Richard:

I received James' death certificate today and it did not list the names of his parents nor where they were born.

I'm working with a genealogist in the Lincolnton library who is very knowledgeable on the Wright family. In my research, I have found that David Fulton Wright, Sr. and Meridith Wright moved from Lincoln, GA to Pine Level, AL. They both held slaves in 1860 in Montgomery County, page 278, 279.

On the 1870 census, James listed that he was born in SC but on the 1880 census he is listed as being born in Missouri. I will follow your suggestion of checking Percivals in Missouri.

As for the family stories, I assumed that James' Father was born abt 1820. In my research, emigration was very heavy in the early 1770s - 1775(normally emigrants and indentured servants). I read that it restarted in 1783 (fare paying passengers). It is very possible that it could be James' Grandfather rather than his Father.