Thomas Wells (abt. 1653 - bef. 1719)

Born about 1653 in England or Maryland [uncertain]

Husband of Frances (Smith) Wells — married 1678 in Queen Annes Town, Prince George's County, MD

Descendants

Died before 5 Jan 1719 before about age 66 in Queen Anne's Parish, Prince George's County, Maryland

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Glenn York [send private message], Michael Sullivan [send private message], Fred Remus [send private message], Marie Cryer [send private message], Allan Thompson [send private message], Linda Sims [send private message], Charles Truman Kehoe Markee [send private message], Christie Fremon [send private message], and Alvin Thompson [send private message]

Biography

Thomas Wells

Uncertain Origin

There is no evidence for Thomas's parents or his origin. He may have been born in England or in Maryland.

Thomas' approximate year of birth is taken from a document in the Maryland Chancery Records of 1714, (Liber 3, Folio 27) in which Thomas Wells witnessed the boundary lines for an adjoining tract of land and is described as "Thomas Wells, Senr. aged about sixty one years." This would place his birth at about 1653.^[1]

Thomas Wells, AKA Thomas "Duckett" Wells by those who assume he was a son of Thomas Wells (1619-1685) and Elizabeth Duckett (1619-1681), and assumed to have been born on 5 Sep 1653 in All Hallows Parish, Anne Arundel, Maryland..^{[citation needed]}

This Thomas could be the son of widow Elizabeth Mellows of St. Olaves, Southwark, Surry. Her will dated Jan. 15, 1682/83 names Thomas Wells, "my son who went into parts beyound the seas to Maryland or other parts in America or elsewhere when he shall come and arrive in England." Her daughter Mary Parker (wife of John Parker) was executor. (C-575) ^[2]

Immigration ?

A man named Thomas Wells was transported to Maryland in 1679 (WC 2.50,57).^[3] He was first mentioned in the Maryland Historical Records (WC 2, Folio 50) when on "24 Apr 1679 - Land to Robert Conant of Anne Arundell county - rights to seven hundred acres of land for transporting himself, Abigail his wife, Martha, Margaret and Ann his children into the province to inhabit sixteen years since also for transporting Giles Hawley, Thomas Wells, Francis Taylor, Edward Chub, Robert ___, Ann Waters, Mary Cole, Jno. Cole, Susan Cole into the province to inhabit."^[1]

Marriage

Thomas married c. 1680 to Frances Unknown. She is assumed to have been Frances Smith (1657-1733), the daughter of Joseph Smith (1637-) and Elizabeth (Mellows) Smith (1637-1681).^{[citation needed]} Thomas and Frances are assumed to have married in 1678 in Queen Annes Town, Prince Georges, Maryland. (church of choice for births)

Children

Children documented at the St. Barnabus Church, Queen Anne Parish Records, Prince George County, Maryland, which began in 1692, and in the will of Thomas Wells (birth dates and order of the first five are estimates):^[1] All of his children were named in his will with the exception of John Wells who may have died soon after his marriage.^[4]

1. Thomas Wells b. circa 1683
2. George Wells b. circa 1685
3. Frances Wells b. circa 1687
4. Mary Wells b. circa 1689
5. John Wells, b c. 1695; m 12 Oct 1715 Mary Parsfield
6. Nathan Wells b. circa 1691
7. Robert Wells b. 05 Aug 1693
8. Joseph Wells b. 30 Sep 1697 (twin)
9. Sarah Wells b. 30 Sep 1697 (twin)
10. Elizabeth Wells b. 11 May 1699

Property and Positions

In 1695, when he purchased land in Prince George's Co., he was called a planter and was living in Calvert County.^[3]

On August 26, 1695 he bought 200 acres called Strife from Thomas and Mary Smith of Calvert Co. for 90 pounds. It is located on the west side of the Patuxent River.^[3]

On Jan. 26, 1696, Thomas Wells, planter, purchased 200 acres called "Strife" in Calvert Co., MD. on the west side of the Patuxent River. The land was surrounded by the following owners: Francis Swantstone, Edward Isaak, and Henry Darnell, Esq. He later acquired an adjoining property called "Something" that was in the Patuxent Hundred of Prince George's Co.

