From Diana Bradley (19 Jan 2003):

By the way, Carrie Rankin and Ellen Denny were sisters of Celestia Virginia Rankin - their real mother was Sabra Denny Rankin who died after the 3 girls were born. Carrie Denny married Celestia's father, John C. Rankin, thus became both Celestia's aunt and her step-mother.

Diana Bradley suggests that there might be an earlier relationship between the Wright Family and the Watson Family. The brother of Henrietta Reid (Adams) Watson, Hugh K. Adams, was in the same Civil War battle and prison camp as E. A. Wright. Additionally, there are some early connection between a North Carolina Wright family and the Rankin family.

From Diana Bradley (19 July 2002):

Okay, attached is the scan of the single page in the bible which lists the Wright deaths (no birth dates). The bible was originally a Rankin family bible, obviously given to Celestia Virginia Rankin, oldest daughter of John C. Rankin and Sabra Ann Denny. Celestia was H.L.P.'s wife. They lived in Browns Summit, NC, which is actually in Guilford County, but very near the Rockingham County line, although the bio said their farm was in Benaja, NC, up closer to Reidsville, NC. (named after guess who).

Now, as to the association between Watson-Wright-Patrick. I found some documentation that Nathan Wright became the guardian of James Dillon Patrick, who was orphaned. This orphan was a cousin of Margaret Patrick, his father was James Patrick, Jr., mother Rachel Dillon. James Patrick, Sr. was a brother of John A. Patrick, Margaret's father.

A Nathan Wright and John A. Patrick, were witnesses on both deeds that I received that listed the distribution of lots drawn by the Watson heirs after the death of Mary Price Watson, who had been left the land by her husband, Abner Watson, when he died in Virginia in 1835. There were 2 parcels of land, one divided in 1837 after Mary's death, the second parcel was divided in 1839.

Parcel one witnesses: Nathan Wright, John Reed, John A. Patrick, James Currie (?) and B.W. Braswell. (btw, the parcels were next door to John A. Patrick, and Abner Watson's will specifies that Mary Watson is to receive land in N.C. also called John A. Patrick's lot Why did Abner have land in NC? I've written to another Watson researcher to find out - there is some evidence he may have received a voucher for revolutionary service - maybe he got the land then?)

Parcel two witnesses: Nathan Wright, James Patrick, Thomas Hopkins, James Hopkins, R. Dismukes (?)

Notice John Reed. Obviously, these people all knew each other. I'll bet that Nathan Wright was the father of this B.J. Wright, but I still don't know why he is listed in the Watson bible.

Diana points out that a Bosley G. Wright listed in the 1860 Census for Rockingham Co. NC, who may also be the above B. G. Wright.

Later Diana writes (email 13 Mar 2003):

I found some documentation that Nathan Wright became the guardian of James Dillon Patrick, who was orphaned. This orphan was a cousin of Margaret Patrick, his father was James Patrick, Jr., mother Rachel Dillon. James Patrick, Sr. was a brother of John A. Patrick, Margaret's father.

A Nathan Wright and John A. Patrick, were witnesses on both deeds that I received that listed the distribution of lots drawn by the Watson heirs after the death of Mary Price Watson, who had been left the land by her husband, Abner Watson, when he died in Virginia in 1835. There were 2 parcels of land, one divided in 1837 after Mary's death, the second parcel was divided in 1839.

Parcel one witnesses: Nathan Wright, John Reed, John A. Patrick, James Currie (?) and B.W. Braswell. (btw, the parcels were next door to John A. Patrick, and Abner Watson's will specifies that Mary Watson is to receive land in N.C. also called John A. Patrick's lot Why did Abner have land in NC? I've written to another Watson researcher to find out - there is some evidence he may have received a voucher for revolutionary service - maybe he got the land then?)

Parcel two witnesses: Nathan Wright, James Patrick, Thomas Hopkins, James Hopkins, R. Dismukes (?)

x Notice John Reed [Reid].

Obviously, these people all knew each other. I'll bet that Nathan Wright was the father of this B.J. Wright, but I still don't know why he is listed in the Watson bible.

Further references about John A. Patrick are in the material for Abner Watson.

Further information about this Wright connection to the Watson and Ried families is from Terri Treadway (email June 2003) in her remarks to Diana Bradley:

Researching the Reid family (my ggg grandmother Henrietta Reid Adams Watson), I noticed a cousin of hers, Basley or Bazellia Graves Wright was the son of Martin Wright and Sarah Reid-great aunt of Henrietta's. So, H. L. P. would be a half-cousin by marriage. I think Nathan Wright also was the original owner of the Reid family home. Bound to be cousins somewhere closer than the Reid connection. Read the Will of Ann Wright again found at Rockingham County wills. She lists sons Martin (which I am guessing would be the Martin that married Henrietta's great Aunt Sarah Reid and if correct would be the link to B.G.), William, and Newton. Daughters are Deliliah, Elinor, Permilla Wright so all must be still single and other daughters Nancy PATRICK, Margaret Weatherby. A rootsweb search on Nancy Wright, mother Ann, husband Patrick came up with a Nancy Wright with James Wright b. abt 1736 died Aug 1793 Rockingham County, NC, mother Ann unknown and all these children listed...

I bet this is the link to B.G. Wright and Margaret Patrick. Maybe this Nancy's husband is a relative of Margaret's.

So James Wright (father of Martin Wright, grandfather of B.G Wright) and Nathan Wright are brothers? Elizabeth Wright is great grandmother of B.G. Wright and mother-in-law to Ann? Right .

Oh, in Rockingham County Wills under Gill Webb - Brazail G. Wright is listed as son-in-law - so Elizabeth R must be a Webb? [ see Susan Elizabeth Watson ]

Do you have then her mother being a Rankin?

B. G. Wright's grandmother was the sister of Henrietta Reid Adam's father Ruebin Reid. B. G's aunt Nancy Wright married James Patrick, brother to John Patrick, father of Margaret M. Patrick. B. G and Margaret M. were cousins.

Another connection to Wrights indirectly to Watson: Frederick W. Watson sister in-Law was Susannah Hopkins Watson, wife of Joseph Don Watson. Two of her siblings married siblings of B. G. Wright. Martin P. Wright married Mary Ann Hopkins, and Levinia Martin Wright married James Earl Hopkins.

Under other Patricks: Bride: Matilda Settle
Groom: James Patrick, Jr
Bond Date: 20 Jul 1828
County: Rockingham
Record #: 01 198
Bondsman: Josiah Settle
Bond #: 000121209

The Matilda listed is the sister to Henrietta's mother, Elizabeth Settle Reid. James Patrick Jr is the son of James Patrick and Nancy Wright Patrick. Matilda and James Patrick Jr. had three children 1)Mary Ann who married Alfred Ellington-two children died young 2)James-died young 3) David S. who married a Miss Cardwell (according to memoirs of Hugh Kearns Reid by nephew Hugh Reid Scott).

Diana Bradley responds with:

So, it looks like the Reid, Settle, Watson, Scott,Graves, Hopkins, Davis, and Wright families all intermarried and knew each other. Maybe Elizabeth and B. G. (were closer age to F. W and Jane) were parent replacements for F.W. and Jane after Celestia and HLP returned to NC before the 1880 census.