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Here is what has been found so far on Mary (Wright) Briggs. While the evidence is circumstantial, I believe it is strong enough to support the identification of Mary Wright, daughter of 1690 (year of death) Francis Wright of Lancaster County, Virginia, (place of death) as the wife of Ralph Briggs. On January 11, 1670/71, at Lancaster County Ct.O.B. 1666-1680/177 the court ordered Will Frizell to deliver up to Francis Wright and Mary his wife, orphan of Charles Hill, deceased, all cattle belonging to Mary. This record identifies Mary (Hill) Wright as the wife of Francis Wright. On August 13, 1690, at Lancaster County Ct.O.B. 1686-1696/136 the court granted administration of the estate of Francis Wright to his widow Mary Wright. On Jan 12, 1698/99, at Lancaster County Ct.O.B. 1696-1702/59 Francis Wright was granted part of his deceased father's estate in the hands of his mother Mary Lawrence, administratrix of William Lawrence, deceased. Similar orders were granted for Charles Wright, Mary Wright, and John Wright. Other records confirm Francis, Charles, and John as sons of 1690 Francis Wright of Lancaster County, Virginia, and Mary (Hill) (Wright) Lawrence. This record, therefore, identifies Mary Wright as a daughter of 1690 Francis and Mary. On March 8, 1706, at Lancaster County D.B. 9/225 Ralph Briggs was a witness to a deed from Francis Wright to his brother Charles Wright of 50 acres of land that descended from Charles Hill to Mary (Hill) Wright, the mother of Francis and Charles. On December 15, 1713, at Lancaster County D.B. 9/476 Francis Wright and his wife Anne conveyed 50 acres of land to Ralph Briggs, land that formerly belonged to his father Francis Wright, with John Wright as a witness. This conveyance is similar to the 50 acre conveyance to Charles Wright and a later 50 acres conveyance to John Wright and suggests that Francis Jr. was treating his siblings the same. That in turn suggests that Ralph Briggs had married Mary Wright and was receiving the 50 acres on her behalf. On December 10, 1718, at Lancaster County D.B. 11/110 Francis Wright and his wife Anne, Charles Wright, and Ralph Briggs sold to William Ranken 70 acres of land that Francis had inherited from his mother Mary (Hill) Wright and sold to Charles Wright and that Charles Wright had sold to Ralph Briggs. This again suggests a family connection among these people and that Ralph Briggs had married Mary Wright. In their WorldConnect postings Thomas Legocki, Valerie Johnson, and Carolyn Jennings all stated that the wife of Ralph Briggs was Mary (_____) Wright. I do not have a source yet for that identification, but if correct, then it is added confirmation that Ralph Briggs married Mary Wright. On January 22, 1722, at Henrico County Minute Book 1719/1724/225 & 226, administration was granted on Ralph Brigg's estate and John Wright was appointed guardian of Lydia Briggs, indicating she was a minor child of Ralph Briggs. John Wright, the son of 1690 Francis Wright of Lancaster County, has been identified as 1730 John Wright of Goochland County, Virginia. This is through his son Meredith. The will of 1730 John Wright of Goochland County makes clear that his son Meredith was under 21 years of age and, therefore, born after March 14, 1708/9. On August 10, 1710, at Lancaster County D.B. __/324 William Meredith recorded a young fillie for his grandson Meredith Wright and Charles Wright gave Meredith Wright a cow. In his will, 1730 John Wright named his son Meredith Wright and gave a cow to Lydie Briggs. This is a similar gift that John's brother Charles made to Meredith and suggests a family reciprocation of uncle giving nephew/niece a cow. In any event, these transactions tie 1730 John Wright of Goochland County to Ralph Briggs and add further confirmation that his sister Mary Wright married Ralph Briggs. I would be delighted to hear from others who have any additional evidence on this Wright line. Robert N. Grant 15 Campo Bello Court Menlo Park, CA 94025 RNGrant@grantandgordon.com
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=sbeddes&id=I17752
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