William married Mary S. MILLS in 30 Oct or Nov 1800 in Newberry County, South Carolina, USA. Mary was born on 1 Jan 1780 in Bush River, Newberry, South Carolina, USA,; died on 28 Dec 1852 in , Miami, Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Nathan David WRIGHT was born on 16 May 1802 in Newberry County, South Carolina, USA; died in Jan 1879 in Indiana, USA.
2. Martha WRIGHT was born about 1803 in Bush Creek, Newberry Co., SC; died before 1809.
3. Sarah WRIGHT was born in 1805 in Newberry, South Carolina, United States; and died.
4. Rachel WRIGHT was born about 1807 in Newberry County, South Carolina, USA; and died.
5. William E WRIGHT was born about 1809 in South Carolina, USA; died on 7 Nov 1918 in Pike, Arkansas, USA.
6. John Mills WRIGHT was born in 1811 in Newberry, South Carolina, United States; died in 1852 in Bibb, Alabama, United States.
7. Maria WRIGHT was born about 1813 in Bush River Mm, Newberry Co., SC; and died.
8. James Anderson WRIGHT was born in 1814 in Newberry, Newberry, South Carolina, United States; died in 1870 in Lincoln, Tennessee, United States.
9. Hellen M WRIGHT was born about 1815; and died.
10. Sophia WRIGHT was born in 1817 in S.C.; died in 1846 in Bibb, Alabama, United States.

William married Marjorie Caroline PALMER in 1828 in Bush River, Newberry Co. South Carolina. Marjorie was born about 1811 in Newberry, South Carolina, ISA; died in in Alabama, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. William Palmer WRIGHT was born about 1830 in Newberry Dist. S.C.; died about 1856 in Bibb, Alabama, USA.
2. Horatio Warren WRIGHT was born in 1833 in Al.; died in 1875-1879 in Jackson, Alabama, USA.
3. Emeline Emily Emma WRIGHT was born in 1835 in Bibb Co. Alabama; and died.
4. Mary Caroline WRIGHT was born in Dec 1838 in Hale, Alabama, United States; died on 11 Jan 1914 in Hale, Alabama, United States.
5. Susannah WRIGHT was born in 1840 in Al.; died on 11 Jan 1914 in Sumter Co. AL.
6. David T. WRIGHT was born in 1845 in Bibb Co. AL; died before 1860 in Bibb Co. AL.

Notes:

Nathan was married out of the order in 1778 and is in the Bush River MM records for that event on 1778,7,25. He got a certificate to Hopewell in 1793. His wife's name has been listed as Nancy, Elizabeth and Sarah Jay. It is not known for sure which one he was actually married to. It is still believed that he only had one marriage. (C-2034)

He is likely the Nathan Write listed in the 1790 census for the 96th District, Newberry Co., SC living in the same area as Big John Coats (p. 79). He was over 16, had 2 sons under 16 and 4 females in the household.

Nathan married Sarah JAY on 25 Jul 1778 in Newberry, South Carolina, USA. Sarah (daughter of William JAY, Jr. * and Elizabeth LNU) was born on 27 Apr 1762 in ,Orange, NC; died on 2 Sep 1833 in Paoli, Orange County, Indiana, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sarah is also listed as Elizabeth in some sources. Her father might be a Joseph Jay or a James Jay living somewhat near her husband, Nathan Wright in the 1790 Newberry Co., SC census. She married a Quaker, Nathan Wright, and for this was dismissed from her religion. (C-1959)

Listed 2nd in Father's will.

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:

He and his elder siblings were not mentioned in his father's will. (C-168b) One of his wives is occasionally listed as Mary Cothran, but this is likely a mix-up with his brother Joseph who was married to a Mary Cothran/Cochran. William Jay served under Zachary Brooks as a private in the Penn. Regiment of artillery, Continental Line, during the Revolutionary War (C-170, 1328). This information is again verified in the DAR lineage Book, Vol. 128, p.92 (c1916). However, this later source differs in a few instances. It states that William Jay was born in 1746 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and died in 1812 in Newberry Co., South Carolina. This birth date and place could be correct but the death date does not fit with William's will administered 28th Feb. 1797 in Newberry Co., South Carolina. Vickie Leimback listed that William II was born in 1744 in Chester Co., Pennsylvania (C-611)

