John Wright, of Prince William County

JOHN WRIGHT (1685/87 Westmoreland Co., VA - 1730 Prince William Co., VA), son of Francis Wright, was proven by Hoppin, without question, to be a son of Anne Washington. Quotes from "The Washington-Wright Connection" by Charles Arthur Hoppin, state: "JOHN WRIGHT, though gentle born and gently reared.... seems from the records like a man who to himself said, "Le me be no assistant for a state, but keep a farm." "John Wright was a better sportsman than farmer or merchant and more pleased with entertaining than in advancing his political or private fortunes. That his inheritance was sufficient unto his needs scarcely can be gainsaid. he bought but little land, and sold a large amount. Eventually he sold out entirely and removed to another part of Virginia; not to his own personal enhancement but, most fortunately, to the ultimate advantage of his children, especially to his long-lived second son, John. John Wright, however, neglected no public duty and, as was to be expected, succeeded his father as attorney, sheriff's deputy, surveyor, vestryman and judge; and he is always of record as a "gentleman", maintaining his excellent social position. John moved (1723) to the newer settlement in the present Price William county, as a pioneer, where one can scarcely doubt he was a first justice and sat at the first court held therefor. "He passed the short remainder of his life in the quiet comfort and enjoyment of his own estate, possessed of fund ample to the indulging of his own social pleasure and for the education and preferment of his two known sons, Francis (who died young)and John, whose long and honorable career confirmed the wisdom and garnered the resulting opportunities of his father's removal from Westmoreland. His second son, John, far surpassed him in record as a public man. “

John Wright married Dorothy (last name unknown). Although Hoppin hypothesized a surname Awbrey for her, this has since been disproved. (Parenthetically, Hoppin also attributed to Anne Washington a daughter Anne Wright, wife of Gerrard Davis, although this lady actually was the daughter of Francis Wright’s second wife; the husband, Gerrard Davis, can be proved to have been born after 1706.) The wife of John Wright was a Dorothy, but was not Dorothy Awbrey. Dorothy Awbrey was the wife of John Billups.

I am only familiar with two children of John and Dorothy:

1) Francis Wright (1703-- Abt 1741/1742) (eldest son, died a fairly young man)

2) John Wright (II) (1706/1707- 27 Feb 1792) [NO - disproved by DNA test results]
..

References

• The Washingtons: A Family History: Seven Generations of the Presidential Branch: Volume One by Justin Glenn 2015. < GoogleBooks > “ .. Anne Washington , had only one son : John Wright . In turn , that John Wright had only one solidly confirmed son , Francis Wright …”
• https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I2455...
• https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I2249...
• Colonial Virginians and Their Maryland Relatives: A Genealogy of the Tucker ... By Norma Tucker. Page 146 GoogleBooks
• GEDCOM Note [g675.ftw]>Poss. of Prince William Co, VA SRCE: Garner-Keene Families of Northern Neck, VA, p. 108.