Wright family memorials

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1862777

REYNOLDS M'^TORTCAL
GENEALOG\ ELECTION

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3 1833 01403 64

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2010 with funding from

Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center

http://www.archive.org/details/wrightfamilymemoOOmath

WRIGHT FAMILY
MEMORIALS .

43atfjere& bp

ANNA E. (WRIGHT) MATHEWS,

THE • DESCENDANTS ■ OF ■ HER ■ GRANDFATHER

JUSTUS WRIGHT,

— OF—

SOUTH HADLEY, MASS.

BOSTON,

PRESS OF J. ALLEN CROSBY,

1886.

IL

1862777

*/■////////«/«///////#////«/«««"«</'"

Among the first settlers of the Connecticut
River Valley was Deacon Samuel Wright, whose
first home in this country was in the town of
Springfield, Mass.

Very brave must have been the men who ob-
tained that rich and beautiful country, little by
little, from the savages who occupied it. for
many fierce and bloody battles were fought, be-
fore its possession was secured. It seems em-
inently proper, therefore, that we take some note
of our ancestors, who engaged in the struggle,
and cherish their memory enough to preserve
their names from the perishing records of their
times, and pass them on for our children to
honor. It is with this in view that this little
Memorial has been undertaken.

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Springfield, Massachusetts, was settled in 1636,
but the name of Samuel Wright first appeared
in the town records, Dec. 12, 1639, when he
. was a juryman. He was a deacon of the First
Church at Springfield, and "was appointed by
the town to dispense the Word of God, during
the absence of the minister, Rev. Mr. Moscen,
who had gone on a visit to his native land."
He moved to Northampton in 1655, anc* was one
of the first settlers of that town, where he died
Oct. 17, 1665, "while sleeping in his chair." He
left property by will to his wife, Margaret, and
each of his children. His widow died in 1681.
Deacon Wright appears to have been an in-
telligent and useful member of the church, and
he labored to promote its prosperity. He was
quite probably a man of a very religious tem-
perament, as he distinguished himself chiefly in
religious affairs. He probably came over to this
country under the auspices of his brother
Nathaniel, and was attracted to Springfield by-
Mr. Pynchon, both of which gentlemen had been

2

associated in Winthrop's company.

The following table indicates his English pedi-
gree.

The children of John Wright of Kelvedon,
Essex County, England, were,

i. Robert, married Mary Greene.

2. John of Wrightsbridge, married Avis Rooke.
The children of the latter were,

i. John.

2. Robert.

John's first wife was Emfell; and their

children,

i. John of Wrightsbridge, who married Kath-
erine, daughter of Sir William Garraway, Kt.
[T 2. Samuel.

3- Jane.

This Samuel was the father of our ancestor,
Deacon Samuel Wright of Northampton.

The second wife of the third mentioned John
was Bennet Greene, and their children were,

i. Nathaniel, married Lydia James.

2. Lawrence.

3- Bennet.

The oldest son, Nathaniel, was a merchant in
London, and an assistant of the Winthrop Com-
pany in 1630.

— His children were, Samuel, born 16 14; John,
Nathaniel, James, Hester, Lydia.

Robert, the eldest son of the first John Wright
of Kelvedon, had two sons, John and Thomas.
The former married Grace Glascock, and had
three sons and three daughters. Among them
were Thomas and Anthony Wright, who were
contemporary with Deacon Samuel Wright, and
may have been the same Thomas and Anthony
Wright, who settled in Wethersneld, Conn.,
about 1640.

The Coat of Arms of the Wrights is blazoned
in the technical language of heraldry, as follows:
"Az., two bars Ar., in chief, three leopard's
heads, Or.

Crest. Out of a ducal coronet, Or, a dragon's
head. Ppr."

Further research might be made in the records

of Essex county, England.

Deacon Samuel Wright married Margaret .

Their children were,

2. Samuel, married Elizabeth Hurt, daughter of
Henry Burt of Springfield, Mass., 1653.

3. James, married Abigail jess, Jan. 18, 1664.

4. Mary.

5. Margaret, married Thomas Bancroft, Dec.
3, 1653.

6. Hester, married Samuel Marshfield, Feb. 18,
1652.

7. Lydia, married Lawrence Bliss, Oct. 25,
1654, also, John Norton, Oct. 3, 1678, also, John
Lamb, 16S8, and George Coiton, 1692. Died,
Feb. 13, 1699.