William Jay received part of the moveable goods from George Cox's will dated 21 Dec. 1789 in Newberry, South Carolina. (C-461) In the 1790 96th District, Newberry, SC Census, William is listed with the following household members: 2-6-3, 0-0. (C-974) That probably means that his children before Charlotte were married and living on their own at that time. A William, Jr.(probably this William) was disowned by the Quakers on 6/26/1790. The reason was not given. (C-457, p.104) A William Jay along with Thomas Wright and others took an inventory of the estate of James Cox of Newberry Co., decd., dated 16 July 1794. A William Jay along with probable son William Jay, Jacob Balinger, Daniel Clary, John Allison, John Wright, Jesse Palmer and Wright Coate prepared notes on the account of the estate of William Gilliam decd. in 1795/96 in Newberry, South Carolina. (C-461)

In his will dated Jan. 7, 1797, he listed all of his adult children by his first wife, and only one child by his second wife Margaret, who was Susana. He specifically makes bequeaths to his "beloved daughters and sons namely Mary, Sarah, William, David, James, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Layton, Ann, Deboror (and) ... Susana one shilling sterling. The rest, John, Charles, Tabitha and Isaac seemed to be lumped in as the children of Margaret. They are not named. She is simply given the rest of the money to "rase her children". Joseph Reagin, John and Benjamin Coppock were witnesses. The executors were John Jay and David Jay, Sen. (C-832, 867) His elder children received more than their one shilling sterling, however, as per court record filed in August 1797.

"The State of South Carolina Ninety Six District--I ...Jas Mayson one of the Judges of Newberry County do hereby certify unto all whome it may Concern that Margaret Jay the widow of the within Named William Jay Des. did this day appear before me and upon being privatly and serparetly Examined by me did declare that She do freely volunterily and without any Compulsion dred or feare of any person or persons whomsoever renouce release and forever relinquish unto the within named William Jay his heirs and assigns all her Intrust and Estate and also all her rite and clame of dower of in or to all and Singualer the promises within menchened and released Given under my hand and seal this fist day of August--1797 Jas. Mayson J.N.Co (Judge Newberry County)". (C-833, 2109) The sale of his estate had many asundry items sold often to his brothers, possible sons, son-in-laws, etc. It was certified by George Arnold, James Mills, and Isaac Hollingsworth. (C-837)

William married Elizabeth LNU est 1760 in , Tioga, Pennsylvania, USA. Elizabeth was born on 14 Oct 1742 in Winchester, Frederick Co., Virginia, USA; died on 4 Mar 1777 in Edgefield, Newberry Co., South Carolina, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

I will be using DNA to prove or disprove Elisabeth's surname as there are many reasons to believe it is incorrect.

Some lineages give Elizabeth's surname as Layton. There is no proof as yet for this. The surname might have come from a guess because William Jay had a son named Layton. An Indiana branch of the family believed her surname was Natherson. However, if it's correct that William's 2nd wife was Mary Cochran, Layton was not the son of Elizabeth and that further dispells the myth that Elizabeth's surname was Layton. (C-685, 949, 2109)

As for Natherson, that also is a misrepresentation according to the Jay Family Association: "Many family history enthusiasts reference the Natherson surname when making postings discussing the family of William Jay Jr. and his first wife Elizabeth. They state that Elizabeth's maiden surname was Natherson. There have even been rumors of a "Natherson Bible". After much research the Board of the Jay Family Association has concluded this is likely a dubious reference for the following reasons:1. The Natherson surname does not exist on any US census records prior to 1870. Those appearing in that census list Prussia as a family birth origin.2. The Natherson surname does not exist and is not present in any Orange, Frederick or Fairfax Co. VA records of any kind. This was the Jay family residence from roughly 1734-1751.3. The Natherson surname does not exist and is not present in any Orange, Caswell or Person Co. NC records of any kind. This was the Jay family residence from roughly 1751-1774.4. The Natherson surname does not exist or is not present in any Newberry, Edgefield or Abbeville SC records of any kind. This was the Jay family residence from roughly 1774-1818.5. The Natherson surname does not exist on any colonial records indexed on Ancestry.com.6. ALL other "allied" family surnames connected to the Jay family. Pugh, Wright, Elleman, Anderson, Coppock, Coate, Satterfield, Morrow, Reagin, Patty, Mills, etc proliferate the deed, court, marriage, probate, Quaker and other records in ALL of the above locations. There is an Anderson Family Bible in existence which has been transcribed and notarized. A transcription is in the possession of the Jay Family Association. Perhaps the Natherson surname was a reader's corruption of the Anderson or some other surname and the confusion began at that point. However, until visual documentary evidence of the "Natherson" surname is presented, the Jay Family Association does not accept it as connected to the Jay family and do not believe the Natherson surname existed in the US prior to 1860. Vince King Immediate Past-President Jay Family Association www.jayfamily.org"

