HENRY THRELKELD WRIGHT OF CLARK COUNTY, KENTUCKY Submitted by Jim G. Faulconer

Henry Threlkeld Wright was one of the sixteen children of William and Susanna Threlkeld Wright, who came from Culpeper County, Virginia, and settled in Clark County in 1805. He was obviously named for his mother's father, Henry Threlkeld. We do not know the exact birth date of Threlkeld, but probably it was about 1782, for his wife, Mary, was born in 1784. Since the family was living in Culpeper County at the time, that was where he was born. The first reference we have found on our subject was in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, December 24, 1799, when he was a witness for the marriage of his sister Frances to John T. Brock. There he signed his name as Henry T. Wright. More often than not, he was later known as Threlkeld, but court records occasionally spell out his entire name, Henry Threlkeld Wright. Thus far we have not found a marriage record for Threlkeld. It probably took place about 1805, somewhere in Kentucky. Thus far we do not know the last name for Mary or "Polly." Bessie Taul Conkwright speculated that he married Polly Oliver, sister of his brother William's wife, Nancy Oliver, but this is not likely, since that Polly Oliver married Edward White in 1808. A Threlkeld Wright was listed in the 1810 Franklin County Census as being between 26 and 45 years of age, and having two boys 0 - 5 years. No wife was listed. We are not certain that this is the same Threlkeld Wright. Our Threlkeld Wright was in Clark County on September 7, 1820, when he appeared in the Circuit Court, bringing suit against James Ragsdale for $500 for trespass, and assault and battery. (File 239) Ragsdale, a minor, allegedly had beaten Threlkeld with fists, arms, feet, and clubs. Also, he spit in Threlkeld's face. On October 7, 1824, William and Susanna Wright signed an indenture to sell Threlkeld Wright 102 acres on Four Mile Creek. (DB 20, p. 365). This was the land where Threlkeld lived and farmed until his death. Later, the land was reported as 104 acres. Threlkeld died probably in late 1825, for his property was inventoried and recorded in the January Court of 1826. (WB 6, p. 106) He was probably about 47 years old. Since Threlkeld died without a will, and since the heirs included the widow, Mary, and eleven children, the land had to be divided and allocated according to law. Mary received her widow's dower of 1/3 of the property, 34 2/3 acres, in the December Court of 1830. (WB 7, p. 658). Each child received one eleventh of the remaining property. Then, at the death of the mother, years later, each child would again share in her portion of the estate. This became a nightmare, and as a result, the deed book has many references to bits of land changing hands. Then, on two occasions, lawsuits were brought before the Clark County Circuit Court. On June 27, 1837, the first case was filed. The documents can be found in Kentucky Archives in Frankfort, File 473. In essence, Samuel Johnson was the complainant against the heirs of Threlkeld Wright. He claimed that he had bought 5/11s of the land, excuding the widow's dower, from some of the children of Threlkeld: Jeptha, Patsy, Bryant, William M.G., and Hethey. Later, Samuel amended his claim, saying that William M.G. Wright had sold his share to Asa Wright, but Hethey had sold her share to Samuel. Still, he was deserving title to this land. The court settled the issue in its September term, 1838, agreed with the claim, and appointed Thomas Warnall as commissioner to execute the decree. However the court also noted that McArthur, Lucy, Mary, Allan and Susan were not yet 21, and therefore their property rights must be protected until they were of legal age. On June 20, 1846, the second lawsuit was filed in the Clark County Circuit Court, this time against Washington and Susan Wright. (File 617) Washington was a "non-resident." Apparently he had moved away by then. Here is a copy of the complaint: To the Honorable Judge of the Clarke Circuit Court in Chancery sitting. Your orators William Johnson and Moses Bush beg leave to represent unto your honor. That heretofore, to wit, on the day of in the year Threlkeld Wright, sometimes known by the name of Henry Threlkeld Wright, departed this life intestate in Clarke County in this state. That at the time of his death he left a widow named Mary Wright who is now his widow, and the following children as his only heirs at law to wit, Bryant Wright, William Wright, Jeptha D. Wright, Patsey Wright, Hetty Wright, Lucy Wright now the wife of Stephen B. Eubank, Allen Wright, McArthur Wright, Washington Wright, Susan Wright, and Mary, now the wife of William Henry Lawrence. That the aforesaid Threlkeld Wright, at the time of his death was seized in fee of a tract of land, situate in said County of Clarke on the waters the Kentucky River containing about one hundred and four acres. That since the death of the aforesaid Threlkeld Wright, his aforesaid widow hath had dower assigned her