Margaret Wright

Notes:

Birth:
Her birthdate could be interpreted as Nov. 12, 1742. Original Quaker
Records should help. (C-588)

Margaret married Joseph Hollingsworth on 4 Jun 1768 in Bush River Mm, Newberry Co., South Carolina, USA. Joseph (son of George Hollingsworth and Hannah McCoy) was born in 1735 in Frederick Co., Winchester, Virginia, USA; died in 1799. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Margaret married John Hammer on 3 Nov 1758 in Bush Creek, Newberry, South Carolina, USA. John died before 1768. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
CD-100 and 102 disagree on Margaret's spouse. The first says it's Hammer, the second says it's Joseph Hollingsworth. The marriage date also differs by a month in these two sources. (C-588)

Margaret married Abraham Hollingsworth about 1762. Abraham (son of George Hollingsworth and Hannah McCoy) was born in 1739; died before Jun 1768. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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 Monacy Creek 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., VA.
The marriage records of John and Rachel Wells Wright can not be located, and it is assumed 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 bequethed 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)
Apparently John served as private in the Revolutionary War under Colonel William Thompson's Rangers defending Charleston Harbor on June 28, 1776. It was known as the "Battle of Sullivan's Island." (C-588) DAR records indicate that John Sr. was the Private in the Revolutionary War. He would have been 60 years old at the time. I have great difficulty believing this because of his age and the fact that he was a Quaker. I wonder if it applies to his son John instead who was disowned by the Quakers in 1772. (C-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 renunion 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 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., SC. (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)

Died:
LastWill - 17.09.1789 - Newberry Co., South Carolina, USA -
LastWill proven - 08.06.1790 - Newberry Co., South Carolina, USA -

John married Rachel Wells about 1737 in Hopewell Mm, Frederick, Virginia, USA. Rachel (daughter of Joseph Wells and Rachel) was born on 3 May 1720 in All Hallow's Church, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland, USA; was christened on 12 Jul 1721 in Davidsonville, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland, USA; died on 23 Dec 1771 in Bush River Mm, Newberry Co., South Carolina, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

- Quaker-Minister

CD-100 says that Rachel's mother is also 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 occuring on 3(May)/27/1720. This would have been before Joseph and Margaret were married. (C-575) I find a duplication of errors to be unlikely and have gone with Rachel's mother and birthdate to be as presented in most Quaker documents. There is one Quaker record that 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. (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.
Rachel was a fairly well noted frontier Quaker minister before the American Revolution. She became a Quaker when she married. Her parents moved into the faith several years after her marriage. 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 severak 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 apparently committed an offense. Her apology was accepted until she applied to remove to Fredericksburg, SC in 1763. Some of the members doubted the sincerity of her apology and thought her certificate should not be granted. A principle, outspoken well known liberal Quaker of the time, Hermon Husband, was caught up in the feud. Due to his violent reaction, he was disowned in 1764 and moved north back to Pennsylvania with his family while Rachel and her family moved to South Carolina in 1764. (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:

Married:
or Monacy, Prince George Co., MD. (C-1991)

Notes:

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. Two other brothers also settled in Baltimore Co, Maryland according to one of these ancients. I think this tradition has become confused by one generation. Family tradition was also presented at a Wright family reunion held September 13, 1908 northwest of Russiaville, Howard Co., Indiana on J.P. Wright's farm. The transcription was several times removed from the original related family history from the reunion. According to it there were 5 Wrights all living in Newberry, SC who were Quakers of Jewish descent. (It is an interesting clue, but needs researched as I have not heard or seen this identified before.) It eludes to the fact that they are related, but does not state they were brothers. Their names were John, Joseph, William, Thomas and Isaac. Note that all of these, except William, are the likely sons of this James. The five or seven brothers tradition is possibly not from the first generation as often printed, but from James's children's generation instead. (C-945: Transcription provided by Julia Henry, a descendant)

A William and a James Wright were brothers that settled in Dorchester Co., MD about 1682. They emigrated on the "Bristol Factor" in that same year. (C-951) They supposedly immigrated from Bristol, England with one of William Penn's colonies. Brother William died in Dorchester before June 5, 1686. He had a son, Roger, who lived in Dorchester and had several children including sons named Levin, William and James. The James Wright who came over with his brother William in 1682, might be our James.

However, James' father according to Don Wright in the "Footprints Database" believes his father to be John Wright of Pennsylvania. They lived above Noris Ford on the Marshyhope Creek. This area later became a part of Caroline Co., Maryland.