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.

Notes:

Here is what we know as of 2022 from YDNA evidence. Our William is NOT related to the following Jay families of America.

Line of Thomas JAY b ca 1779 of Bedford Co. PA
[21] Line of William JAY b 1767 m. Anne King (s/o David JAY/GEE)
[19] Line of Moses JAY of Sussex Co. NJ (also John GEE of Westchester Co. NY)
[22] Line of John F. JAY of PA
[14] Line of the Broome Co. NY JAY family
[] Line of Thomas Jay b 1610, Norfolk, England and Joan Gallup whose descendants include John Jay and Ann Orchard.
[] Chief Justice John Jay

We are related to a Joseph Jay b. abt 1712 of NJ and a John Jay b. abt 1718 of NJ but I have not ascertained how at this point in time. By age, they could all be brothers.

Jay(e)'s are thought to be French Huguenots (Protestants). The name is spelled GEE in Welsh and JAY in English. (C-463, 839) It has been found under all of the additional spellings: de Jouy, Jaie, Jaye, Joy, Joye, Jary, Jvoy, Gay, Guy, Gouy, Ivey, Jany, Jouy, Iaia, and Le Jay. (C-845a,888) It originally was derived from the location of Jouy in Normandy, France. As Huguenots, the Jouys were forced to flee France during the Catholic-Huguenot Wars from 1550 - 1700. Most came to England and spent several generations. Some came directly to America. There are Jouys still in France and England as well as America.

The best information available on the Coat of Arms is that it originated in France holding the motto "Deo duce perseverandun" meaning "With God our leader, we must strive." It includes the picture of the Jaybird sitting on a rock or bush. (C-859)

The ancestry for William Jay is still uncertain. Several theories exist. The first one is from the VESTAL JAY NOTES by Percy Pemberton Brown it states: William Jay's "father, Joseph Jay, had been born in New Jersey, and lived for a time at Borderingtown in that state before moving to Maryland. Joseph's father, John Jay, was a planter of Barbados. He purchased land in Monmouth County, East Jersey from Robert Story in 1671 and William Shakerly in 1672. He visited Rhode Island on business in 1672, met George Fox, founder of the Quaker society, who was then visiting the colonies. Jay went with him on the trip to Md., and later came to N. Jersey. He is mentioned several times in Salem Co (NJ)." (C-175)

George Fox, Quaker founder, lists this John Jay as "a Friend, pretty, rich planter of Barbados...and his large family" in his journal of his settlement of the northeast. (C-816, 849) This first theory is supported and further developed by Bill Timmons and has support in deed and will records. It is also the parentage professed in the "Compendium of American Genealogy". Current research by Vince King and others state that William's DNA is matching Revolutionary War pensioner, Joseph Jay (b. 1753) of New Jersey.

A second theory that is now disproven as to his father has to do with a William married to Sarah Wilder on Dec. 6, 1705 in Alls Hollows Parish in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland. This William lived just south of Harford Co., Maryland and was approximately 100 miles from where our William lived in what was Orange Co., VA, then Frederick Co., Virginia and now Jefferson Co., West Virginia. This William and Sarah being the parents of our William is supported by the naming of our William's first daughter, Sarah. (C-949, 2123, E) Sarah was born much earlier than the other known children of William. She was also not listed as a child of William by Eli Jay when interviewing his father about his Aunts and Uncles. There is, however, a land transaction when our William marries that suggests a familial relationship.

