been explored and could be traveled for many miles; and from this cave issued a perpetual but small stream of the finest water, which furnished the drinking water for the farm and tavern, and still furnishes the water for the place without increase or diminution of flow. There were a number of negro (sic) cabins in the back yard near the residence. These are a very few of the interesting data and surroundings of our Mother's childhood home, and I know it was a very pleasant and attractive home, for long after we children had grown up our grandmother Bright still lived at this homestead, the residence, stage house, and all then remaining intact, and still so remaining to this day, being now occupied and owned by John Bright, our Mother's brother. I have a most vivid recollection of how we children, during our grandmother's time, delighted to visit this spot with our Mother.

Our maternal grandmother [Capt. Bright's wife - bcs], Elizabeth Morrison Bright, was of French descent. She was a tall, strong, commanding woman, physically and mentally, and after her husband's death she conducted his business and affairs, which passed to her, with marked ability and prosperity. She died about 1880 at the age, I think, of eighty-four years.

. . .

Our Mother [Mary, dau of Capt. John Bright - bcs] had four brothers, Henry Bright, who was, until his death, which occurred after he had married and raised a family, a respected farmer and resident of Lincoln county, near his birth-place; George Bright, who removed to Texas and there died; John Bright, who is a farmer and civil engineer, and who owns and resides upon his father's old homestead, near Stanford, Kentucky; and William M. Bright, who is a farmer and importer and breeder of French draft horses at Normal, McLean county, Illinois. She had also four sisters, Elizabeth, who married Logan Carpenter, both of whom are now dead, leaving a large family of children; America, who married Frank Gentry, and who is now a widow living at Danville, Kentucky; Margaret, who married James Givens and who was first a resident of Lincoln county, Kentucky, then for a number of years of Bloomington, Illinois, and is now again living upon his farm adjoining the town of Stanford, Kentucky; and Sarah Francis, who married John Metcalf, of Nicholasville, Kentucky, where she and her husband now reside.

Also a grandson of Capt. Bright left a letter telling about him:

http://searches2.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/BRECHT/2000-05/0957355169

accessed 3/15/09 - bcs

Written January 14th, 1930, by Dr. J.G. CARPENTER, MD -- who resided at Cherokee Circle, in Louisville, KY

STORY OF CAPTAIN JOHN BRIGHT'S INN--LINCOLN CO, KENTUCKY

. . . . Our grandfather, Captain John Bright a Lieutenant Colonel in Col. Davidson's regiment Mexican War 1846-47. Capt. Bright married Elizabeth Morrison, daughter of Ezra Morrison the Revolutionary War soldier, and Elizabeth Spears Carpenter, the widow of John Carpenter, the pioneer settler of Carpenter's Fort, the 4th Fort against the Indians in Lincoln County, KY 1776-1777, he's my great grandfather--Captain John Bright our grandfather and Elizabeth Morrison Bright his wife married in the year 1816 or 1817. Their first child, my mother Elizabeth Morrison Bright born July 1818, married Hugh Logan Carpenter of Carpenters Fort.

The old Bright home or Bright Inn or Hotel, is one and one-half miles, 50 yards, 2 feet and six inches from Stanford Court House on Stanford and Danville Pike. Much business was carried on there the large farm or ranch of 1500 acres stocked with the best and the finest cattle, horses, mules, jacks, hennets, sheep, hogs, goats, deer, bears, chickens, geese, duck, turkeys, guineas, and pigeons. It took a large herd of milk cows to furnish milk, butter, and cheese for the family, hotel and servants. A large flour mill and grist mill run by horse power 6 to 12 horses hitched to beams and traveled in a circular direction was the motor power--this mill was located 200 yards west of the Inn. On the south side of the Inn 100 yards and on the pike was the large blacksmith, wagon and carpenter shops where black smithing was done, wagon carts, sleds, slays, furniture, buckets, tubs, troughs, looms, spinning wheels, reels, working bars were made. Grandfather Bright and wife owned many servants; the colored men were blacksmiths, housecarpenters, stone and brick masons, shoe makers, millers or millwrights, cooks, tailors, weavers, and boot blacks. On the North side of the Hotel was the large three story ware house and grainery; half mile North was the still house where corn, barley, rye, apples, peaches, pears, grapes and blackberries were made into whiskey and brandy, wine and cordials. No one got drunk in those pioneer days.

