Francis Wright of Sowerby

Note about parents and birthplace:

This profile has Francis's parents being William of Plowland and wife Ann Thorton. In this, Francis's profile agrees with the pedigrees given below. But, given those parents, we would expect that Francis was born in Welwick in Plowland Manor. However, this differs from the pedigrees and historical references, which have Francis born in Sowerby and dying in Bolton-upon-Swale.

It is possible that these histories in part conflate the lives of Francis and his son, also named Francis, who would have had Sowerby as his birthplace and Bolton-on-swale as his death place. It's also possible that Francis of Sowerby was not the son of William of Plowland, but that too disagrees with the pedigrees presented below.

Note about death date:

The death date for Francis of Sowerby (Manor) is often given as 1651. This, however, is the death date of his son, Francis of Bolton-on-swale. The death date of Francis of Sowerby is unknown.

Francis Wright (I) of Sowerby, Thirsk Parisk, York Co (b abt 1553-d 1651) of Bolton-upon-Swale; see Dugdale's Visitation of Yorkshire in 1584/5 and 1612, p 98.) born in Sowerby, County of York, England; married into the Markham family (cousins) of Yorkshire, England. A Genealogical and Heraldic History of The Commoners of Great Britain repeats the above information, and adds that he was the father of Francis Wright, of Bolton-on-Swale, who married Grace Beckwith. I believe William and Ann had another son, Christopher, but can find no further information on him.

Francis married Anne Markham: I am sure we have all seen the following quote in Burkes: “Francis Wright , of Sowerby , in the county of York, who m. the sister of Henry Markham , (This gentleman's son and heir, Henry Markham, esq. died s. p. and divided his property, at Bolton , between his cousins, Francis Wright, of Sowerby, and another Francis Wright, also his own cousin) and was father of Francis Wright, of Bolton-on-Swale in the county of York , who died about the year 1651, leaving, by Grace, his wife, daughter of - Beckwith , esq. of Aldborough, in the same shire, one son and three daughters.”

A History of the Markham Family , by David Frederick Markham, Clements Robert Markham, does not mention either Anne or the Wright’s in any way. I welcome any comments on Anne’s possible parentage!

All I have for children of Francis and Anne Markham Wright were Francis (II), and possibly a son Christopher, listed as a child of Francis of Sowerby in Dugdale's "Visitations of Yorkshire".

William and Ann had at least six children:

1) Nicholas WRIGHT (b.Abt 1550 d.1648)

| sp: UNKNOWN | +- a) Francis WRIGHT (son of Nicholas) (d.1664 - buried at Welwick) 2) FRANCIS WRIGHT * (1st) of Sowerby, Thirsk Parish, York Co. (b.Abt 1553-Sowerby,County of York,England d.1651)

| sp: ANNE MARKHAM Sowerby, York (sister of Henry Markham) | a) FRANCIS (II) WRIGHT * of Bolton-on-Swale (b.1575-Aldborough,England d.1651-Yorkshire,England) | | sp: GRACE BECKWITH (a.8 Mar 1584-Pateley Bridge,Yorkshire m.Abt 1596 d.Abt 1665) | +- b) Christopher WRIGHT

Here is a pedigree for Francis:

https://books.google.com/books?id=sz1SAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA98&dq=Francis+W...

Parish registry records from Thirsk show the first Wright children born in the parish between 1606 and 1620 to fathers named Francis, John, Robart, and Richard. Prior to that, no Wright births are recorded. This is consistent with Francis of Sowerby having later sons of those names. First son Christopher inherited the manor, and second son Francis bought or built a manor in Bolton-on-swale. Later sons, had they been born, would have largely stayed in Thirsk. That is possibly what the Thirsk parish registries are telling us. Probable sons have been created in Geni accordingly.