Jabez Wright, my first cousin five times removed, was the
son of Captain Freedom Wright, my four times great grand uncle, and Freedom’s
first wife, Anna Horton. I am writing about him today because he was a
remarkable man in the history of America, and I think I may be one of the first
to put the key parts of his biography together in one place. His
accomplishments include being a militia captain, a merchant, one of the first
surveyors in the firelands of Ohio, a pioneer, a land agent, a judge, a State
Senator, and a participant in the Underground Railroad.
He was born on February 6, 1780, in Winchester, Connecticut,
the second eldest of Freedom and Anna’s six children. He made the move with his
family, including his father, some of his siblings, and his uncle Charles and
his family, to the Black River country of upstate New York in 1802. He became
the first merchant in the town of Denmark in 1805, and was also a militia captain
there.
In 1808, Jabez moved to Ohio, and became the “first white
man on the firelands” in the “old county of Huron” according to A standard history of Erie County, Ohio. The
“firelands” were lands in what is now Ohio set aside for the residents of
specific areas Connecticut who had suffered damage, including fire, to their
property due to the actions of the British in the Revolutionary War. These
lands were not accessed until many years later due to their being heavily
forested and inhospitable. As a surveyor and a land agent for William Winthrop
of New York City, who owned a large amount of land in the area, he along with
Almon Ruggles were to survey several of the townships in the area, including
Huron, Florence, and Oxford. Jabez was to be Winthrop’s agent, and that of his
heir until he died, and named one of his sons after him. You can view Jabez's surveyor's compass at the following link:
On May 11, 1811, Jabez married Almon Ruggles’ daughter
Tamar, likely in Huron. They had at least five children, Winthrop Horton,
Douglass, Lucy, Abigail, and Ruggles. They lived on a farm on the west bank of
the Huron River, about two and a half miles from the lake, known later as “Wright’s
River Farm”, and later to be owned by his son, Winthrop. There is a charming story
of a “sail and a cherry festival” in about 1814 told in A standard history of Erie County, Ohio:
About the year 1814, the pioneers
of Huron concluded they would have a sail and a cherry festival. Cherries grew
on the peninsula. They were to go on Abbot’s boat and started before daylight;
among them were Major Underhill, Judge Everett, Lyman Farwell and others. Lucy
Abbot, then a girl of nine years, accompanied her father. As they passed down
the Huron River, they took on board Judges Wright and Ruggles with their wives;
Messrs. C. Curtis and Daniels with their wives; some young people named Downing
Smith, and several others, and started for “Gov.” Wolcott’s on the peninsula.
On their arrival in the afternoon, a heavy rain had driven the water out so
they could not land near Wolcott’s house. Get cherries they must, and dance
they would, so each gallant gentleman took a lady upon his back and struck out into
the water for the shore and “didn’t go home until morning”. After a supper of
fish, shortcake and cherries, preparations were made for the dance. Tables,
beds and chairs disappeared, music being furnished by the worthy host. Dancing
was kept up until morning. As there was not room for all to dance at once or
even for all to be in the house at the same time, part staid outdoors while
part danced. After breakfast, they all went to picking cherries. Having
obtained all they wanted, they set sail for the Huron River and arrived there about
sunset.
They moved to the lake shore in about 1815, about one mile
west of the mouth of the Huron River, where he built the first brick house in
the township in 1822. They lived there for the rest of their lives. Also, in
about 1815, Jabez was elected Justice of the Peace and a Judge of the Common
Pleas Court. (More of his life in the next installment).
2 comments:
Living in Huron, Ohio, I find your information on Jabez Wright so interesting. Other than Lisa Yako (one of our neighbors), you seem to have more information than even our local historical society.
Thank you so much, Nancy. When I find someone as interesting as Jabez, I enjoy digging a little deeper. I think that the genealogical perspective on history is very valuable.
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