The other theory published about his parentage has absolutely been disproved by DNA evidence taken from both this William Jay's descendants and descendants of Thomas Jay/Joy. It is from Cassius Milton Jay in the Los Angeles SAR "Bulletin" and in the "Jay Family Index." Cassius (1886-1953), a leading figure in his SAR group and his father, Eli Jay (1826-1911), a professor of Mathematics at Earlham College, had devoted their lives as family historians. In one source, though not this source, it stated that he only felt this was a theory as to the parentage of William Jay. (C-800)

Cassius Milton Jay's theory was in "The Bulletin", Nov. 1928, with the following lineage. I'm only repeating it here to acknowledge what is absolutely incorrect about our William Jay(5), b. 1720. Cassius theorized that he was the son of John Jay(4) of Salem Co., NJ and Chester Co., Pennsylvania. This John(4) was the son of John Jay(3) born Sept. 30, 1672 in Boston to John(2) and Mercy Bartlett Jay. NOTE: Mercy Bartlett's parents were Robert Bartlett and Mary Warren, (daughter of Richard Warren of the Mayflower). John Jay(2) is the supposed son of Thomas Joy(1) b. cal. 1610, architect of great renown of whom much is known in various published records. (C-172, C-173, C-174, C-608, C-970) This lineage is absolutely incorrect as per DNA evidence. Let's please purge this information out of our genealogies.

What we do know about William Jay and his wife Mary is that they lived in Virginia, North Carolina and Newberry Co., South Carolina. Our William received a patent of 245 acres on Oct. 3, 1734 in Orange Co., VA. (Now Frederick, VA). William would have been at least 21 years of age at the time. William Vestal also received a patent on that same day in the same region. Birth places given for him include Buckingham Twp, Bucks Co., Pa, and Salem Co., NJ as well as Harford Co. (was Baltimore Co. at the time), MD. His birth year of 1719/1720 is estimated from a South Carolina relatives' letter years after his death that said William had died of an accident in his 53rd year but this has not been supported by any other document. It is also much too late for him to purchase land in 1734 that we are certain he bought from his signature on major documents in his lifetime with a characteristic W. It should be noted that in Virginia, men could purchase land at age 16. This means that he was born before 1719.

He signs the same "W" as his mark on his land purchases in Virginia and his will in what is present day Newberry Co., South Carolina. William Jay sold his 245 acres on Sept. 5, 1748. (C-819, 2330) Here is his deed of sale. William was the grantor in a deed selling land to Thomas Rutherford on Eavits Runn in Shenandoah near Charlestown on Sept. 5, 1748 whereby Thomas Rutherford became the Indentured servant for William Jay for a period of one year from that date. He lived in the Parish of Fairfax at the time. There was no wife listed giving up her dower rights, but that is apparently not unusual in this county's records at the time. Other Jay sons do not have their wives give up their dower rights either in their deed records that are known to be married at the time. (C-1231, 2330)

