TRUTH or MISCONCEPTION

• Many list his name as 'George Jacob'. However, I've never seen anything with George on it. In fact, since Jacob definitely has a brother George Wright Jr, I rather DOUBT that this Jacob's name was George Jacob.

"GENEALOGY OF THE WRIGHT FAMILY" - written by Joseph Lair Wright (1832-1912) about 1888

"Our Great, great great grandfather born in England. Our great grandfather Jacob Wright was born in Charlotteville, North Carolinia about 1730 and married Nancy Waters. He died in NC and left great grandma Wright with eight children - Jacob, George (our grandfather), Thomas, William, Polly, Nancy, Elizabeth, and one girl married a man by the name of Bau? -the Tories shot him standing in his mill door. Mrs Bau did not come to KY with them. Grandma (Nancy Wright) and seven children came to KY about 1790 and settled in Washington CO from there they came to Glasgow then to Smith Grove. They were of English descend. . . ."

NOTE: Since this is the oldest written record we have by a descendant of 'our' Jacob Wright, I have decided to include this - in hopes that someone will be able to identify or explain some things which we do question. It must be rememered that this was written from memory by one of Jacob's grandsons and he DID NOT have access to the records that we have available to us today. I am SURE that this record is based upon some truth and we are trying to discover it.

My Comments on the above:

• Says "Jacob born in Charlotteville, NC" - but could this have been in Charlotteville, Albermarle Co., VA? We have not been able to find anyplace in NC named Charlotteville. (FACT: We do know by 1744, when Jacob was an adolescent, his father was living in Frederick Co., VA.)

• Says "gt gt gt grandfather (this would be George Wright Sr's father) was born in England"? (FACT: The Cecil Odell book, "Pioneers of Old Frederick Co., VA" lists George Sr's birthplace as PA) Perhaps, George Sr's father was born in England as stated here!

• says "he (Jacob) married Nancy Waters"? (FACT: All records show that Jacob Wright was married to Elizabeth) Could Nancy be a nickname? SEE BELOW FOR MORE ON JACOB'S POSSIBLE WIVES!

  says that "he (Jacob) died in NC"? (FACT: We have discovered Jacob's estate records and widow's land sale in Laurens Co., SC)

• says that "one daughter married a man by the name of Bau(sp)"? (FACT: Jacob Wright did become guardian of a Rosannah Waters who married John Baugh) Is this who he was talking about or did another daughter marry someone whose surname started with Bau? There was also a daughter, Mary, who married a Mr. Box and later married Jacob W. Gibson. Could this be who he is talking about?

• mentions "daughter Elizabeth (born 1784) and Nancy (born 1793)"? (FACT: these two children could not be the children of Jacob's wife - Elizabeth, widow of Thomas Waters as she would have been too old) It does APPEAR that Jacob was married to two women named Elizabeth. Could this 'second Elizabeth' who Jacob was married to at the time of his death be a Waters descendant also?

• 1744 - Father, George WRIGHT SR., appears on tax records of Frederick Co., VA (Jacob would have been in his early teens)

• 1758 -Alphabetical Poll of Vote for House of Burgesses from Frederick County, Virginia, 24 July 1758, from George Washington's papers, in his own handwriting as appeared in Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Volume 6, pp. 162-173

  ""voted with George and David for Col. George Washington for the House of Burgesses for Frederick County

• 1765, Oct 2, Frederick Co., VA Deed Book 10, page 605 per Frederick County, VA Deed Book Series, Volume 3 Abstracts (1763-1767)by Sara Nash

  "Between George WRIGHT of Frederick County (to) David WRIGHT and Robert ALLEN Jun . . . WITNESSETH that above named David WRIGHT and Robert ALLEN Jun being Securities for JACOB WRIGHT (son of George) who is guardian to Rose WATERS an orphan of Thomas WATERS deceased to Simon TAYLOR and Jonathan REED to whom they are jointly bound in the penal sum of five hundred pounds . . . NOW THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH that for and is consideration of the said David WRIGHT and Robert ALLEN Jun. being such Security as aforesaid for said Jacob Wright he the said George Wright hath granted bargain and sold unto said David WRIGHT and Robert ALLEN Jun . . . Tract of land situated lyind and being on a Branch of Opechon Creek joining his late survey . . . Containing four hundred acres granted to said George WRIGHT by Deed under the Hand and Seal of the Honorable Thomas Lord Fairfax . . .

