George Wells (abt. 1644 - bef. 1696)

Born about 1644 in Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 19 Jul 1696 before about age 52 in Baltimore, Province of Maryland

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Biography

George Wells was a Maryland colonist.

Origin

No record of the birth of George Wells has been found. He was born in Virginia around 1645 and came to Maryland from Charles City County with his father as a child around 1652.^[1] He was the son of Richard Wells and his wife Frances, who was the daughter of Richard & Lady Catherine (Weston) White.^[2] The Wells family settled with other Puritan refugees from Lower Norfolk County in the Herring Run area of Anne Arundel County.

According to his father's will, George was left all the land his father owned in Baltimore County. This included a 300 acre tract called Planter's Delight his father purchased from Capt. George Goldsmith and a 475 acre tract called Wells Neck patented by Richard along the Gunpowder River .^[3]

Marriage & Family

George was married sometime before 1671 to Blanche, the daughter of Major Samuel Goldsmith and Johanna, his wife, and settled in Septusia Hundred. George & Johanna were the parents of the following children:

1. Benjamin Wells b. abt. 1671
2. Blanche Wells b abt. 1673 married Richard Smithers
3. Frances Wells b. abt. 1675 married Thomas Frisby
4. George Wells b. abt. 1677 married Mary Goldsmith
5. Susannah Mary Wells b. abt. 1680 m. John Stokes

Public Service

George represented Baltimore County in the Maryland Lower House in the 1674-75 session. He was also a Baltimore County justice from 1672 to 1689 and a member of the St. George's Parish Vestry from 1692-96. He served as captain of the Baltimore County Militia between 1667-1680 and colonel between 1680 and 1689.^[4]

Death

George's death was recorded in the register of St. George's Parish as follows:

Col. George Wells buried on his Plantation upon

the Bay side the nineteenth day of July in the year of our Lord, 1696.^[5]

George's detailed will is very long and difficult to read in spots. An abstract taken from microfilm available online at the included link follows: I George Wells of Baltimore County in the Province of Maryland being of perfect health & memory . . .

• my son Benjamin to pay my just debts and I nominate to be my executor and in case of mortality of my son George or my next heir with and by assistance of George Utie & James Philips of this county and Thomas Stockett of Anne Arundel.
• whereas I am bound to my wife Blanche for half of the estate of Major Samuel Goldsmith, my executor to pay my wife Blanche her jointure the sum of £200 lawful money of England and if she do marry then to acquit and clear my house & estate.
• if she continues in widowhood and keep herself single then to live in my house upon my estate and have the bringing up of her children during her natural life or til they are of age.
• my son George to be of age at 18 but not to possess his full portion until he’s 21.
• my three daughters to be of age upon marriage or after 15 years, or 21 years if unmarried.
• to my daughter Blanche land on Chester River in Kent County 1500 acres called Lankford’s Neck.
• to my daughter Frances 100 acres called Black Island, 320 acres called Colletts Point and a part of Planters Delight, in all about 1500 acres.
• to my daughter Susana Mary another part of Planters Delight with a small part of Colletts Point and part of Black Island containing about 250 acres.
• if any of my daughters should die before they arrive to age their part of land to fall to the other heirs.
• to my son George the other part of Planters Delight about 400 acres, also Goldsmith Hall cont. 800 acres, also Timber Proof cont. 300 acres, also Walltons Addition cont. 81 acres except the horse mill and the mill which I give a portion of to all my children.
• my children to be maintained & brought up out of the main stock.
• the estate possessed by my son Benjamin in Ann Arundel County is his except £50 due from my cousin Thomas Stockett and £20 due from cousin Samuel Chew, all other debts due me I freely give to my son Benjamin and also the land lying between Back River & Middle River in Baltimore County cont. 475 acres provided Benjamin to pay his mother the jointure of £200 before mentioned and also all the land in Ann Arundel County belonging to me that was my fathers.
• my remaining personal estate to be divided between my five children viz. Benjamin, Blanche, Frances, George and Susanna Mary and in consideration my son Benjamin already is possessed of his estate, he to take care of them and theirs till they arrive to the age before mentioned . . .

Signed with a cursive signature on 20 FEB 1695 and witnessed by Thomas Smith, Elizabeth Hamanck & Ralph Gillium. Probated 11 APR 1696.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Maryland Patent Records Liber AB&H folio 347
2. ↑ Barnes, Robert W. “ Colonial Families of Anne Arundel County, Maryland” Westminster, MD: Willow Bend Books: 2000
3. ↑ Prerogative Court Wills Liber 1 folio 288 [msa.maryland.gov]
4. ↑ Papenfuse, Edward C. et. al. “A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislalture 1635-1789” Vol. 426 pg. 877 [aomol.msa.maryland.gov
5. ↑ St. George's Parish, Harford Co. Register image 1029 /page 183
6. ↑ Prerogative Court Wills of Maryland Liber & folio 192 [1]

Material below copied from an unknown source

George Wells received his commission as Captain on June 28, 1667, and

was placed in command of all the forces of the late Captain George GoldW

ells Family

smith of the western shore of Baltimore County. By 1681 he had been

promoted to colonel in command of the Foot of Baltimore County.8

The position of Colonel Wells in Baltimore County was both an important

and difficult one. The Indians of northern Maryland, Delaware, and

southern Pennsylvania in those days were continually causing havoc to the inhabitants

at the head of Chesapeake Bay. As colonel of the militia and

commander-in-chief of all His Lordship Foot Militia in Baltimore County,

he was placed in many a combat with the Redman. The Council issued

orders on July 3, 1676, for Colonel George Wells of Baltimore County

to get his men ready for a council of war.

