See 2 differing bios below:
There are some who believe this is the grave of an Abel Wright who was born to Kent Wright around 1760 in New Fairfield, CT; but that Abel is named in Kent's 1776 will, so he cannot be this Abel. I have studied this dilemma and the physical gravestone itself for many years, and now firmly believe this is actually Kent's brother Abel, and that the age of 22 carved into the stone is an error. There is a deep gouge in the stone where the 22 is that suggests there was an earlier number that was changed. It is known that errors were made for a variety of reasons and were not always corrected, sometimes for financial reasons. Gravestones were expensive then just as now. Abel (1695-1770) was a well-known and respected citizen of early Kent and was a charter member of the First Congregational Church. He ran afoul of the Church during the New Lights ferment, was expelled and moved away for a number of years. But he returned and operated one of the few general stores in town which is evident in his extensive Probate record. Kent's son Abel was born about 1760, which would have made him a child in 1760 and clearly not someone with the wealth and occupation evident in the Probate.
--by Marge Smith (48102176) 9-3-22.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inscription on the grave marker for Abel Wright (1749-1770), merchant who died in his "22nd year" (aged 21 years) son of Abel Wright (1722-1762) and Abigail Morgan who married 18 May 1742. As for the "22" on his grave marker, there are no other "2"s with which to compare, so it isn't possible to say it wasn't carved there originally. Furthermore, the numerals for "22" are not atypical when compared with others from that era.
With regard to this gravestone which has received much unwarranted speculation despite its clearly carved inscription, there were four or more men named Abel Wright who lived in the area over time.
Abel Wright who died 7 June 1770 in his "22nd year" of life has an extensive probate record which shows that he OWED quite a lot of money, some to the local citizenry and much to four Manhattan merchants or their firms including suppliers of grain. Otherwise, there are many small amounts of credit supplied to local purchasers at the store. He had a large inventory of items, as would be expected for a shopkeeper. It is likely he received some help from relatives to set up his shop. Notably, there are Morgans in the probate list including his maternal uncle Caleb Morgan.
Abel Wright born 22 August 1695 left the area for New York by 1744. There are no records to indicate he returned to Connecticut. Further records for men named Abel Wright in Connecticut do not pertain to him but pertain to his progeny. Unfortunately, the successive generations of Abel Wrights were seldom referred to with "senior" or "junior" which has led to confusion by some who studied them years later.
--by Charles Boetsch (48409474) 10-28-22, descendant of Abel Wright born 1695.
There are some who believe this is the grave of an Abel Wright who was born to Kent Wright around 1760 in New Fairfield, CT; but that Abel is named in Kent's 1776 will, so he cannot be this Abel. I have studied this dilemma and the physical gravestone itself for many years, and now firmly believe this is actually Kent's brother Abel, and that the age of 22 carved into the stone is an error. There is a deep gouge in the stone where the 22 is that suggests there was an earlier number that was changed. It is known that errors were made for a variety of reasons and were not always corrected, sometimes for financial reasons. Gravestones were expensive then just as now. Abel (1695-1770) was a well-known and respected citizen of early Kent and was a charter member of the First Congregational Church. He ran afoul of the Church during the New Lights ferment, was expelled and moved away for a number of years. But he returned and operated one of the few general stores in town which is evident in his extensive Probate record. Kent's son Abel was born about 1760, which would have made him a child in 1760 and clearly not someone with the wealth and occupation evident in the Probate.
--by Marge Smith (48102176) 9-3-22.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inscription on the grave marker for Abel Wright (1749-1770), merchant who died in his "22nd year" (aged 21 years) son of Abel Wright (1722-1762) and Abigail Morgan who married 18 May 1742. As for the "22" on his grave marker, there are no other "2"s with which to compare, so it isn't possible to say it wasn't carved there originally. Furthermore, the numerals for "22" are not atypical when compared with others from that era.
With regard to this gravestone which has received much unwarranted speculation despite its clearly carved inscription, there were four or more men named Abel Wright who lived in the area over time.
Abel Wright who died 7 June 1770 in his "22nd year" of life has an extensive probate record which shows that he OWED quite a lot of money, some to the local citizenry and much to four Manhattan merchants or their firms including suppliers of grain. Otherwise, there are many small amounts of credit supplied to local purchasers at the store. He had a large inventory of items, as would be expected for a shopkeeper. It is likely he received some help from relatives to set up his shop. Notably, there are Morgans in the probate list including his maternal uncle Caleb Morgan.
Abel Wright born 22 August 1695 left the area for New York by 1744. There are no records to indicate he returned to Connecticut. Further records for men named Abel Wright in Connecticut do not pertain to him but pertain to his progeny. Unfortunately, the successive generations of Abel Wrights were seldom referred to with "senior" or "junior" which has led to confusion by some who studied them years later.
--by Charles Boetsch (48409474) 10-28-22, descendant of Abel Wright born 1695.
