Family/Spouse: Alexander BRADY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Isaac Cook appears to have first purchased 150 acres on May 6, 1766 in Berkley Co. on the north side of the Saludy River. (C-947) He next purchased land from Daniel Mote on October 19, 1774 in Beaverdam Creek in the Fork of the Broad and Saluda Rivers. (C-894) He sold 4 acres of land to (Big) John Coate on Beaverdam in a branch of the Saluda River on Feb. 11, 1788.

The following book contains detailed information on Charity Cook and her husband Isaac: Newlin, Algie I., CHARITY COOK, A LIBERATED WOMAN, (Friends United Press, 1981). Charity Wright and Isaac Cook were both born in the back country quarterly meeting area of Monacy, Maryland and Western Chester Co., Pennsylvania Both their families moved to the same Quarterly Meeting area in Cane Creek, North Carolina. It is very likely that they knew of each other if not each other as children.

Charity Cook was a significant person in Quaker history. Surprisingly she was disowned at age 14 "for having carnal knowledge of Jehu Stewart," only to end up being a Quaker Minister within the following ten years. She did appeal the judgment of the Quaker Church on her disownment. Her family moved to South Carolina within a couple months after the appeal failed. She was apparently married outside of the church to Isaac Cook. He had lived in the same settlement where she had been disowned and surely knew of her trials. He taught Charity to read and supported his wife's talents as a Quaker minister by looking after the family while she would travel. Her ministry took her away from home approximately one month per year, excluding her 5 year, 5 month trip abroad as a dedicated minister when her youngest daughter was age 11. Travel in those days took a great deal of fortitude. She often went by horseback in the face of many dangers, ex: Indians, Wars (Revolutionary War), etc. Her travels took her all over the South, East Coast and Midwest in America and through England, France, Germany and Ireland during times of great political turmoil in these areas.

Her last travels as a minister took place when she was 75 years old after the death of her husband by cancer and just two years before her death at age 77 and 9 months. She must have been a very fulfilled and strong woman to have endured and given so much. Quotes in writings by other Quakers include "Charity Cook (is) a minister in esteem amongst us" and she was "favored in (her) public testimonies with a degree of animating life and power." This is but a short summary of the very fine book mentioned above about a most honorable woman.

As for Isaac and Charity's children, none of them appeared in the death records of South Carolina. Isaac and family received a certificate of removal on Oct 26, 1805 to go to Miami MM, in Ohio. (C-820) There is an Isaac Cook who made land transactions in the Guilford Co, NC land records in 1797. It is not know if he is this Isaac, his son or another Isaac. (C-1099-2000)

Isaac married Charity WRIGHT, Minister about 1763 in , Newberry, SC, USA. Charity (daughter of John C. WRIGHT, * and Rachel WELLS, Minister) was born on 13 Nov 1742 in , Prince George, MD, USA; died on 13 Nov 1822 in , Warren, OH, USA; was buried about 16 Nov 1822 in Warren, Trumball, OH, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

I have used the birth date for Charity from her biography, CHARITY WRIGHT COOK, A LIBERATED WOMEN. Hinshaw gives the birth date of 11-13-1742, a day after her sister Margarets. This has been decided to be in error by her biographer. She was disowned by the Cane Creek MM, NC on 1761,2,7 for engaging in carnal behavior. She was reinstated into the Quaker church as an adult (after the boy that had accused her starting accusing many women and was basically caught lying). She became a well-loved Quaker minister who traveled much of each year in the colonies and in Europe during the Revolutions in both, to serve the Quakers. She seemed to stay home long enough to have each child, and then travel on while her husband cared for the family. She apparently had cousins who were Rothchilds in England, whom she probably visited while in Europe. Many incidents of her life are recalled in her biography. One from a family reunion provided by descendant, Bob Henry, tells of a crossing of Kaben Creek. The water apparently drowned two horses. Isaac saved himself by riding a "chunk of wood" while Charity made it across by swimming. There is discrepancy in her death date. CD-102 differs in her death date, stating it was 13 Nov. 1820 and occurred in Clinton Co., Ohio (C-517) I have again chosen the well researched biography's death date for her.

