Sharing with you things that are on my mind...Maybe yours too. Come back to Wrights Lane for a visit anytime! And, by all means, let's hear from you by leaving a comment at the end of any post. THE MOTIVATION: I firmly believe that if I have felt, experienced or questioned something in life, then surely others must have too. That's what this blog is all about -- hopefully relating in some meaningful way -- sharing, if you will, on subjects of an inspirational and human interest nature. Nostalgia will frequently find its way into some of the items...And lots of food for thought. A work in progress, to be sure.

17 February, 2018

RECENT ADDITIONS TO...

See https://mywrightstory.blogspot.ca for important up-to-date revisions to this site, including crucial new information on Henry Wright.

In support of Richard K. Wright's United Empire Loyalist certification

I was delighted to come across a 600-page Commemorative Biographical Record of Essex, Ontario, "Sketches of prominent and representative citizens and many of the early settled families," published in 1905.  The following extract is the impressive and detailed entry for the Wright family with Great Uncle Arthur as the subject:

"ARTHUR WRIGHT, a well-known citizen of Colchester South, is a worthy representative of one of the pioneer families of the township, and is of pure English extraction. Henry Wright, his great-grandfather, was born and reared in England, and in young manhood emigrated to America, settling at Rutland, Pennsylvania. There he married Mary Klingensmith. Being a United Empire Loyalist, he left Pennsylvania and removed to Canada when trouble arose between the colonies and the mother country. He had a brother, however, who remained in the States.

"Henry Wright lived for a short time at Grosse Ile, but left there as soon as he discovered that it was not English soil, and then settled at Malden, on the Big Creek, later moving to the lake shore, where he took up land. Here his death occurred and here he was buried. His children, all born before his removal to Canada, were as follows: William married Betsy Lipps (he became the grandfather of Ellis L. Wright); Philip married (first) Miss Dowler, and (second) Delilah Malott, and became the grandfather of our subject; Henry married (first) Miss Hitchcock, by whom he had one daughter, Deborah, who married Matthew McCormick, and (second) Hannah Lipps; Thomas married (first) Jennie Little, (second) Mary Leighton, and (third) Abbie Larabie; Betsy married John Brush; Mary married Asa Wilcox; Mattie married Samuel Watson; Katie married Henry Lipps.

"Philip Wright, the grandfather of Arthur Wright, was born Jan. 5, 1775, at Rutland, Pennsylvania, and came with his parents to Grosse Ile, and later to Malden, where he was first married. The daughter of this first union was Anna, born March 30, 1796, who married Capt. John McCormick. His second marriage was to Delilah Malott, who was born June 30, 1786, on Grosse lie, and they had the following children: Lucy, born Nov. 28, 1802, married Isaac Ferriss; Catherine was born Nov. 18, 1804; Peter, born Sept. 30, 1806, married Betty Snider ; William, born Nov. 14, 1808, was twice married, first to a Miss Buchanan, and died in the States; Sarah, born Nov. 12, 1811, is the widow of Charles Larrabee, and at the age of ninety- three is still in the possession of unimpaired faculties; Philip S., born Dec. 4, 1813, married Mary Quick; Theodore, born Nov. 10, 1816, married Arabella Leighton, and they reside at Ludington, Michigan; Ebenezer, born Sept. 20, 1818, is mentioned below; Mary Christine, born Oct. 16, 1820, married Thomas Leighton, and died at Wyandotte, Michigan; Susannah, born Dec. 9, 1824, married Peter Larrabee and died in the States. The father of this family died Sept. 30, 1849.

"Being of age when he came to Colchester South township, Philip Wright received a 200- acre grant of land adjoining that of his father, but for a time all lived under one roof. When he started independently he took the rear half of Lots 75 and 76, arid upon Lot 75 chose a most desirable site for his home. This spot is now marked by a pear tree, and a few rods south of the spot is located a fine spring, which is stoned to a depth of twelve feet and flows sixty-five barrels every twenty-four hours. In the log house here erected, many, if not all, of the numerous family were born. The place is further marked by a stately elm, measuring seventeen feet in circumference, which towers over and shades the spring, and it is stated on good authority that this tree was planted by the daughter Lucy. At that time it was but a small shoot, which was guarded with care; its roots were nourished by the spring which it was designed to shade, and it stands a living memento of a generation almost faded away.

"Ebenezer Wright, of the above family, father of Arthur Wright, was born Sept. 20, 1818, in the old house near the spring, and spent his life on that farm, where he died Feb. 28, 1900. He married Eliza Stockwell, born Aug. 22, 1818, who died May 18, 1881. He occupied the old French frame house that was built nearly seventy years ago, which he later moved nearer to the Potleg road, and which is still standing, although not now occupied as a residence. Some two years ago our subject built a fine modern home. Ebenezer Wright received the west half of Lot 76, and gave his whole attention to farming, reaping much success. In his political views he was a Reformer. Religiously he belonged to the Methodist Church.

