How the English Wrights came to become Irish

James Wright was born in Royston, Yorkshire in 1615 and died in 1700. He first married Jane Owen in 1638 and had one son, William in 1640. Captain James Wright arrived with Cromwell's army in Dublin in 1649 and was later granted the estates of Gola and Carrachor in western County Monaghan by King James II in 1689.

After Jane's her death he married Mary Slacke and had six more children. The second son of that marriage was Thomas who in his marriage had sixteen children. Joseph Wright, the second son of that family, became a Church of Ireland parson with an estate at Carrachor. James Wright of Shercock is believed to be a grandson of Rev. Joseph Wright, being one of the children of James Wright III who inherited Carrachor Hall. His descendants sold the property and some moved to Cork.

In 1664 he is also found on the list of those liable to Hearth Money. In the list of those attainted by the Parliament of James II in 1689, there are the names of James Wright, Gentleman.

He made his will Nov. 21, 1700 and it was proved May 22, 1701. In it, he desired to be buried in the church at Tedavnet, and disinherited his eldest son William, by his first wife Jane Owen, in favour of his son Joseph by his 2nd wife Mary, leaving the estate of Grola to Joseph, and Drumloo to Thomas Wright.

Notes:
Captain James Wright arrived with Cromwell's army in Dublin in 1649. To finance Cromwell's campaign to put down the "rebellious" Irish who just could not accept English rule, Parliment devised a scheme where every person who contributed was to receive estates and manors of 1000 acres, and lands proportionately less for smaller sums. This Act of Subscription began in 1642 and in 1653 Ireland was declared subdued and the lands were given out. James Wright acquired the estates of Gola and Carrachor in western County Monaghan, in 1666. These were tumultuous times in Ireland. In 1689, James Wright, gentleman, is listed amongst those English Protestants who was forced to forfeit his Irish lands when the Catholic James II set up a parliament in Dublin. There is a story that when the original Irish owner of the lands, Arthur MacMahon, tried to reclaim his land in 1689, James Wright and his neighbour John Slack armed themselves and killed MacMahon on the shores of Drumloo. When James II was defeated by William III at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, James Wright had his lands restored to him. Bitterness lasted centuries - during the troubles of 1922, the Gola house was burned and the stones of the wrecked house were used to construct the present Roman Catholic Church and the stone coat of arms was thrown down the well, then 85 feet deep, and 30 feet of rubble was thrown on top.

When James was elderly, his second wife. Mary Slacke prevailed upon him to disinherit his son William born to him and his first wife, Jane Owen in favour of her own son, Joseph. Ironically Joseph’s son died in 1763 without an heir and Gola passed back to the line started by Jane Owen in accordance with that son’s will.

Death: 1700/1

Buried: Tedavnet, County Monaghan

Will: James made his will Nov. 21, 1700 and it was proved May 22, 1701. In it, he desired to be buried in the church at Tedavnet, and disinherited his eldest son William, by his first wife Jane Owen, in favour of his son Joseph by his 2nd wife Mary, leaving the estate of Gola to Joseph, and Drumloo to Thomas.

Source: http://ocotilloroad.com/geneal/wright2.html