Notes:

Thomas came to Pennsylvania, supposedly from Cheshire Co., England, in c1713 with his 6 brothers and sisters and parents. He would have been approximately 9 years of age at the time. He had a twin named Abraham. Thomas married Mary Underwood at the Warrington Monthly Meeting in 1731. He lived in multiple places in Chester Co., Pa with his family as a child and moved to nearby York Co. about 1730 during his early marriage. He and his brother Peter donated money to buy the land for the Warrington Monthly Meeting to the Menallen Monthly Meeting. Warrington is nine miles Southwest of Newberry. (C-429) After his death in 1752, some of his children, including Isaac got a certificate of removal from Warrington Monthly Meeting, PA to move to Cane Creek Monthly Meeting, North Carolina on 7-20-1754. (C-229) Family members then moved to South Carolina at an even later date. (C-200, p.87) (C-250, p.35-36) (C-556, p. 87)

Thomas married Mary UNDERWOOD, * on 28 Sep 1731 in London Grove, Chester, PA, USA. Mary (daughter of Alexander UNDERWOOD and Jane HARRY) was born about 1710 in , Chester, PA, USA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary married Thomas Cook, a Quaker, when it appears Mary's family was not considered Quaker. The London Grove MM complained of marriage to Thomas Cook as out of unity. Thomas appeared with apologies which were accepted on the 10mo. 1730. (C-437) Mary and her children removed to Cane Creek, NC after her first husband died on certificate dated 7-20-1754. She next married Joseph Wells of Cane Creek. (C-437)

Notes:

Much information can be gleaned about this family from a book by Algie I. Newlin entitled CHARITY COOK, A LIBERATED WOMAN, (Friends United Press, 1981). It is a biography of their daughter, Charity Cook, written and researched by a history professor.

Around 1725, he and his family moved to the northern part of Maryland, Prince Georges Co., MD possibly living at Goose Creek MM, Cecil Co., MD first. Rachel's family lived in Prince George's County and they probably met there. John's only wife was Rachel Wells. Some sources list a second wife named Susannah but this has been disproven. The first half of John and Rachel's children were born in Prince George's County Maryland according to Newlin's book: [UL:Charity Cook, A Liberated Woman:UL].

John's family moved from 1733-35 to Frederick Co., VA and became members of the Friends Hopewell Monthly Meeting according to Lewis Wright. (C-588, 610) Possibly the confusion here comes from the changing names of territories. They lived near Monacacy River a few miles south of Frederick which could have been Prince George's Co., Maryland at the time, but is now known as Frederick Co., Maryland. The marriage records of John and Rachel Wells Wright can not be located, and it is thought by some that they were burned with the Hopewell meeting records. Marriage is therefore approximated as 1737, a year before their first child's birth.

Both John and Rachel were appointed overseers of their respective male and female Monthly Meetings in Monocacy in 1745. They were charter members of the Fairfax MM.

Rachel Wells Wright is a very interesting person of her own right. She was a Quaker minister. This involved travel and stamina on her part. She was a very sturdy woman attested by the trials she endured plus the fact that she had three of her children in just a two year period.

What is even more astounding is that during this same two year period, John and Rachel Wright with 7 young children, William through John Jr. moved to the Cane Creek frontier, soon to become Orange County, North Carolina, which was over a distance of 300 miles. They received their letter to go to what was then Carvers Creek MM on 29-5-1749. They were charter members of of Cane Creek Monthly Meeting in Alamance Co., North Carolina when it was established 10m-1751. (C-575) Six more children were born to them in the Cane Creek area. All thirteen are listed in the Cane Creek records.

John and Rachel often lived in new, rather unsecured settlement areas. It appears that they moved near Camden, Kershaw Co., South Carolina in 1761/1762 to the Wateree Meeting in Camden, South Carolina, later to become the Bush River Monthly Meeting area that they helped establish. (C-250) He sought a land patent for land on Beaverdam on Sep 17, 1769 with an addition joining it in 1786. Parts of both of this land he granted to his son in law Big John. Later, Big John and Rachel then sold it to their son, Wright Coate.

According to Lewis Wright, John was a Ship Captain by trade. (C-610, 615) However, in his will, he bequeathed his shoemaking tools. Medlin's "Quaker Families of South Carolina and Georgia also states that John was a shoemaker by trade. He never tended to live on the ocean either, so I'd say the Ship Captain must apply to some other John Wright. (C-265, 866) John was also a member of the first and second Provincial Congress of S.C. (C-588)

At an ederly age, he lived with his daughter, Susannah. He used to walk to and from the Quaker meetings. The family reunion in 1908 recalled that his daughter prevailed on him to take her horse on one occasion. When the meeting was over, he walked home. When he got there she asked him where the horse was and he replied "Dad, me Sue, I forgot her."