He reported to the Council on August 23, 1678, the murder of three

Englishmen on the east side of the Susquehanna, as they lay asleep. He also

participated in the campaign against the Nanticoke Indians and for his

services he received 200 pounds of tobacco in 1678.4

On July 20, 1674, George Wells, Gent. of Baltimore County, John

Wells, Gent. of Kent County, and Robert Wells of Anne Arundel County

in a deed describing themselves as the sons of Richard Wells late of Herring

Creek, Anne Arundel County, Gent., conveyed for 30,000 pounds of tobacco

to Captain William Burgess" Benjamin Choice" to the west of Herring

Creek and west of the lands of Francis Holland, II Morley's Lot" " BednaIl

Greene", and" Benjamin's Addition". Blanche Wells the wife of

George waived her dower rights, as well as Ann, the wife of John, but no

wife of Robert 'entered into the transfer.

Colonel Wells often conferred with the various tribes of the north,

interceded frequently in their behalf, and issued passes to the members

of the Susquehanna and Delaware tribes to travel through the county

unmolested.

Besides his military pursuits Colonel Wells carried on a large trade between

the Province and the port of London. His agent in London was

Samuel Groome.

Trading with the Indians began almost as soon as the white men landed

in America. By 1680 it had pecome so extensive and important that the

Assembly passed legislation governing its procedure. About that year the

Lower House passed a bill that only those who had licenses were permitted

to go into the native Indian villages and barter. But on certain days the

Indians were permitted into the white settlements and then the inhabitants

were permitted to trade with the Indians without licenses. Designated

8 Archives, vol. s.

4 Archives, vol. 7.

Anne Arundel Gentry

places within each county were named for the exchange of goods, one of

which was the plantation of Colonel Wells.

His father-in-law, Major Samuel Goldsmith, died in 167 I, and made him

heir to one-half of his estate. His wife was to enjoy certain personalty on

the death of her mother , Johanna.

Colonel Wells was delegate from Baltimore County to the General Assembly

in 1671, 1674, 1678, 1681, and 1682.5

He was justice of Baltimore County in 1683, and that year he was also

a member of the commission to purchase and layout ports and towns in

the Province for the advancement of trade.6

About this time various settlers from Pennsylvania and Delaware were

encroaching on the land of the Lord Proprietary by making settlements along

the head waters of the Chesapeake without permission from the Governor.

The abuse had become so notorious by 1686 that in April of that year the

Council issued orders to Colonel George Wells" to maintain the rights and

claims of the Lord Proprietor".

On May 28, 1687, George Wells was summoned by the Council to appear

before that body to answer why he omitted the name of Major Long

from the last list of commissions held in Baltimore County.

The accession of William and Mary to the throne of England, as bona

fide members of the Established Church, in 1688 caused much ovation and

pleasure to the protestant inhabitants of Maryland which were now in the

majority. In a list prepared in the Province of the most prominent protestant

subjects in 1691 is found the name of 'George Wells of Baltimore County.

Although the father of Colonel Wells was considered unorthodox in his

religious views which resulted in his leaving Virginia, George Wells did

not follow out the teachings of his home. I t is not known whether he

accepted the Established Church out of his own convictions, through the

influence of his wife, or through expediency, nevertheless, he became affiliated

with the Church and in 1692 when Septusia Hundred was made into the

parish of St. George, he was elected a member of the first vestry.

Lord Baltimore at one time recommended him for a seat on the Council,

but he failed to obtain one of the highest services to the Province.7

Colonel Wells died in 1695, the year in which his will was admitted to

probate in Baltimore County. All of his children were minors with the exception

of Benjamin. George was to be of age at 18 years and the three

5 Archives, vol. 3, p. 421.

6 Archives, vol. 7.

7 Archives, vol. 8, p. 282.

Wells Family

daughters at 15. All five of the children were devised realty. His wife,

Blanche, received certain personalty in lieu of that half of Major Goldsmith's

estate, received by George Wells at his marriage.

Blanche Wells, his widow, lived until 1704, and by her will she bequeathed

personalty to her daughters, Blanche, Frances, and Susanna,

and the residue to her son, George. The eldest son, Benjamin, was "1lQt.

mentmned. ~.