THE MORELAND MUSTER
Volume XV, Issue 3 ISSN 0884-3805 Summer 2002
Volume XV, Issue 3 ISSN 0884-3805 Summer 2002
MORELANDS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Alexander DUNCAN emigrated from Lancaster to Washington County, and located a tract of land in Smith Township. His sons were David and John. Daniel was killed by a tree falling upon him during a heavy storm. John DUNCAN married Elizabeth MORELAND. He was ordained an elder in the Three Spring Church in 1803. His residence was near the present town of Florence in Hanover Township located in the extreme northwestern township of Washington County, having the county of Beaver and the state of West Virginia, respectively, for its northern and western boundaries.[1]
W. C. MORELAND appeared on the roll of attorneys in August of 1867.[2]
A John MORLAND who served in the Civil War was mustered out July 11, 1864.[3]
QUERIES
Somewhere, someone in the family has a newspaper or historical journal article on the death of John C. MORELAND. While John was in the Confederate Army, he was murdered in a “personal difficulty” while on leave. He was murdered 27 September 1863 probably in Lafayette or Pontotoc Co., Mississippi. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who may have a copy of this article or who has any knowledge concerning this story. Thanks for any help.
Contact: Jerome T. Wylie, 616 Carolina Ave., Greenville, SC 29607 or berrypa616@aol.com.
* * * * * *
I found a Thomas MORELAND in the census of Washington, Daviess Co., Indiana in 1870. He was age 62 (born ca. 1807 or 1808 in Kentucky) and he was a plasterer. His wife was Eliza J., age 43 and had been born in Indiana. Can anyone provide any additional information about this family?
Contact: Nona Williams, PO Box 746, Ben Lomond, CA 95005 or nonawill@earthlink.net.
WRIGHT, Charles Parish Register
Augustine WRIGHT, son of John by Elizabeth b. Nov. 29, 1683
Benjamin, son of Benjamin and Lucy b. Aug. 13, 1775
Betsy daughter of John and Elizabeth b. Jan. 10, 1768
Dudley WRIGHT (twin to William) son of John and Elizabeth b. March 1, 1773
Elizabeth Curtis WRIGHT, daughter of Benj and Lucy, b. Nov. 20, 1768
Fanny, daughter of Benj and Lucy b. Feb. 12, 1778
John WRIGHT, son of John and Elizabeth b. March 7, 1765
John WRIGHT, son of John by Mary, b. April 5, 1770 [b 1670]
Katherine daughter of Edward by Katherine b. Dec. 30, 1734
Mary daughter of John and Elizabeth Feb. 13, 1770 York-Hampton
Nancy daughter of Wm and Elizabeth b. March 3, 1778 York-Hampton
Peter, son of John and Elizabeth b. June 16, 1775
William twin to Dudley, son of John and Eliz b. March 1, 1773
-------
Records No. 18: W & I, 1732-1740 p. 269: Dec. 21, 1735; Feb. 16, 1735/6: William WRIGHT’s will: sons get land in King William County; sons John WRIGHT; William; Thomas WRIGHT; wife Jean whole and sole ex. Inventory p. 284 with Jean WRIGHT in charge.
The early muster for Elizabeth City County, Virginia shows that a John WRIGHT at age twenty, came on the Ambrose into the Virginia Colony in 1623. That would indicate that he was born in 1603 in England.
On January 26, 1638/9 a John WRIGHT was living in York County and was a witness to a deed between John UTIE and Robert BOOTH.[5]
Shortly thereafter there were two other WRIGHT men here in York County namely, Thomas WRIGHT to whom Thomas HUDSON owed tobacco[6] and William WRIGHT, a merchant, who on December 10, 1645 promised to pay tobacco he owed to Richard GLOVER.
On June 1, 1646 Edward WRIGHT bargained with Thomas DEACON for a maid servant and a few days later he gave his crop and his cattle as security for her, promising the full payment by 25 of December of that year. A record dated November 1646 seems to indicate that WRIGHT did get the maid servant Joane EVENS from DEACON. (Indentured servants were people whose passage to the Colony had been paid and in return they worked a stated number of years for that benefactor.) Evidently, Joane EVENS fell in that category.