  Wit: Thos WOOD and George WRIGHT
  Recorded: Oct 2, 1765"

• 1766 thereabouts - George WRIGHT Sr, Jacob's father, migrated from Frederick Co., VA to Laurens Co., SC. (Did Jacob Wright also go to SC at this same time or did he got later?)

• 1769 -Seven original judicial districts (Camden, Cheraws, Georgetown, Charleston, Beaufort, Orangeburg, & 96th District) were established in SC from portions of Colleton and Granville Counties as one of seven original judicial districts. , but records continued to be kept in Charleston until 1780. Split in 1798 to form: Abbeville, Edgefield, Newberry, Laurens and Spartanburg Districts, and Ninety-Six was discarded as a district name.

• 1771, -Laurens Co., SC (Old 96th) - DEED BOOK F, page 404 per Abstracts of Early Records of Lauren County, South Carolina 1785-1830 (Salt Lake fiche #6010650) Compiled by Sara N. Nash

  "3/21/1771 (no date) Plat of 160 a. surv. for Richd. Ballard in Berkley Co. on Reedly R bounding on Robt. BOX, JACOB WRIGHT"

  Note: first record that we have of our Jacob Wright that puts him in the area that became Laurens Co., SC

• 1778/9 - The Jury Lists of South Carolina (1778-1779) - Little River between Broad and Saludy

  "Jacob Wright is listed amongst the jurors"

• 1779 - Colony's Carolina - Old 96th District Tax List

  "Jacob Wright is lsited along with Philemon Waters"

• 1787/8, -Laurens Co., SC, Deed Book B, page 167 (11/19/1787 - 1/12/1788) per Abstracts of Early Records of Lauren County, South Carolina 1785-1830 (Salt Lake fiche #6010650) Compiled by Sara N. Nash

  "Jacob BOWMAN, son & heir to Jacob BOWMAN, Decd., to John BOWMAN for L10, 150 a. on both sides of Reedy R., orig. gr. to Richd. BALLARD in 1778 & conv. by him to Jacob BOWNAM, Decd. B. on Robt BOX, David ALEXANDER, JACOB WRIGHT

  Wit: Geo. ANDERSON, Saml. WHARTON, Sarah WRIGHT. "

• 1789/90, -Laurens Co., SC, Deed Book C, page 285 (8/20/1789 - 10/16/1790) per Abstracts of Early Records of Lauren County, South Carolina 1785-1830 (Salt Lake fiche #6010650) Compiled by Sara N. Nash

  "Geo. MADDEN, Pl., & mother Ann to David RAGSDALE, Pl. for L26. 100 a. on Reedy R., b. on JACOB WRIGHT

  Wit: David MADDEN, Thomas RAGSDALE, Geo. ANDERSON, J.P."

• 1790 - 1st census 96th Dist., Laurens county, South Carolina - Image: 0255, Roll M637_11

  "Ragsdale William 3 males over 16, 1 male under 16, 2 females"

  "Wright George 1 male over 16, 1 male under 16, 1 female"

  *** living next door to William Ragsdale****

  "Jacob Wright 2 males over 16, 2 males under 16, 3 females"

• 1792, -Laurens Co., SC, Deed Book D, page 162 (3/6/1792- 5/16/1792) per Abstracts of Early Records of Lauren County, South Carolina 1785-1830 (Salt Lake fiche #6010650) Compiled by Sara N. Nash

  "George ANDERSON, blacksmith, & w. Mary to Abner TEAGUE. Pl., for L100 stg., 250 a. on Norths Cr. orig. gr. to James STEPHENSON 7/8/1774.

  Wit: JACOB WRIGHT, Jonathan DOWNS. Jonathan DOWNS, J.P."

• 1794, -WILL BOOK A-1, Laurens Co., SC, page 90

  "Appr of est of JACOB WRIGHT, decd. 3/10/1794, by John HENDERSON, John BAUGH, Sr. Robt FREEMAN"

• 1794, -The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Volume VIII WINTER, 1980 Number 1, LAURENS COUNTY ESTATE BOOK A-1 (continued from Vol. VII,page 225)

  "Pp. 90-91: This 10th of March 1794, a memorandom of the appraisement of the Estate of JACOB WRIGHT, decd. Total £ 134 13 3,

  Signed by John __navison, John Baugh, Robert _reeman. appraisors.