According to this same family reunion provided by Julia Henry, it states that he and his wife had seven sons and ten daughters, 4 of whom apparently aren't in the Quaker records. He attended his grand-daughter, Sarah Cook's wedding in 1785.

He wrote his will on 9/17/1789. He named his wife, his deceased son, Joseph and Joseph's son, John; John and his son; Jesse; Nathan and his son William; his son-in-law, Isaac Hollingsworth which he left his shoe-maker tools, cow and calf; Joab Brooks, son of James Brooks; Joseph Cook, his grandson and son of Isaac Cook; William Hollingsworth, grandson and son of Isaac Hollingsworth; son-in-law Isaac Cook and Isaac's daughter Rachel. The witnesses were Isaac Hollingsworth, John Coate and Charity Cook. His Executor was his son Joseph Wright. His will was written in Newberry Co., South Carolina. (C-866, 2082)

His death was about 1790. He was living with his son-in-law, Isaac Hollingsworth's family, in the 1790 census. Before he died, he supposedly gathered all of his descendants which numbered 144 persons at the time. (C-945)

John married Rachel WELLS, Minister about 1737 in Hopewell M.M., Frederick, VA, USA. Rachel (daughter of Joseph WELLS and Rachel MARSH) was born on 3 May 1720 in All Hallows Parish, Anne Arundel, MD, USA; was christened on 12 Jul 1721 in Davidsonville, Anne Arundel, MD, US; died on 23 Dec 1771 in Bush River, Newberry County, South Carolina, USA; was buried in Newberry, Newberry County, South Carolina, United States of America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

CD-100 says that Rachel's mother is named Rachel. This apparently comes from a Quaker baptismal record dated 12 July 1721 at All Hallow's, listing her father as Joseph Wells and his wife Rachel. In the Southern Friend, V. XVI, 1994, Richard Kelly states that the entry in the All Hallow's book was in error and they simply repeated daughter Rachel's name by accident. He also finds error with the date of birth listed for her in Quaker records as occurring on 3(May)/27/1720. This would have been before Joseph and Margaret were married. (C-575)

The Cane Creek Quaker record states she was the d. of Margaret Swanson and Joseph Wells, but this could be explained by the fact that she had only known Margaret as her mother, and gave her name without being concerned for the genealogy of it. This record was made sometime after 1758 which was 38 years after Rachel's birth. (C-1553, D.J. Rowe)

In any case, Rachel was born while her father, Joseph Wells, was farming land in Anne Arundel Co. belonging to his brother's stepson. The Cane Creek Monthly Meeting record was also in error in stating that she was born in Prince George, Maryland.

Rachel was a fairly well noted frontier Quaker minister before the American Revolution. She became a Quaker when she married. This is significant. Her parents moved into the faith several years after her marriage. She would not have been baptized Quaker and this where the controversy lies in Quaker Records. The Quaker Baptismal record would have been created after she was an adult and is therefore not first hand information. It is entirely possible that her mother was Margaret Swanson instead. She came from radical Puritan and Catholic stock who sought religious freedom in the tolerant Maryland under Lord Baltimore. Several of her ancestors were of armorial families in England. (C-575, p. 35)

Rachel and her husband moved to Orange County, North Carolina from the Monacy Meeting, Prince George Co., Maryland about 1749. They helped found the Cane Creek Meeting in Orange Co., North Carolina. She with Abigail Overton Pike and several others rode on horseback to the Little River Quarterly Meeting in Peruimans in 1751 to seek permission for Cane Creek's Monthly Meeting status. This was granted by them on the sixth month, 31st day of 1751. Cane Creek held their first monthly meeting on the tenth month of 1751 wherein fifteen certificates of removal were submitted. (C-1663)

She was the center of a major controversy in this region during the movement known as the Regulators. She committed the offense of defending her daughter, Charity, against false charges of "carnal knowledge" with Jehu Stuart". She later apologized and this was accepted by her Quaker Meeting until she applied to remove to Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1763. Some of the members doubted the sincerity of her apology and thought her certificate should not be granted. She was then disowned by the church. A principle, outspoken well known liberal Quaker of the time, Hermon Husband, was caught up in the feud defending her. Due to his violent reaction, he was disowned in 1763 and moved north back to Pennsylvania with his family after the decision was appealed to the Quarterly and Yearly Meetings where only his disownment was not reversed in Feb. of 1764. Rachel was granted her removal at the 1764 yearly meeting. (C-575)

