Jacob Wright (1777 - 1860)

Born 25 Dec 1777 in Guilford, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Died 1860 at about age 82 in Rutherford, Tennessee, United States

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Biography

Jacob Wright was born on Christmas Day in 1777.^[1] He was the son of Isaac Wright and Rebekah Thompson.^[2] He was most likely born in Guilford County, North Carolina, where his father reportedly appears by at least 1780.^[3]

While several of his siblings received large grants of land in his father's will, Jacob received two pieces of chattel: a still and a slave.^[2] This was probably a token gesture.

Jacob seems to have married very well before his father made that will. He married Mary McElhatton.^[4] They likely married in about 1806, based on the birth of their only daughter Rebecca on August 23, 1807.^[5] In 1820, Jacob appears as the head of his household in Rutherford County, Tennessee, with a household that included fourteen slaves. Immediately adjacent was the household of Mary McElhatton, with an additional eleven slaves.^[6] In 1840, Jacob appears as the head of their single household and the owner of 37 slaves.^[7] By 1850, he owned 39 slaves.^[8] By 1860, he owned 40.^[9]

Jacob Wright lived in Rutherford County for the rest of his life.^[10][11] He died and was buried there in 1860.^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ Wright Family Bible Record; images, Tennessee State Library & Archives, “Lists of Family Bible Records,” database with images (https://tslaindexes.tn.gov/database-tn-research/bible-records-pending : accessed 1 Feb 2020), Bible Location: Wright 1, file Wright 1.pdf; owner: Rebekah Jetton, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 1959.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Rutherford County, Tennessee, Record Book 3, pp. 228-233; images, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99G1-65C2 : accessed 23 Jun 2023); FHL 380,487, DGS 7,642,461 (Will of Isaac Wright); images with transcription available here.
3. ↑ Ancestry, "U.S. Census Reconstructed Records, 1660-1820," database, (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2234/ : accessed 29 Mar 2020), search terms: Isaack Wright).
4. ↑ Don Detweiler, "Rutherford County, Tennessee : The Heirs of Rebecca Alexander," Tennessee GenWeb, (https://www.tngenweb.org/rutherford/alexander.html : accessed 23 Jun 2023).
5. ↑ Ancestry, Find a Grave, database with images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68287715 : accessed 6 Apr 2020), memorial 68287715, Rebecca Tennessee Wright Alexander (1807-1882), Wards Grove Cemetery, Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee; gravestone images by Katy Divine & Teresa Brewington.
6. ↑ 1820 U.S. census, Rutherford County, Tennessee, Murfreesboro, p. 103 (stamped), Jacob Wright and Mary McElhatton; image, FamilySearch.org, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YB9-SNK2 : accessed 6 Apr 2020); citing NARA microfilm publication M33, roll 124.
7. ↑ 1840 U.S. census, Rutherford County, Tennessee, [township not stated], p. 97 (stamped), Jacob Wright; image, FamilySearch.org, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YB9-9ZJW : accessed 6 Apr 2020); citing NARA microfilm publication M704, roll 533.
8. ↑ 1850 US census, Rutherford County, Tennessee, slave schedule, [township not stated], p. 430 (penned), line 15, Jacob Wright; image, FamilySearch.org, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6S83-PRT : accessed 6 Apr 2020); citing NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 906.
9. ↑ 1860 U.S. census, Rutherford County, Tennessee, slave schedule, McCracken, p. 56 (stamped), line 13, Jacob Wright; image, FamilySearch.org, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GBSD-J9T : accessed 6 Apr 2020); citing NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 1285.
10. ↑ 1850 U.S. census, Rutherford County, Tennessee, population schedule, [township not stated], p. 258 (stamped), dwelling 122, family 122, Jacob Wright; image, FamilySearch.org, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6SZW-6QJ : accessed 6 Apr 2020); citing NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 894.
11. ↑ 1860 U.S. census, Rutherford County, Tennessee, population schedule, McCracken, p. 120 (penned), dwelling 938, family 938, J Wright; image, FamilySearch.org, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9BSZ-NPY : accessed 6 Apr 2020); citing NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 1271.
12. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #121422683, Jacob Wright (1777-1860), Wards Grove Cemetery, Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee; gravestone images by Katy Divine & Connie.

• The Heirs of Rebecca Alexander.