Robert Wright (South Carolina judge)

He was the son of Sir Robert Wright, Chief Justice of the King's Bench (1687–1689) who died in Newgate Prison following the Glorious Revolution.

Born into the wealthy Wright family of Kilverstone in Norfolk Robert graduated from Caius College Cambridge and became a judge after being called to the bar at Middle Temple.

He was appointed Judge of the Common Pleas of the County Palatine of Durham in the North East of England and married the widow Alicea Pitt (née Johnson) (d.1723) (note that some records such as the marriage records in County Durham archives give the spelling as ‘Alicea and some, such as the tomb of Baldwin Pitt give it as Alicia there in 1689 and as his wife was the heir of her father John Johnson's land he is likely to have gained the titles to the land involved.

It seems he gained titles to further land and property when his sister Anne Wright (d.1731) married local landowner Freville Lambton (1661–1731).

This resulted in the withholding of Wright's chief justice salary for five years because, it was said, he "hath lately invaded and violated the known privileges of this house".

[5] He constantly pursued the outstanding sum up to his death in 1739 and then the cause was taken up by his wife Isabella and son James with limited success, securing £1,000 from £5,000 owed.

Sir Robert was considered and inept and corrupt judge and his performance when presiding at the notorious Trial of the Seven Bishops was generally criticised.

Robert was appointed Judge of the Common Pleas in the County Palatine of Durham in the North East of England, as far from the capital as he could go at the time, where he married the widow Alicea Pitt (née Johnson) (d.1723) in 1689 and thereby likely came to own land titles in the area as Alicea was the[16] heir to her father John Johnson, a gentleman of Sedgefield and a local land owner.

It is not known how Robert's appointment in the North East and his marriage to Alicea, both in the year he was called to the bar and his father died, were arranged.

After the death of her surviving parent, Anne Scroggs, Lady Wright (d.1713[23]) or her living relatives may not have had the means even if they had the will to care for her three unmarried step-daughters and step-son in addition to the widow herself and her young son.

In addition to dealing with what must have been a deeply personal loss and the crushing blow of the family's fall in society, Robert Wright may at 23 equally unexpectedly also have found himself with the responsibility of three younger sisters to provide for.

In 1715 Queen Anne was succeeded by the Hanoverian King George I and, a Jacobite Rebellion was suppressed and London once again became a safe place for Robert.

At this time Carolina was a developing colony in the New World and a desirable place for wealthy and influential men from Great Britain to emigrate.

An eye-witness account of their arrival exists by resident Elizabeth Hyrne writing to her brother Burrell Massingberd in Lincolnshire.

Elizabeth writes in her letter which she dates 21 January 1725:[26][27][28] "Here is laitly arrived in this province one Mr Robert Wright a gentleman of large family of both sons and daughters they appear to be very genteel people and to have a good substance it is said they have now 4 or 500 pounds[a] in England at a place called Sagefeild near Newcastle that he has been a member of the English Parliament,[b] he has brought over a coach and several servants in livery, what was his reason for leaving England I cannot tell some say his father was a judge in King James's reign and that being a non-juror[c] was weary of heavy taxes but I believe they indever to keep it privett[d] be it so or not however he is likely to make a good settler he has bought a large plantation with some buildings upon it upon Ashley River and has paid a great deal of money for it if you know of anything of him".Being one, Elizabeth Hyrne wrote as an 18th-century woman.

In 1735 Robert added a further 2000 acres to his estate when he purchased an area which became known as Cove Hall[30] or Wrights Bluff on the Santee River.

His will is not known to exist and following his death his land and property was distributed to his family and what remained, including ‘a very good parcel of slaves’ was sold by auction at his estate near Dorchester in 1742.

His wife Isabella and his son Sir James Wright pursued his claim for outstanding pay with the South Carolina Assembly and eventually obtained £1000 of the £5000 owed.