The following notes come from "Heritage of Stokes County" in an articlewritten by Nonnie Wright Garrison:
Albert Wright was a hard working, honest man. He made good and wentbroke twice. He made a comeback yet again and today his farm and homeare owned by a son Premon Wright who has refused $125,000.00 for it.(1970)
During the depression and hard times he built a tobacco barn that theonly cash paid out was for the nails he used, for which he walked 4 or 5miles to Ellerbe, NC to buy.
He was ordained a Missionary Baptist preacher, preached some good sermonsbut was never licensed. He helped build and begin a brush arbor where hepreached. Later a log church was built and now a brick church is there.The name of the church is New Hope a few miles from Ellerbe, NC inRichmond County.
He and a neighbor used to make music at our homes. He also was a dearfather. O how I loved him. He loved to sing the good old hymns...."Whenthe Roll is Called Up Yonder," "Blessed Assurance," .....and such. Hewas a farmer....most of his life. A few years he helped his olderbrother Joe Wright who had a dairy at Prosperity, West Virginia. Also heworked in the coal mines some too while in West Virginia. He made $5.00a day as a pump operator in the mines..... Once when something went wrongand the pump went out, he had to climb out of the mine 650 feet up withwater coming down on him. He was no quitter.
__________________________________________The 1900 census for Quaker Gap township of Stokes County, NC shows Albertand Ava with their 6 month old daughter, Minnie. Albert's year of birthis listed as 1881; his age as 19. This is not correct as Albert is shownwith his parents on the 1880 census as being two years old. Ava's yearof birth was 1877; age listed as 23 on the 1900 census.
Regarding Grandma Wright..my recollections mostly revolve around the homeplace smelling old and musty, Grandpa Wright's whiskers scratching myface when we said good-bye, but mostly what sticks in my memory waslistening to them talk about "signs"- birds flying into windows andwhip-poor-wills forewarning of death in family, mirrors breaking,etc.-sounds weird when I type this, but sure made lasting impression onme as a child.
"Grandpa Wright was more "approachable" than Grandma as I remember. Ihave always said my mother's side of family seems to be "gifted"- did youknow Nonnie could dowse for water-? They were very spiritual- it'scommon theme in writings, letters, even Grandma Wright's crochet. Hazelnoted that for their time, Paulina [Taylor Bryant] and Ava would havebeen considered "intelligent" for reading, writing, and composingpoetry/crochet, especially as women in their day.".......Barbara Currie,granddaughter of Nonnie Swain Wright and great-granddaughter of Ava EllaBryant.
Ava wrote the following at the age of 85:
A story I am writing as I strive;
V ery unusual to be alive
A t the age of 85.E very one should try to be good.
L et all love God as we should.
L et us read his holy Word,
A nd obey it as we should.W right here on this earth,
R ight where I have been since birth,
I wish to be good and
G ive him my life as I should
H ere on earth is my aim.
T he 13 capital letters spell my name.****************************************************
Down memory lane to an old log School House in Surry County, NC somefifty years ago by Mrs. Ava E. Wright was Ava Bryant.
The old school house was built of logs, slab benches the seats; And a agreat long shelf for a writing desk, which made the house complete.Except a fireplace in one end, and a shovel made of tin; a glass windowin one side to let the light and sunshine in.
Tablets was then unknown, we learned to write on slates. We knew justhow to walk; we had never heard of roller skates. A bucket of water saton a shelf, in one corner an old straw broom. The boys always made thefires, and the girls swept up the room. It was here we girls and boys ofyore trudged through the snow and rain, with frostbitten toes and achingnose, we oft would cry with pain. We had to walk in those old days;there was no way to ride. And when we could not walk the foot log, wecould sit down and slide. No bridges was then across the creeks; theroads was always bad; but we was as happy as could be, content with whatwe had.
Our dresses were made of factory chex, split bonnets on our heads; andoft times our shoes did look like runners on a sled. Our dresses weremade tight waists, and skirts buttoned up in the back so neat. Theskirts was long, sure as you are born, they flapped around our feet. Wewould jump the rope and climb the trees; skin our shins up to our knees.We would hop, skip, and run, we sure did have lots of fun. We worestrings tied around our heads, our hair was never ........ and on ourface the truth I will say with powders was never daubed. Sure I have notlied, our lips with red was never dyed.
We had games just good enough "Puss in the Corner" and "Blind Man'sBuff;" "Mumble Peg" and "Old Jack Rocks." We would sit on the ground inflocks. Also we played baseball and "William Trimbletoe," and ..........
................, "hide and seek base," and "tap hand," and "Frog in theMiddle" to beat the band. "Old Black Man" and "Molly Bright;" the way werun, it was a sight. We played gully keeper and "Aintry (?)Over"-sometimes the old dog would play, his name was Rover.Then when Friday came we were all full of glee, for we all knew wewould have a spelling bee. We had a captain for each side, and westood in rows so dignified. Some would spell and spell and never miss aword, such spelling as we never heard. In our school we had no 'grademother;' the boys sat on one side of the room, the girls on the other.
But that old school house of long ago, the place where it stood wehardly know; They tore it down and took it away; but the memory of itlingers with me until this day. Though may are gone who loitered there,but I have to meet them on the golden stair. Some have passed away,and those of us who linger yet are getting old and gray. We just had oneteacher, he made the rules. The old name of the place was Hills School.Now it's not the same, for the people have changed its name. We don'tyet know what will happen, but today it's called Hill's Chapel, but thesame old graveyard yet remains, and a nice church just the same.
