My Family Tree

in Springfield Mass in 12 Dec 1639, Ancestors in England NEH&GR Oct 1850

Samuel Wright Descendants has Emfell, his father's 1st wife, as his mother.
Some sources erronously have him as the son of his brother Nathaniel.
Curtis Wright has him as Samuel Wright, born in 1614, son of Nathaniel Wright and Lydia James.
Governor Silas Wright of New York is a descendant.
BIRTH: Morgan and Allied Families has birth in 1600. Descendants of Deacon Samuel Wright has birth in Wrightsbridge. Famous Political US Leaders has birth on December 17, 1591 in London.
BIOGRAPHY: Deacon Samuel Wright undoubtedly belonged to an ancient English family, but the place of his origin remains undiscovered. He was a Puritan and came to America about 1636, One of the first settlers of Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts; he came to that place about 1636 in the company of William Pynchon, and others, from Eastern Massachusetts, who were intent on settling the area for its rich trade and fertile land. Springfield, originally called by its Indian name "Agawam," until 1640, was surrounded by tribes of savages. It was the only English settlement in Massachusetts, west of Boston and vicinity, and perhaps contained not over 10 or 15 families when Deacon Samuel, and family, came and settled on what is now Main Street, a little below where now stands the historic First Church. In Springfield in 1639 he was a member of the jury, and was a proprietor as early as 1641. He removed to Northampton in 1655, and was a prominent citizen of that town, as he had been in Springfield. He was a deacon of the First Church in both towns, and served on important committees and in various offices. In the absence of the pastor he frequently conducted the religious services and was a regular exhorter in 1656-57. He was admitted a freeman April 13, 1648. His homestead in Northampton continued to be occupied by his descendants down to 1800.
From Descendants of Deacon Samuel Wright: Documented events in his life were:
1. Jury Duty; 14 Nov 1639; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA. Served on Jury hearing cases between John Woodcoke & John Cable and between William Pynchon & Thomas Merricke. [This was the first jury noted in the court records; the other jurists were Henry Smyth, Jehew Burr, Henry Gregory, John Searle & Samuell Hubbard]
2. Jury Duty; 18 Jun 1640; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 3. Served on jury hearing case beteen William Warriner & Henry Gregory.
3. Jury Duty; 10 Sep 1640; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 3. Served on jury hearing case between Henry Gregory & John Woodcoke in action of the case for 'fower poundes fowerteene shillings'
4. Oath of Freemanship/Allegiance; 14 Apr 1648; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 3. Samuell Wright was sworne to be Freeman
5. Fine; 30 May 1649; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 3. Along with John Herman, ordered to pay 1u bushels of marsh wheat to Henry Burt for the damage their team of oxen did to his field.
6. Employment; 25 Jul 1653; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 4. [torn]n accot of what I haue laid out [torn] Mill dam 25 July 1653 for Sam Wright 3 d 00 05 00
To Sam Wright for 3 d worke besides above 00 05 00
7. Fine; 1 Nov 1653; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 3. The persons underwritten being presented for breach of the Towne orders are ordered to pay: as followeth :- Samuell Wright 0.02.00
8. Provided Bond; 24 Mar 1654/55; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 3. Provided a bond of Ð4 for the preformance of the order concerning his son Samuel Wright Jr. providing for the illegitimate child he fathered on Mary Burt.
9. Lawsuit; 29 Mar 1659; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 3. Brought suit, along with Edward Elmer, Alexander Edwards & John Stebbin, against the town of Northampton "in an action of the case concerninge their turninge out some of the freemen from beine select men tothich office they were chosen."
10. Employment; Jun 1660; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 5. From John Pynchon's Account books: Deacon Wright CR June [1660] By your halfe, for Sawing of the Timber for the Corection house03 15 00
DEATH: Died while sleeping in his chair.
Famous Political US Leaders has death in 1686 in London, England.
In his will he makes mention of each of his children, Samuel, Margaret, Hester, Lydia, Mary, James and Judah. Margaret, his wife, does much the same in her will mentioning also Hester's husband, Samuel Marshfield, and son James' daughter, Helped, to whom she bequeathed her bed.

Deacon Samuel Wright came to America in 1633 on the ship "Arabella". In America he was better known as (Deacon) Samuel Wright Sr. He was our first "Wright" ancestor in America in 1633, first mentioned in Springfield, MA in 1638. It is said he probably came to America to represent his father in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.