I transcribed a copy of this deed record below. 1748 Sale of land from William Jay of Fairfax Co., VA to Thomas Rutherford of Frederick Co., Virginia. This Indenture made the fifth day of September in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred Forty Eight Between William Jay of Fairfax County in Virginia of the one part and Thomas Rutherford Gent. of Frederick County in the Colony aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth that the said William Jay for and in consideration of the sum of five shillings current Money of Virginia to Wm Jay in hand paid by the said Thomas Rutherford above and for the Sealing and deliver of these presents the Receipt whereof is hereby Acknowledged and Hath Granted Bargained and; Sold and by these Presents, doth grant Bargain and Sell unto the Said Thomas Rutherford his Heirs and assignes One Tract of Land lying and; being in the said County Containting One Hundred Acres lying on a Branch of Shannandore River called Eavets Run Beginning at a white Oak in Daniel Burnets Line below the falls of Wats Run and turning thence across the same southley est. One Hundred and thirty Poles by a Red Oak. thence east by South One Hundred and twenty four Poles between a Red and; white Oak thence North by Est. One Hundred thrity Poles crossing Eavets Run, to a Cornerstone and thence West by North One Hundred twenty four Poles to the Beginning and all Houses Buildings OZ:chards, Ways Waters Water=courses Profits Commodities, Herediments and; appurtenances whatsoever to the said premises hereby granted on anypart thereof belonging or in any wise appurtaining and the Reversion and Reversions Remainder and Remainders Rents (.....s) and Profits thereof, To Have and to hold the said One Hundrd acres of Land and all and Singular other the premises hreby granted with the appurtencances unto the said Thomas Rutherford his Executors administrators and assigns from the Day before the Date hereof for and during the full Term and Time of One whole Year from thence next Entering fully to complead (Indeed) yielding paying therefore the rent of One Pepper Corn on (Lady??) Day (....) if the same shall be lawfully Demanded; to the Intent and purpose that by Virtue of these presents and of the Statue for Transferring (....s) unto Possession the said Thomas Rutherford may be in Actual Possession of the Premises and be thereby Enabled to accept and take (al.....) and Release of the Reversion and Inheritance thereof to him and his Heirs In Witness whereof the said William Jay hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the Day and year first above written Sealed and Delivered in th presence of Sam. Earl, Thomas Chesteer, Jn Hites William Jay, his mark (....) (....) (....) Court held for Frederick County on Wednesday the 7th day of (....), 1748 William Jay in Open Court acknowledged this his Seale for land Indented to Thomas Rutherford grant and it was on his motion Admitted to Record. (Jest) CCC _____ This Indenture made the sixth day of September In the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and forty eight Between William Jay of the County of Fairfax in the Colony of Virginia of the One part and Thomas Rutherford of the County of Frederick and colony aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth That for 7 in Consideration of the sum of fifty Pounds Current Money of Virginia to the said William Jay in hand paid by the said Thomas Rutherford at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents the Receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge and thereof doth Release acuies and Discharge the said Thomas Rutherford his Heirs Executors and Administrators by these presents He the said William Jay. Hath granted Bargained Sold aliend? Released and; Confirmed and; by these presents Doth grant Bargain Sell Alien Release and confirm unto the said Thomas Rutherford in his Actual Possession now being by Virtue of a Bargain and Sale to him thereof made by the said William Jay for One whole year by Indenture bearing Date the Day next before the Day of the Date of these presents and by force of the Statue for Transferring (...) into Possession. And his Heirs and assigns forever One Certain Tract of land lying and being in the County of Frederick , and Branch of Shannandore River called Eavets Run Containing One Hundred acres more or less Beginning at a white Oak in Daniel Beernets Line below the falls of Eavts Run and Running thence al and of the same South by West . One Hundred and; Thirty Ples by a Red Oak thence East by South One Hundred and Twenty four Poles Between a Red and White Oak thence North by East One Hundred and thirty Poles Crossing Eavets Run to a Cornerstone and thence Wet by North One Hundred and Twenty four Poles to the Beginning and all Houses Buildings Orchards ways Waters Water courses Profits Comadities Hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever to the said premises hereby granted or any part thereof belonging or in any wise appurtaining and the Reversion and Reversions Remainder and Remainders Rents Issues and profits thereof And also all the Estate Right Title Interest, Property Claim and Demand Whatever of him the said William Jay of in and to the said Premises: And all Deeds (licences?) and; Writing to(.....ing) or in any wise concerning the same, To Have and to hold the said One Hundred Acres of land and all and Singular other the premises hereby Granted and Released and every part and parcel thereof with their and every of their appurtenances unto the said Thomas Rutherford his Heirs and assigns forever to the only proper use and behoof of him the said Thomas Rutherford and of his Heirs and; assigns forever and the said William Jay for himself his Heirs Execturos Administrators doth Covenant Promise Grant () and with the ssaid Thomas Rutherford his Heirs and assigns by these presents that the said William Jay now at the time of Selaing and; Delivering of these presents is siesed of a good pure perfect indefeazible Estate of Inheritance in fee simple of and in the premises hereby granted released : and that he hath good Power and; Lawful and absolute authority to Grant Convey the same to the said Thomas Rutherford in manner and form aforesaid And that the said Premises now are and so forwever hereaafter shall remain and befree and clear of and from all former and other Gifts Grants Bargains Sales Dower rigth and; Title of Dower Judgments Executions Titles Troubles charges and Incumbrances Whatsoever made done Comitted or Suffered by the said William Jay or any other Person or Persons whatsoever the quit rents hereafter to grow due and payable to our Sovereign Lord the King his Heirs and (S....s) for in respect of the said (P.....s) only Excepted and forepaiyed. and So (.....) that the said William Jay and his Heirs all and Singular the Premises Thomas Rutherford his Heirs and assigns against him the said William Jay and his Heirs and all and every other Person and Persons Whatsoever shall and will warrant and forever defend by these Presents In Witness whereof the said William Jay hath hereunto fed his hand and seal the Day and Year first above written. Sealed and Delivered in the presence of Sam. Earle, Tho. Chester, Jn (Hile???) William Jay, his mark At a court contained and; held for Frederick County on Wednesday, the 7th day of September 1748 William Jay in Open Court acknowledged this his Release for Land Indented to Thomas Rutherford grant and it was on his motion Admitted to Record (Jest) Wood CCC ___________