Again, North of the Hotel was the large ice house---cold storage plant; and bear pen 50 x 10 feet with from 6 to 12 bears used on extra occasions for the table, a bear roast or steak was greatly desired, these bears weighed from 10 pounds (the cubs) to 350 pounds or more or less--and on the North further East, was the loom and spinning wheel two story house where all the flannel, linsey, jeans, were spun,woven, and made from wool and goats hair; flax and hemp made into clothes, sheeting, bed linens, towels, napkins and thread. On the East side and back of the Hotel were the negro cabins--one and two stories for the slaves to live in, a large two-story meat house that stored 75 to 125 hogs, killed and cured every Fall and Winter. Farther East was 6 acres orchard and deer park that contained 25 to 50 deer yearly. Again, back of this, farther East, was the large dairy barn; 50 yards North of this barn the Spring cave still exists (one and one half miles long---4 to 6 feet high and 6 to 8 feet wide); the cave, ice cold in summer, warm in winter, kept butter hard and firm and milk cool or cold and was a great place to keep milk, butter, cheese, fresh meat in Spring, Summer and Fall. Farther South, 100 yards, were the stage and livery stable for the stage and traveling public horses.

All of the above I observed as a child from 1858 to 1863 . . . . Great have been the changes. Capt. John Bright died about 1849 or 1850 from heart disease and dropsy contracted in the Mexican War 1846-47. His wife, Elizabeth Morrison Bright, remained a widow and died 1882 or '83 at age 87 years. [She was ] a good wife and mother, a true mate, with a wonderful strong body and mind and the best of health. She ran the Hotel and farm many years after the death of Capt. John Bright and made much money. Both died Christians. There was on the East side of the hotel a large stage office. The largest stock barn I ever saw was on the West side of the Hotel and would hold more that 100 horses; mules and cattle. The Brights have been moral, truthful, sober, industrious, economical, upright, debt-paying people. Exemplars, builders of schools, churches, and hospitals. Capt. John Bright's father was Henry Bright, who came to Lancaster, Penn., the son of Capt. John Bright, Revolutionary War Soldier with General Geo. Washington of Valley Forge--Yorktown, Brandywine and other great battles.

This emigrant to Ky. came to Ohio Falls, now Louisville, Ky., near Logan or St. Osopho Fort, now Stanford, Ky. They got well and strong. This Henry Bright homesteaded 95 acres of land in Lincoln Co., Ky., now known as Lancaster, Garrard Co., Ky.; built the first house in Lancaster, later 6 miles West of Lancaster, Garrard Co., Ky. Now known as Hubble and 6 miles North of Stanford, 7 miles east of Danville, Boyle Co., Ky. Homesteaded many acres of the best blue grass and timber lands on the Hanging Fork Stream and sojourned there until he died at the age of 98 years after a useful, well-spent, exemplary life.

He had 7 sons, 3 or more daughters; Cathey, Kitty, Sadie and Kate--our grandfather John Bright was his first son, another was David. 3rd son was Greenberry and a 4th son was Henry Bright. He made a success and sold out in 1865-66 to his brother Greenberry Bright who lived in Bolivar, Tenn. 1850 to 1865 and moved with his family to Bedford, Ind. This Harry (Henry) Bright had sons, daughters, whose names I have forgotten except a son named John, a farmer and horseman who was in Ky. about 20 years ago buying fine horses to stock his farm.

Greenberry Bright, our great uncle, had two sons, John and George--3 daughters; Mary Bright married Robert White; Kate Bright married Alex Swinebrad. She and a son Greenberry Swinebrad live in Lancaster, Garrard Co. Ky. a daughter named Mrs. Geo Woods lives in Stanford Ky. Mrs. Mary White formerly lived in Lincoln co., Ky., 8 miles from Stanford , had about 12 children. Many of them dead. Martha Bright Stanford, the 3rd daughter, married Beecher Adams of Tenn. Had a dozen or more children, and now she and husband are dead; a daughter, Mrs. Francis Addams Pennington, married Dr. Tim Pennington, a dentist--lives in Stanford, Lincoln Co., Ky. Both highly respected.

The above George and John Bright are dead now. George Bright had two children alive: Mrs. Annie Bright Johnson and Mrs. Sue Bright Yeager, who live in Stanford. Our grandfather, Capt. John Bright, Henry Bright, and Greenberry Bright were successful and rich men for their day.

Hope these notes may be a blessing to you and yours. Very respectfully, J.G. Carpenter, MD. Note: I have been an invalid 3 years, am 75 years and 5 months old and to do this has been a great labor, yet a pleasure to give you the notes and narrative. J.G. Carpenter

parts deleted above inserted here (bcs):

Mrs. Nannie Bright Gutherie:

My dear madam--your letter has been received and passed to Misses Mary and Maggie Bright and her brothers Mr. John and Uriah Bright of Stanford,KY; the living children of our uncle John Bright whose wife was Sarah Dunn.