in said land. That afterwards, to wit, on the day of in the year Samuel Johnson commenced a suit in chancery in your honorable Clarke Circuit Court against the aforesaid children and heirs at law of said decedent Threlkeld Wright, which suit came on to a trial at the September Term of said Court in the year 1838, and amongst other things there in, it was ordered and decreed that the undivided shares of the aforesaid Bryant Wright, William Wright, Jeptha D. Wright, Patsey Wright and Hetty Wright, in and to said land was assigned and allotted to the aforesaid Samuel Johnson. Your orators refer to the record and proceedings had in said chancery suit and pray that the same may be taken and considered as a part of this bill. That afterwards Court on the day of the aforesaid Lucy Wright intermarried with Stephen B. Eubank and said Mary Wright intermarried with the said William Henry Lawrence. That afterwards, to wit, on the 2nd day of March 1843, the said Allen Wright sold and conveyed his undivided interest in and to said Sam'l (except his interest in the widow dower) to your orator Moses Bush--and on the 16th day of September 1844, the said Stephen B. Eubank and his aforesaid wife sold and conveyed their undivided interest in and to said land to your orator Moses Bush and the said McArthur Wright on the day of in the year sold and conveyed his interest in and to said land to Asa S. Wright, and the said Asa S. Wright by executory contract sold the interest so conveyed to him by the said McArthur Wright, to your orator Moses Bush. They will hereafter file said deeds or official and the copies ... and they pray that the same may be taken as part of this bill. They will file said executionary contract and pray that it may be taken as a part of this bill. Your orator Moses Bush alleges that he has fully paid to the said Asa S. Wright the full amount of the consideration agreed to be paid for said land but the said Asa S. Wright as yet has not made to him a deed as he bound himself to do by said executory contract. That on the day of in the year the said William Henry Lawrence and Mary Lawrence his wife sold and conveyed their undivided interest in said land to one William Tate Jun. and the said Tate & wife afterwards, to wit, on the 29th day of May 1846 sold and conveyed said interest to your orator William Johnson. They will hearafter file the aforesaid deeds ... and officials copys of them, and when filed they pray that the same may be taken and considered as parts of this bill. That they are now the owners in fee to a portion each in the residue of said land not heretofore alloted and assigned to three undivided elevenths of same and your orator William Johnson to one undivided eleventh part thereof, and they pray that the same may be allotted and assigned to them respectively. To the end therefore they make the aforesaid Washington Wright and Susan Wright defendants to this bill, and they pray that they may be compelled to answer the allegations of this bill. They pray your honor to decree a partition of said land amongst your orators and said defendants, according to their respective interest therein. They pray for what other and further relief their case may present and as to equity belongs they pray for process against said defendants. Smith, for Complt. Mary Wright was listed in the 1850 census (p. 35) as being 65 years old, and born in Virginia. She was living with the family of William Stevens, a son-in-law. She lived beyond the 1860 census when she was listed as 76 years old, and from Virginia. (p. 264) Apparently she was born about 1784. She must have died by June 1, 1864, for the "dower right of Mary Wright, widow of Threlkeld Wright" was sold. It was land on the Kentucky River and it sold for $64. (DB 42, pp. 11-12) Richard Johnson and Elizabeth his wife, Robert T. Johnson, William Johnston and Patsy his wife, James Waller and Mary his wife, were parties of the first part who sold their interest to Asa S. Wright, the other part. Here, then, are the children of Threlkeld and Mary Wright in the order given above. The dates they sold their interest in their inheritance may suggest their approximate age, for they had to be 21 years of age by then. 1. Bryant Wright. He sold his land to Joel Farrell in 1833. (DB 26, p. 285) 2. William M.G. Wright was born about 1807. He married Rachel Butler in Madison County on April 22, 1828. Polly Wright signed as mother of the groom and noted that Threlkeld Wright, the father, was deceased. The bondsman was Samuel Johnson. William and his wife, Rachel, sold his land to Asa S. Wright in 1831. (DB 25, p. 122) They sold their interest in the widow's dower in 1832. (DB 25, p. 347) We believe they moved to Wayne County, Kentucky, where they appear in the 1850 census: William M. Wright 43 Ky. Rachel " 41 " Allen P. " 19 " Clifton " 17 " Mary J. " 16 " Washington " 15 " Shelton " 12 " Amanda " 10 " William " 8 " Westley " 7 " Salley A. " 4 " Louisa A. " 3 " The above record suggests that William was born about 1807. A number of other Wrights also lived in Wayne County, perhaps no relation. 