Wright Family Genealogy Gathered by Curtis Wright of Carthage, Missouri

Children of Curtis Wright, 1918; from left to right: Nira, Nathaniel, Anne Matilda Hench, William, Bessie Briggs, Robert, Marian Powers and Curtis, Jr.

In 1915, Curtis Wright published a book entitled: Genealogical and Biographical Notices of Descendants of Sir John Wright of Kelvedon Hall, Essex, England and in America Thomas Wright, of Wethersfield, Conn., and Dea. Samuel Wright, of Northampton, Mass., 1610-1670, 1614-1665 [respectively].

In addition to discussing the English origins of the Wrights, the book focused on American family members and their descendants as given in the following chapters headings. Mr. Wright corresponded with many of these people and the museum has three archival boxes of his correspondence. Some of the letters were used in the book, some were only summarized.

Be advised, as of 2009, Curtis Wright's book had been found on Google Books and researchers should use that source before contacting the Powers Museum for further information.  If this link does not work, just do a search in Google Books with the title.  Curtis Wright Genealogy.

If more extensive searches of the book's archival holdings (original materials used by Curtis Wright) are requested, this will be done on a fee basis. Please contact the museum for further information on this service. 

A copy of the book is found in the Powers Museum Reference Library and can be consulted during normal hours.

BOOK CHAPTERS
Descendants in America of Thomas Wright (1610 - 1670) of Wethersfield, Connecticut
Descendants of Deacon Samuel Wright (1614 - 1665) of Northampton, Massachusetts
Family of Diana Wright (1773 - 1851) of Hanover, New Hampshire
Family of Rev. Chester Wright (1776 - 1840) of Montpelier, Vermont
Family of Deacon Royal Wright (1778 - 1864) of Canton, Illinois
Family of Louisa Guild Wright (1805 - 1885) of Norris, Illinois
Family of Marilla Wright (1806 - 1885) of Emerald Grove, Wisconsin
Family of Rev. Samuel Guild Wright (1809 - 1890) of Brookville, Kansas
Family of John Martin Wright (1816 - 1858) of Canton, Illinois
Family of Rev. Royal Nathaniel Wright (1811 - 1849) of Brookville, Illinois
Family of Diantha Martin Wright (1813 - 1900) Toulon, Illinois
Family of Diana Wright (1818 - ?) Toulon, Illinois
Family of Captain William Wilberforce Wright (1820 - 1864) of Toulon, Illinois
Family of Nathaniel Webster Wright (1841 - ?) of Connersville, Indiana and Toledo, Ohio
Family of Judge William Wilberforce (1842 - 1912) of Toulon, Illinois
Family of Curtis Wright (1844 - 1918) of Connersville, Indiana and Carthage, Missouri
Family of Amelia Adelaide Wright (1845 - 1908) of Lee's Summit, Missouri
Family of Robert Creighton Wright (1852 - 1897) of Connersville, Indiana
Family of Eliza Marilla Wright (1858 - ?) of Chicago, Illinois
Family of Jemima Wright (1787 - 1862) of Canton, Illinois
Family of Nathaniel Wright (1789 - 1875) of Cincinnati, Ohio
Family of Joel Wright (1792 - 1867) of Canton, Illinois

Museum note: Remember the original book was published in 1915 so some of the parties above had not died and we have used a question mark (?) until we confirm death date as in the case of Curtis Wright. Also note that geographical designations correspond to where the person spent his ADULT life and do not necessarily refer to his birth location or where the person spent his childhood.

Sample Text from Book:

Thomas Wright (1676-1760)
The following is the estate listing of Thomas Wright of Wethersfield, Connecticut. The inventory was given in Curtis Wright's book written in 1915. He included the information "as an example of the various kinds of household effects of our early ancestors." The executors of the estate were Elizur Goodrich and Josiah Girswold.

Inventory of Thomas Wright:

Hat
1 Coat waist coat & Breeches
1 brown coat part worn
1 great Coat
1 black coat
1 waist Coat & breeches Do
1 blue great Coat
1 Pair Leather Breeches
4 pair of old Stockings
4 pair of gloves
1 blue Silk Hanker
5 old shirts
1 pair linen breeches
1 pair of shoes
4 linen caps
cane
1 blue riding Hood
1 popling Gowd
pair Stays
1 old riding Hood
muslin Apron
petty Coat
night goud
1 blue Coat
1 linen Apron
1 Silk Bonet
3 caps
1 pair red curtains
1 red Rug
3 coverlids
white blanket
1 bed, 1 Bolster, 2 pillows, 1 under bed
1 bed bolster, 2 pillows
1 Beadstead
1 bed card, 12 old sheets
3 old shirts—women's
6 nakinsels
3 Table Clothes
10 1/4 yards of Tow Cloth
1 warming pan
1 pair womans white gloves Do brown
Ribbon
1 fan
Niting needles
spoon mould
hood scarff & apron
1 case Draws
1 chest with feet
1 Looking glass
2 bowls 1 gun
1 Do powder
1 sword
1 Stand
1 Settle
2 great Chairs
6 small black Chairs
Do white
1 pair stillyards
1 gong
1 Saddle
1 Dutch Collar
Iron pot 2 iron kettles—etc.
2 brass kettles
8 pewter platters
4 plates
1 bason
1 pair of bellows
Trammels
1 pair of tongs
1 pair hand irons
1 old brass kettle
1 case knives
2 Candlesticks
1 half hour glass
3 large, 3 small spoons
1 bucket silver
Cash in book
1 Cart & wheels
1 plough
1 churn
Large Bible
22 small Sermon books
1 Negro man
6 swine
1 Yoke Oxen
1 Stear
3 cows
1 Heifer
3 calves
1 bay horse
1 black mare
1 yearly colt
(And other articles belonging to a farm illegible.)

Real estate, buildings, total 1,765-05-00 pounds

Josiah Bush, Thomas Wells, James Knowls, Appraisers

Wright's "Negro man" given on the inventory was named Joel and in Wright's will, it says: "And further my will is that after my Decease my Negro-man Joel shall have his Liberty to choose a Master who he will to live with provided he whom he shall choose will pay for him the Sum of Money he the said Joel shall be appraised of."