Eleven children were born to them--only three of us are alive. I am now the oldest living. My sister, Jennie P. born 1856 lives at Georgetown, Scott County, Ky. Never married--a school teacher--accomplished musician. Dudley Runyian Carpenter my youngest brother, born July 4th, 1859 at Harrrisburg, Mercer Co., Ky. lives at Nashville, Tenn. A railroad lawyer claim agent for Tennessee Central Railroad.

Henry Bright, the second child of Captain John Bright and wife, had two wives, first Monah Gentry (had three children--two living: Reuben Gentry Bright lives in Normal, Illinois, a farmer and a horseman; this [sic - should read 'his' - bcs 5/28/2010] brother Henry Bright Jr. lives in Louisville, Ky.). Henry Bright, Sr.'s second wife: Josephine Smith--three children were born to them: one living, Monah or Pet Bright, lives in Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Ky. Here the old Harrod's Indian Fort has been rebuilt and looks the same as it did in 1772-73.

Mary Bright, 3rd child (of Capt. Bright and wife Elizabeth), married Thomas Lillard a farmer. They had 12 children, all dead but three. John Lillard, a son, a lawyer, lives in Bloomington, Ill., married a widow, the richest woman in Bloomington, Ill. [this was his second marriage, as a widower - bcs].

George Carpenter Bright, 4th child, married a Miss Blaine (Miss Amanda Lewis Blaine) Hustonville, Lincoln Co., Ky.; moved to Honey Grove, Texas, and raised 10 children to be grown....

America Bright, 5th child, married Frank Gentry; a daughter born to them Maggie Bright Gentry. All three are dead.

Maggie or Margaret Bright, 6th child, married James Givens. (no children but many namesakes).

John Bright, 7th child, called "Red John," on account of his red hair and face, married Sarah Dunn and had several children: John, Uriah, Mary and Maggie Bright lived in Stanford, Ky. Our Uncle John Bright was a farmer and a surveyor. Mrs. Lula Mckeeny Bright, widow of William Morrison Bright: he is the son of our Uncle John Bright and her two sons Morrison and Thomas Bright own and live at the old Bright Pioneer home known as the Bright Inn or Hotel of 1816 to 1862, which had a county, state, and national reputation as one of the best hotels or inns in Ky. Capt. John Bright and wife owned about 1500 acres of land--now about 200 acres are in the old place.

William Morrison Bright, 8th child of our grandparents--Capt. John Bright and Elizabeth Morrison--married Mary Bruce and moved to Normal, Ill. and was a farmer and fruit raiser--had two daughters and 3 or more sons (now living at Normal or Bloomington, Ill.--daughters' names are Fannie and Lizzie; sons are John, James, and Reuben). Uncle William Bright and wife are dead. The children live at Normal, Ill.

Fannie or Sallie Bright, called by both names, the ninth child and last one, married 1858 John Medcalf of Nicholsville,Jessamine Co., Ky. Had two children: Thomas Medcalf married Nannie Foster and have 5 children and live at Wilmore, Jessamine Co., Ky. The second child, Charlie, a lawyer, married and moved to Pineville, Belle Co., Ky. on the Cumberland River, 10 miles from Middlesboro and Cumberland, Ga., and established a large and lucrative law practice and was Editor of the Pineville newspaper; his wife was a school teacher and had several children; both husband and wife are dead from flu about 7 years ago (5 daughters: eldest is Alice; and one son: John Thomas Medcalf, a lawyer, lives at Winchester, Ky.

see (for the origins in America of this family)

http://boards.ancestry.myfamily.com/surnames.bright/667.664.666/mb.ashx

Bright/Brecht Families Frank Logue (Montrose, PA) posted 17 Aug 1999 " . . . descended from Stephen BRECHT born 1691/92 in Schriesheim, Germany. Stephen, brother Johannes Michael and widowed mother Anna Catherine Hoffman/Brecht immigrated in 1626 to Berks County, PA. a few years later brother Johannes came over. The Brecht name soon changed to Bright. . . . This information comes from a group of about 35 Brecht/Bright researchers, who have this line back to Kuntz Brecht born 1563 in Germany. We have pooled data [for] database of . . . Brecht/Bright descendants.

"Many people looking for the BRIGHT name reach a stone wall, and in many cases it is due to the change in the name from BRECHT!"

^[1]

Sources

https://books.google.com/books?id=nUoVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR90&lpg=PR90&dq=AGGreen+Brecht+Brights&source=bl&ots=8RWjpk0NXY&sig=ACfU3U0vIX9rzTD8ptv5gQhk2HDgJGPSBQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi0zJPL3JPoAhV9hXIEHe9gBxsQ6AEwAHoECAYQAQ#v=onepage&q=AGGreen%20Brecht%20Brights&f=false

1. ↑ Source will be added by Billie (Bright) Keaffaber by 23 Jun 2018.