The Cane Creek meeting back in North Carolina mentions her kindly at her death 23 12m 1771, aged about 52 years as "a friend of the Ministry, wife of John, one of the first beginners of a meeting at Bush River." (C-646, 966)

Notes:

After Peter Cook and Elinor Norman were married in Newton Meeting, Cheshire, England on Dec. 7, 1695, they had 9 children. Loss of family members was endured by this couple. Two children died in England. Emigrating to Pennsylvania in early 1713 brought the death of Peter Cook who was lost at sea and the youngest children died in Philadelphia soon after their arrival. (C-250, p.35, 1561)

As for Peter's parentage, he might be related to a Peter Cook from the following will record in Cheshire, England. "Cheshire: - Wills and Inventories, 1681-1700. List of the Wills Now Preserved in the Probate Court, Chester, From the Year 1681 to 1700 Inclusive. 1810. County: Cheshire, Country: England, Cook, Peter, of Barnton, yeoman 1700."

Peter married Eleanor NORMAN on 7 Dec 1695 in Newton M.M., Cheshire, ENG. Eleanor (daughter of Johannes (John) NORMAN and Maria (Mary) WORRAL) was born about 1670 in Kingsley, Ab Kettleby, Leicestershire, England; died after 31 Oct 1759. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Elinor Cook appears to have been a witness to several marriages in Chester Co., Pennsylvania An Elinor Cook witnessed the marriage of William Brown and Susanna Churchman onn 2/11/1728 in Nottingham. The other marriages she witnessed occurred in Londongrove Monthly Meeting of Edward Tatnall and Elizabeth Pennock on 4/11/1735; of Willliam Ails and Elizabeth Underwood (d. of Alexander) on 8/18/1738; of Moses Pyle and Mary Cooke (d. of John Cooke) on 10/9/1741; of Stephen Ailes and Ann Underwood (d. of Alexander) on 9/3/1742; of William Underwood (s.of Alexander) and Ruth Bails on 1/2/1742/1743; of Thomas Collins and Sarah Johnson on 12/10/1755; of Thomas Dennis and Elizabeth Webb on 6/15/1757 at Londongrove; of Thos. Harlan and Mary Baily on 10/12/1757; and of John Wilson and Dinah Cook (d. of Isaac Cook) on 10/31/1759. If all of these apply to her, she lived a very long life. All the records after 1730, would not apply to her married daughter Eleanor. It also fits her in that she is never listed with her husand who died relatively early in their marriage. Her first name was spelled many different ways, Elinor, Ellinor, Eleanor with her surname being spelled Cook and Cooke. She is possibly the daughter of Johannes Norman and Maria Worral. (C-2025)

Notes:

Alexander Underwood, born in Maryland, settled in London Grove, (Warrington MM), Chester Co., PA in 1722, multiple years after his marriage to Jane Harry. He had the land in London Grove Twp. surveyed in 1720. He obtained a deed for the land in 1722 after his father's death. He was a witness to multiple marriages in the Chester Co., PA region, in 1728 at a Nottingham marriage, in 1731, 1734, 1735 and 1738 in London Grove MM, and lastly in 1734 in New Garden MM. (C-942)

He was a devout Quaker, a Friends Minister for 22 years and named an Elder on Nov. 31, 1735. In 1742 he sold his land to William Boyd. They then moved to Warrington, York Co., PA (Sadsbury Monthly Meeting Territory) in 1743. His wife, Jane, died shortly after this move. On the 3rd month, 28th, 1743, he, Robert Conners, William Underwood and their families requested a Certificate of Removal from the Sadsbury MM (then including York Co. PA). Alexander got a certificate of removal to Monocacy Meeting in Prince Georges Co., Maryland on Sept. 2, 1745. He returned to Sadsbury MM on Aug. 3, 1747 in York Co. where Alexander was recommended as minister. He married Sarah Boatwater Beals, widow of John Beals, after Sarah had gotten her children's permission. They married after he received a certificate from Warrington to Fairfax Meeting dated 2mo. 16, 1748. Sarah was probably in her 60's at the time.