8. Judah, born May 10, 1642, married Mercy
Burt, Jan. 8, 1666.

9. Helped, born July 15, 1644. died young.
These children, except the last two, were born be-
fore their parents came to this country.

The children of Samuel Wright (2) were,
— 10. Samuel, born 1654, married Sarah Lyman

of Northampton, 1678.

11. Joseph, born 1657, married Ruth Sheldon,
1679.

12. Benjamin, born 1660, married Thankful
Taylor, also, Mary Barker of Springfield.

1 3. Ebenezer, born 1663.

14. Elizabeth, born 1666, married Thomas Steb-
bins, of Springfield, Mass.

15. Elizur, born 1668, married Mary Pardee.

16. Hannah, born 1671, married Samuel
Billings, of Hatfield.

17. Benoni, baptized in 1675.

— Samuel Wright (2) was a soldier on service in
Northfield, Mass., where he was killed by the In-
dians ten days before the birth of his youngest
child, who was named Benoni, "son of my sorrow."
Two of his sons settled in Northfield, where their
descendants were very numerous. Captain Benja-
min Wright (12) was a noted Indian fighter.
The old homestead in Northampton remained in
possession of some of the family nearly a hundred
and fifty years, or until about 1S00.

6

Joseph Wright (i i) married Ruth Sheldon of
Northampton, Nov. 6, 1679. Their children were,

18. Joseph, born 1681.

19. Samuel, born 16S3, died 1690.

20. Ruth, born 16S7, married Luke Noble in
1708.

21. James, born 16S9, cae<^ young.

22. Mai*)-, born 1690, died young.

23. Samuel, born 1693, married Jemima King
Dec. 19, 1 7 17.

24. Benoni, born 1697.

Samuel Wright (23) was the great grandfather
of Hon. Silas Wright, who was a governor of New
York. Our ancestor in this last family was Joseph
(18), who married Ruth Harmon in 1704, also
Widow Sarah Edwards, Oct. 22, 1750, who was
originally a Pomeroy from Colchester. Their
children were,

25. Joseph, born 1705.

26. Abigail, born 1707, married Noah Pixley in
1730.

27. Asa, born 17 10, married Hannah Wait in

,,lllllllll„,lfl, ,,,,,,, m III!,, II, I, ,,,!■,

1739.

28. Reuben, born 17 13.

29. Aaron, born 1 7 1 5 , married Miriam Edwards.

30. Titus, born 171 7.

31. Timothy, born 1720, married Elizabeth Burt.

32. Naomi, born 1722, married a Wolworth of
Longmeadow, Mass.

The mother of these children died Feb. 23, 1750.
The second wife (Sarah Edwards) died March 26,
1 75 1. Joseph Wright, the father, died June 5,

1758.

Captain Aaron Wright (29) married Miriam
Edwards, who died March 14, 1797, aged seventy-
nine. Their children were,

33. Aaron, born June 13, 1744, died 1744.

34. Aaron, born June 5, 1745.

35. Oliver, born Jan. 24, 1747, married Martha
Lyman 1770.

36. Miriam, born June 1749, died 1750.

2,y. Justus, born Jan. 5, 1752, married Dorcas
Moody.

38. Daniel, born Nov. iS, 1755.

8

39- Miriam, born Oct. 29, 1757, married Jona-
than Dwight.

40. Asceneth, married Elias Mann of Northamp-
ton.

Of this family Justus ($j) is our ancestor. A
record which is doubtless reliable says, "Justus
Wright obtained from the government of Eng-
land an appointment of Barrack Master of Upper
Canada in 1791, but before he sailed was taken
ill, and died in London, Dec, 9, 1 791 , aged
forty years." He was buried with Masonic

ceremonies.

Probably his position as a Tory here had its
influence in securing him this appointment by
the English Government, for it is understood
that he made himself unpleasantly notorious in
that capacity, during the Revolutionary war. In
an old copy of the Hampshire Herald, under
date of July 27, 1784, found among Grandfather
Wright's papers, is a letter signed ''Justice
Wright," which was undoubtedly written by him
in vindication of his position. This letter closes

9

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with a very fairly written appeal in verse, a part
of which is here given as showing his style, and
some of the reasons for his views.

