James Wright Sr. (1671 - 1759)

Born 1671 in Chester County, Province of Pennsylvania

Husband of Mary (Bowater) Wright — married 2 Feb 1707 in East Nottingham Monthly Meeting, Chester County, Province of Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 15 Jul 1759 at about age 88 in Frederick County, Colony of Virginia

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James Wright Sr. was a Friend (Quaker). Join: Quakers Project Discuss: quakers

Biography

Hopewell Friends History, p. 27; p. 487 gives birth date as 1671 ^[1]. However, another entry in Quaker Meeting Minutes states he died in 1759 at age 83.

Quaker records show that James Wright was taxed in East Nottingham, Chester Co, PA from 1718 to 1726, after which time he probably moved to Monocacy Valley in Frederick Co, MD. He was a distinguished minister of the Friends and travelled widely. During the French and Indian War, he and his wife apparently were forced to move, as they were objects of concern for Meeting for Sufferings in Philadelphia who were asked to send money for relief of Friends in ravaged districts. The Hopewell records state: "our Antient Friends James Wright and his Wife are much reduced being driven from their habitation and are unable to labour for a livelyhood." ^[2]

Original Quaker records (Hopewell p. 150) state that he died on the 15th day of the 5th month, 1759 in his 83rd year. ^[3]

His will was written October 8, 1751, with a codicil of April 30, 1753, and was probated on March 4, 1760 naming his wife Mary, his sons Thomas, John, James Jr., and Isaac, daughters Lydia Wright, Mary Ballinger (wife of Josiah Ballinger), Hannah Ballinger, Martha Mendenhall, Elizabeth Matthews, Ann McCool, Sarah Pickering. Bondsmen were Evan Rogers, James Ballinger. Witnesses were the same plus Sarah Rogers.^[4]

Mary Wright's will was probated March 6, 1764, naming grandson Thomas (s/o Thomas & Esther Wright); wearing apparel to "my seven daughters, viz, Mary, Hannah, Martha, Elizabeth, Ann, Sarah, Lydia; and son Thomas Wright all my livestock... Land sold on Middle creek...it equally divided amongst all my ten children, viz, James, Isaac, Mary, Hannah, Martha, Elizabeth, Ann, Sarah, Lydia, & John. Executors, my well beloved daughter Mary Ballinger, Jesse Pugh, and Wm Pickering. Witnesses: Elinor Rogers, Susanna Bevan and Elizabeth Pennell. Sureties, James Mc Gin and Joseph Babb.^[5][6]

There is also a George Wright listed in Frederick Co land records in Aug 1750 on Opeckon on the North side of Hites Waggon Road near Wright Run, dr. of Crooked Run adj. Wm Ewens. CC William Ewens & Robt Ashby. Surv. John Baylis. V5:8 Joyner.

There is also a Joseph Wright (and Jackman, Ross, Bell) listed as adjacent land holders to Col Elias Edmonds of Fauquier; survd 4 Mar 1784, 33 a. on Towser's Br. John Moffett Surv. Joyner V.5:45 Forfeited Plats.

Frederick County, Virginia Hopewell Friends History : The will of James Wright was probated March 4, 1764. He leaves to his son Thomas "the Home plantation, being 194 acres of my patent Land." He makes bequests to his sons John, James Jr., and Isaac, and to his daughters Lydia Wright, Mary Ballinger, Hannah Ballinger, Martha Mendenhall, Elizabeth Matthews, Ann McCool, and Sarah Pickering. His wife Mary is named executrix, who entered into bond with Evan Rogers and James Ballinger as bondsmen. The will was witnessed by Evan Rogers, James Ballinger, and Sarah Rogers.

Hopewell was the first Quaker meeting established in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. It was originally known as Opeckan and was set off from the Concord Quarterly Meeting of Pennsylvania in 1734. The actual date of first settlement is thought to be around 1730.The meeting house is located about 6 miles north of Winchester, Frederick Co., Virginia. 

A land grant of 100,000 acres was purchased on the Opeckan River. Many of the earliest settlers moved into the area from the Valley of the Monocacy in Maryland.

Info from: "Hopewell, Virginia Memberships, 1759-76" [p.487] Wright, James Sr., born: 1671 Wife: Mary, born: 2-12-1689 [12th month by the old calendar is February] Children:

• Mary, born: 3-6-1708
• Hannah, born: 24-1-1709
• Martha, born: 14-2-1713
• Elizabeth, born: 23-11-1714
• John, born: 4-11-1716
• James, born: 8-11-1718
• Thomas, born: 14-1-1720
• Isaac, born: 25-3-1723

Religion

Quakers and members of New Garden MM, Pennsylvania

18 Jun 1726^[7]

Residence

Residence:

Date: 1759

Place: Frederick County, Colonial Virginia (Now Berkeley County, West Virginia)^[8]

Residence:

Date: UNKNOWN

Place: Philadelphia, Colonial Pennsylvania^[9]

Death

15 May 1759

Frederick now Berkeley, Virginia now West Virginia, United States^[10]

Burial

Date: ABT MAY 1759 Place: Hopewell Monthly Meeting House Cemetery, Frederick Heights, Frederick County, Colonial Virginia^[11]

Will

Will: Date signed. 8 OCT 1751, Codicil signed, 30 APR 1753 Place: Opeckan, Frederick County, Colonial Virginia.

