I've found that, too; there are large chunks of Virginia history that have been pretty much ignored. Yes, it is a mystery. good luck, Nancy ------- I was never lost, but I was bewildered once for three days. --Daniel Boone On Jan 16, 2007, at 12:05 PM, Diane Ethridge wrote: > My Wright family of Brunswick Co. (and surrounding counties)., VA > were early members of the M-E denomination but I haven't been able > to find out just where they came from prior to VA. From what I've > read, they freed their slaves & gave them the funds to return to > Africa to set up the state of Liberia. Also, some of the Wrights > went with the freed slaves as missionaries & died over there of > tropical diseases for which they had no immunity. > > Many in this Wright family left VA & went to Greene Co. OH where > they started M-E churches around Xenia, OH. My ancestor, Reuben > Wright, went on to Henry Co. IN to pastor a church in Knightstown, > IN. At least one of his sons, James (my line), continued the > ministry in IL as a "circuit-rider" preacher. My Reuben Wright > married an Anna (or Joanna) Gilbert of the large Gilbert family in > early Surry Co. VA area. > > Since these families were large, obviously quite wealthy & > influential, were early "Planters & Gentry" of the area & also > quite active in the early history of the M-E denomination, I'm > completely baffled as to why the information on them is so > scarce. There were numerous folks in Bedford Co. VA, at this > same time, of other Wrights & Gilberts, but the connection between > them & mine hasn't been established even though quite a bit of > research has been done on the Bedford Co. group. I've written to > the Surry Co. Historical Society to inquire about "family group > sheets" but was told that they couldn't do my research for me. I > wasn't looking for that but just some info to help in my search. > > Anyone with info or connections to the WRIGHT, GILBERT and/or > COOPER families in early VA, please contact me at > [log in to unmask] or post here. I would so appreciate any > clue. > > Thank you very much, > Diane P. Ethridge > Conroe, TX > > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the > instructions > at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html