Tis not on law, a system peat and good,
By wisdom penn'd, and bought by noblest blood,
My faith relies. By wicked men and vain —
Law once abused may be abused again.
No, on our great law-giver I depend,
Who knows, and guides her to her proper end :
Whose royalty of nature blazes out
So fierce, 'twere sin to entertain a doubt.
Did tyrant Stuarts now the laws dispense,
(Blest be the hour and hand which sent them hence)
For something, or for nothing, for a word
Or thought, I might be doomed to death unheard ;
Life we might all resign to lawless power,
Nor deem it worth the purchase of an hour.
Thou God of truth. Thou great all searching eye,
To whom our thoughts, cur spirits lie.
Grant me Thy strength, and in that needful hour
(Should it e'er come) when law submits to power,
With firm resolve, my steady bosom steel,
Bravely to suffer, though I deeply feel ;
Let me as hitherto, still draw my breath
In love with life, but not in fear of death.

....„/<•.-.«...

And if oppression brings me to the grave,
And marks me dead, she ne'er shall mark a slave.
Let no unworthy marks of grief be heard,
No wild lament — not one unseemly word ;
Let sober triumphs wait upon my bier.
I won't forgive the friend who drops one tear,
Whether he's ravished in life's early morn,
Or in old age drops like an ear of corn.
Full ripe he falls on nature's noblest plan,
Who lives to reason, and who dies a man."

At his death he left a widow and six children
whose names were,

41. Dorcas, married Robert Pierce.

42. Justus, born 1774, married Abigail Ely.

43. Andrew.

44. Adolphus, married Jerusha Warner, 1S06.

45. Fidelia, married Samuel Judd of South
Hadley.

46. John Andre.

All these children, except Dorcas, were minors
at the time of their father's death, and their
uncle Daniel (5$) was appointed their guardian.
Adolphus, (44) it is believed, settled in Keene,

1 1

N. H., and quite likely has descendants there.
Andrew (43) was for many years a printer in
Northampton, Mass., and afterwards in Boston.
He adopted a son of his sister Fidelia, Albert
Judd by name, who took the name of Wright
in addition to his own, and was widely known
as the head of the firm of Wright & Potter,
State Printers of Massachusetts. He was equally
distinguished in political and social circles in
Boston. He resided in South Boston, and died
in Oct. 1877.

His son A. J. Wright, succeeds him in business.

Another son of FklcEa, is Deacon Samuel
Judd, now residing in Grand Rapids, Mich.,
lacking but a few weeks of being four score
years of age.

We have now reached die point from which
all the descendants are to be recorded, namely,
the children, grandchildren and great-grandchil-
dren of Justus (42) and Abagail Ely Wright.
Our Grandfather Wright was rather tall and of

12

good size, though not stout, had dark hair,
always brushed straight back from the forehead,
and very little gray, even at eighty one. He
was rather slow in his movements, taking time
always to do everything thoroughly well. He
was very orderly and methodical in all his work,
and strictly honest in all his dealings with others.
In politics he was a democrat, but truly loyal
to his Country, and later in life he became a
"free soiler," although never a great talker on
politics. He was cheerful, and by no means
given to borrowing trouble, although he took
rather a sober view of life. He was a thorough-
ly moral man, respected religion, and attended
church regularly, but did not make a public pro-
fession of religion till Sept. 7, 1S51, four years
before his death. The writer can well remember
when a little girl, sitting in his lap hour after
hour, while he related many stories for her a-
musement. His last illness was short. Stricken
suddenly by paralysis while walking out of doors,
he was not conscious a^ain, although he lived a

13

week. Me had been failing in health for some
years, and not able to do work that required
much strength. The last years of his life, and
also of our Grandmother Wright's, were passed in
the home of their son Edward, in Billerica, Mass..
and their bodies now lie in the old South Bury-
ing Ground in that town. Hon. Heman Ely.
of Illyria, N, Y., has published a valuable book,
giving a record of the Ely family for many gen-
erations, and as he follows out the female, as
well as the male, lines of descent, it contains the
names of all the Wrights who descended from
our Grandmother, Abigail Ely. She died in
Billerica in 1850. Their children were,

47. Fannie, born 1799.

48. Justus, born 1801.

49. Abigail, born 1803.

50 Luther, born Feb. 19, 1S05.

51. Edward, born Jan. 27, 180S.

52. Clarissa.

53. Jane, born April 17, 1820.

The oldest daughter Fannie (47) married

14

Orange Hunter of Wendell, Mass., and their
children were,

54. Levvin B.

55. Fannie J.

56. Orange D wight.

57. Cynthia M.

58. David.

59. George.

Heretofore the children, it will be noticed,
were favored with but one name each, but with
this family, the present custom of giving two
names was introduced.