Sarah died prior to Alexander as she was not mentioned in his will. She is last recorded on Sept. 12, 1761 when she was succeeded as "overseer". He, Samuel and William Underwood (probably his sons) pledged money to help buy the land for the Warrington Monthly Meeting while attending Sadsbury MM in 1745. (C-429) His will, dated May 28, 1767 is likely filed at York Co., Pennsylvania

Some of Alexander and Jane's children moved to Delaware and their records may be found in the northern County of a Quaker Record Holding Place. The Book "The Underwood Families of America, Vol. 2:" carries the males lines forward sometimes to the 1900's. As for Alexander's ancestry, it states that it descended from Samuel Underwood of New Castle Co., Del. in the late 1600's. It is fairly definite Samuel was from Maryland, descended from Thomas Underwood of Anne Arundel County, Md. (C-260)

There is some controversy on his daughter, Mary's mother. One out of six major works on the Underwood families believes that Alexander had an unknown wife before he married Jane Harry by whom he had Mary. CD-100 gives his only wife's name as Mary Jane Underhill. This is actually the wife of his grandson Alexander. (C-533)

The mix up in number of wives is due to a literal translation of a Quaker eulogy on Alexander Underwood. However, all other major sources disagree with parts of the eulogy. It was written by friends of his and approved on the 5th mo. 7, 1768, many months after his death when all of his children lived elsewhere and his wife had passed away. It is poorly written with another blatant error, that his parent's weren't Quaker. They feel they confused his adulthood move with the time of his marriage.

The eulogy from which this confusion rises follows: Alexander Underwood was born in the Province of Maryland in the year 1688. His parents who were not members of the religious Society of Friends, removed when he was young and settled in New Castle on the Delaware (when Alexander was about four years old). Here he continued to reside until he reached the thirty-fourth year of his age, when he married and removed to London Grove Township, Chester County (Pennsylvania). Here he became acquainted with Friends and in a few years afterwards he became convinced of the Truth of the principles professed by them, and was received into membership with them. (The timing of these last two statements is not accurate when checked against the time he was a recorded member verses his marriage and move. [C-635, p.21]) By faithfulness to that which led him into the way of the Truth, he grew in religious experience, and became a valuable member of the Church Militant. In a very few years he was appointed Elder, in which he conducted himself with reputation.

About the year 1743, he believed it right to remove to Warrington, where he resided the rest of his life. In a year or two thereafter, a gift in the Ministry of the gospel was committed to him, in which he endeavored to be faithful. Besides his earnest labors among neighboring meetings, he twice visited the meetings to the south as far as North Carolina, and brought back comfortable accounts from his Friends there of his labor of love amongst them. He was a good example of humble waiting in religious meetings, and by dwelling near the Fountain of Life, he was enabled, when called into service by his divine Master, "to minister suitably to the situation of the Church, the comfort of the true mourners of Zion, and the encouragement of the faithful."

He was diligent, as the way was inwardly opened therefore, in visiting meetings around, and was ever careful to maintain the good order of the church, by having the unity of his friends with his prospects. Toward the end of his life, his strength of body failed much, yet he continued of a clear mind, and sound and lively ministry, visiting even in his weakness some of his neighboring meetings, and families of friends. In these exercises, his labor of love was truly comforting to the living.

During his last illness, he was resigned and cheerful. At one time he said "He had the good company of his Master to comfort him in his affliction." On another occasion he remarked, "He could say with the Psalmist that he good Hand that was with him in his younger years, had not forsaken him now in his old age." At different times he signified to those who visited him, "that he still felt the Comforter with him," and said his day's work was done. A short time before his close, "He sang praises and hallelujahs to his great Lord and Master," and then he prayed earnestly for the little handful. He took an affectionate leave of those present, and in a sweet frame of mind, uttered praises until his voice was lost, he quietly and joyfully departed Tenth month, 31st, 1767 and was inter'd the 2nd of the eleventh in the seventy ninth year of his age. May we who are left behind, be engaged to follow his example so that our end may be like unto his. (C-635)

The evident errors in this eulogy are in the timing of events in his earliest life. He moved to London Grove in 1722, and there is no record of his marriage to Jane Harry in the New Garden meeting house in the year 1722 where he was a member. By all known information, Jane was his first wife and they had married a good eleven years previous to that date. These errors are understandable when it's known that they were coming from friends memories.

Alexander married Jane HARRY about 1710 in , New Castle, DE, USA. Jane (daughter of Hugh HARRY and Elizabeth BRINTON) was born about 1687 in Chichester, Chester, PA, USA; died before 25 Apr 1743 in London Grove, Chester, PA, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the Automated Archives disk 102, Jane's maiden name was listed as Harry. The vital statistics for Jane Harry are still not clear. The Mormon IGI files state she was born around 1692 of Anne Arundel, Maryland. (C-521) Another I.G.I source lists her from York, Pennsylvania (C-522) I chose the third I.G.I. file that was closest to the Hugh Harry, Elizabeth Brinton book but more specific, b. 1687, Chester Co., Pennsylvania (C-528) The reason for all of these birth places can be guessed at. The book "Charity Wright Cook, a Liberated Women" states that the Underwood, Cook and Wright families all moved often between monthly meetings in the Chester Co., PA area. All the above guesses which is what I think they are, are simply places her family all lived.

