Gabriel Wright

A Patriot of the American Revolution for VIRGINIA (Soldier). DAR Ancestor # A130798

notes

EXERPTS FROM "4 REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS

AND THEIR DECENDANTS"

By Eloise M. Roberts

WRIGHT

When the Wright family lived in Scotland the family name was "MacGregor" ("Son of the Greek Man") and our ancestor was chief of the Clan MacGregor. As history shows this was one of the wildest, and to the English Government, one of the most to be dreaded of the Mountain Scotch.

After many efforts to subdue the Highlanders, the Government offered pardon to all those Scotch Clans of the Highlands who would agree to abandon their clan names and accept the name of Campbell. The Campbell's were of Italian origin, and though in cordial sympathy with the English Government were cordially hated by all the Highlanders. So much so that many attempts were made to murder Lord Campbell.

The offer of pardon was accepted by some of the Clans which had been very nearly destroyed by famine and guerilla warfare, but most of them refused the terms, saying they were proud to live or die under the clan names. Among these were the Clans MacGregor, MacLean, MacLoren, Grant and others. There was nothing the left for the British Government to do but continue to hunt them down and kill them off. Rob Roy was one of the Clan MacGregor.

hi the course of time came the great battle of Culloden, in 1746, in which all the Highlands took part with the Stewarts, the Roman Catholic side, and which resulted in disastrous defeat. The Clan MacGregor was all but destroyed and the Chief had to flee to save his life. The English, under the command of one Lord Leet, Leeth or Leith, made a diligent search for him. He managed to evade capture and reached the coast, took passage on some vessel and reached Ireland. He then took the name of "Wright", meaning a master workman and not long after secured passage to America.

Lord Leeth wanted this man so badly that he induced the Government to offer a reward for the capture of the MacGregor, dead or alive, preferably dead. Government spies came to America and hunted for him and they all bur captured him. He was found in New Jersey, still under the name of Wright. His family had followed him, and because the writ of attainder against all of them they were compelled to keep the name of Wright, as, if captured, all would have been taken back to England and beheaded. Lord Leeth's detectives were unable to prove this to be the remnant of the Clan MacGregor, and so could not arrest them, for the Colonies were very jealous of all rights which the British Government contended for, and this resulted, as you know in the War of the Revolution, thirty years later.

The Wrights were tall, spare in frame, religious, stubborn, never ready to admit they might be mistaken and that others might be right....