Lewin, (54) the oldest son, formerly lived in
Erving, Mass. He married Olive M. Purrington
of Coleraine, Mass., who was taken from him
Sept. i, 1884. He now makes his home with
his youngest son in Miller's Falls. Their
children are,

60. Erford Clarence.

61. Harvey M.

62. William R.

63. Edward E.

15

Erford C. Hunter (60) resides in Ancora,
Camden Co., New Jersey, where he married
Emma Wilson.

Harvey M. Hunter (61) resides in Brattleboro,
Vt. He married Lucy Pierce, and has two
daughters,

64. Olive M.

65. Mary L.

Wm. R Hunter (62) lives in Erving, Mass.,
He married Mary A. Letteny, and has three sons.

66. Edward YV.

67. Frank E.

68. George C.

Edward E. Hunter, (63) married Julia Morrison.
They reside in Miller's Falls. Mass., and have a
daughter.

69. Ida L.

The next daughter, Fannie J. Hunter (55)
married Luther Purrington of Coleraine, Mass.,
and had two sons.

70. Franklin L., born 1S51.

16

71. Fred. William, born 1853.

The first of these married Ella E. Davenport of
Coleraine, Mass., where they now reside.

Fred. \V. Purrington (71) married Ida A.
Brown, of Whitingham, Vt., and resides in Coler-
aine, where he is engaged in the manufacture of
butter boxes.

Orange Dwight Hunter (56) married Harriet
E. Trask of Greenfield, Mass., and resides in
Terryville, Conn., where he is president of a
company for the manufacture of Malleable Iron
Castings. The style of his firm is A. Terry &
Co. He has one son,

72. Dwight \\\,

who married Cornelia Terry of Terryville. Conn.
His address is Dr. D. \Y. Hunter, 157 West
126th St., New York. His specialties are the
Eye and Ear. He graduated from the Hartford
High school in 1872; from Yale College in 1S76;

17

from the College of Physicians and Surgeons

in New York, in 1879; and aftjr two years more
study of his specialties, opened his office. He
also held the position of Assistant Surgeon
at the Manhattan Hospital, until he was trans-
ferred to the New York Eye and Far Infirmary,
where he now holds the same position. He
has a son,

(j2>-) Robert Terry, born Jan. 30, 1SS6.

Cynthia M. Hunter (57) married Chauncy Jones
of Buckland, Mass., and died in 1S58. They
had one daughter,

74. Fannie M., born 1854.

She married Charles Field, of Conway, Mass.,
and has two children,

75. Hattie Maria, born 1878.

76. Charles Theodore, born 1882.

David Hunter (5S) married Abbie Clark of
Montague, Mass., and resides at Greenfield, Mass.
They have three sons,

18

j j. David C.

78. Frank Winslow.

79. Raymond Wright.

The first of these is a commercial traveller, with
headquarters at Chicago, 111.
The second son, Frank YY. Hunter, is a dental
student, and resides in Greenfield, with his father.
Raymond Wright Hunter, a lad of fourteen years,
lives at home, and attends school.

George Hunter (59) married Louisa Conner
of Haydenville, Mass., and resides at Elgin, 111.,
where he is Superintendent of the Elgin National
Watch Co. They have one son,

80. George E., born at Waltham, Mass., Nov.
29, 1859.

He was married June 4th, 18S5, to Bell M.
Taylor of Xew York City. His present resi-
dence is Elgin, where he is employed as foreman
in one of the departments oi the Watch Factor)-.