The two brothers were known as Nicholite or Quaker Wrights because of their strict religious sect. The births of James and Mary Wright are recorded with the Nicolite Births (Quaker Record Abstracts) in the Hall of Records at Annapolis, Anne Arundel Co., MD. Their particular group was known as the "Northwest-Fork River Nicholite Friends."

Naomie 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)

The above information is believed to all pertain to our James Wright that moved extensively in his middle to later years. What is known about our James Wright, father of John and grandfather of Charity Wright Cook, is that he lived in East Nottingham, Chester Co. Pennsylvania between 1716 and 1726. He purchased land in East Nottingham on Jan. 12, 1715/16. He was taxed in Chester County from 1718-1726. His children's births are recorded in the New Garden MM, PA records. He was a farmer and both he and his wife were Quaker ministers and traveled throughout the Chester County region in that capacity from 1718-1726. He wistnessed the will of Aaron Coppock (also a direct ancestor of mine) of Nottingham on 10/3/1726. Chester County at that time covered a large area in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. This Nottingham settlement, due to boundary changes, later was a part of Cecil Co., MD.

He and his family joined the migration along the Monacy River to Monacy, Maryland to help found that Quaker settlement about 1727. At that time the settlement was in North Prince Georges Co., MD and is now in Frederick Co., MD, again due to boundary changes.

In 1734, James and Mary moved with Alexander Ross, Josiah Ballinger and at least a few of their children to found the Hopewell Quaker Settlement near Winchester, VA. It was also known as the Ross-Bryan Settlement as these two gentlemen deeded 70 families there by 1735. This settlement was in Spotsylvania Co., VA prior to 1734 at which point it became part of Orange Co., VA. In 1738 it was in Frederick Co., VA also. James served as one the Hopewell meeting's first elders.

The Wrights jointly purchased 438 acres of land on the "Apple Pie" ridge about five miles north of Winchester, Virginia with John Littler. Here is a transcription of this deed as provided by Lewis Wright: LAND PATENT FOR JOHN LITLER AND JAMES WRIGHT 12 NOVEMBER 1735 GEORGE the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith TO ALL whom these Presents shall come Greetings KNOW YE that for diverse good Causes and Considerations but more especially for the consideration mentioned in an order of our Lieut. Governor and Council of our Colony Dominion of Virginia bearing date the three and twentieth day of April one thousand seven hundred and thirty five granting leave to Alexander Ross and Morgan Bryan to survey in such manner as they should think fit for One thousand acres of land for each family of seventy families by them brought into our said Colony and settled upon the Lands in the said order mentioned and to Sue out Patents for the same. WE HAVE given Grants and Confirmed and by their Presents for us our Heirs and Successors do give Grant and Confirm unto John Litler and James Wright one Certain tract or Parcel of land containing four hundred and thirty eight acres lying and being about a mile to the south west of Giles Chapmans and Samuel Bonds and provided As followeth to with BEGINNING At a Hiccory on a hill and then running thence South Forty Degrees West eighty Poles to a Hiccory Gum and white Oak thence North forty Degrees East two hundred and twenty three Poles to a white Oak thence North fifty Degrees West thirty five Poles to a white Oak Thence North forty Degrees East one hundred fifty two Poles to a white Oak on a Knole Thence North fifty Degrees West one hundred and seventy? two Poles to a white Oak thence North eighty Degrees West ninety one Poles to a white Oak Saplin. Thence South forty Degrees West two hundred and forty six Poles to a red Oak by a Rock thence South sixty two Degrees East one hundred and forty two Poles to the first station. WITH ALL Woods under woods Swamps Marshes low grounds Meadows Fooding? and his due share of all Mines and Quarries as discovered as not discovered within the Grounds and being part of the said Quantity of four hundred thirty eight acres of Sand and the River Waters and Water Courses therein contained together with the Privileges of Hunting Hawking Fishing Fouling and all other Profit Commodities and Hereditaments1 whatever to the same or any Part thereof belonging or in any wise appertaning. TO HAVE HOLD and Enjoy the said tract or Parcel of Land and all other before Granted premises and every part thereof with their and every of their appurtenances unto this John Litler and James Wright and to their Heirs and Assigns for ever To the only use and behalf of him the said John Litler & James Wright their Heirs and assigns forever TO BE HELD of us our Heirs and Successors as of our Mannor of East Greenwich in the County of Kent in free and common Soccage2 and not in Capite3 or by Knights Service YIELDING & PAYING unto us our Heirs and Successors for every fifty acres of Lands or proportionally for a lessor or greater Quantity than fifty Acres the fee rent of one Shilling Yearly to be paid upon the Feast of Saint Michel the Arch Angel and also Cultivating and Improving three Acres Part of every fifty of the Tract above mentioned within three years after the date of these Presents PROVIDED always that if three years of the said Fee Rent that at any time be in Arrears and Unpaid or if the said John Litler and James Wright their Heirs or assigns do not Within the space of three years next coming after the date of these presents Cultivate and Improve three Acres part of every Fifty of the Tract above mentioned then the Estate hereby granted shall cease and be utterly Determined and there after it shall and may be lawful to and for our Heirs and Successors to Grant the same Lands and premises with the appurtenances unto such other Person or Persons as we our Heirs & Successors shall think fit. IN WITNESS where we have caused these our Sellers Patent to be made WITNESS our truly and well beloved WILLIAM GOOCH Esq. our Lieut. Governor and Commander in Chief of our said Colony and Dominion at Williamsburgh under the Seal of our said Colony the twelfth day of November one thousand seven hundred and thirty five In the ninth year of our Reign. William Gooch (E)