See 2 differing bios below:
There are some who believe this is the grave of an Abel Wright who was born to Kent Wright around 1760 in New Fairfield, CT; but that Abel is named in Kent's 1776 will, so he cannot be this Abel. I have studied this dilemma and the physical gravestone itself for many years, and now firmly believe this is actually Kent's brother Abel, and that the age of 22 carved into the stone is an error. There is a deep gouge in the stone where the 22 is that suggests there was an earlier number that was changed. It is known that errors were made for a variety of reasons and were not always corrected, sometimes for financial reasons. Gravestones were expensive then just as now. Abel (1695-1770) was a well-known and respected citizen of early Kent and was a charter member of the First Congregational Church. He ran afoul of the Church during the New Lights ferment, was expelled and moved away for a number of years. But he returned and operated one of the few general stores in town which is evident in his extensive Probate record. Kent's son Abel was born about 1760, which would have made him a child in 1760 and clearly not someone with the wealth and occupation evident in the Probate.
--by Marge Smith (48102176) 9-3-22.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inscription on the grave marker for Abel Wright (1749-1770), merchant who died in his "22nd year" (aged 21 years) son of Abel Wright (1722-1762) and Abigail Morgan who married 18 May 1742. As for the "22" on his grave marker, there are no other "2"s with which to compare, so it isn't possible to say it wasn't carved there originally. Furthermore, the numerals for "22" are not atypical when compared with others from that era.
With regard to this gravestone which has received much unwarranted speculation despite its clearly carved inscription, there were four or more men named Abel Wright who lived in the area over time.
Abel Wright who died 7 June 1770 in his "22nd year" of life has an extensive probate record which shows that he OWED quite a lot of money, some to the local citizenry and much to four Manhattan merchants or their firms including suppliers of grain. Otherwise, there are many small amounts of credit supplied to local purchasers at the store. He had a large inventory of items, as would be expected for a shopkeeper. It is likely he received some help from relatives to set up his shop. Notably, there are Morgans in the probate list including his maternal uncle Caleb Morgan.
Abel Wright born 22 August 1695 left the area for New York by 1744. There are no records to indicate he returned to Connecticut. Further records for men named Abel Wright in Connecticut do not pertain to him but pertain to his progeny. Unfortunately, the successive generations of Abel Wrights were seldom referred to with "senior" or "junior" which has led to confusion by some who studied them years later.
--by Charles Boetsch (48409474) 10-28-22, descendant of Abel Wright born 1695.
There are some who believe this is the grave of an Abel Wright who was born to Kent Wright around 1760 in New Fairfield, CT; but that Abel is named in Kent's 1776 will, so he cannot be this Abel. I have studied this dilemma and the physical gravestone itself for many years, and now firmly believe this is actually Kent's brother Abel, and that the age of 22 carved into the stone is an error. There is a deep gouge in the stone where the 22 is that suggests there was an earlier number that was changed. It is known that errors were made for a variety of reasons and were not always corrected, sometimes for financial reasons. Gravestones were expensive then just as now. Abel (1695-1770) was a well-known and respected citizen of early Kent and was a charter member of the First Congregational Church. He ran afoul of the Church during the New Lights ferment, was expelled and moved away for a number of years. But he returned and operated one of the few general stores in town which is evident in his extensive Probate record. Kent's son Abel was born about 1760, which would have made him a child in 1760 and clearly not someone with the wealth and occupation evident in the Probate.
--by Marge Smith (48102176) 9-3-22.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inscription on the grave marker for Abel Wright (1749-1770), merchant who died in his "22nd year" (aged 21 years) son of Abel Wright (1722-1762) and Abigail Morgan who married 18 May 1742. As for the "22" on his grave marker, there are no other "2"s with which to compare, so it isn't possible to say it wasn't carved there originally. Furthermore, the numerals for "22" are not atypical when compared with others from that era.
With regard to this gravestone which has received much unwarranted speculation despite its clearly carved inscription, there were four or more men named Abel Wright who lived in the area over time.
Abel Wright who died 7 June 1770 in his "22nd year" of life has an extensive probate record which shows that he OWED quite a lot of money, some to the local citizenry and much to four Manhattan merchants or their firms including suppliers of grain. Otherwise, there are many small amounts of credit supplied to local purchasers at the store. He had a large inventory of items, as would be expected for a shopkeeper. It is likely he received some help from relatives to set up his shop. Notably, there are Morgans in the probate list including his maternal uncle Caleb Morgan.
Abel Wright born 22 August 1695 left the area for New York by 1744. There are no records to indicate he returned to Connecticut. Further records for men named Abel Wright in Connecticut do not pertain to him but pertain to his progeny. Unfortunately, the successive generations of Abel Wrights were seldom referred to with "senior" or "junior" which has led to confusion by some who studied them years later.
--by Charles Boetsch (48409474) 10-28-22, descendant of Abel Wright born 1695.
Inscription
Here lies the
Body of Mr.
Abel Wright who
Departed this
life June 7th 1770
in ye 22d year of
his age.
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