19

The next of Justus Wright's children, was Jus-
tus (48) who had two wives; .Maria Prince of
Goshen, Mass., and Julia A. Wilder, of Wilbraham,
Mass. He died in 1S56. During the life of the
first wife they had two sons,

81. James A., born 1S53.

82. Joseph F., born March 13 1839.

The first of these, married Dianthy M. Fairfield,
of Williamsburg-, Mass., and resides in New Haven
Conn. They have two children,

S3. Albert S.

84. Clarissa.

Joseph F.Wright (82) married Lizzie H. Potter,
of Leyden Mass.

After his marriage with Julia A. Wilder, two
more sons were born to Justus Wright (4S).

85. Justus Abel, born 1847.

86. Daniel Collins, born 1850.

The former married Hattie M. Russel of Hadley
Mass., where they now reside. Two daughters
have been born to them,

21

8j. Myra Janette. born 1878.

88. Lena Julia, born 18S0.

Daniel C. Wright (86) married Ella Maria
Harris, and resided in Holyoke, Mass., till his
death in 1879. He left one son,

89. Daniel Wallace, born 1879.

22

The next daughter of Justus Wright (42) was

Abigail Wright (49), who married Alanson Smith
of Whately, Mass., and died in 1865.
Their children are,

90. James Edward, born 1826.

91. Justus Wright, born 1829.

92. Henry Graves, born 1831.

93. Asa Alanson, born 1833.

94. Abbie Ely, born 1837.

95. Elbridge George, born 1840.

96. Myron Salmon, born 1S44.

The first of these James E. Smith (90) mar-
ried Mercia Moses of Barkhamstead, Conn.: also
Mary Deline of Vermont. They reside in Flor-
ence, Mass., and have had three children.

97. Alice.

98. Charles O.

99. Wesley H.

The last two, only, are living.

Justus Wright Smith (01) resides in Meriden,
Conn. He married Lucy Graham of Kensing-

24

<tttHiumninitniti>tiii„iuatmi4Miuumttm»—mnmimi»mnmt»umtnm»nmtnmmitmmimi n tmttMmtim hh.kih .i»ih».«»i<»i.i

ton, Conn., also Eunice Crafts of Whately, Mass.
They had one daughter,
ioo. Emma E., died, aged twenty-eight years.

Henry Graves Smith (92) resides in Meriden,
Conn. He married, first, Mary A. Graham of
Kensington, Conn., also Annie M. Whitney.

They have had two children.,

10 1. Edward L.

102. Jennie \V.
The latter, only, is living.

Asa A. Smith (93) resides in Hartford, Conn.
He married M. M. Whitehead of Salsbury, Conn.
They have two children,

103. Harriet A.

104. Olive M.

Abbie Ely Smith (94) married Elijah D.
Castletow, of Meriden, Conn., where he is a
manufacturer of piano stools. They have had
four children,

25

105. Frank E.

106. Wilber E.

107. Mary A.

108. Lewis A.

Wilber and Mary only are now living.

Elbridge George Smith (95) resides in Green-
field, Mass. He married Ella B. Barnes of
Meriden, Conn. They have had two children,

109. Lizzie \V. — not now living.

1 10. George M.

Myron S. Smith (96) married Ella M. Dun-
ham of Kensington, Mass., where he resided
till his death in 1880. They have two children,

in. Harry M.

112. W. Irving.

26

The next son of Justus Wright was Luther
Wright (50). He was born in South Hadley,
Mass., Feb. 19, 1805. He married Xov. 3, 1828,
Mary Ann Gregg, of Watertown, Mass., where
he died Jan. 22, 1872. Their children are,

113. Orange H., born Nov. 16, 1S29.

114. Orange H., born April 8, 1832.

115. Luther A., born June 20, 1834,

116. Mary Ann G., born May 23, 1836,

117. Luther E., born April 13, 1838.

118. Henry F., born Sept. 19, 1840.

119. Harriet G. born Sept. 12, 1843.

120. Frederick A., born Feb. 27, 1847.

121. Henrietta A., born Sept. 3, 1852.

The first son Orange died March 31. 1S32, a
week and a day before the birth of his brother,
who was given the same name. The second
Orange H. Wright (114) married Xov. 23, 1858,
Sarah E. Pushee of Dracut, Mass., where he
died August 21, 1S66. They had one daughter,

122. Fannie, L., born in Dracut, April 9, 1861.
She now makes her home with her uncle Fred-

28

erick (120) in Brighton, Mass.