One source says that our William was renting 100 acres of land in an unknown location in 1746. This reference probably came from "Abstracts of Wills, Inventories, and Administration Accounts of Frederick Co. Virginia". It lists William Jay under rentals with 100 acres. By 1751, William and his family lived in North Carolina. On Aug. 2, 1755, Cane Creek Meeting House records indicate that William was accepted into membership "by request" (C-862) and that the family moved to Casewell Co., North Carolina. He had apparently converted to the Quaker faith at this point.

On May 6, 1756, William was granted 395 or 495 acres by an Earl of Granville in Orange Co., NC on the northeast side of North Fork of Flat River. He deeded 50 acres to his son-in-law, John Satterfield, and John's brother James, that same day. He apparently deeded land adjoining this property to his son, Joseph Jay on Oct. 3, 1767. It is suspected that this was a wedding gift as Joseph wasn't in his father's will. In fact, here are deeds and further detail that give us information about he and his children.1756, June 8 - William Jay to John Satterfield, 50 acres for five pounds lying on the N E side of the N. Fork of the Flatt River - part of a tract of land formerly granted to Wm. Jay by Deed from Lord Carteret, Earl of Granville; Orange Co. NC Deed Book 1, p. 229 (Land transfer to his son-in-law, John Satterfield, husband of daughter Sarah Jay.)1761, May 12 - William Jay to William Jay, Jr., 115 acres; "Register of Orange County, North Carolina Deeds, 1752-1768, and 1793", transcribed by Eve B. Weeks1765, May 14 - William Jay to James Jay, 120 acres; "Register of Orange County, North Carolina Deeds, 1752-1768, and 1793", transcribed by Eve B. Weeks (He gave this land to his son James at about the time of his marriage.)1767, October 3 - William Jay to Joseph Jay, 239 acres for ten pounds lying on both sides of N. Fork of Flatt River, joining Fords land on the west and James Jays on the East, beginning at a white oak on Hosea Tapleys -- white Oak on sd William Jay Senr - part of tract of land formerly granted to Edward Moore from Lord Earl of Granville, dated the sixth day of February 1761; Orange Co. NC Deed Book 3, p. 445 (He gave this land to his son Joseph at about the time of his marriage also.)These deed records basically verify that these are William's oldest sons as traditionally held by Eli Jay in his writings on the family given to him by his father when he was a young man.

In 1771, William signed the petition to have Caswell Co. set off from Orange County, North Carolina. On Feb. 1, 1772, William and children were granted a certificate to move to South Carolina. His three oldest sons were married by then, William, Joseph and James. William died within the year. Mary remarried shortly thereafter because on Oct. 5, 1772, Mary Vestal Jay wrote an apology for having married out of unity and requested a letter of acceptance for the Bush River MM, SC records. Mary and William's five youngest children joined the Quaker church shortly after their move to Bush River. (C-1017)

The birth of several of their children from John through David are recorded in the Bush River MM records for Newberry, South Carolina. Several of their children appear to have married in Newberry Co., South Carolina. William and Mary Jay are listed as residents of Berkley Co., Dist. 96, South Carolina. (C-457, p.104)