3. Jeptha D. Wright was born in November 1813. More later. 4. Martha "Patsy" Wright was born about 1812. She sold her share of the land to Samuel Johnson in 1836. (DB 28, p. 517) She sold her interest in the mother's dower in 1865. (DB 42, p. 535) She was listed in the 1850 census as being 38 years old (p. 17). She was living with the Stephen B. Eubank family, her sister's family. In the 1860 census she is listed as being 48 years old, and born in Kentucky. Listed with her was Augustus Wright, 26. (p. 272) Possibly she did not marry. 5. Hethy "Hetty" Wright sold her land to Samuel Johnson in 1838. (DB 28, p. 490) She married John F. Fielder on August 6, 1841. Polly gave her consent for her daughter, and Talton Fielder gave consent for his son to marry Hethy Wright, daughter of Threlkeld Wright. Witnesses were Asa S. Wright (an uncle), and Curtis M. Fielder. The sureties were posted by Overton Harris and William H. Lawrence. 6. Lucinda "Lucy" Wright was born on July 26, 1819, according to descendants. She married Stephen Barbour Eubank on January 1, 1844. Polly Wright gave consent for her daughter. Asa S. Wright, posted the surety, and William H. Lawrence was a witness. Stephen, who was born on January 24, 1813, had married before to Anna Eliza Harris on September 25, 1835, in Madison County. Stephen and Anna had two children before her death: Richard Claiborne and Nancy Catherine Eubank. Stephen and Lucy had eight children: Ambrose B., Mary Elizabeth, Wesley H., Ann Eliza, Sallie Ann, Frederica E., James Roger, and Susan C. (or M.) They sold their interest in her father's land in 1844. (DB 31, p. 354) The birth records of Clark County show that on June 5, 1861, Susan M. Eubank was born to Stephen B. Eubank and his wife Lucy Wright Eubank. The family moved to Boone County, Missouri, before 1870, for they appear in the census of that year. Lucy died shortly thereafter, for Stephen married Mary Ellen Rummans on August 4, 1872. They had two children: Stephen Barber Jr. and Daniel Claiborne. Stephen Sr. died on June 19, 1887, and Mary died about 1890. 7. Allen Wright sold his part of the land to Moses Bush in 1843. (DB 30, p. 579) At the same time, he sold his interest in his mother's dower to William H. Lawrence. (Note: the mother had not yet died) 8. McArthur Wright was born about 1818. He married Hannah Goldman on January 10, 1838. The surety was posted by Charles Goldman, and Mary Wright, guardian of McArthur, gave her consent. This suggests that McArthur was not quite 21 years old at the time. According to a Goldman history, Hannah was the daughter of Isaac and Mary �Polly� Poore Goldman. Isaac died in 1834. McArthur Wright sold his interest in his inherited land to Moses Bush, and his share of the mother's dower to Asa S. Wright, in 1840. (DB 29, p. 504) He was listed in the 1850 census (p. 15) as being 32 years of age. Others listed were Hannah 36, Washington 11, William H. 9, Mary E. 6 and Silas T. 2. 9. Washington Wright sold five acres to William Johnson, and 16 acres to Moses Bush, in 1848. (DB 34, p. 107) Washington's wife's name was "Lizzie." In 1857, he sold his four-acre part of the mother's dower to Richard F. Harris. (DB 38, p. 495) 10. Susanna "Susan" Threlkeld Wright was born about 1826, perhaps after her father died. She was named for her grandmother, Susanna Threlkeld. She came of age in 1847, and on March 19 sold her interest in the 104 acres inherited from her father, plus her interest in the mother's dower, to Moses Bush for $66. The following year, on August 9, 1843, she married William Stephens. William H. Lawrence posted the surety. The age of William Stephens was proven by William H. Lawrence and the age of Susan Wright was proven by McArthur Wright. The 1850 census gives Susan's age as 24 and William's as 23. According to family records, they moved to Ray County, Missouri by 1857. William served in the Missouri Militia during the Civil War, and was discharged with a disability in June of 1862. Their children were Lucinda, Polly Ann, Martha Jane, John Foster, William Francis, Mariah Elizabeth "Bessie," Isabel, Jasper Newton, and Rice Camel. Susan died about 1871, and William married Mrs. Elizabeth Bowerman on June 2, 1872. It is believed that she was the Elizabeth Tarwater who first married Jacob Bowerman on April 6, 1865. 