The Last will and Testament of James Wright is as follows "I, James Wright of Opeckan in the County of Frederick and Colony of Virginia being aged, but of a sound and well disposing mind and memory do make this as my last will and testament herby revoking and disanulling all other wills that have heretofore been made or done by me. First, my will is that my body be decently buried and all my just debt and funeral charges i leave to be defrayed at the discretion of my executrix hereinafter mentioned.

Secondly, I give bequeath and demise unto my son Thomas Wright the Plantation whereon I now dwell with all the buildings and improvements and appurtenances thereunto belonging the which I bequeath and demise to the proper use and behoff of him, his heirs and assigns forever, it being 194 acres of patent land and he to be in full possession thereof during his natural life. I also give and bequeath unto my wife all my goods and chattels and all personal estate wither for a comfortable maintenance during her life or else to dispose among her children as in discretion she shall think fit or when and where she shall think fit only paying to our ten children each of them five shillings Virginia currency Viz: John, James, Isaac, Lydia Wright, Mary Ballinger, Hannah Ballinger, Martha Mendenhall, Elizbeth Matthews, Ann McCool, Sarah Pickering.

Lastly I ordain and constitute my loving and well beloved wife, Mary Wright, sole executrix of this my last will and testament witness my hand and seal, dated Opeckan aforesaid this 14th day of this 8th month October, 1751. Signed: James Wright .^[4]

Codicil:

Be if further remembered that I would have no appraisement upon my goods. Be it further remembered that there is 160 acres of land lately surveyed at the south side of the above said tract 60 whereof I add to the side Tract lying along the side land the which I demise as above to my son Thomas Wright, this before sealing acknowledgement. In the other 100 acres i leave to my wife's disposal after my decease as also the 300 acres lately surveyed lying by Thomas Thornburgh, upon Middle Creek. Signed J. Wright

I would have no appraisement upon my goods, witness my hand and seal this 30th day of April 1753.

Signed, sealed, testified and declared to be the last will testament of James Wright in the presence of testis: Evan Rogers, James Ballinger, Sarah Rogers . (This was proved in Fredrick Co.,Va on March 1 1760. It was presented by the executrix, wife Mary Wright.).^[4]

From William Wade Hinshaw, Encyclopedia of Quaker Genealogy, Vol. VI, Hopewell MM (Frederick Co., Va.), p. 358:

"FROM: Samuel Smith's History of Pennsylvania, a part of which was : printed in the Register of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII, p. 134, edited by Samuel Hazard, is quoted here from Hopewell Friends History (1936).

(Smith's History of Pennsylvania was compiled at the direction of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting in 1752.)

"About the year 1725, Henry Ballinger and Josiah Ballinger, from near Salem, in West Jersey [Salem Co., N.J.]; and soon after them James Wright, William Beals, and others from Nottingham [Chester Co., Pa.], settled in the upper parts of Prince George's County, Maryland, near a large creek called Monoquesey [Monocacy]. About the year 1726, they applied to New Garden Monthly Meeting for liberty to hold a meeting for worship on first days, which was granted, and held at the house of Josiah Ballinger, and others till the year 1736, when a piece of ground was purchased and a meeting-house built, which is called Cold Spring meeting-house, where meetings are still kept."

From A. Day Bradley, "Early Settlers of the Nottingham Lots," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 70, pp. 282-94 (Dec. 1982); repro'd Broderbund Software, Family Archive CD#210, NGS Quarterly, Vols. 1-85 (c. 1998): p. 292: "James and Mary Wright were in Nottingham by 1718 and removed to the Hopewell settlement (Frederick Co., Va.). He was on the East Nottingham tax list 1718-1727. "James Wright, an elder of Hopewell Monthly Meeting was one of the first settlers in that part of Virginia. He was a sober, industrious honest man, grave in manner, and solid and weighty in his conversation. He departed this life Fifth Month 15th, 1759 in his 83rd year."

This profile has been merged several time without the Biography having been adequately merged. It needs a lot TLC..

Research Notes

The following (which needs a link to original) gives the place of birth of children.

