Person:Enoch Wright (3)

Enoch’s grandson, George Frederick Wright, never met his grandfather, though he wrote about him. Enoch died in 1810 while George was born in 1838. He did, however, spend his early childhood with his grandmother, Tryphena. In an address given in 1903 George said Enoch was born 26 March 1763, but in his 1916 book he listed only the year and stated he was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. No vital records of Enoch’s birth have been located either in Pittsfield or in Tolland, Connecticut where some list his birth.

There is no credible evidence that Enoch had the middle name Walter as has been posted in a number of compiled genealogies. He did have a son named Walter.

Enoch’s will is signed and dated 5 June, 1810 and the probated record 14 June, 1810. Obviously, George F. Wright was in error when he gave Enoch’s death date as 7 May, 1810 and not in 1808 as he wrote in 1916.

Again, George F. Wright in 1916 says that Enoch and Tryphena West were married in 1783, but does not state where. No vital records of their marriage have been found, but a Pittsfield record lists a marriage of a “Mr. Wright to Mrs. West 18 June, 1783.” Tryphena West’s birth in Tolland, Connecticut is well documented as 21 January, 1790 as is her death in Whitehall, Washington, New York 15 January, 1847.

Finally, Y-DNA evidence from a male direct descendant of Enoch’s confirms a tie to the Samuel Wright (1606-1665) line in Northampton, Massachusetts. This lends support to his grandson’s claim that Enoch’s parents came from Northampton. However, no records have been found that establish who Enoch’s parents were.

Credible corrections or confirmations of the above would be welcomed.