• 1795, -Laurens Co., SC, Deed Book F, page 80 (11-10-1795/2-17-1796) per Abstracts of Early Records of Lauren County, South Carolina 1785-1830 (Salt Lake fiche #6010650) Compiled by Sara N. Nash

  " William ARNOLD, Sr. Planter to Wadsworth & Turpinm merchants for 72 # Bond on 78 acres on Beaverdam of Reedy River bounding on "idom MADDEN, Widow BOWNAM. Original survey to JACOB WRIGHT, deceased by Moultie by inheritance to wife Elizabeth and son Jacob Wright. conveyed 1795 to said Arnold.

  Wit: James YOUNG, Jas. BOYCE. Wm. HUNTER J.P."

• 1796, -Laurens Co., SC, Deed Book F, page 130 (11/06/1795 - 7/20/1796) per Abstracts of Early Records of Lauren County, South Carolina 1785-1830 (Salt Lake fiche #6010650) Compiled by Sara N. Nash

  "Elizabeth (x) Wright and her son George Wright to Wm. ARNOLD Senr. for £40. 78 a. on Beaverdam Br. of Reedy R., part of 1784 gr. by Moultrie to JACOB WRIGHT, desc. to his widow Elizabeth and son George.

  Wit: John BOWNAM, Jacob WRIGHT, Thos. WRIGHT, Geo. ANDERSON, J.P."

• 1796, -Laurens Co., SC, Deed Book F, page 501 (12/25/799 - no date) per Abstracts of Early Records of Lauren County, South Carolina 1785-1830 (Salt Lake fiche #6010650) Compiled by Sara N. Nash

  "Wm. ARNOLD Senr & w Mary to son Zachariah ARNOLDfor L10, 78 a. on Beaverdam Br. of Reedy R. orig. gr. to JACOB WRIGHT by Moultrie 11/12/1784, conv. 1795 by J W's widow & son Geo. W.

  Wit: Geo. HEARN, Saml. ARNOLD, Lewis WATWON, Lewis GRAVES, J. P."

• 1797, March - Bible Record mentioned in Genealogy of Joseph Lair Wright (1888)

  "Jacob Wright arrived in Warren Co., KY"

  NOTE: This was Jacob Jr. IN 1798, parts of Warren Co., KY would become Barren County.

• 1798 - Kentucky Land Grant #1576 (Barren Count)

  "Elizabeth Wright - land grant of 40 acres from the Governor, on the south fork of Beaver Creek, James FRANKLIN'S line."

  NOTE: Her son, Jacob Wright, received land grant #1569 from Gov Isaac Shelby for 200 acres on south fork of Beaver Creek. According to Bible record in genealogy of Joseph Lair Wright, this Jacob Wright Jr. arrived in Warren Co., KY in March 1797.

• 1798, March - "The Times of Long Ago", Barren Co., Ky, Chapter 1, by Franklin Gorin (1920) - reprinted from a series of papers appearing in the "Glasgow Times" (Barren Co., KY) in 1876

  "In March 1798, there were only four families residing within the limits of said county - Judge John HALL, living on Beaver Creek, near the Elk hole, two and a half miles from Glasgow; MRS. WRIGHT, a widow, and an ancestress of a numerous family, many of whom still reside in Warren and Barren counteis (one being at present a State Senator from Warren, Allen and Edmonsom counties); a Mr. SCOTT who lived near the head of Beaver Creek, and one other man whose name is forgotten. . . "

• 1800 - Barren Co., KY Tax List

  "Elizabeth WRIGHT is listed"

  Note: Others of interest listed on this same tax list include a John BAUGH Sr., John BAUGH Jr., a George WRIGHT, and a Jacob WRIGHT

To learn more about the WATERS FAMILY, please write Jean Day or visit her extensive Waters site which list many sources. Thomas Waters (1714-1760) was s/o Philemon Waters I. Jean descends from Thomas' brother, Capt. Philemon Waters II who was married to Sarah Bordroyne. This Captain Philemon Waters is on the 1779 Old 96th District (Lauren's Co., SC) where Jacob Wright is also listed.

