Joel Ellis Wright b 7 Jul 1817 Russell Co., VA, d 24 Sept 1879 Letcher Co, KY; buried Payne Gap, Letcher Co KY; s/o Joel Martin Wright and Susannah Wright. Joel Ellis Wright m. about 1840 to Eliza Agnes Bates b 7 Mar 1819 Russell Co VA d 1 Feb 1892 Letcher Co KY; buried Payne Gap, Letcher Co KY; d/o John Wallis Bates and Sarah Walthrop (Waltrip or Waldrop). One source states that Eliza Agnes Bates descended from the great cattle breeding Bates family of England. She is buried in the church yard downstream from their home". Children of Joel Ellis Wright and Eliza Agnes Bates;
1. Solomon Wright b about 1841 Perry Co KY d 1862 at age 21 in the Civil War.
2. John Wesley "Devil John" Wright (aka "Bad John" Wright) b 17 May 1844 Letcher Co, Ky d 30 Jun 1931 in Pound, Wise Co Va, at 87 years of age. John Wesley Wright m. (1) Alice Lee Harman b 4 Mar 1818; d/o Robert Graham Harmon and Isabelle Waddill Wadell. (NOTE: Numbering John's wives does not denote order of marriages). John Wesley "Devil John" Wright m. 14 Oct 1866 Cynthia KY to (2) Martha Mattie Humphrey b 12 Mar 1835 Cynthiana, KY d 12 Mar 1924 Jenkins, KY; at 89 years of age; buried Wyatt Cemetery, Wyatt, KY; d/o Jamisson Humphrey. John Wesley "Devil John" Wright (aka "Bad John" Wright) m. 8 Sept 1924 Water Gap, KY to (3) Ellen Sanders b 28 Mar 1863 Pike Co KY d 10 Mar 1948 Wise Co VA; at 84 years of age; buried John Wright Cemetery, Horse Gap, Pound, Wise Co VA; d/o Levi Sanders and Matilda Austin (Matilda Austin was the daughter of Jesse and Margaret Austin). John "Devil John" Wesley Wright (aka "Bad John" Wright) m. Serilda Austin. John "Devil John" Wesley Wright (aka "Bad John" Wright) m. Mary Bentley.
3. Sarah Sally Wright b 10 Mar 1847 d 8 Nov 1925; at 78 years of age; m. 15 Jul 1869 Letcher Co KY to Abraham Potter b 13 Aug 1837 Letcher Co KY 13 May 1913 Pike Co KY; buried Potter Family Cemetery, Payne Gap, KY; s/o Isaac Potter and Mary Polly Houston.
4. Susan Wright b 1851 Letcher Co Ky d 1912; buried Potter Family Cemetery, Payne Gap, Ky.
5. William Jesse Wright b 1 Sept 1853 Letcher Co KY d 1935; buried Potter's Fork, Letcher Co KY; m. (2) Micheli Vanover b 30 Apr 1878; d/o Daniel Vanover. William Jesse Wright m. (2) to Mary E Brummit Venters. William Jesse Wright m. (1) Elizabeth Betty Moore. William Jesse Wright m. (4) Maggie Pardue.
6. Joel Martin Wright b 30 Nov 1856 Letcher Co KY d 5 Aug 1933; buried Broas Wright Cemetery, Hammond KY; m. 30 May 1877 Wise Co VA to (1) Jane R Venters b 1857. Joel Martin Wright m. 31 Oct 1884 to (2) Ellen Hall.
7. "Kinky Haired" Samuel J Wright b 10 Dec 1859 Letcher Co KY d 7 Aug 1921; buried Reynolds Family Cemetery, Seco, Letcher Co KY; m. Martha Jane Reynolds b 4 Sept 1860 d 26 Jun 1950 Neon, Letcher Co KY; age 89 years; buried Reynolds Family Cemetery, Letcher Co KY; d/o William Henry Reynolds and Frances Matilda Baker.
1860 Letcher Co KY Census
13 148 148 Wright Joel 43 M W Farm Laborer 2,000 1,850 VA
14 148 148 Wright Eliza 41 F W KY
15 148 148 Wright Solomon 19 M W Farm Laborer KY
16 148 148 Wright John 16 M W Farm Laborer KY
17 148 148 Wright Sarah 13 F W KY
18 148 148 Wright Susan 9 F W KY
19 148 148 Wright William 6 M W KY
20 148 148 Wright Joel 3 M W KY
21 148 148 Wright Samuel 7/12 M W KY
1870 Letcher Co KY Census Precinct 2
20 20 Bentley Davis 33 M W Farmer 200 200 KY
20 20 Bentley Mary 32 F W Keeping House NC
20 20 Bentley Luvisa 15 F W KY
20 20 Bentley Sarah 13 F W KY
20 20 Bentley Alexander 10 M W KY
20 20 Bentley John 6 M W KY
20 20 Bentley James 3 M W KY
20 20 Bentley Emoline 10/12 F W KY
21 21 Wright Joel 52 M W Farmer 1600 500 VA
21 21 Wright Elizabeth 50 F W Keeping House KY
21 21 Wright William 17 M W KY
21 21 Wright Martin 13 M W KY
21 21 Wright Samuel 10 M W KY
22 22 Potter Abraham 28 M W Farmer 60 200 KY
22 22 Potter Sarah 23 F W Keeping House KY
22 22 Potter Elizabeth 2/12 F W KY
22 22 Potter Sarah 11 F W KY
22 22 Potter William 8 M W KY
22 22 Potter Solomon 6 M W KY