The next four children of Luther Wright (50)
died in earl)- life, aged respectively, three years,
five months, five years, and three years.

Harriet G. Wright (119) was married in Wa-
tertown, Mass., March 29, 1872, to George F.
W. Chase.

Frederick A. Wright (120) resides in the Brigh-
ton District of Boston, Mass. He married in
Boston, April 13, 187S, Emma E. Peckham, o(
Rochester, Mass. She lived but three years
after her marriage, dying in Boston, April 9, 1881.

Henrietta A. Wright (121) married in Hyde
Park, Mass., April 12, 1SS1. Don C. Luce. They
have one daughter,

123. Donna Etta, born in Boston, Jan. 29, 1SS2.

29

The next son of Justus Wright was Edward
Wright (51) born in South Hadley, Mass., Ian.
29, 1808. He came to Boston in early life to
study portrait painting, lor which he had much
talent, boarding- at the home of his uncle, An-
drew Wright, (43) who was a printer.

Through the influence of the latter he was led
to change his plans, and studied the art of de-
signing, and engraving on wood, which was his
business during the remainder of his life. The
firm was Wright & Mallory, 96 Washington St.,
(old number) for many years. He married Mary
E. Wilson of Boston, Mass.. who is still living in
their country home in Billerica. He was a Dea-
con in the Congregational Church in Billerica,
for many years, and beloved by all who knew
him. He died in Ashby, Mass., whither he had
gone for medical treatment in the hospitable home
of his brother-in-law, Dr. J. S. Andrews, on Sept.
9, 1S63, aged fifty-five years. Rev. J. G. D.
Stearns, his beloved pastor, preached at his funeral
from the text, "To die is gain," which is also

3i

engraved on his tombstone, in the beautiful
cemetery in Billerica. His Children were,

124. Edward Irving, born June 23, 1837.

125. Ellen Mary, born June 30, t <S 5 9 .

126. Emily Elizabeth, born June 30. 1839.

127. Alfred Ela, born July 27, 1841.

128. Clara Jane, born May 1, 1S45.

129. Ella Frances, born Jan. 9, 1849.

130. Anna Elvira, born April 25, 1S51.

Edward Irving Wright (124) married E. Ura-
nia Burnap of Ashby, Mass. Their home was
for many years in Xewton Mass., while he was
in the wholesale crocerv business in Boston.
He died of consumption, February 13, 1SS2, in
Ormond, Florida, whither he and his devoted
wife had gone to pass the winter, in the milder
climate of the home of his uncle Daniel Wilson.
His children are.

131. Clara Eliza, born June 9. 1870.

132. Edward Burnap, born July 10. 1S74.

133. William Irving, born July 19, 1877.

32

The twins, Ellen and Emily, (125 and 126)
died in Dec. 1 84 1 , of Membranous Croup, and
die baby, Alfred, (126) followed them Jan. 22,
1842.

Clara J. Wright (128) died of Consumption in
Boston, March 8, 1S6S, in her twenty-second year.

Ella F. Wright (129) married George E. S.
Kinney of Boston, where he is in the Men's Fur-
nishing business, at 18 Cambridge St. They re-
side at the present time in Billerica. Their chil-
dren are,

134. Mary Ella, born in Boston, Oct. 27, 1S74.

135. Grace Nason, born in Billerica, Nov. 28,
1876.

136. George Searle, born in Billerica, August
30, 1878.

The last, little Georgie, was taken from them
by death April 19, 1SS2, when three years old,
but his sweet ways and happy face will ever be
remembered by those who were privileged to

33

know him during his short life.

Anna E. Wright (130) married Rev. S. Sher-
berne Mathews of Boston, Mass., April 25, 1870,
since which time they have been settled over
the Congregational churches in Wilmington and
Maynard, Mass., and for eight years past over
their present parish, the Boylston Congregational
Church in Boston. They reside on Amory St.,
Jamaica Plain District. Their children are,

137. Anna Elizabeth, born in Billerica, June

30, 1872.

138. Edith Lathrop, born in Wilmington,
March 1, 1875.

139. Mabel Babcock, born in Maynard Jan.

31. 1877.