Edward WRIGHT was well established in York County and was among the first settlers there. He was active in civic affairs, appearing often in the court records.
The will of William HAWKINS of York Parish dated 24 March 1654/5 and recorded 25 June 1655 left to John WRIGHT, son of Edward WRIGHT, a heifer.
Lawrence HULETT’s will written September 3, 1658 indicated that estate owed Edward WRIGHT 483 pounds of tobacco. However, Edward WRIGHT himself, died that year.
This manuscript starts with Edward WRIGHT of York County as the first generation, but he could have been a son of John WRIGHT who lived in York County earlier.
Edward 1 WRIGHT married Joane EVENS in 1646. He patented 50 acres in York County “adjacent to southernmost bounds of land first taken up by Mr. Richard LEE . . . commonly called The Ridge” date being July 3, 1652. This was for the transportation for one person, Jone (Joane), his wife.[7] This document is important for it confirms his wife’s name. He died 1658.
Edward 1 WRIGHT had a son John 2 WRIGHT, so stated in William HAWKINS’ will in 1655, so he was born before 1655. He married first Elizabeth ______ by whom he had a son Augustine 3 WRIGHT born in 1683.[8] He married secondly, Judith _____ for as his widow, she petitioned the court when his will was probated and she was the sole executor. There were other children, but they were not named.
John 2 WRIGHT was a minister and was serving as such in Poquoson (Charles) Parish. Another person, probably of a denomination other than the established Church of England, spoke to an assembly from this church pulpit. Mr. WRIGHT was outraged and petitioned the Council of Colonial Virginia about this matter. A reply dated June 23, 1680 ordered the two men to Jamestown in order to settle this difference.[9]
John 2 WRIGHT wrote his will November 1684 and it was probated May 24, 1695.[10] He lent his entire estate to his wife during her widowhood and he designated that she use half of it and the children share equally in the half; but he specifically gave his lands to his eldest son following his wife’s death. Because he did not name his children, there were several WRIGHT people of the next generation living here in York County who may be assumed his children namely:
I. Augustine 3 WRIGHT born November 29, 1683 (parentage given)
II. Edward 3 WRIGHT born ca. 1685; will 1735
III. William 3 WRIGHT born ca. 1687; will 1736
IV. John J. 3 WRIGHT born ca. 1690 (of age 1732)
V. Ann WRIGHT died September 13, 1748[11]
I. Augustine 3 WRIGHT, son of John 2 WRIGHT and his wife Elizabeth, was born November 29, 1683, according to the Charles Parish (Yorkhampton) Parish Register.[12] He died May 9, 1732.[13] His will was probated in York County Court in 1732 but it is not in York Records No. 18 Wills and Inventories of that period. The Parish Register recorded the death of Ann WRIGHT being January 25, 1727 and she could have been his wife. Nothing more is known about him
II. Edward 3 WRIGHT, son of John 2 WRIGHT, was born about 1685. He married Katherine ______ and had five children when he died and another was born soon after his death. His will was written July 13, 1735 and was probated August 18, 1735.[14] A part of the will follows: “. . . loving son Edward WRIGHT five pounds to be disposed of at the discretion of my executor thereafter named for his schooling and education. I give my daughter Elizabeth WRIGHT four pounds to be for and towards her schooling and education. I give my whole estate except three young Negroes by name Cate, Bob and Tom to be appraised as soon as convenient but not until my daughter Mary arrives at full age or marries . . . then their value be added to the appraisement of my estate . . . I will my whole estate be kept in possession of my wife for and toward the maintenance and support of my children . . . be equally divided among my wife and five children alike.” Wife Catherine (Katherine) WRIGHT was executrix and witnesses were John WRIGHT; Robert ARMISTEAD; Woodhouse WOOD. John WRIGHT and Woodhouse WOOD, two of the witnesses were present when the will was probated. That day John GOODWIN Sr., Edward MOSS, and Peter GOODWIN were appointed to appraise the estate. (These people show neighbors and people familiar to the decedent.) The appraisal of the estate was dated August 18, 1835 and showed:
Sary valued at ----------------- 20 pounds
Cate, a girl -------------------------16 “
Bob, a boy -------------------------10 “
Tom, a boy ------------------------ 6 “
52 pounds total
The entire estate was valued at 128 pounds 19 shillings 6 pence. Katherine WRIGHT signed the inventory and it was returned to the Court and recorded September 15, 1735.[15]
The next year, September 17, 1736, a final settlement of this estate was made by Katherine WRIGHT “relict of said Edward WRIGHT” and the new appraisal (as suggested by the will) was thus:
Sarah sold ---------------------20 pounds
Tom value----------------------- 5 pounds
Cate value----------------------- 21 pounds
Bob value-----------------------14.5 pounds
This was returned February 21, 1736/7.