During the French and Indian Wars they and other Quaker families sustained great losses and were driven from their homes back to more settled districts. As they were "unable to labour for a Livelihood", the Philadelphia Meeting sent money to the Hopewell meeting to be used for the "relief of our aged Friends, James Wright and his Wife." (C-259, 581,759)

James witnessed the will of Josiah Ballinger in 1748. He and Mary witnessed the will of John Nicklin Oct. 10, 1750 along with Sarah Pickering. Mary wrote her will on May 8, 1763 that was proved Mar. 1764. In it she names her sons, Thomas, James, Isaac and John; daughters, Mary Hannah, Martha, Elizabeth, Ann, Sarah Pickering, and Lidia; and grandson Thomas Wright, son of Thomas and Esther Wright. (C-647) Her husband James, had passed away prior to her will.

The Quaker Biography Collection by Willard Heiss states this about James Wright, "An elder of Hopewell Monthly meeting, was one of the first settlers in that part of Virginia. He was a sober, honest man, grave in manners, and solid and weighty in his conversation. He was diligent in the attendance of his religious meetings, exemplary in humble waiting therein, and of a sound mind and judgement. He was cautious of giving just offence to any one, and was earnestly concerned for the unity of the brethren, and the peace of the church. He appeared ... for some time before his last illness, as one who had finished his day's work, and who was waiting for his change." (C-581, 866)

The Last Will and Testament of James Wright is as follows. "I, James Wright of Opeckan in the county of Frederick and colony of Virginia being aged, but of a sound and well diposing mind and memory do make this as 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 all my just debt and funeral charges I leave to be defrayed at the discretion of my executrix hereinafter mentioned. Secondly, I give bequeath and demise unto my son Thomas Wright the land plantation wheron I now dwell with all the buildings and improvements and appurtenances thereunto belonging the which I bequeath and demise to the proper use and behoff of him, his heirs and assigns forever, it being 194 acres of patent land and he to be in full possession therof during his natural life. I also give and bequeath unto my wife all my goods and chattels and all my personal estate wither for a comfortable maintenance during her life or else to dispose among her children as in discretion she shall think fit or when and where she shall think fit only paying to our ten children each of them five shillings Virginia currency viz: John, James, Isaac, Lydia Wright, Mary Ballinger, Hannah Ballinger, Martha Mendenhall, Elizabeth Matthews, Ann McCool, and Sarah Pickering. Lastly, I ordain and constitute my loving and well beloved wife, Mary Wright, sole executrix of this my last will and testament witness my hand and seal, dated Opeckan aforesaid this 14th day of this 8th month, October, 1751. Signed: James Wright Be it further remembered that I would have no appraisement upon my goods. Be it further remembered that there is 160 acres of land lately surveyed at the south side of the above said tract 60 whereof I add to the side tract lying along the said land the which I demise as above to my son Thomas Wright, this before sealing acknowledgement. In the other 100 acres I leave to my wife's disposal after my decease as also the 300 acres lately surveyed lying by Thomas Thornburgh, upon Middle Creek. Signed: J. Wright I would have no appraisement upon my goods, witness my hand and seal this 30th day of April, 1753. Signed, sealed, testified and declared to be the last will and testament of James Wright in the presence of testis: Evan Rogers, James Ballinger, Sarah Rogers. (This was proved in Frederick Co., VA on Mar. 1, 1760. It was presented by the executrix, wife, Mary Wright) (C-696,866)