"To Ebenezer Wright and his wife were born the following-named children: Salathial, who lives in Gosfield South, married (first) Lucinda Bertrand, by whom he had five children, and (second) Barbara Shaw, by whom he had two children. Annie is the widow of Sidney Patton, of Harrow, and has five children. Wesley, a farmer of  Dresden, County of Kent, married three times, and had three children. Arthur is the subject of this sketch. Burwell, a barber of Harrow, married Minnie Bingham. Erie died at the age of three years.

"Arthur Wright was born May 25, 1855, at the old home farm, where he was reared through a healthy boyhood, spent much in the open air, to a sturdy manhood. He attended the local schools up to the age of sixteen and then began to assume charge of a great part of the agricultural development of the farm. He now owns the homestead, and there are few farms in the township more valuable as to location or productiveness. Mr. Wright devotes himself to a general line of farming, and successfully raises the grains, vegetables and fruits of the climate. Politically Mr. Wright, like his father, is a member of the Reform party. Fraternally he belongs to the Order of Workmen and is a valued and useful member of the local agricultural society.  He is a practical, well-informed, up-to-date farmer, whose methods are founded on knowledge of climate and soil, and whose success demonstrates their value."

* NOTE: Here is another newspaper clipping on the death of Uncle Burwell Wright, 1858-1908, one of my grandfather Wesley's brothers and the son of Great Grandfather Ebenezer Wright. The detail in these two accounts is incredible and substantiates much of the information published on my blog site "The Wright Story".

As published in the Amherstburg Echo, July 24, 1908



4 comments:

Unknown said...

This article was given to me by HEIRS newsletter editor, Ted Steele. I had been into HEIRS on both Tues. and Thurs. this week looking for a proof that Lucy Wright Ferriss was the daughter of Philip Wright. After reading this article I went to your blog and input Lucy's name thereby coming up with obituary of Burwell Wright July 24, 1908. The middle of the second column relates the family entering Upper Canada and the lineage that I need. Wonderful. I am thrilled. I was speaking at the Bicentennial UELAC branch on Saturday on the topic of Three Loyalist Heroes: Robert Land, Isaac Ferriss and John Cornwall. I have proven UE status to the latter two as well as to Jacob Arner and Henry Wright. I have a grandchild I need new and better proofs to be able to earn him a UE status so this piece of evidence may be just "What the doctor ordered". Many thanks for your work and interest in family origins.

Unknown said...

This article was given to me by HEIRS newsletter editor, Ted Steele. I had been into HEIRS on both Tues. and Thurs. this week looking for a proof that Lucy Wright Ferriss was the daughter of Philip Wright. After reading this article I went to your blog and input Lucy's name thereby coming up with obituary of Burwell Wright July 24, 1908. The middle of the second column relates the family entering Upper Canada and the lineage that I need. Wonderful. I am thrilled. I was speaking at the Bicentennial UELAC branch on Saturday on the topic of Three Loyalist Heroes: Robert Land, Isaac Ferriss and John Cornwall. I have proven UE status to the latter two as well as to Jacob Arner and Henry Wright. I have a grandchild I need new and better proofs to be able to earn him a UE status so this piece of evidence may be just "What the doctor ordered". Many thanks for your work and interest in family origins.

Dick said...

Hi Dick!
I was so happy to run across your Blog and "The Wright Story" recently. I am Dick Wright, your Second Cousin Twice Removed! While I had recently found the details of Henry Wright, my 5th Great Grandfather's "journey" to the United States and later Canada it was great to hear the information you provided as well. My 3rd Great Grandfather is Theodore Wright, Ebenezer's older brother. One of the things that started my family history research was my middle name. My Dad had told me that the name Owen goes way back. Well I looked into it and it only went back to my Great Grandfather. So I asked my Grandpa and he said he wasn't sure because when he ran across a thief in the family he stopped researching. Then I see in your lineage there is a Owen Wright listed. These are the little nuggets I enjoy discovering in my research. I also for the first time saw the title of Reverend for Theodore Wright. I am looking looking forward to reading your other blogs as I am also a baseball enthusiast.

Dick Wright said...

Extremely happy to hear from you Dick and glad that you will be checking out my other (baseball) blogs. Just a little more about the Owen you found in my lineage...This Owen was the son of Wesley Wright (my grandfather) from his second marriage to a Wright widow by the name of Annie. Wes also had another son with Annie by the name of Ebbie, as in Ebenezer. Upon the death of Annie, Wes married Louise Reddick with whom he had third son Kenneth (my dad). Too bad that your grandfather got the wrong impression about Henry Wright Sr. and I hope that my Wright Story clarified his background as an indentured laborer "transported" from England when he was still a teenager. Henry's unfortunate earlier experience was duplicated countless times in the 1700's, thus accounting for what may be considered a large portion of newcomers to the New World during that time period. I would be interested in hearing from you again, especially about baseball...and whether you or your dad played the game on an organized basis. Thanks again for responding! ~~ Dick (P.S. you can email me directly at wrightwords@eastlink.ca)