It was specified in the will that a final appraisal would be made after the third child Mary WRIGHT had reached legal age or married. Thus it may be assumed that she was now an adult.
The Charles Parish Register shows that a sixth child Katherine WRIGHT was born December 30, 1735.
Persons involved in the writing of this will and the estate settlement were acquaintances. Robert ARMISTEAD, Woodhouse WOOD, Peter GOODWIN, Edward MOSS, and John GOODWIN lived in the middle section of York County. Evidently, the WRIGHTs were also in that area.
Children of Edward 3 WRIGHT and Katherine WRIGHT were:
1. Edward 4 WRIGHT
2. Elizabeth 4 WRIGHT
3. Mary 4 WRIGHT
4. not named (Barbara)
5. not name (Sarah)
6. Katherine 4 WRIGHT born December 30, 1735
Katherine WRIGHT, the mother of these children and widow of Edward 3 WRIGHT, died May 10, 1736.[16]
1. Edward 4 WRIGHT, son of Edward 3 WRIGHT and his wife Katherine WRIGHT, was the oldest of their six children, the youngest being born in 1735. He married Ann _______ for she was so named in his will dated September 25, 1778 and probated April 19, 1779.[17] His death is also recorded in the Charles Parish Register.
It should be particularly noted that these WRIGHT men recognized the need of good schooling and education. For several generations specific sums of money were designated for the payments of teachers for their children both male and female. Portions of his will are given:
“My will and desire is that my two sons John WRIGHT and Edward WRIGHT do sell so many of my horses and cattle . . . raise money to pay debts . . . sell no more of my stock than find necessary . . . remainder of stocks, household furniture (etc) . . . do remain in hands of my wife Ann WRIGHT as long as she lives . . . at her death an inventory be made by men appointed by my executors . . . sale made . . . amount equally divided between my children namely John, Edward, Sarah, Lucy, and Thomas, reserving for my two grandson Edward CARTER and James CARTER to be paid by my sons toward their schooling forty shillings each . . . Lastly I appoint my sons John and Edward WRIGHT my lawful executors.
Edward WRIGHT, senior
Witnesses:
Margaret STROUD
John MORELAND”
April 19, 1779, by the oaths of Margaret STROUD and John MORELAND, witnesses, this will was proved and Edward WRIGHT, one of the executors qualified to settle the estate with Richard GARRETT as his security.
Children of Edward 4 WRIGHT and his wife Ann WRIGHT were:
1) John 5 WRIGHT born ca. 1753 to be of age for executor of will
2) Edward 5 WRIGHT born ca. 1755 to be of age for executor of will
3) Sarah 5 WRIGHT
4) Lucy 5 WRIGHT
5) Thomas 5 WRIGHT
6) Mary 5 WRIGHT (married Jones CARTER and boys were twins born Sept. 29, 1776; and she died before 1778)[18]
1) John 5 WRIGHT, oldest son of Edward 4 WRIGHT (Edward3, John2, Ed.1) and Anne WRIGHT, was probably born by 1753 in order to be an executor of his father’s will. He would have married by 1775.
Information on this John WRIGHT is almost non-existent among the York County records. In his father’s will he was named first, making it appear that he was the oldest son. However, Edward WRIGHT, his brother, assumed total responsibility for probating the father’s will and all business related to the settlement of the estate including money belonging to the two sisters, Lucy and Sarah WRIGHT.
