Wright Carlton




My great-great grandfather is Wright Carlton, a pioneer settler of Nocatee, Florida.  He was  a  soldier, cattleman, citrus grower and farmer, as well as a land developer, and church leader.

Wright Carlton was born September 17, 1843 in Thomas County, Georgia. His parents, Daniel and Sallie Ann (Murphy) Carlton, moved through Alachua and Marion Counties in Florida and settled briefly in the Alafia Settlement in Hillsborough County, Florida where they were listed in the 1850 census. Soon the Carlton family moved to Fort Meade and then to Troublesome Creek (between present-day Wauchula and Ona), and after the Civil War to Nocatee, Manatee (now DeSoto) County, Florida.

 Wright was a unmarried when he enlisted as a private on April 10, 1862 in Company E, Seventh Florida Infantry, C.S.A. Soon after being enlisting, the Seventh was ordered sent to join the Army of Tennessee, with which they took part in all its campaigns. He was captured December 16, 1864 at Nashville and was a prisoner of war  until released in June 1865.



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March 1, 1866 Wright Carlton married  Mrs. Charlotte (Albritton) Hooker, born September 30, 1842 in Ware County, Georgia. She was a daughter of Thomas H. and Frances (Waldron) Albritton, pioneer settlers of Lily, and the widow of William John Hooker. William, had been killed in battle while serving as 2nd lieutenant of Company E. The story says that he was fighting side by side with Wright Carlton when he died and William asked him to look after Charlotte. Wright and Charlotte had eleven children raising them in the Nocatee area.

 Charlotte Carlton died March 4, 1909 and was buried in Joshua Creek Cemetery. Wright listed his property at that time as: real estate located at Nocatee, Fla. & vicinity, $2,540; personal property, $75; cattle, horses and other livestock, $230; mortgages, notes and other securities, $100; total, $2,945. 

A biographical sketch of Wright in The Story of Southwestern Florida , Volume II, page 84, states, "He settled at Alafia, near Tampa, when he was sixty-four years old and died there."

Wright Carlton was a member of  the Baptist Church. He was noted for his deep faith and for the battle he waged for temperance.  It is stated that he  wrote many articles on the subject but I have not been able to find them.

 Wright Carlton died October 11, 1929 and was buried in Joshua Creek Cemetery.

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