34

1862777

The next daughter, Clarissa, (52) married Ste-
phen Joselyn, of Enfield, Mass., and died in 1844.
She left one son,

140. Walter,
who died after reaching manhood, unmarried.

The seventh and last of Justus Wright's chil-
dren was Jane, (53) who was born April 17,
1820. She married Daniel Wilson ef Billerica
Mass. In 1874 the true pioneer spirit was upon
them, and they went with their family to Florida,
to make a home. Quite a company went from
New Britain, Conn., where they then resided, at
the same time. Choosing a pleasant spot on
Indian River, they began their new town, which
in a few years was so prosperous, that it was
incorporated as a city, with the name of Ormond,
and Mr. Wilson was chosen their first Mayor.
The great success of the enterprise is no doubt
largely due to the wisdom and faithfulness of
these two, who have done so much to advance
the little colony to its present state of prosperity.

36

ru

They now have fine orange groves, and the fruit
from them which has found its way into our
Northern homes, seems much finer than any we
can buy in the markets of our cities. Aunt Jane
Wilson died in 1SS4, and was the first to be bur-
ied in the little cemetery which it had ever been
her earnest wish to have the town set apart for
its use. She was a remarkable woman, and her
death was a great loss to her family, and to all
who knew her. Their children are,

141. Jennie Burnett, born Aug. II, 1S51.

142. Emily Wright, born May 24, 1S58.

143. Edward Ely, born April 9, 1S65.

The first daughter, Jennie B. Wilson, (141)
married Ernest Konrad Christ, of New Britain
Conn., where they now reside, he being a teacher
of specialties in the schools of that city.

Their children are,

144. Jennie Margarethe, born Sept. 25, 1S74.

145. Ernest Wilson, born April 12, 1876.

146. Emily Agatha, born April 30, 1S7S.

147. George Edward, born Feb. 29, 1SS0.

37

148. Fannie Day, born Feb. 18, 1882.

The second daughter Emily \\\ Wilson (142)
married Loomis G. Day, of Ormond, Fla., where
they now reside. Their children are,

149. Mary Wright, born Oct. 2. 1877.

150. Ralph Burnett. Mar. 22, 1883.

Edward Ely Wilson (143) is the last in order
to be recorded here. He resides with his father
in Ormond, Fla., where he is a useful and valued
citizen; the joy of his father's heart, and a bless-
to the whole community; not the least of his
duties being, like that of his noted ancestor, Dea.
Samuel Wright, "to dispense the Gospel in the
absence of the minister."

38

)m$»it*HttiM**l*f*t*l»tfl*W—*—i

This closes the record of the descendants of
our Grandfather, Justus Wright. It would be ex-
ceedingly interesting to follow out the genealog-
ical records of some of the other branches ot
the Wright family, but in this little pamphlet it
could not be done. We could only select our
particular ancestor in each family, and give his
family register. Many distinguished names occur
in the whole record, including ministers, judges,
lawyers, doctors, senators, statesmen, mathemati-
cians, inventors and patriots. Among the latter
might be named Col. Ethan Allen, the celebrated
wrarrior, whose grandmother was a Wright.

Quite a number of the descendants of Deacon
Samuel Wrififht reside in Boston. Rev. William
B. Wright, Pastor of the Berkeley Street Church,
is a descendant in the line of the son James
(3), also in the same line, Judge Edwin Wright
of this city.

Most hearty thanks are due to Mr. W. K.
Wright, of Northampton, for the assistance he
has rendered us in collecting the genealogical

40'

portion of this history, from Northampton records,
and other sources. He is a descendant of Dea-
con Samuel Wrigfht, in the line of his youngest

O JO

son, Judah (8).

An article in the New England Historical and
Genealogical Register, Vol. 4, written by Joseph
W. Wright, has also proven of much assistance.

"So live the Fathers in their sons,
Their sturdy faith be ours,

And ours the love that overruns
Its rocky strength with flowers."

Whittier.

41

<£rrata.

On page n. after Andrew (43) read, Married
Mary Davis.

On page 14, after Edward (51) read, Born
Jan. 29, 1808.

On page 24, after Elbridge (95) read, Gerry,
instead of George.

On page 25, third line from the bottom, in-
stead of Castletow read, Castelow.

On page 36, instead of Indian River, read
Halifax River.

42

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