William died shortly after moving to South Carolina from an accident. It occurred shortly before the marriage of his son John to Elizabeth Pugh. He is listed as deceased when his daughter Mary married Charles Patty on Mar. 11, 1773. His will was written on Nov. 23, 1772 and proven on Aug. 31, 1773. In it, he made bequeaths to his wife Mary and children John, David (underage), Mary, Rachel and Lydia. Son John was named Executor. His oldest children were not mentioned as he had already transferred them land. (C-169, 803, 958)

William's descendants DNA is a match to descendants of the following Joseph Jay. This means they have a common ancestor in somewhat close range to each other. We simply don't know who it is. As a Revolutionary War soldier, we know that Joseph was born July 14, 1753 in Burlington Co. NJ. After the war, he lived in Hunterdon Co. NJ and died November 30, 1835 in Falls Township, Bucks Co. PA. His wife was Eleanor Nelson. In the Jay Family Index #4763, his father is listed as Joseph Jay. We do not know the source of this information but there is an adult Joseph Jay living in Burlington County, New Jersey as early as 1739 when he voted and is listed in election returns.

This Joseph or his possible son Joseph likely account for an adult Joseph living in Nottingham Twp., Burlington Co., New Jersey in the 1758-1774 tax records for that territory. Family notes in this index from Joseph's (b. 1753) grandson, Douglass Hiles Jay, son of Nelson, says that it was passed down to him that Joseph's family came from England where they had had an estate. Here is the account of it available at : http://www.entechdesign.com/jaydna/jaydnastatus5.htm. "There are tantalizing notes found in the Jay Family Index concerning Joseph Jay (born 1753) is as follows: Douglas Hiles Jay, son of Nelson Jay [a son of Joseph born 1753] said Joseph Jay (Note - possibly the father of Joseph Jay [and Nelson's grandfather]) was born in England, and [Douglas] remembered a long conversation between Nelson Jay and his brother Smith Jay about an estate belonging to their father Joseph Jay in England, about papers that were lost, and of other papers in the effects of Joseph Jay, then deceased. This was also the remembrance of Mary W. (Jay) Butler, [wife of John W. Butler and daughter of Smith Jay]. The conclusions were that money was too scarce in the family to risk any chances of going to England to hunt it up. Joseph Jay had lent the little he had for the purpose of carrying on the war, and was so great a patriot that he would accept no return, and fearing that his children might do so, destroyed the papers showing the fact, and died a poor man....We are currently trying to 'run-down' the source and the context of this family tradition which did not appear in the original printing of the JFI."

William married Mary Elizabeth VESTAL, * before 1743 in Virginia, Colonial America. Mary (daughter of William VESTAL, Jr. and Elizabeth MERCER) was born in 1723 in , Chester, PA; died in 1818 in New Burlington, Fulton, OH, USA; was buried in 1818 in Burlington, Warren, OH, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary Vestal and William Jay married about 1743 in Frederick Co., VA. She likely lost her membership in the Quaker church for marrying out of unity. On 10/5/1772, Mary Vestal Jay sent an acknowledgement of marriage out of meeting to the Hopewell Monthly Meeting. This was a few months before her husband's death. (Some researchers mistakenly claim this is because she married again.) (C-1338) It was accepted and Jesse Pugh was appointed to assist the women in preparing a certificate for her to remove to Bush River. (C-804)

In Virginia, none of the Jays appear to have been Quakers, but shortly before and around the time she was reaccepted, all of her children appear to have become Quakers. She had two children married in the Quaker Meeting in the 3rd month of 1772.

Vickie Leimback and Mike Southerland state that Mary's birth date was about 1723. Mike gives her death date as 1773 in New Burlington, Miami, OH and her full name as Mary Elizabeth Vestal. However, this death date cannot be correct, as Mary Vestal Jay and her daughter Rachel Jay Arnold received a certificate to move to Ohio in 1804. They moved in 1805 probably to Miami Co., Ohio. She died near New Burlington, Ohio between 1818-1820 and is buried in Caesars Creek Quaker Burying Ground.