1. Gabriel WRIGHT (1) was born on Sep 8 1743 in Jedburgh, Roxburgh, Scotland. He died on Jun 20 1803 in Frankfort, Ross Co, Ohio (At Home). He was buried on Jun 21 1803 in Frankfort, Ross CO., Ohio. He has Ancestral File number 24M7-TK. The curtain lifts from the stage of known history with the most ancient of our ancestors residing in New Jersey. His name is GABRIEL WRIGHT. Gabriel, is the Bible name of the mighty angel messenger of God who was employed to promote God's work here below, announcing to Daniel the restoration of Jerusalem, and to Zechariah the coming of John the Baptist, and to Mary the birth of the savior. So in our most ancient known ancestor there is a divine purpose to promote God's work here below. Accordingly, he has been given a large posterity and connection, all of whom have been called to serve their Divine Master, and man of whom have responded with an earnest and hearty service. When Gabriel Wright came to New Jersey or how long he remained there cannot be ascertained. In Stature he was low and heavyset, while his wife, whose maiden name was Deborah Ball, was tall and slim, and was of English nationality. They adhered tenaciously to the Presbyterian father. To them ten children were born. Whose names are here given in order of their birth, namely; Jonathan, Sarah, Anna, John, David Sr., Joeb, Rhoda, Hosea, Caleb and Charity. It is difficult to secure accurate dates concerning this early family. The following four may be suggestive; March 31, 1772, David Wright Sr. the fifth child was born April 16, 1779, Rhoda Wright, the seventh child was born February 1787, Sarah Wright, the second child was married to Nathan Cory. August 17, 1795, Rhoda Wright was married to Stephen Cory, brother of Nathan Cory. At a date sometime between the marriages of Sarah and Rhoda to the Cory brothers, Gabriel and his family and the Cory family left New Jersey and immigrated to Hampshire County Virginia, now within the State of West Virginia. However, they did not like this location, and remained here only a year or less, then moved to Kentucky, where they seem to have lived for a number of years. They appear to have been located at both Big Bone, Boone County, and Big Spring, near a branch of the Green River, in Breckinridge County. While living in Kentucky they heard of a favorable land in the North West Territory, and accordingly appointed a committee to investigate. The committee consisted of two sons, and three sons-in-law, of Gabriel Wright, their names being, Jonathan Wright, David Wright Sr., Nathan Cory, Stephen Cory, and George Heath. They started on their tour of inspection April 1, 1796. They traveled up the Ohio River to the mouth of the Scioto river, then up that stream to the place where now stands the city of Chillicothe, Ohio. Here they landed, and walked out on the springtime beautiful grass they beheld the first house in Chillicothe in process of erection. They were invited to lay a few clap boards so they could say they helped to cover the first house ever built in that city. They were delighted with Ohio, and soon returned to their families in Kentucky making a favorable report. Plans and preparations were made for emigration On October 1, 1796, forty-two persons including the Wright, Cory and Heath families started for Ohio. They packed their goods in boat dug out of a poplar tree sixty feet long. This they called pirogue. Their route was the same that the men had taken in the spring, up the Ohio and Scioto Rivers. However they were ice bound below the fills in the Ohio River, and were compelled to spend the winter of 1796-7 enroute. Their peril and hardship that winter are beyond description by two of that party. They made a trip with a sack of corn to a gristmill somewhere on the banks of the Ohio River. They traveled on the ice. How far, it cannot be ascertained at this late date. The weather suddenly became warmers and on their way home, the swelling water under the ice caused it to crack up and down the river with startling and tremendous sound. It seems some of the return trip was made in the night. Cutting a long pole, and each taking one end they carried their meal on it between them. They made an agreement that if each should fall into the river and perish the other should pursue the return journey and bring relief to those in the pirogue. Though the danger seemed great, they got safely back, thankful for their narrow escape. April 1, 1797, found the pirogue released and the company again on their way with hopeful spirits. In due time they arrived at Chillicothe, where they disembarked and lived for two years, then moving to farms about twelve miles North West, near the town of Frankfort, in Ross County, Ohio. In this vicinity Gabriel Wright spent the remaining years of his life, which were not many. He died June 20, 1803, and is buried in the cemetery at Frankfort. The grave of his wife cannot be located. This pioneer family of our ancestors, at one time had the misfortune to lose their house by fire, and it is probable that their family records were then destroyed, hence much indefiniteness concerning their history.

According to the "Hacker Record" (a manuscript history of the Hacker and allied families, written by William Hacker of Shelbyville: from 'Border Settlers" by L.V. McWorter' and from 'Border Warfare' by Hacker and Powers.) G.W. fought in the Revolutionary War while living in New Jersery. While living in New York, married Deborah Ball, a sister of Lydia Ball, wife of David Smith. In the spring of 1778 G.W. and family moved to Rockingham CO, Virginia with his brother-in-law, David Smith. Rev War-Boston & Mass campaign 1775, Jersey Blues 1776 & 1777 with George Washington Virginia Militia. Came to Essex Co. NJ as a young man from Scotland via Ireland. Moved to Rockingham Co to Hampshire Co Va. to Pa. to Ross Co Ohio in 1792 He was married to Deborah BALL (daughter of Caleb BALL III and Sarah WALLACE) about 1762 in New Jersey. Deborah BALL(1) was born in 1747 in Essex or Morris County, New Jersey. She died in 1817 in Frankfort, Ross CO., Ohio. She was buried in 1817 in Frankfort, Ross CO., Ohio. She has Ancestral File number 24M7-VQ. Sister to Lydia Ball, wife of David Smith Gabriel WRIGHT and Deborah BALL had the following children:

links

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/111581112/gabriel-wright