Augustus Wright

     Augustus was born on Wednesday, 8 May 1765 in Rye, Westchester County, New York. Augustus married Katharine Uyt ten Bogaert [second], daughter of Johannes Gysbertszen Uyt ten Bogaert and Maria Vredenburg, on 16 June 1789 in the City, County & State of New York. Augustus settled in New York City in his early youth. His parents died in a smallpox epidemic when he was a young boy. He no doubt was raised by an older sibling or relative. After his marriage, he resided at No. 99 Beekman Street, betweem Pearl and Cliff Streets. He was in business with Stephen Allen [Mayor of New York between 1821 and 1824] at No. 180 Front Street, retailing sail loft and cotton duck. In 1797, he was elected a member of Columbian Order or Tammeny Society, his name being the 237th on the list of members. In 1814-1815, he was a member of the New York House of Assembly. Among the list of subscribers to the dinner for Commodore Oliver H. Perry, U.S.N., at Tammany Hall, he was the first on the list of Vice Presidents, he responded to a volunteer a toast of "The Government, while negoatating for an honorable peace, may it not relax in the arrangement for war." He was a member of the First Baptist Church, on Gold Street. near Fulton; he was buried in the yard next to the church. Augustus made his will on 13 November 1818 at the City, County & State of New York.

In the Name of God Amen, I, Augustus Wright of the City of New York, Gentleman, being weak in body but of sound disposing mind and memory Do make publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following; that is to say, First, after committing my Soul to God, I order and direct that my Executors hereinafter named, pay all my just debts and funeral expenses as soon as may be convenient after my decease. Item, I give and bequeath to my daughters, Maria B. Sarah L. and Catharine and to my sons David S. John B. and Edward A. to each severally and respectively the Sum of Two Thousand dollars to be paid to such of them as are of lawful age within one year after my decease; and to such of them as are minors at such time as they shall respectively arrive at lawful age: and this Sum so given to my Children above named is intended for the purpose of putting them on a footing with my daughter Margaret P. now Wife of William H. Leggett to whom I have advanced the Sum of Two Thousand dollars. Item, It is my Will, and I hereby order and direct That my mother in law, Mrs. Mary Bogert, shall have a comfortable maintenance and support during her natural life out of my estate; to be paid and bestowed from time to time at the discretion of my Executors herein after named. Item, It is my Will, and I hereby order and direct that my Executors pay and advance to and for my brother in law, Gilbert Bogert, such sum and sums from time to time as they or the survivors or survivor for them may deem expedient and necessary for his support. Item, All my beds and bedding I give to my dear daughters Maria B. Sarah L. and Margaret P. to be equally divided between them: And all the rest of my Household furniture and Plate I give to my said daughters Maria B. and Sarah L. to be equally divided between them, share and share alike. Item, I hereby order and direct, and it is my Will, that no division or distribution of my estate after paying the necessary expenses and Legacies aforesaid should be made until the youngest of my then surviving Children shall have arrived at lawful age, my estate real and personal to be kept on rents and at interest in the best manner for the benefit of my estate at the discretion of my Executors: And that they in the meantime advance such sums as may be necessary for the support and maintenance of any and all my children to be deducted from their shares of my estate willed? respectively. Item, I hereby give to my said Executors and the survivors and survivor of them, at the time when my then youngest surviving child shall have arrived at lawful age full power and authority to sell and dispose of all my estate both real and personal, and to give good and sufficient Deeds and
Conveyances in the law in fee simple absolute for any and all my real estate to the purchaser and purchasers thereof: and to receive the purchase money and proceeds for the purpose of carrying into effect this my Will. Item, All the rest residue and remainder of my estate real and personal and the proceeds thereof, I give devise and bequeath to my dear children Maria B., Sarah S., Margaret P., Catherine, David S., John B. and Edward A. to them their heirs and assigns forever to be equally divided between them share and share alike: but on the following Trusts and Conditions as relates to all my said daughters. First, That my said Executors and the survivors and survivor of them shall take out of the share of my estate given to my said daughters Maria B. Sarah L. Margaret P. and Catherine five thousand dollars for each and every of them out of the espective share, or out of the share of such of them as shall be living when my youngest Child shall have arrived at lawful age: and put the said Sum of five thousand dollars for each of them at interest on good real security; and that the interest shall yearly to be paid to them severally and respectively thereof be paid to them severally and respectively their own private and individual receipts, during their natural life and lives: it being my will, that the said sum of five thousand dollars for each of my said daughters so surviving should be for their own private and separate use and benefit, during their natural life and lives, notithstanding the marriage or coverture of any or all of them. Second, In case of the death my said daughters or any of them leaving lawful issue, I give and bequeath the said Sum of five thousand dollars to the said issue of each of them respectively to be equally divided between them share and share alike the said issue of each of my said daughters to take said Sum so set apart for his, her or their mother. Though in case of the death of any or either of my said daughters without leaving lawful issue I order and direct and it is my Will, that the said Sum of five thousand dollars so given for her or their separate use and benefit, be divided and distributed among my heirs at law, according to the Laws of the Land.
Finally, I hereby nominate, Constitute And appoint my friends Jacob Drake, Samuel M.Thompson, and Stephen Allen and my son in law - William H. Leggett my executors to carry into effect this my last Will and Testament: and I hereby also appoint the said Jacob Drake and William H. Leggett to be Guardians of my Minor Children, enjoining it on my Minor Children to consider the said Jacob Drake and William H. Leggett their Guardians and respect them as such: And I hereby revoke all other Wills by me made, declaring this to be my only last Will and Testament. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Thirteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
Augustus Wright
Signed, Sealed published and declared by the named Augustus Wright to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us, who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the said Testator and at his request and in the presence of each other. Peter Embury, Chas. Drake, Daniel Embury - City and County of New York. Be it remembered That on the fifth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, personally came and appeared before Silvanus Miller Surrogate of said County, Charles Drake of the City of New York Physician, who being duly sworn on his oath declared that he saw Augustus Wright Sign and Seal an Instrument in writing purporting to be the Will of the said Augustus Wright bearing date the thirteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen the preceding whereof is a true Copy and heard him publish and declare the same as and for his last Will and Testament, that at the time thereof he the said Augustus Wright was of Sound disposing mind and memory to the best of the knowledge and belief of this deponent - that his name subscribed as a witness to the said Will is of his own proper handwriting which he subscribed as a witness thereto in the presence of the Testator - and that he saw Peter Embury and Daniel Embury the other witnesses to the said Will subscribe their names as a witness thereto in the presence of the Testator--------------                          Silvanus Miller. City and County
of New York
SS: The preceding is a true Copy of
the original Will of Augustus Wright
deceased, and of the Certificate of
the proof thereof. Silvanus Miller - Surrogate
Letters of Administration With Appended Will of Augustus Wright, 1819.