As to James' parentage, a book referred to as the Wright Briscoe Pioneers believed James' father to be one of three brothers, Joshua, Thomas or Samuel who came from Yorkshire, England to New Jersey in 1677. Another source listed as Hollingsworth says he is the son of James and Susannah Wright with no sources given. (C-581) Another felt that James' father was probably John Wright and his mother's name could have been Rachel. (C-610) A John Dulling gives Jame's father as John Wright, from Howden, East Riding Yorkshire, England who was the sixth child of Robert Wright and Alice Lawtie. (C-710) As you can tell, there are many theories on his parentage. The one presented in this genealogy has simply been repeated in a couple second hand sources and is still a theory also.

Birth:
Don P. Wright in "Footprints of our Past" states that James was
born abt. 1671 in Nottingham, Chester Co., PA. This contradicts the
belief that he immigrated from Bristol, England with Penn's colonies
around 1682. (C-708) The birthdate given here is calculated on the
fact that he was supposedly 83 years old at the time of his death.
Mary Helen Pemberton gave his birthdate as Aug. 3 or 30th, 1668. She
submitted the birthdates but did not give her source. (C-866, 1991)

Died:
LastWill - 14.08.1751 - Frederick Co., VA, USA -
LastWill proven - 04.03.1760 - Frederick Co., VA, USA - Although I have not seen this will, my source of information said it
took place in the Hopewell Monthly Meeting area in Frederick Co., VA.
(C-710)

James married Mary Bowater on 2 Dec 1699-1707 in PA Or NJ. Mary (daughter of John Bowater and Mary Maunder) was born on 3 Feb 1689 in Nottingham Mm, Chester Co., Pennsylvania, USA; died before 6 Mar 1764 in Fredericks Co., Virginia, USA; was buried before 6 Mar 1764 in Hopewell Mm, Frederick, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary's last name has oft been printed as Davis of Welsh descent. (C-273, 972,999) Mary Davis was from Manoaken, Somerset, Maryland. According to Farmer, the lineage goes back through James Davis, a founder of Jamestown. Farmer says her birthdate was Mar. 16, 1674 and her marriage was Dec. 2, 1689. This birthdate aligns with the other children of her supposed parents, James and Margeret Davis, and in no way aligns with the published Quaker birthdate for Mary Wright in Hopewell records. It also has no first hand support other than a family group sheet that states her name and dates came from "Records of the Society of Friends, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Penn in 1908." (C-956)
This oft printed theory and incongruous lineage 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 birthdate is listed in Feb. 12, 1689 in Hopewell Quaker records. This is off by a 1 day from being Mary Bowater's actual birthdate 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. By 26 11th mo 1708/9 in Philadelphia records Mary condemed her marriage as contrary to discipline. This record coincides with the estimated marriage date for Mary and James Wright. Although the Quaker records were destroyed for the time period of their marriage, 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. (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)

Birth:
or Prince George Co., MD. (C-272)

Died:
Tom Record's deathdate version 2 Aug. 1754.

Notes:

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. 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. 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 which her husband Joseph and some children are in. This could suggest that she had passed on in 1752 or earlier. (C-575)

Died:
LastWill - 20.07.1804 - Orange Co., NC -

Joseph married Rachel about 1719. Rachel was born about 1700; died about 1720 in Prince George County, Maryland, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
This marriage to a Rachel is probably a mix up in Cheri Ackles work on CD-ROM 102. She and Joseph supposedly had a daughter Rachel Wells who married John Wright. Rachel Wells who married John Wright is probably the daughter of Margaret Swanson and Joseph Wells. This data is supported by Kelly. To him, it is a probable misinterpretation of a Quaker Quote by Rachel Wells. (C-586)

Notes:

John might be English or Welsh. His parents are listed as Robert Wright and Alice Lawtie in a letter from J.F. Brun. This disagrees with previous info found, but is just as likely to be correct as my sources are second hand. The World Family Tree discs are listed as the source. Robert was born in 1604 in Hoden, E. Reading, Yorkshire, ENG and died in 1651 in Yorkshire. (C-1991)
There is a possibility that the John Wright who witnesses a deed transaction between John Taylor, Sheriff and Joseph Bulkey on Nov 30, 1724 in Chester Co., PA is this John Wright. (C-2136)

