In 1807, at the age of sixty-eight, Charles and his brother
Freedom were appointed overseers of the poor for the town of Harrisburg, of
which the village of Denmark was a part at the time. This was decided at
Freedom’s tavern where the second part of the town meeting was held. Freedom
and his tavern will be addressed in a future blogpost.
Charles, in Ancestry, is listed as having been in the New
York militia during the War of 1812, Carter’s regiment, the 101st, despite his advanced age of seventy-three. His
rank is that of a captain at the beginning and the end of his service. This
could not have been his son, Charles Jr., as he was listed as being a private
in the same regiment. However, Hough reports in History of Lewis County, New York: with illustrations and
biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers: “A
company of Silver Greys or Exempts, was formed in this town, under Charles
Wright, during the war. It never found occasion for service”. Silver Grey
companies appear to have been formed of men who were exempt from service,
usually due to their age, but who were deemed fit enough to serve. If Charles
was also in the 101st under Colonel Zeboam Carter, then he did see
service in the war. Hough describes their participation as follows:
A call en masse was made, and
the militia of the county served in one regiment, under Colonel Carter, from
July 30th to Aug. 22, 1814, at Sackett's Harbor. General Martin was on duty
upon this occasion. The last call en masse was made Oct. 7, 1814, and the
militia of Lewis county were comprised in four consolidated companies under
Colonel Carter. They served at Sackett's Harbor till Nov. 11, 1814.
He concludes his discussion of
Lewis County’s participation in the War of 1812 with:
The above comprises the military
service of the citizens of Lewis county during the war. The settlements were
frequently alarmed by rumors of Indian invasions from Canada. The route through
the county became a thoroughfare of armies, and every resource of the valley
was called into use to supply the troops passing through, or the garrison on
the frontier.
If he did not serve, but only was part of a Silver
Grey company which did not see service, then at least several of his sons
served in Carter’s 101st, including Charles Jr. (private), Stephen
S. (musician, fifer), Tyrannus Augustus (private), Erastus (private), Chester (sergeant),
and Nathan (corporal). (Matthew Miles Wright is not recorded as being part of
this regiment, but may have served elsewhere). The sons of Charles’s brother
Freedom who served in the same regiment include Asa Douglas (quarter master),
and Freedom Jr. (private then sergeant).
(It is a somewhat odd feeling to be a Canadian and
have so many relatives who fought against my country during the War of 1812, a
war which is credited with helping to forge the nation of Canada. There was no
one on any of my direct lines living in Canada at the time, however, to my
knowledge).
Captain Charles Wright, one of favourite ancestors,
died on July 13, 1820, likely in Copenhagen, Lewis, New York. I have not been
able to ascertain where he is buried. He was a family man; a soldier; a
military, civic and church leader; a patriot; a pioneer; and last, but not
least, a songwriter. He must have had a wonderful sense of humour judging by
the circumstances of the writing of The Keg and the Law, discussed in
the previous blogpost. He sounds like he must have been “a man’s man”. He is
probably among my five top ancestors whom I would like to have met--maybe in
the next world.
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