John 5 WRIGHT was still living in 1789 for his brother, Edward 5 WRIGHT, mentioned him specifically in his will dated July 28, 1789, probated April 19, 1790.[19] Brother Edward married a woman from the Felgate Creek area of York County; using present day colloquial terms . . . it was “up the County.” The York County Land Books 1812-1847 record land for two different men living up there who could have descended from him. They were James WRIGHT with 326 acres bounded on the north by Benjamin WALLER and Edward CHRISTIAN, etc. A John WRIGHT had 60 acres and it abounded John W. WALLER. These men are not otherwise identified; information on York County court records adds additional date to them namely:
A. James WRIGHT maybe (?) a son of John 5 WRIGHT, brought charges against George LANG to recover a debt. This case was heard 17 May 1796.[20] Later he appeared as a witness for John COLE 17 July 1798.[21] Lewis, a Negro belonging to James WRIGHT of Bruton Parish stole a hog from John Page SHIELDS. The case was heard 10 November 1799. This record identifies James WRIGHT as a resident of Bruton Parish which is colloquially spoken of as “up the county”.
B. John K. WRIGHT maybe (?) a son of John 5 WRIGHT married Rachael ELLENSWORTH of James City County, Virginia August 24, 1810.[22] On April 11, 1811, he and his wife sold to John MEADS 42 acres.[23] Later, September 21, 1812 these two sold another tract of 30 ½ acres to the same John MEADS.[24]
John WRIGHT had bought sixty acres, of which these sales were a part, from Robert and Ann RATCLIFFE, the deed being dated September n21, 1812.[25] Although these sales greatly reduced his acreage, he sold a “parcel” to the RATCLIFFEs October 12, 1816.[26]
Rachel WRIGHT died and records show that John K. WRIGHT entered into a marriage contract with Elizabeth MOODY October 16, 1820.[27] The MOODYs lived in present Naval Weapons Station area.
There was also a Richardson WRIGHT in Bruton Parish of York County who, on January 20, 1830 obtained license to marry Elizabeth MOORE. He is not identified, but living in Bruton Parish places him with the family of John 5 WRIGHT. Also from Bruton Parish Catherine WRIGHT, a “spinster”, and John BLASSINGHAM were issued license to marry April 26, 1799.[28]
To be continued
York County, Virginia[29]
York County and -- Yorktown in particular – have figured prominently in American history.
The county began in 1634 as one of the original eight shires in colonial Virginia. Yorktown, which has been the local government seat since 1691, was a major tobacco port.
Yorktown also was the site of the final major battle of the American Revolution. British Gen. Lord Cornwallis surrendered to American and French forces there on Oct. 19, 1781.
______________________________
[1] History of Washington County, Pennsylvania by Boyd Crumrine, 1882, p. 803.
[2] Ibid., p. 254
[3] Ibid., p. 322
[4] Mrs. Thelma Hansford’s research on the Moreland and Wright families are on file at the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City and, fortunately for us, she reads this newsletter and sends items of interest. This article was found and copied by Charles Moreland and is reprinted here with Mrs. Hanford’s permission. The entire article is not included here, just the portions that interest Moreland family researchers.
[5] York County, Virginia Record No. 1, p. 92 and Beverley Fleet’s Colonial Abstracts No. 24, p. 27.
[6] York Record No. 2, p. 52
[7] Patent Book 3 p. 93.
[8] Charles Parish Register.
[9] Legislative Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia Vol. 1, edited by H.R. McIlwaine.
[10] York Deeds, Orders, Wills No. 10; 1694-1697, p. 148.
[11] LDS Film 0030819 page 43
[12] page 66
[13] Parish Register, p. 23.
[14] York Records No. 18 Wills and Inventories 1732-1740 part 1, p. 218.
[15] York Wills & Inventories 1732-1740, p. 228.
[16] Charles Parish Register
[17] York Wills and Inventories No. 22 p. 421.
[18] Charles Register Parish
[19] York Wills and Inventories No. 23, p. 197.
[20] York Orders 1795-1803, p. 100
[21] Ibid., p. 263.
[22] York Marriage Record.
[23] York Deed Book No. 8, p. 94.
[24] Ibid., p. 195
[25] Ibid., p. 194.
[26] Ibid., p. 367.
[27] York Deed Book No. 9, p. 45.
[28] York Marriage Bonds and Consents 1772-1849, p. 37.
[29] From a newspaper clipping, August 2002. Sent by Mrs. Thelma Hansford.
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