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1783, 1786-1788. LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: 1,577
acres in Queen Anne's and Kent counties, plus
a lot in Chestertown (821 acres through inherit-
ance, 626 acres by patent, 130 acres through mar-
riage). SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN LAND BETWEEN
FIRST ELECTION AND DEATH: acquired 1,309 acres
in Queen Anne's County by purchase and patent
between 1771 and 1785; sold 393 acres in Queen
Anne's County, 1774-1780. ADDITIONAL COM-
MENTS: During the Revolutionary War, Wright
leased "Blakeford," the estate of the Blake fam-
ily in Queen Anne's County. An early advocate
of independence from Britain, Wright was ap-
pointed one of the four commissioners, head-
quartered at Queenstown, empowered to try per-
sons on the Eastern Shore suspected of treason
against the State. "Blakeford" was a convenient
residence. WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED: between April
21 and May 4, 1792, probably at "Guilford," Queen
Anne's County. PERSONAL PROPERTY: TEV, at
least £1,135.3.10 current money (including 23
slaves, 93 oz. plate, and books). LAND: at least
2,493 acres in Queen Anne's, Kent, and Caroline
counties, plus 1 lot in Chestertown and lands in
Kent and New Castle counties, Delaware.
WRIGHT, THOMAS (?-ca. 1784). BORN: in St.
Luke's Parish, Queen Anne's County; eldest son.
NATIVE: third generation. RESIDED: at "Reeds
Creek," St. Paul's Parish, Queen Anne's County.
FAMILY BACKGROUND. FATHER: Thomas Hynson
Wright (1687/88-1747), son of Solomon Wright
(ca. 1655-1717). MOTHER: Mary, widow of John
Coursey (?-1713), daughter of Michael Turbutt
(?-1696), of Talbot County, and his wife Sarah
Foster. UNCLES: Charles Wright (?-1720); Foster
Turbutt (1679-1720/21); William Turbutt (1683/
84-1739). BROTHER: Nathan Samuel Turbutt (?-
1792), who married first, Dorcas (last name un-
known), and second, Francis (last name un-
known). HALF BROTHERS: John Coursey (1709-
?); Thomas Coursey. SISTERS: Mary Ann (?-1747),
who married William Hopper (1707-1772); Anne
(?-by 1754), who married Edward Oldham (1709-
1773), and Sarah. HALF SISTERS: Mary Coursey,
who married Solomon Wright (?-1729); Elizabeth
Coursey, who married Thomas Wilkinson (1700/
1-ca. 1758). FIRST COUSINS: Robert Norrest Wright
(?-ca. 1746/47); Anna Maria Turbutt, who mar-
ried Edward Tilghman (1713-1785); Elizabeth
Turbutt (?-ca. 1760), who married Thomas Har-
ris (?-1760); Sarah Turbutt (1706-1773), who
married Nicholas Goldsborough (ca. 1689-1766);
Elizabeth Turbutt (ca. 1708-?), who married Tench
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Francis (1701-1758); Anne Turbutt (1715-1766),
who married John Goldsborough (1711-1778); and
Mary Lowe (?-by 1739), who married Edward
Oldham (1709-1773). NEPHEWS: William Hopper
(by 1747-1806); Samuel Turbutt Wright (ca. 1749-
1810). HALF NEPHEWS. Solomon Wright (?-1792);
Nathaniel Wright (?-1770), a possible legislator.
NIECES: Ann Oldham (?-by 1794), who married
Joshua Clarke (?-1781); Elizabeth Oldham (?-
by 1776), who married William Hopper (by 1747-
1806); Elizabeth Hopper (1739-1806), who mar-
ried Joseph Nicholson, Jr. (?-1786); Mary Ann
Hopper (1742-?), who married second, James
Bordley (?-ca. 1793). MARRIED by 1769 Rachel
(?-1810), daughter of William Clayton of Queen
Anne's County, a merchant, and his wife Sarah.
Rachel was the granddaughter of Solomon Clayton
(1685-1739). She was the niece of Rachel Clay-
ton, who married first, William Coursey (1703-
1769), son of Henry Coursey (1662-1707), and
second. Clement Sewell (ca. 1737-1795). Her sis-
ters were Mary, who married William Bordley,
of Queen Anne's County, a merchant; Sarah. Her
cousins were Edward DeCoursey (ca. 1759-1827);
Sarah DeCoursey, who married Robert Wright
(1752-1826); and Mary (Polly) Sewell, who mar-
ried Samuel Turbutt Wright (ca. 1749-1810).
CHILDREN. SONS: Thomas Wright, who married in
1795 Margaret, daughter of Stephen Lowrey and
wife Sarah Spencer; Clayton Wright (?-1802);
Samuel Wright, who married Ellen Nicholson;
and William (1784-?), who married Lydia Tilton
of Wilmington, Delaware. DAUGHTERS: Ann (?-
1848), who married in 1792 her cousin Samuel
Turbutt Wright (ca. 1749-1810); Charlotte, who
married John Eaton Spencer. PRIVATE CAREER.
EDUCATION: literate. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION
Anglican, Chester Church, St. Paul's Parish,
Queen Anne's County. SOCIAL STATUS AND AC-
TIVITIES: Gent., by 1749; Esq., by 1769; owned
thoroughbred horses. OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE:
probably planter. PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE
SERVICE: Lower House, Queen Anne's County,
1762-1763, 1765 -1766 (Elections 4; Accounts 2-
4), 1768-1770 (Accounts 1-3; Grievances 3), 1771
(Accounts); Conventions, Queen Anne's County,
1st, 1774, 3rd, 1774, 4th, 1775, 5th, 1775, 6th-
8th, 1775-1776. LOCAL OFFICES: St. Paul's Parish
Vestry, Queen Anne's County, in office 1752-
1755, 1761-1764, 1768-1771, 1773-1774, 1779-
1784; churchwarden, St. Paul's Parish, Queen
Anne's County, 1771-1772; tobacco inspector,
St. Paul's Parish, Queen Anne's County, 1753-
1754; deputy commissary, Queen Anne's County,
925
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