Near 50 years have passed since I met my dear old schoolmates there, butI yet love them all, that's fair. And what pay our teacher got per monthwould astonish many scholars, for his work each month was twenty-ninedollars. Some pupils lived far, and some lived near, yet each other'spleasure we tried to share. I suppose there would have been 80 if oneshould count them. This place was not far from old Pilot Mountain. Somewent out good places to fill; this dear old place was near Bob Hill'smill. It too is likely gone today, and I live 100 miles away. Now Iremember well many a face, and would love to give the names of all, butit would take time and too much space. So just a few will have to do.1st was Jim Hill, and Bettie and Nan. 2nd Boss .................,Mildred and Sam. 3rd David Bryant, George, Jennie, and Ava. 4th HenryMcDaniel, Johnnie, Sara and Vada. 5th Henry Shelton, Sara and Mary. 6thRosa Adams, Barry(?), Willie and Sarah. 7th Manerva Helpler, Susie,Bettie, Lucy and Jemmie. 8th Edna Carson, Willie, Bobby, Sammy andLilla. 9th Mary Flippin, Emma, Lucy, Joe Jim, and Eddy(?). Now I havetold several names already, So I think I will stop for now, told quite alot.
Ava E. Wright, Route 2, Bear Creek, N.C.
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Text of a letter and will Ava wrote to her daughter Nonnie May 18, 1951:
Nonnie, as there has been so many hard words spoken to me about takingcare of me when I get old and disabled to work and about burrying my bodywhen dead. I know not what the future holds for me, but I had muchrather just drop off and be gone than t be confined for someone else todo for; so if I should drop off as thing is now, to be sure I want hisdebts paid while I am living yet I might not ever live to see them paid.So here is my will and testament. As I feel sure if I was to pass awaythat my companion would soon marry again and desert his children. [Notethat by this time, Ava's children were all grown, and some hadgrandchildren!-note by bhp] I want to have enough property of my own toput me away just plain and cheap. No flowers, then I want my 6 childrento have all the rest that is mine, equally divided, no contentions aboutit. I want each one to have something that I made myself. I only have11 acres of land and a few other things. I don't care for any dr. billsto be paid on me. My life is not so happy here no way, but I do knowthat Jesus will give me justice and that is all I deserve. I feel justlike I was ready to go and be with him.
I have done so many things that I should not have done, yet I beg Godevery day for forgiveness, and I feel that sweet assurance in my heartthat it is done. I don't wish to be in any one's way. So I really dowant to just drop off when my time comes and not bother any one. Therehas been so many things told on me that was untrue all the pleasure I getout of that is just pray for the ones that treat me wrong. I havenothing in my heart against any person. So you can just keep this. Isure do not want any burial association to put me away. I wish to haveenough of my own to pay for it being done
I do not want any one to be sad over my going to a lovelier home than Ihave ever had here, my sorrows and troubles will be ended, this life donetoil completed and the victory won.
I do not feel like there is anything here for me to want to live for. Ibegged the Lord for many years to let me live to see my own baby grown;now I have seen that. I feel like if I was to drop out of this lifepretty soon, my companion would marry again about like his brotherWilliam did, so it's my own request for my own children to have whatproperty or things I should leave. I want each one to have a bed spreadthat I myself made so I am giving one to each of them, then I do want mychildren to divide their own will.
My choice is to be burried in Shiloh graveyard where my 4 babies was put,no flowers of any note, just give my little grandchildren or someone thatneeds it what will maybe spent for flowers to go on my grave that will dome no good; my body will be nothing but dust, while I am perfectlysatisfied that my soul will be happy with Jesus. I think with my ownlife I am preaching my own funeral, yet I do not object to a funeralservice. I had rather eat bread alone for months to save the means withwhich to pay my own burrying expenses. I do not wish to be a burden toany one when time comes for me to go. My choice if it be God's own willjust drop out and be gone. This, as you know was written by my own hand.(Signed)
Ava E. Wright**Please let the reader note that Albert Wright seems to have enjoyedteasing his wife rather unmercifully, and that Ava seems to have had nosense of humor, at least in her later years. Her youngest daughterremembers her as being an unhappy person, and one wonders if she mightnot have been suffering from depression.
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Ava made note in her journal of important happenings during herlifetime. One such note: "The star with a tail called a comet came overStokes County, NC the night of May 4, 1910." Another: "The firstairplane came the same way [as the comet] on February the 14th, 1920.
Was burned badly and died on her second birthday
Was burned badly and died on her second birthday
Endowment reconfirmed and former sealings ratified for Jones Taylor
on 15 Nov 1967.
Verified by pictures from the Cem., by Del Taylor of Peoria, AZ, 30 Sep 2004.1880 census shows a Martha widowed with children: Sterling b. abt. 1871 and Martha b. abt. 1874.
1880 census shows a Martha widowed with children: Sterling b. abt. 1871 and Martha b. abt. 1874.
not sure of her real father....
Compiled by Elayne Pair Gibbons, epg51@PairPlace.net
Compiled by Elayne Pair Gibbons, epg51@PairPlace.net
Compiled by Elayne Pair Gibbons, epg51@PairPlace.net