Jane Harry Underwood was a witness at multiple marriages in the New Garden MM region of Chester Co., PA. She witnessed the marriage of William Brown and Susanna Churchman of Nottingham MM in Chester Co., PA on February 11, 1728. She and her husband witnessed the marriage of their son, Samuel Underwood to Ann Trevilla on March 10, 1738 at Londongrove. They attended the marriage of William Ails and their daughter, Elizabeth Underwood on August 18, 1738 in Londongrove. They witnessed the marriage of John Hutton and Ann Harry, d. of Evan Harry, Descd. on March 6, 1741 in Londongrove. The last wedding Jane witnessed was that of her son William to Ruth L. Bails of Londongrove on January 2, 1742/1743. Alexander and several of their children also witnessed the event. Alexander also attended several marriages without his wife.

Notes:

It is not known with any certainty whom James Wright's father is. The group I think he is in is haplogroup I-M253, group 1 at the Wright YDNA group. That is a guestimate and not proven.

As for the current theories from research, here are the ones I have found without good support for any of them currently.

1. Tradition says that there were five Wright brothers that settled on the Eastern Shore of Maryland during the Colonial period as professed by several aged persons in THE WRIGHT ANCESTRY by Capt. Charles W. Wright, 1907.

2. Two other brothers settled in Baltimore Co, Maryland according to one of these ancients. Maryland's southern border is on the Atlantic Ocean. The additional 2 brothers that settled in Baltimore would have entered Chesapeake Bay and gone north to Baltimore. Baltimore is about 55 miles south by water from where our James Wright can first be verified as living in East Nottingham, Chester Co., PA (now of Cecil Co., MD) via the same bay that comes in from the southeastern side of Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean.

3. James's father according to Don Wright in the "Footprints Database" is John Wright of Pennsylvania. This probably refers to 13 volumes microfiched and available through Salt Lake City's library: "Footprints of Our Past : Our Ancestors and their Descendants" by Don P. Wright. He edited this publication through 1992 under that name and his main interest was researching the Wright surname.

In any case, this Wright family lived above Noris Ford on Marshy Hope Creek literally at the boundary of Maryland and Delaware. It is near 100 miles by land and across the Chesapeake Bay east of where our James Wright can be verified as living in East Nottingham (Now Cecil Co., MD.) in 1707. It is a creek that runs south into the Nanticoke River which runs into the Chesapeake Bay making it even further by water. John was a possible son of two brothers, William (b. bef. 1658 surmised from the fact that he had 5 sons who were born before he died in 1686) and a James Wright that settled in Dorchester Co., MD about 1682 above Noris Ford (Northwest Fork Ford) of Marshy
Hope Creek. That part of Dorchester Co., MD is now a part of Caroline Co., Maryland due to boundary changes. William and James possibly emigrated on the "Bristol Factor" in that same year with one of William Penn's colonies probably through Bristol, England. (C-951)

The two brothers were Quaker preachers and traveled extensively to preach to Quaker communities. Brother William died in Dorchester before June 5, 1686. He had sons William (who married Sarah Noble), Roger, Edward, Samuel and John. (This is likely the John that Don Wright's "Footprints Database" refers to. His sons Edward, Samuel and John supposedly moved west which at that point in time would have been east of the Allegheny Mountains.) His son, Roger, who lived in Dorchester and had several children including sons named Levin, William and *James.
Many of the Wrights in Maryland and Delaware descend from this William. No descendants lineages were apparently kept for James' children according to "The Wright Ancestry of Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset and Wicomico Counties, Maryland." The two brothers were known as Niccolite or Quaker Wrights because of their strict religious sect. The James Wright who came over with his brother William in 1682, might even be our James or William's grandson at a stretch might be our James.

The births of our James and Mary Wright are recorded with the Niccolite Births (Quaker Record Abstracts) in the Hall of Records at Annapolis, Anne Arundel Co., MD supporting this theory. Their particular group was known as the "Northwest Fork River Niccolite Friends." Of course, if one of these James is our James, it still doesn't tell us who his father is. It might be helpful to note that Dorchester Co., MD is 110 miles south from where we can verify that James Wright first lived which was East Nottingham, Chester Co., PA (Now in Cecil Co., Maryland) via the Chesapeake Bay. They and several generations of their descendants worshipped at the Niccolite Quaker Meeting House Branch near Federalsburg, Maryland and at Piney Grove Monthly after it moved locations.

