CHAPTER VIII. SAMUEL WRIGHT AND THE WRIGHT FAMILY

[11] In the years 1723 to the 1790’s there are recorded for the Plymouth area some twenty-seven grants of land to the name Samuel Wright, in three generations. The land includes uplands, swamps, woodland and meadow, much of it in Plympton.

In 1784, 45-274 Samuel Wright bought from William Raymond, both of New Stamford, Vermont, forty-three acres at Bloody Pond in Plymouth.

In 1794, Samuel Wright bought property in the Boot Pond area. 88-222 shows that for thirteen shillings he purchased one-sixth part of one-half of the second share of the fifth great lot from the estate of Benjamin Wright, laid out to Benoni Lucas, whose daughter married John Wright, 1688-1744. The second share includes land on either side of the upper half of Boot Pond. In 1796, 84-184, Samuel Wright bought five-tenths part of one-half of the second share of the fifth great lot for twenty-five dollars. This land adjoined the land he bought the year before from Benjamin Wright’s estate. This land was bought from several children of John Wright, his heirs. The amount would be about eighteen acres.

Samuel Wright, in 1800, as shown in 88-241, during the time of his ownership of the homestead, sold to Nathaniel Carver, who served in the Revolution, for thirty-five dollars, land on the westerly side of Boot Pond which is land in the second share of the fifth great lot which he had bought some years before.

Another member of the Wright family who lived in the vicinity was Joshua Wright, born 1758, son of Joseph Wright, born 1721, who in turn is the son of Isaac Wright, son of Adam Wright, 1645-1724.

[12] Page 37

The Will of the first Samuel Wright, 1699-1773 He married Anna Tilson, 1720-1793 Dated Oct. 14, 1772. Registry of Probate File #23542 The second Samuel Wright, Executor

“I, Samuel Wright of Plimpton in the county of Plymouth in New England, yeoman, being weak of body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefor, calling unto mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is apointed for all men once to dye, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say, principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executor hereafter named, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the almighty power of God, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, demise and dispose of the same in the following manner of form....”

He gives to his wife Anna one-half of their dwelling house and one-half of the piece of land lying around the house and “half of my indoors moveable estate.” He gives to his son Samuel “in consideration of the labor that he did for me after he was twenty-one years of age, the dwelling house he now lives in” and also lands around his homestead. He gives homestead land to his sons Jacob and Edmond, his daughter Sarah Hall and also included his grandson, Nathan Wright. To his grandson Edmond Wright four pounds yearly until he arrives at sixteen years of age. He gives to his sons Samuel and Jacob in equal division all his wearing apparel. He orders his two sons Samuel and Jacob “to provide as much firewood cut and brought to the door for my wife yearly and every year during her natural life or so long as she remains my natural widow as is needful for her fire.” Lastly, “I do constitute, make and ordain my trusty and well-beloved son Samuel Wright my sole executor.”

The inventory of the estate on March 10, 1773, as attested by Gideon Bradford, Zebedee Chandler and Joseph Wright totals 726 pounds, 5 shillings, 11 d. This is an estate of a fairly wealthy man.

Homestead farm and buildings 480-4-0 Cedar swamp outlands and iron oar 119-8-4 Wearing apparel of the deceased 8-15-8 The personal estate given Sarah Hall (once lent) 8-16-9 Remaining part of the indoors moveables 41-7-8 The provisions in the house 4-14-7 --------- £726-5-11

The opening paragraph gives eloquence to the faith of the believer of that day. The hand script in which this will is written is the most perfect and beautiful I have encountered in my investigations.

The Will and Estate of the Second Samuel Wright, 1728-1814 1816, #23543

He is the father of the third Samuel Wright, born about 1760, one-time owner of the homestead at Boot Pond, 1786-1801. The will provides for five of his children, including his son the third Samuel. At his death the second Samuel was 86 years of age. The administrator of the will was his son Peleg, 1771-1856. The appraisers were Elijah Bisbee, Isaac Wright (he is the third Isaac, born 1776) and Levi Bradford, Jr.

I mention the will of the second Samuel, although he was not at South Pond, since it does show factors of the social context in which the third Samuel lived.

The property was in nearby Plympton. The real estate was divided by the appraisers into five shares, each described in detail, for the children, sons Samuel and Peleg, daughters Sarah, Abigail and Mercy.

The inventory was as follows:

One-half of dwelling house $100.00 One-eighth part of pew in lower floor of meeting house 5.00 About two acres and a quarter in orchard by house 225.00 One acre west side of road 125.00 18 acres north end of farm 300.00 6 acres of woodland in Carver, by Israel Dunham 50.00 5 acres and a half adjoining Noah Dunham 88.00 Cedar swamp lot 12.50 ------ 943.50

Wearing apparel 11.65 Beds, bedding, and linen 69.51 Pewter, iron, brass, earthen and glassware 19.84 Livestock and farming tools 116.22

------ $1160.72

According to the administrator’s account after payment of debts owed and expenses, each of the five heirs received about $25.00.

In comparison with the John Burgess inventory thirty-four years later, Samuel Wright, the second Samuel, is obviously a much wealthier man and owner of more land. Yet his debts were relatively much higher. Maybe we can say he lived well on credit.

John Burgess had more value in his wearing apparel, but the second Samuel far exceeded him in his household effects and in the livestock and farming tools especially.