Re: Zadock Wright of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
-
In reply to:
Re: Zadock Wright of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Gerald Collins 4/05/11
Here is more information on the Zadock Wright who was married to Sarah Sullivan --- from DANIEL SULLIVAN, FRONTIERSMAN AND ADVENTURER, by Richard Day, Old French House, Vincennes:
"...Many were from the Valley of Virginia: from the north end of the Valley it was 140 miles by Braddock's Road to Pittsburgh. [7] In 1769 Daniel Sullivan's brother, James, settled west of the Monongahela River near Pittsburgh. [8] About that time, Daniel's sister, Sarah, married Zadock Wright and settled approximately 10 miles downniver from Pittsburgh. [9]
It was to Pittsburgh that several Delaware came on a trading expedition in 1772. They were accompanied by the two boys — Sullivan and Cunningham. [10] Despite their Indian garb, the boys were recognized. Zadock Wright, Sullivan's brother-in-law, entered into negotiations to free them. Cunningham soon was released, but Sullivan was regarded highly by the tribe, and it took a horse, a packsaddle, a half-dozen hatchets, three red blankets, and a gallon of whiskey to win his freedom. But Sullivan, with a shake of his head, refused to leave his Indian family unless he had a beaver hat, such as the white men wore. Wright purchased a cheap wool hat, but Sullivan rejected it as not good enough, with the scornful comment, "ram beaver." It only was after Wright bought him the more expensive beaver hat that Sullivan at last agreed to become; a white man again."
"...Returning to Fort Pitt, Sullivan supported himself as a hunter. [12] However, the influx of settlers into the region around Fort Pitt generated friction with the Indians, friction which escalated and finally broke out into Lord Dunmore's War in 1774. Sullivan enlisted as a guide with Major John Connolly's company of Virginia militia. His brother-in-law, Zadock Wright, was a lieutenant in this company, as was Simon Girty, who later was to become a notorious renegade. Simon Kenton, hiding under the alias of Simon Butler, also was in the company. [13]"
"9. Deane, pp. 2-3, gives the name of "Zodiac" Wright. A person named "Zeddick" Wright was on the south branch of the Potomac during 1755, and Zadock Wright was a sergeant in a Virginia ranging company during 1764 and was a lieutenant under the command of Lord Dunmore in 1774. Bockstruck, pp. 53, 148, and 265; Cranmer, p. 130."