• 1765 Guardianship of Rosannah Waters (d/o Thomas Waters and Elizabeth ?) is very 'STRONG EVIDENCE' that Jacob Wright did indeed marry Elizabeth - widow of Thomas Waters. (SEE CHRONOLOGY - ABOVE)

• Thomas Waters (husband of Elizabeth) and George Wright (father of Jacob) are both listed on 1844 fee book of Col. James Wood in Frederick Co., VA

• "Chronicles of the Scotch Irish" show:
  • May 1760 - "Thomas Waters vs. James Littlepage.--James Littlepage was an officer in the Virginia Regiment 1757"
  • Nov 20, 1761 - " Elizabeth Waters vs. James Littlepage--abates by plaintiff's marriage".

• 1748 Thomas Waters and wife, Elizabeth, sign a deed with Philemon Waters - brother to Thomas (deed may be found on Jean's web site above)

• Probate records for Thomas Waters may be found for the year 1760

• Both Philemon Waters (1750-1829) and Rosannah (Waters) Baugh settled very near where the Jacob Wright Family settled in Barren Co., KY. These are children of Thomas Waters and Elizabeth ?.

  • Philemon is a very common name in our Wright family.
  • John Baugh, husband of Rosannah, is mentioned in estate records for Jacob Wright
  • Jacob Wright became guardian of Rosannah (Waters) Baugh in 1765

• Joseph Lair Wright in his genealogy in 1880 mentions Rosannah Baugh (Baw) though he called her a Wright? He also says that Jacob Wright was married to a WATERS!

• WE KNOW that our Jacob Wright did marry late 1761 or very early 1762 to a woman named Elizabeth WATERS ( we do not know whether she was single or a widow) BUT we do know at this time that our Jacob was already around 30 so the chance of Elizabeth being a widow are very good! PLUS when you add in the guardianship for Rosannah Waters and we know that she was the d/o Elizabeth (widow of Thomas Waters)

ONGOING RESEARCH - Searching for Answers!

The mother of Jacob's children is still undergoing MUCH RESEARCH! Though progress has been made, there is still many UNANSWERED QUESTIONS. Guardianship and other records above indicate that Jacob did in fact marry the widow of Thomas Waters - who was named Elizabeth. This Elizabeth did have a child born in 1847 so she had to be born around 1833 - so COULD NOT be the mother of Jacob's last 2 children. Also, it must be noted here that Thomas Waters father's name was Philemon and that is a common first name in Jacob's descendants. Also, it must be noted that Elizabeth's children by Thomas Waters - a Philemon Waters and a Rosannah (Waters) Baugh also went to Barren Co., KY and did live near Jacob's widow and his known children. In fact this Philemon Waters who died in 1829 was a very well-known person.

Notice that there is a gap in years where no children, that we know about, were born. There is certainly a 'POSSIBLITY' that during this 'gap' that Jacob could certainly have remarried a young woman. We also know that at the time of Jacob's death in 1794, his widow was named Elizabeth and this Elizabeth did go to Barren Co., KY with most of her children. Now whether this 'second Elizabeth' was a Waters by blood or marriage, is STILL UNDER RESEARCH and at this time it is not known!

• Believed to be children of Elizabeth (?) - widow of Thomas WATERS
  • Mary 'Polly' Wright (1762-1841) - m/1 Mr. BOX, m/2 Jacob Williamson GIBSON
    (a Robert Box had land bordering Jacob Wright)

  • Possible Daughter Wright (abt 1765 - ?) m. a Mr. BAU?

  • George W. Wright (1767-1856) m. Susanna RAGSDALE
    (s/o William Ragsdale and Mary Elizabeth 'Lithey' SMITH

• Believed to be children of a 'second' Elizabeth (?)
  • Jacob Wright Jr (1774-1857) m. Miriam HELM
    (d/o George Helm & Mary Frances CALMES)

  • William Wright (1776 Laurens Co., SC -1854 Benton Co., TN) - MY DIRECT LINE

  • Thomas Wright (1777-1851) m. Elizabeth B. BEALL
    (d/o Richard Beall and Eleanor MAGRUDER)- Line of Ann Kushner

  • Elizabeth Wright (1784-1858) m. Robert 'Bob' RASDALL (RAGSDALE)
    (s/o William Ragsdale and Mary Elizabeth 'Lithey' SMITH

  • Nancy Wright (1793-1850) m. Preston Holcomb D0UGHTY
    (s/o Daniel Doughty and Susannah HOLCOMB