New Garden Monthly Meeting, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Document transcription: Day Mo. (Heading over dates)

John Wright son of James Wright & Mary Wright was born in Pennsylvania in Chester County 4-11-1716

Rachil Wright Daughter of Joseph & Margret Wells was born in Maryland Prince George’s County 27-3-1720

William Wright son of John & Rachel Wright was born In the province of Maryland Prince George’s County 2-1-1738

Mary Wright daughter of John & Rachel Wright was born In the province of Maryland Prince George’s County 24-7-1739

Joseph Wright son of John & Rachel Wright was born In Maryland prince George’s County 12-12-1740

Margret Wright daughter of John & Rachel Wright was born in Maryland Prince George’s County 12-11-1742

Charity Wright daughter of John & Rachel Wright was Born in Maryland Prince George’s County 13-11-1742

Rachel Wright daughter of John & Rachel Wright was born in Maryland Prince George’s County 10-11-1747

John Wright son of John & Rachel Wright was born in Maryland Prince George’s County 12-12-1748

Sarah Wright daughter of John & Rachel Wright was born in North Carolina Orring County 23-12-1749

Hannah Wright daughter of John & Rachel Wright was born in North Carolina Orring County 27-9-1751

James Wright son of John & Rachel Wright was born in North Carolina Orring County 25-5-1753

Susannah Wright daughter of John & Rachel Wright was born in North Carolina Orring County 16-4-1755

Elizabeth Wright daughter of John & Rachel Wright was born in North Carolina Orring County 15-12-1756

Nathan Wright son of John & Rachel Wright was born in North Carolina Orring County 7-10-1758

Sources

1. ↑ Hopewell Friends History p. 27, p487
2. ↑ Wayland, J.W., Hopewell Friends History, 1734-1934, Frederick County, Virginia, Records of Hopewell Monthly Meetings and Meetings Reporting to Hopewell; Two Hundred Years of History and Genealogy, Father's of the Colony, p. 27 (1936) Available on Google books here
3. ↑ U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 for Elder James Wright; Pennsylvania => Philadelphia => Philadelphia Yearly Meeting => Minutes, 1700-1775
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Frederick County, Virginia, Wills Will & Codicil of James Wright available here
5. ↑ See Kerns Chapter 8:149--158.
6. ↑ Mary Wright's will naming and numbering her "ten" children: "Frederick, Virginia, United States Records," images, FamilySearch (November 18, 2020), image 374 of 552; Virginia. County Court (Frederick County).
7. ↑ Source: #S214 Page: p. 585
8. ↑ Source: #S135
9. ↑ Source: #S420 Object: @M3248@
10. ↑ Source: #S205 Page: Ballinger-Thornburg Ancestral Line, p. 18
11. ↑ Source: #S246

See also:

• Source: S135 Author: Jackson, Ron V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp. Title: Virginia Census, 1607-1890 Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.Original data - Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes. Orig; Repository: Ancestry.com;
• Source: S182 Author: Heritage Consulting Title: Millennium File Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003.Original data - Heritage Consulting. The Millennium File. Salt Lake City, UT, USA: Heritage Consulting.Original data: Heritage Consulting. The Millennium File. Salt Lake City, UT, USA:; Repository: Ancestry.com;
• Source: S183 Author: Edmund West, comp. Title: Family Data Collection - Deaths Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001.; Repository: Ancestry.com;
• Source: S186 Author: Yates Publishing Title: U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.Original data - This unique collection of records was extracted from a variety of sources including family group sheets and electronic databases. Originally, the information was derived; Repository: Ancestry.com;
• Source: S189 Author: Edmund West, comp. Title: Family Data Collection - Births Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001.; Repository: Ancestry.com;
• Source: S191 Author: Edmund West, comp. Title: Family Data Collection - Individual Records Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.; Repository: Ancestry.com;
• Source: S246 Author: Ancestry.com Title: Web: Find A Grave: Memorial #32113203 Virginia, Find A Grave Index, 1607-2011] Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.Original data - Find A Grave. Find A Grave accessed 29 January 2012. Repository: Ancestry.com;
• Source: S301 Author: Ancestry.com Title: Virginia Land, Marriage, and Probate Records, 1639-1850 Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.Original data - Chalkley, Lyman. Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, 1745-1800. Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County. Baltimore: Genealogical P; Repository: Ancestry.com;
• Source: S383 Author: Ancestry.com Title: International, Find A Grave Index for Select Locations, 1300s-Current Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012; Repository: Ancestry.com;
• Source: S420 Author: Ancestry.com Title: U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2014; Repository: Ancestry.com;
• Excerpts of records of the Hopewell Quaker Monthly Meetings, compiled from official records 1734-1834. Hopewell Friends, assisted by John W. Wayland. (Strasburg, VA: Shenandoah Publishing House, Inc. 1936)
• Source: S205 Media: Book Abbreviation: Vallentine Title: Ancestral Families of Emily Catherine Wood (Pack), Record Type: manuscript, Subject: Ancestors of Sarah Katherine Lucas and Berryman B. Wood Author: Vallentine, John Publication: privately printed, Springville, UT, May 15, 1995
• Source: S214 Abbreviation: American Quaker Title: Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Reprint: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Volumes: 6 volumes Author: Hinshaw, William Wade Publication: Edwards Brothers, Ann Arbor, MI, 1936-50
• Will of James Wright. Frederick. Will Book 1752–1770. pp. 372 & 373. "Frederick, Virginia, United States Records," images, FamilySearch (November 18, 2020), image 208 of 552; Virginia. County Court (Frederick County).