Of all the theories I'm seeing presented, this one is the one with the greatest hope of including our James' ancestors and I will be studying it with a relish. "The Wright Ancestry of Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset and Wicomico Counties, Maryland" is currently available as a free Ebook on Google Books by the way. *It should be noted if this theory ends up being correct, Naomi Wright is supposed to have been a sister to the above brothers. She lived in Sussex Co., Delaware and married Joseph Atkins shortly after their 2nd declaration of intention to marry on Mar. 30, 1699. (C-258, 259)

However, there was at least one Naomi Wright whom is not the sister of William and James but the daughter of Arthur and Abigall Wright in Dorchester Co., Maryland at the time that possibly is this Naomi Wright. In 19 July 1679, An Account of Arthur Wright's estate is recorded, with payments to 147 people. Abigall Wright is listed as administratrix. (MD Accounts and Inventories Lib. 6 fol. 187) On 29 September 1679, Abigail Wright of Dorchester County, widow, gave to her children, Grace Wright, Absalom Wright, Edward Williams, Arthur Wright and Naomi Wright: Livestock. Witnesses Wm. Stephens, Thomas Taylor, William Smithson Acknowledged September 29, 1679. (Dorchester Land Record 4 old 6)*It should also be noted that I'm simply not finding persons whom are tracing their lineages back through anyone but William's son William whom married Sarah Noble - and their dating estimates are really throwing this lineage off.3. A very common ancestral line in public member trees at Ancestry says James was born in Chester Co., PA and was the son of Thomas Wright and Elizabeth Chittenden.

4. Also often stated is that he is the son of John and Martha Wright of Connecticut and John was the son of the above Thomas Wright and Elizabeth Chittenden. A well researched Wright descendant has Thomas and Elizabeth Chittenden Wright listing totally different children and places of birth at http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~legends/wright.html. They descend through an unrelated Connecticut branch of Wrights that go back through Essex Co, England. Y-DNA supports the fact that the Thomas Wright and Elizabeth Chittenden group descends from the Essex Co., England group. It's a very clear match to that grouping with a haplo group of E-M78 and YDNA shows that match. https://www.familytreedna.com/public/wright/default.aspx?section=yresults4.

5. A book referred to as the "Wright Briscoe Pioneers" believed James's father to be one of three brothers, Joshua, Thomas or Samuel who came from Yorkshire, England to New Jersey in 1677. These were sons of Robert Wright and Alice Lawtie of East Riding, Yorkshire, England. We can rule out Joshua Wright and his wife, Elizabeth Empson. Their son was: Richard Wright 1651.

A clue to this family is where they lived. James and his wife died in Frederick Co., Virginia. People from Pennsylvania and Maryland had first settled it sometime between 1738 and 1743. All we know for certain is that they were there before 1759. From East Nottingham (Chester Co., PA, now Cecil Co., MD) they would possibly have come down the Chesapeake Bay to the Potomac River and then taken the old "Indian Trail" down the Opequon Creek basin 35 miles to the newly formed Frederick Co., Virginia. This trail later became known as the "Great Valley Road". It was a common route of passage for early migrantion into Frederick Co., VA.

James married Mary BOWATER or DAVIS, * on 26 Feb 1707 in East Nottingham, Chester, PA, USA. Mary (daughter of John BOWATER, * and Mary MAUNDER) was born on 2 Dec 1689 in London, City of London, Greater London, England; died before 6 Mar 1764 in , Frederick, Virginia, USA; was buried before 6 Mar 1764 in Clear Brook, Frederick County, Virginia, United States of America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

We now know with certainty that Mary was a Bowater and not a Davis by maiden name. The often printed theory and incongruous lineage that she was Mary Davis in as reputable a source as Farmer, has now effectively been disproven by Stewart Baldwin in "The American Genealogist", July/Oct. 1997 issue. She was a Bowater based on multiple pieces of evidence. Mary Wright's birth date is listed in Feb. 12, 1689 in Hopewell Quaker records. This is off by a 10 days from being Mary Bowater's actual birth date in English records if the 1689 date is interpreted as 1688/1689.