Augustus departed this life on Sunday, 28 March 1819 at the family home at 99 Beekman Street.

Obituary: Died. - "On Monday evening in the 54th year of his age, Augustus Wright, esquire, a worthy and respectable resident of our City. In the death of Mr. Wright, society has sustained a great loss; he was an active and patriotic citizen, whose principles were firmly but mildly expressed; he was a useful member of the community, and ever ready to aid in the advancement of what was correct and proper in relation to country and to friends. His family have met with an irreparable loss and his fellow citizens will long remember his worth and services. His friends are respectively requested to attend his funeral from his late residence, No. 99 Beekman Street, this afternoon at 5 o'clock, without further invitation." [New York National Advocate, 31 March 1819]²

Augustus was laid to rest at the yard of the Baptist Church in the City, County & State of New York, on Gold Street between William & Pearl going toward the East River. In 1846, the cemetery was abandoned and his body was exhumed & examined before being reburied at the Westchester Episcopal Church ground. When his coffin was opened his face was quite natural but when the air hit it, it fell to ashes.³ His will was probated on 5 April 1819. The People of the State of New York, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, FREE AND INDEPENDENT:
To all to whom these Presents shall come, or may concern, Send Greeting: Know Ye, That at the City and County of New York, on the day of the Date hereof--------- Before Silvanus Miller. Esquire, Surrogate of our said County, The last Will and Testament of Augustus Wright deceased, (a copy Whereof is hereunto annexed) was proved, and is now approved and allowed by us; and the said deceased having whilst he lived, and at the time of his death, goods, chattels, or credits, within this State, by means whereof the proving and registering the said Will, and the granting Administration of all and singular the said goods, chattels, and credits; and also the auditing, allowing, and final discharging the account thereof doth belong unto us: the administration of all and singular the goods, chattels, and credits of the said deceased, and any way concerning his Will, is granted unto William H. Leggett, he being first duly affirmed, Jacob Drake, Samuel M. Thompson and Stephen Allen the Executors in the said Will named they being first duly sworn, well and faithfully to administer the same, and to make and exhibit a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the said goods, chattels, and credits; and also to render a just and true account thereof, when thereunto required. In Testimony whereof, we have caused the Seal of Office of our said surrogate to be hereunto affixed. Witness, Silvanus Miller Esquire, Surrogate of the said County, at the City of New=York, the fifth day of April In the Year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and nineteen And of our Independence the forty third Silvanus Miller.

Additional Notes:

Home of the late Augustus Wright - No. 14 Beekman Street - Lot dimensions: 24 feet 4 inches by 100 feet deep. House: 50 feet deep, three story, vaults front & rear, a brick cistern and a well. [The Evening Post, page 3 - 22 January 1827]⁴