Died:
LastWill proven - 27.05.1742 - Chester, PA -

John married Martha after 1663. Martha was born about 1650; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John and Mary were from Spitalfields, a town near London, England. John married twice. He was a Quaker who actually visited but did not settle in the American colonies. He had two known sons by his first wife and daughter Mary by his second wife. He and his second wife died when Mary was a young woman. He was listed as age 75 at his death. (C-1447)

John married Mary Maunder on 12 Nov 1685 in Worcestershire, England. Mary (daughter of Edward Maunder) died on 10 Feb 1705 in Spitalfields, Stepney Borough, London, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

This Thomas could be the son of widow Elizabeth Mellows of St. Olaves, Southwark, Surry. Her will dated Jan. 15, 1682/83 names Thomas Wells, "my son who went into parts beyound the seas to Maryland or other parts in America or elsewhere when he shall come and arrive in England." Her daughter Mary Parker (wife of John Parker) was executor. (C-575)
Thomas Wells was transported by Robert Conant of Anne Arundel Co., MD. sometime before 20 Apr. 1679 to the province of Maryland. For this deed, Robert Conant was owed 50 acres of land which Thomas agreed to inhabit for 16 years. These rights were afterwords assigned to Nocholas Laintes of St. Mary's City. Thomas was one of several that agreed to these same terms for their passage.
On Jan. 26, 1696, Thomas Wells, planter, purchased 200 acres called "Strife" in Calvert Co., MD. on the west side of the Patuxent River. The land was surrounded by the following owners: Francis Swantstone, Edward Isaak, and Henry Darnell, Esq. He later acquired an adjoining property called "Something" that was in the Patuxent Hundred of Prince George's Co.
He is in the Prince George Co. records often. In July 1696, he was found guilty of assaulting Thomas Swareingen. He was sentenced to pay a fine and post a bond to guarantee good behavior. In Nov. 1697, "he was paid a bounty for one wolves head." He was a Grand Jury member. He was subpoenad in March 1698 to testify that Elizabeth Plummer (also a grandparent of Rachel) sent a servant to steal onions, cabbage and bacon from him. On March 28, 1698 he became drunk and was caught fighting, again noted in the courts. By Sep. 29, 1699, all was forgiven as he was again served on a jury. In Sep. 29, 1699, he and Thomas Pelle were appointed overseer of the Patuxent Hundred. In Queen Anne's Vestry minutes of April 7, 1707, Thomas Wells, Sr. was appointed vestryman. In 1714 he witnessed the boundary lines of an adjoining tract of land where the records state "Thomas Wells, Senr. aged about sixty one years." (Maryland, Chancery Record, Liber 3, folio 27)
In his will probated Jan. 5, 1718/19, he gives his land for life to his wife, France. He then divided it amongst 4 sons; Thomas, Nathan, Robert, and Joseph. He gave son George five shillings and slaves to his four daughters. (C-575) The low amount of money he gave to his son George could be explained by his son's cohabiting with his married neighbor, Susannah Swanson Ward according to Queen Anne's Vestry Minutes, Apr. 12, 1719. George and Susannah were married at Queen Annes on June 16, 1725. (C-575, p. 52)

Died:
LastWill - 26.09.1718 - -
LastWill proven - 05.01.1719 - Prince George's Co., Maryland, USA -

Thomas married Frances Smith about 1678 in Maryland, USA. Frances was born about 1657 in Maryland, USA; died after 1719. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She died after her husband's will in 1718 and taxes in 1719 and probably before 1733 when she didn't pay any taxes. (C-575)

Notes:

Married:
Frances Wells sold her land given to her by her "beloved husband Thomas Wells, Senr, deceased" Mar. 23, 1723. (C-575)

Notes:

Where Thomas Wright originated from is not known. (C-708) There is a William Wright who came to America in 1682 aboard the "Bristol Factor" from Bristol, England. He died in Dorchester Co., MD before June 6, 1686. He had a son named Roger Wright. (C-917) There is a Captain Nathaniel Wright who emigrated to Maryland, and settled in Queen Anne's County, about 1673. He left a recorded Will in which he mentions his brothers, Surgeon and Justice Solomon Wright, 1655-1717 of Kent County, and Charles Wright. All three brothers were born in England. It is not known if any of these are Thomas' relatives or not.

Thomas married Elizabeth before 1650. Elizabeth was born about 1630; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was listed from Blackwell, England at his daughter's marriage. (C-1447)