11. Mary Jane Wright was born about 1824. She married William Henry Lawrence by 1848 when the above lawsuit was filed, but thus far their marriage record has not been found. They sold some of their share of the land to William Tate in 1844. (DB 31, pp. 257-258) In 1845, they sold William Tate, Jr., their interest in the land "Mary Threlkeld, widow, now occupied." (DB 32, p. 111) The 1850 census lists them as William H. Lawrence 29, Mary J. 26, Polly A. 8, John M. 5, Frances 2 and Achillis 8/12. (Note: A clue to the identity of Threlkeld's wife possibly lies in a name of one of the children. Threlkeld's parents are both remembered in the names of the children, William and Susanna Threlkeld Wright. What, then, about Mary's parents? Several names seem interesting: William M.G., Hethy, Bryant, McArthur, Jeptha D. Thus far, however, no connections have been made). * * * Jeptha D. Wright was a son of Henry Threlkeld Wright and Mary Wright. According to his death notice, he was born in November 1813. On September 24, 1841, he got his license to marry Sarah �Sally� Serena Goldman. The mother, Sarah Goldman, and John Conkwright, Jr., gave their consent. The age of Jeptha was proven by William H. Lawrence. John Brock, Jr. posted the surety. John Conkwright signed the marriage return in the Marriage Register as follows: "This is to certify that I have joined together in the holy state of matrimony Jeptha Wright & Serena Goldman according to the rites & ceremonys of the church this 25 Dec. 1841. John Conkwright G.P." Serena was the daughter of Charles and Sarah Oliver Goldman. As seen below in the census records, Serena was about 10 years younger than Jeptha. Jeptha and Sarah Serena continued to live in Clark County. The 1850 census (page 35) list them as follows: Jeptha Wright 37, Sally S. 27, Hetha 8, Sarah 6, Polly A. 4, and Martha 1. The Vital Records of Clark County note that a female infant was born to Jeptha and Sarah Gouldman Wright, July 12, 1856. Comparing this date to the census below, we assume that this was Melissa Wright. The 1860 census gives this information: (p. 513) Joseph Wright 46, Sally 35, Hadly 17, Sarah 15, Polly 13, Martha 11, Gusy 8, Emily 6, and Melissa 4. While this is useful information, the census taker made at least two mistakes. It was Jeptha Wright. Also, he listed Gusy as a girl, when Augustus was boy. The Vital Records of Clark County show that Sarah Baber, daughter of Jeptha and Rena Wright, died on October 27, 1876 of septicemia. Her residence was listed as Madison County. According to the census records above, Sarah was born about 1844-1845. Thus she was about 32 years old, and presumably married to a Baber. The 1870 census (p.60) lists Jeptha Wright 56, Sarah S. 43, Augustus 18, Emily 16, Carmelia 11, Henry 7, and Charley 5. The 1880 census (p. 341) lists Jeptha Wright 66, Sarah S. 57, Susan C. (Carmelia?) 19, Henry 18, and Charles 15. On January 21, 1886, Jeptha D. Wright signed consent for the marriage of Charles P. Wright to Bettie Wilmore, in Madison County. Jeptha D. Wright died in 1888, and the following death notice appeared in the "Winchester Democrat": "Feb 15. Died of consumption 'Uncle' Jeptha Wright 74 years, 3 months and 2 days." * * * Augustus L. Wright, son of Jeptha and Serena, was born on December 15, 1851, in Clark County. He married Lucy Jane Adams, daughter of Rev. John G. Adams and Millie Rucker Adams. She was born on May 1, 1854, and the marriage took place sometime after 1870 census, when Augustus was still with his parents. Augustus Wright is recorded in the 1880 Clark County Census as follow: Augustus Wright 28, Elizabeth 6, Sarah A. 4, Leanna 2, and McGorva born in February, and 3/12 years old. The census was taken on June 1, 1880. Lucy Jane Adams Wright, Augustus� wife had died shortly before the census, on March 18, only 26 years old. Augustus, or "Gus" and Lucy had these children: 1. Melissa Wright was born on November 11, 1874, in Ruckerville, Clark County. She married Thomas G. Adams. She died on December 8, 1957, in Lexington. 2. Serena Olive Wright was born on February 13, 1876. She married William Cotton Cooper on April 25, 1899. She died on April 1, 1962, in Lexington. 3. Lona Wright was born on February 20, 1878. She married Dr. Jefferson Webb in September 1897. She died in November 1967. 4. McGorva Wright was born in February 1880, according to the census. The "Clark County Democrat" of February 25, 1880, included this item: "Red River - Born to the wife of Gus Wright on the 5th inst. a son." Family records say he was born on the 4th and died February 25, 1880. Augustus Wright died on October 16, 1883, at the age of 32. He and his wife are buried in the Rucker Cemetery off the White-Conkwright Road in Clark County. * * * Note: In my earlier narrative I wrote about Mary �Polly� Wright whose sanity was questioned by the September Circuit Court of Clark County in 1839. (Order Book, pp. 317 & 330) A later case came before the court in 1848, again questioning her sanity. At that time Polly was a resident of Lawrence County, Illinois. (Order Book pp. 266 & 463-464) I erroneously assumed that this Mary Wright was the widow of Henry Threlkeld Wright. However, in fact, this was Mary �Polly� Bruner Wright, the wife of Jesse Wright. Many thanks to Philippa Schrader for bringing this to my attention. This is to thank Vernon Cooper of Kingsbury, Texas, for his contribution of material on Jeptha D. Wright; and Margaret Lewis of Newark, California, for her contribution of material on Susan T. Wright. Compiled by Jim G. Faulconer, 5200 Oakbrook Drive, Kettering, OH 45440. August 16, 2002. (JFaulconer@aol.com)