Wright, Thomas, Sr.  (b. 3 Dec 1761 – d. 27 Oct 1846) Married about 1797 to Elizabeth Beck (b. About 1778 – d. 03 Mar 1849) His will was written in March 1845; names his children and some of his grandchildren in his will. 

Will of John Wright (1719 – 1798) (Father of Thomas Wright)

In the name of God Amen. The 22nd day of January in the year of our Lord 1798.

I John Wright of Duplin County in the State of North Carolina being aged and infirm and in a low state of bodily health, but of a perfect sound mind and memory, thanks be to God for the same and calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say, I recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors and my worldly Estate to be disposed of in the manner following -

Inprimiz (?). To my beloved wife, Rebeckah Wright I leave the whole plantation whereon I now live, (including all my lands from the Oaks near the plumb Trees upon the hill by the swamp, running a direct course from there up by my son David Wrights, where the old Fence formerly was To my son Thomas Wright’s line, during her life, which land I do now possess and have not heretofore disposed of with all the improvements and appertainance (sic) thereon or there unto in any wise belonging, and my half of the estate, and all my Negroes except such as are herein given and otherwise bequeathed, with all my stock of every kind whatsoever including all my horses, cattle, hogs and sheep, to her during her own life, -- Item I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Rebeckah, all my household and kitchen furniture of every kind whatsoever to dispose of as she may think proper and my riding (?) chair also to dispose of as she pleases – which she is to enjoy without intinuplian (?) --

Item To my son Thomas Wright I give and bequeath after the decease of his said MotherRebeckah that part of my land whereon I now live, the west side of the Avenue. The line to begin at his corner at the Trees where the old still formerly stood, and to run thence with the Avenue including my dwelling house, as far as the upper part of my cleared land on that side of the Avenue near a piny Flash, thence to run a direct course to his line near or at the crooked Causway with all the improvements and appertainance thereon in anywise belonging. – Item I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Wright one Feather bed which he received when he was married.

Item I give and bequeath to my son David Wright after the decease of his said Mother Rebeckah that part of the plantation which lies on the east side of the Avenue the line to run as above mentioned with all the improments and appertainance thereon or thereuntoin any wise belonging to him and his heirs forever, with a child which my Negroe wenchGrace brought by the name of Polydore ---

Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Beck after the decease of her 2nd(said?) Mother Rebeckah my Negroe Girl Patsy to her and the heirs of her body forever --

I give and bequeath to my Daughter Rebeckah Beck after the decease of her 2nd (said?)mother Rebeckah my Negroe boy Damond to her and her heirs forever *

Item I give and bequeath to my Daughter Mary Clark after the decease of her said motherRebeckah my Negroe boy Virgil to her and her heirs forever. And it is my will that after the decease of my said wife Rebeckah Wright the following Negroes (viz) Phillis and Grace with all their future increase shall be equally divided between my three daughters(viz) Elizabeth, Rebeckah, and Mary to them and their heirs forever. --- and it is also my will that after the decease of my wife Rebeckah Wright that the following Negroes (viz)Durham and Mack be equally divided between all my children to wit, James Wright, John Wright, Thomas Wright, David Wright, Elizabeth Beck, Rebeckah Beck, and Mary Clark to them and their Heirs forever, together with all my plantation tools of every kind and with all my stock of every kind, including Hogs, cattle, Horses, Sheep all to them and their heirs forever. ----

And it is my wish and will also that this late division be made in whatever manner the Executors may think proper and that no sheriff be allowed to sell or have commissions thereon unless by the consent of the Executors. ---

And it is my will that all just debts be paid before any divisions take place, with respect of my moveable property and Funeral charges to be paid out of my moveable property before said division takes place. ----

And lastly, I nominate, constitute and appoint my worthy friend and son Thomas Wright and James Clark Executors of this my last will and Testament, hereby utterly revoking all other wills and Testaments by me heretofore made, declaring this and no other to be my last will and Testament. -- --

Signed Sealed published pronounce’d and declared by the Testator to be his last will and Testament in the presence of we the subscribing witnesses

John Wright (signature)(Seal)

Wm Dickson (signature)Arch. D. Wright (signature)Isaac Wright (signature)

State of No Carolina DuplinCounty April Term 1800

Then was the within will Executed (sic) before the said County Court and proved in Dueform of Law by the Oath of William Dickson, one of the subscribing witnesses thereto and at the same time Thomas Wright and James Clark the Executors named in the said will came before the Court and Qualified as Such according to Law.

Ordered that letters issue accordingly

Test Wm. Dickson C.C.

Transcribed by M.J. Bell from a handwritten copy of the original will obtained from the North Carolina Archives in Raleigh, North Carolina – April 25, 2008

Additional Notes and comments by M.J. Bell

According to my current information, John Wright was born in Scotland on July 19,1719. He would have been 79 at the time this will was written in 1798 and thus he died between Jan, 1798 and April 1800. Several researchers list his wife as Ann Wells, but this document certainly implies that his wife was Rebeckah (last name unknown). One researcher lists his wife as Rebecca Wells. Thus she may be Rebecca (Rebeckah) Ann Wells.

There is no mention in the will of a location of the property, but the will was executed in Duplin County, North Carolina and thus the property is implied to be there.

John’s oldest son is James Wright. He was born in 1755 and would have been 43 at the time this will was written. He also lived in Duplin County and it seems strange that he was not mentioned in any detail in the will as the other children were. The only mention was in the final division of all property amongst all children after his wife Rebeckah had died. It is possible that James, being the oldest, was already well established in his own right and not in need of anything more from his father. According to my records, there are two other sons, William and John between James and Thomas. Since they are not mentioned in the will, it is probable that they have already died. One source mentioned that William died in the Revolutionary War. Another source indicated that John married Penelope Clark (perhaps a sister to the James Clark who was an executor of this will) and had a son named James and a grandson named Claiborne Wright. There is a ClairborneWright from North Carolina who died in the Alamo in Texas in 1836. He is about the right age and may be the same one.

It is not clear who the witnesses are to this will. William Dickson is mentioned frequently in papers from Duplin County as a county official and friend of the Wrights. I have an Isaac Wright in my database who is a grandson of John Wright through his son, James Wright. He would have only been 18 at the writing of this will and is not a likely candidate. I am also not clear on how to read or identify Arch.D. Wright. It might be John’s son, David Wright, but it is likely another relative.

It is an interesting note that 3 of John Wright’s offspring’s married 3 of the offsprings of John Martin Beck and Elizabeth Whitfield. James Wright married Charity Beck, Elizabeth Wright married Stephen Beck and Rebeckah Wright married John Beck. It is apparent that the families were close friends and neighbors in Duplin County.

Buried in family cemetery on the Iredell Jackson Farm, on fork of Young Swamp and Goshen Swamp, near Faison, Duplin County.  Grave marked by descendant, reported by Richard Clinton Chapter.  Service:  Private, NC Militia (NSDAR 1973-74 Report, NSSAR Patriot & Grave Index Number P 325401)