Dr. Thomas Wright

Citations

1. [S106] Howland Delano Perrine, The Wright Family of Oysterbay, L.I. with the ancestry of and descent from Peter Wright and Nicholas Wright, 1423-1923, page 150 - no. +479 Thomas, b. circa 1720; d. before Apl. 28, 1780; pages 156-159 - no. 479 THOMAS WRIGHT. DR. (EDMI ND. 465). b. circa 1720; d. before ApI. 28, 1780; m. (1) Elizabeth Ann (Joseph and Mary (Wright, no. 472) Cooper. of Cove Neck, L. I.. 1751; b. June 30. 1734; d. Jany. 12, 1755, at East Chester, N. Y.. buried, Oyster Bay; (2) Elizabeth (Johannes and Anna (Bayeux) Groesbeck. of New York City (relict of Rotchelle). Nov. 23, 1755; bapt. Sept. 3, 1731; d. Mch. 20. 1766, at East Chester. N. Y. (3) Nancy     , Oct. 3, 1769.
   Issue by first wife: no. 496 Sarah, b. Mch. 30, 1752; d. Feby. 23, 1835; m. Justus (Judah and Lucy (Cleaveland) Storrs. M.D.. of Mansfield, Conn.. May 6, 1786; b. Oct. 11. 1755; d. Dec. 3. 1818; no.497 Caleb, b. Sept. 8, 1754; d. Mch_ 12, 1765. Issue by second wife: - no. +498 John Groesbeck, b. jany. 8, 1757; d. Sept., 1794; no. 499 Elizabeth, b. Aug. 30, 1761; d. Oct. 7, 1841; m. William Wright (489), Mch. 18, 1783; no. 500 Thomas. b. June 20, 1763; d. Jany. 6, 1764. Issue by third wife: no.+501 Stephen, b. Nov. 25, 1770; d. Nov. 24, 1834; no. 502 A child, b. Apl. 12. 1774; no, 503 Thomas, 2d, b. June 11. 1776.
   Thomas was born at Oyster Bay, studied medicine, settled in East Chester, Westchester County, N. Y.. about the time of his first marriage. His first wife was a cousin. the marriage being an elopement, and during the four years of her married life Elizabeth Ann was never reconciled to her family. After her death the body was taken to Oyster Bay for burial, but her mother, Mary Cooper, would not permit the body to be brought into the house by way of the front door, insisting it should be taken in thru' the same window by which EIizabeth had made her exit, at the elopement. This was done, and after the funeral services the body was taken out the front door to the cemetery. Anna Bayeux, the mother of his second wife Elizabeth Rotchelle, was probably a daughter of Thomas Bayeux. of Albany. N. Y., who married, July 14. 1703. Magdaline Boudinot. The full name of the third wife Nancy. could not be traced. After Dr. Wright's death, she married a Mr. Mc-Darmon, and removed to Albany, N Y. (N. Y. Marriage Bonds, Vol. 1. p. 214; N. Y. Gen. & Biog. Record, Vol. 2. p. 25; Vol. 21, p. 157; N. Y. Co. Surrogate's Court, Liber 18 of Wills. p. 109--Groesbeck; Genealogical Records. MS. entries of births, deaths and marriages taken from Family Bibles, 1581-1917, J. F. J. Robinson. 1917, pp. 281, 283.)
   Of the early life of Thomas Wright we find nothing until 1746, when he appears to be engaged in privateering, as surgeon on the brigantine "Greyhound," of New York. Richard Jeffreys, Commander. He was now probably about twenty-five years of age. One James Vance was Surgeon of the "Greyhound". in 1745, and was succeeded by Dr. Wright. (N. Y. Co. Surrogate's Court, Letters of Administration. Oct. 26, 1745; Liner 16 of Wills, p. 312--William Clark.) On August 10, 1786, Letters of Administration was granted to his son Dr. John G. Wright, and his son-in-law William Wright. on his Estate. (N. Y. Co. Surrogate's Court. Lets. Admr, Liber 2. p. 518.) Prior to 1759. Dr. Wright was owner of the old tide mill in East Chester which, in that year, he sold to Adolph Waldron. (Hist. of Westchester Co., N. Y.. Scharf, Vol. 2. pp. 748, 753.)
   Later he was a trustee of the public buildings in that town, 1760.
   "In 17(4 Mark Christian was app'td Sexton for the Town. (East Cluster.) Upon the lst of April, of that year, he was directed to take care of the Green, to see that hogs dorrt dig. and to dig graves. and to find a good bier"
   At a town meeting, held Apl. 7, 1767:
   "It was agreed that Dr. Wright should not be molested in his burying yard on said Green, in said Town." (Hist. of Prot. Epis. Church in Westchester Co., N. 1'. Bolton, p. 373.)
   The "Green" referred to being the yard of old St. Paul's Church. Dr. 'Wright's home was the place, which in 1860, was owned by the Needham family. being then an ancient edifice. Dr. Wright served in the War of the Revolution, as Surgeon, in Col. Drake's, 1st, or South Westchester Regiment. In 1777, the Commander of the Continental troops deeming it necessary to remove or destroy all the grain or forage in East Chester, a company was sent to Wright's mill to attack it. (New York in the Revolution. N. Y. State Archives. 1.) During 1777-8. Dr. Wright was taken prisoner by the British, and thrown into the old Provost Prison. located in City Hall Park, the building being used in later years for the old Hall of Records, or Register's office. He was detained here for some time. his release being finally secured thru' the efforts of his wife, Nancy Wright. This imprisonment, in this foul building, shattered Dr. Wright's health, and he died about a year after his release, his body was buried in yard of Trinity Church, on Broadway.