George Bledsoe Wright (1761 - 1835)

Born 20 Oct 1761 in St Thomas Parish, Orange, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Beasley — married 26 Dec 1791 in Orange, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 24 Oct 1835 at age 74 in Hatton, Shelby, Kentucky

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Biography

George Bledsoe Wright, son of William Wright and Mary Bledsoe, was born on 20 Oct 1761 in St. Thomas Parish, Orange, Virginia. He died on 24 Oct 1835 in Hatton, Shelby, Kentucky. He married first Della Raglen. They had a son, John R. b. 1783, then Della died 1785-1787. He married second Sarah Beasley, daughter of Augustine Beasley, on 05 Jan 1792 in St Thomas Parish, Orange County, Virginia.^[1] On 9 Feb 1793, Orange Co., VA – Geo. B. Wright was surety for sister Lucy Wright wedding to Richard Rhoades. Sometime between 1801 and 1805, Bledsoe and Sarah went west and settled near Lexington, Fayette Co., KY. Banks McLaurin, in his book, Volume II, on the descendants of William Bledsoe, says, "Bledsoe Wright, married his second wife before coming to Kentucky. He moved to Fayette County, and bought a farm 3/4 miles from Lexington."

In 1790, George was living in Orange County, Virginia.^[2] George Bledsoe Wright lived in Lexington, Fayette, Kentucky in 1810. Between 1810 and 1830, he lived in Lexington, Fayette, Kentucky.^{[3] [4][5]}He was buried in Franklin, Kentucky.^[6]

According to his second Sarah Beasley who tried to claim a pension, Bledsoe served in Revolutionary War in Jeremiah Beasley's Co. He never received a land grant.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ "Virginia, Orange County Marriage Records, 1757-1938," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GGY3-XTR?cc=1883379&wc=MXMW-1WL%3A176841401 : 11 May 2018), 0033031(004810100) > image 163 of 518; County Courthouse, Orange.
2. ↑ 1790 Orange County, Virginia personal tax list [A "tithable" is a white male age 16 or up, unless exempt due to age or disability, etc.] George B. Wright - 1 white tithable; 1 horse; Wm. Wright - 1 white tithable; 3 blacks over 16; 4 horses
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2H-56K : accessed 3 February 2020), Bledsoe Wright, Lexington, Fayette, Kentucky, United States; citing p. 26, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 6; FHL microfilm 181,351.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHG7-4BM : accessed 3 February 2020), Blidsoe Wright, Fayette, Kentucky, United States; citing p. 111, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 17; FHL microfilm 186,177.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," Fayette, Kentucky; Series: M19; Roll: 35; Page: 340; Family History Library Film: 0007814.
6. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 02 February 2020), memorial page for Bledsoe George Wright (20 Oct 1759–Sep 1835), Find A Grave Memorial no. 80385124, ; Maintained by Bev Golden (contributor 47513910)
7. ↑ [1] Sarah Wright, Widow's Revolutionary War Pension Application # R19267. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files. Transcribed by Will Graves. Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters.

Notes

Birth dates of 20 Oct 1751 and 20 Oct 1759 have been given for him by various researchers. It’s possible the later date is correct, but the ages of his siblings and his own marriage date make even the later date seem too early.

Bentley, Elizabeth Petty, indexer. Virginia Marriage Records: From the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the William and Mary College Quarterly, and Tyler's Quarterly. Baltimore, MD: Genealogy Publishing Co., Inc., 1984.

In 1810, Bledsoe and Sarah were the only Wrights listed in Fayette County. There was also a Samuel Right and William Right, but they didn’t live in Lexington.

Bledsoe Wright is listed in the 1810 Census: Lexington, Fayette, Kentucky; Roll: 6; Page: 26; Image: 00038; Family History Library Film: 0181351. Listed are One male 45+ - Bledsoe b. by 1765, One female 25-44 - Sarah b.1765-1785, Two males b. 1794-1800, ? b. 1792-1798, Larkin b. 1800, One female b. 1794-1800 - Malinda b. 1799, Four males b. 1800-1810 - Edmund b. 1805; on 1870 census, not 1860, wife Sabrina, Edwin b. 1805; on 1860 census, not 1870, wife Sarah, ? b. 1806-1809, Evan b. 1810, No slaves.

Blidsoe Wright is listed in the 1820 Census; Place: Fayette, Kentucky; Page: 111; NARA Roll: M33_17; Image: 125. Also listed Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 2; Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15: 2; Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1; Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1; Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over: 1; Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture:2; Free White Persons - Under 16: 4; Free White Persons - Over 25: 2; Total Free White Persons: 7; Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 7.

Geo B. Wright is listed in the 1830 Census: Fayette, Kentucky; Series: M19; Roll: 35; Page: 340; Family History Library Film: 0007814. Also listed Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 1; Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1; Free White Persons - Males - 70 thru 79: 1; Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 1; Free White Persons - Females - 50 thru 59: 1; Free White Persons - Under 20: 2; Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 1; Total Free White Persons: 5; Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 5.

According to the Pension application of Bledso Wright R19267 transcribed by Will Graves on "31 Oct 1859 - Fayette County, Kentucky - "John R. Wright, aged about 76 [so b. 1783], resident of Scott Co., KY, appeared and stated that his father Bledso Wright died Oct 1835 in Franklin Co., KY leaving a widow who is about 85 yrs old [so b. 1774], she was Bledso's "last wife", her maiden name was Sarah Beasley, they were married by Nathaniel Sanders, a Baptist preacher, in Orange Co., VA about 1791. Their marriage lasted until his death and in that time they had twelve children, seven of whom were still living. Mrs. Sarah Wright is currently still a widow, and John R. Wright is a son of his father's first wife who died when he was about "to" [a clerk later read this as a numerical '4', which is possible, but doesn't match how the other numbers were all spelled out] years of age and he was about eight or nine years of age when his father married his last wife, who is the present Sarah Wright, who is now widowed in Franklin Co., KY. John R. Wright has knowledge of his father's service in the Revolution War, that he served under General George Washington in the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at York Town and that he had a discharge of his service in said war."

Sarah Wright also signed an affidavit and adds that Bledso served during said war under Gen. George Washington at the Battle of York Town, fought by said General on the 19th of Oct 1781 at the surrender of Cornwallis, that during said battle Bledso was one of the General's soldiers who fought three days and nights [although subjected ??], that he served two tours in the said war, he served altogether about six or eight months, that he volunteered in Orange Co., VA and returned there after his honorable discharge. He died about 1835 at the age of about 84 yrs [so b. 1751]. Sarah has no proof of his service, but refers to record of his Orange County militia service on file in the pension office, [can read, but name "Stubblefield"]. She married Bledso on 4 Jan 1791, Orange Co., VA by Rev. Sanders, a Baptist preacher and her name before marriage was Sarah Beasley, that Bledso died Sept 1835 in Franklin Co., KY and she has not remarried. She is too old and disabled to appear personally. She signs with an 'X'.