As an orphaned young woman, Mary Bowater was received on certificate from England to live near her brother, Thomas in the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting records dated 28 4th month 1706. This is the only time she is mentioned in this country under her maiden name. She (as Mary Wright) and her husband, James Wright, sign their names to the Quaker marriage "certificate" in the close relatives right hand column of her sister, Elizabeth Bowater's marriage to William Pusey on the 5th day of the 9th month, 1707. James Wright would not even have been a relative of this couple unless his wife was a Bowater related to Elizabeth when this marriage took place. Later marriage records of Mary and James Wright's children include many Bowater relatives as witnesses and do not include any Davis relatives. Mary and James Wright were also listed in the relatives column for her brother, Thomas Bowater's daughter's marriage. Lastly, they have a grandson named Bowater. Stewart Baldwin's case that Mary is a Bowater is actually one of the finest pieces of genealogical analysis I've seen. Mary was a Bowater and NOT a DAVIS. (C-999)

Her will is as follows: "I, Mary Wright, of Frederick County in the Colony of Virginia, being aged and sickly but of a sound and well disposing mind and memory do make this my last will and testament hereby revoking and disanulling all other wills that have heretofore been made or done by me. First, my will is that my body be decently buried and that all my just debts and funeral charges that I leave to be defrayed at the discretion of my executors hereafter named. Secondly, I give and bequeath and demise to the proper use and behalf of him the said Thomas Wright his heirs and assigns forever. Thirdly, I give and bequeath all and singular of my wearing apparel unto my seven daughters, vis., Mary, Hannah, Martha, Elizabeth, Ann, Sarah, Lidia to be equally divided among them. Fourthly, I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Pickering, one brass mortar. Fifthly, I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Wright all and singular of my stock and household goods. I also will that what money remains after my decease, from the land sold on Middlefork is to be equally divided among my ten children, vis. James, Isaac, Mary Hannah, Martha, Elizabeth, Ann, Sarah, Lydia and John. Lastly, I ordain and constitute my well beloved daughter, Mary Ballinger, Jesse Pugh and William Pickering sole executors of this my last will and testament as witness my hand and seal this 5th day of the 8th month, 1760. Signed, sealed and acknowledged by the said Mary Wright to be her last will and testament in presence of us. Signed: Mary Wright Witness: Elizabeth Powell, Elinor Rogers, Susanna Bevin. (This was proved March 6, 1764 in Frederick Co., VA) (C-696)

Notes:

Joseph apparently had a twin sister named Sarah. Joseph Wells was living in Anne Arundel Co., MD. on Dec. 8, 1726. He paid taxes on the Mattapony Hundred of Prince George's Co. (now Frederick Co., MD). He had moved to the Monocacy Valley in west Prince George's Co. by 1742. His name is on a petition that sought the establishment of All Saints Parish from Prince George's Co in 1742. He bought land named "Boyling Springs", which was forty acres surveyed June 12, 1743. In November of that year, he was made constable of the Monocacy Hundred. He had 2 known wives and possibly 3. Rachel is the wife in question. She is only listed in one place as the mother of his daughter Rachel. There is a fairly strong theory out there that Rachel was simply a repetitive error on the person in the Quaker records later listing her as Rachel's mother in a Quaker record written after Joseph had become a Quaker. His wife Margaret was received in membership on 11/29/1745 and he on 2/29/1746.

They removed to North Carolina around 1750 after they sold "Boyling Spring", on Tuscorrah Creek near the mouth of the Monquescy. His certificate of removal to Carver's Creek MM, Bladen, NC was dated Jun 25, 1750. He and his wife were charter members of Cane Creek Monthly Meeting that was estabalished Oct. 7, 1751. Joseph gave his son Joseph 269 acres of land in Orange County, North Carolina on June 13, 1752. He sold another 137.5 acres of land to John Marshall in Sept. 1752. In that same year, Margaret stops appearing in Quaker Records when her husband Joseph and some children are in it. This could suggest that she had passed on in 1752 or earlier. (C-575)

Joseph married Rachel MARSH in 1719 in MarylandD USA. Rachel (daughter of Thomas MARSH and Mary TRUMBULL) was born in in Hatfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA; was christened on 7 Jan 1825 in Tottington, Lancashire, England; died after 1721 in Westminster Parish, Ann Arundel, MD, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It is not known with any certainty if this Rachel ever was real or a wife of Joseph. The only evidence we have is a christening record made after the fact listing Joseph's daughter, Rachel's christening that lists her mother as Rachel. There have been no records found of any marriage between a Joseph and a Rachel and his daughter is listed as the daughter of Joseph and Margaret Wells in her marriage record.