On the 26th day of August 1695, Thomas Wells appeared in the Maryland records when he purchased a 200 acre tract of land named "Strife" on the west side of the Patuxant River in Prince George's County.^[1]

He is in the Prince George Co. records often. He witnessed a deed in Prince George's Co in 1703; on jury Dec, 1702, and Nov 1703; his land called Strife mentioned in 1704 deed as bounding Basingthorp Hall.^[3] His will stated he was of "Anne Arundal and Prince George Counties".^[4] One record showed that in 1703 a grant of 180 acres was patented to him in Prince George Co., Maryland.^[4]

Sometime around 1696 he was a member of the Grand jury regarding the petition of Philip Clarke and his subsequent disbarment.^[3]

Death and Legacy

Thomas died between 26 September 1718 (will written) and 5 January 1718/9 (will probated ) at Queen Anne's Parish, Prince George County, Maryland.^[5] He died in 1718 at the Herring Creek Hundred, Prince George's County.^[3] He was 65 years old.

Last Will & Testament

Wells, Thomas, Sr, planter, Prince George's Co.,
26th Sept., 1718;
5th Jan., 1718.
To wife Frances, dwelling plantation _______, "Strife" and adj. tract "Something," in all 218 A., during life; at her decease to four sons, Thomas, Robert, Nathan and Joseph. Shd. all of sd. sons, Thomas, Robert and Nathan, die without issue, lands to descend to son Joseph; shd. he die without issue, to 4 daus. equally, viz.: Frances, Mary, Sarah and Elizabeth and their hrs. To sd. daus, personalty.
To son George, 5 shillings.
wife Frances, extx, and hrs., house and lot in Queen Ann's Town and residue of estate.
Test: Richard Duckett, Wm. John Black, Thomas Howell 14. 724^[3]

His sons Thomas and Nathan signed his inventory as next of kin.^[4]

He gave slaves to his four daughters. (C-575, p 53) The low amount of money he gave to his son George could be explained by his son's cohabiting with his married neighbor, Susannah Swanson Ward, according to Queen Anne's Vestry Minutes, Apr. 12, 1719. George and Susannah were married at Queen Anne's on June 16, 1725.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Straube, Patricia, (11 Feb 2004) [Zachariah Wells Aaron Wells Family Association newsletter article I] ZachariahWells-L Archives] (Rootsweb).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Coate, Linda J., (1997-2016) "Thomas Duckett Wells."
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6} Jourdan, Elise Greenup, 1992- Early Families of Southern Maryland. Westminster, MD: Family Line Publications, [ v. 1-10. ?] (Vol 3).
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} "Descendants of Thomas Wells, Sr."
5. ↑ Cotton, Jane (Baldwin) editor, 1901 The Maryland Calendar of Wills, Vol IV. Baltimore: W. J. C. Dulany co. [etc.] Archive.org accessed 6 June 2016, (Vol 4, Page 186).

See also:

• Mike Marshall. Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia's Northern Neck Counties. Profile for Thomas Wells
• Birth of Robert Wells Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995, database, FamilySearch (accessed 6 June 2016), Thomas Wells in entry for Robert Wells, 05 Aug 1693; citing SAINT BARNABAS CHURCH,QUEEN ANNE PARISH,PRINCE GEORGES,MARYLAND; FHL microfilm 14,304.
• "Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995," database, FamilySearch [1] : 12 December 2014), Thomas Wells in entry for Elizabeth Wells, 11 May 1699; citing SAINT BARNABAS CHURCH,QUEEN ANNE PARISH,PRINCE GEORGES,MARYLAND; FHL microfilm 14,304.
• "Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995," database, FamilySearch [2] : 12 December 2014), Thomas Wells in entry for Joseph Wells, 30 Sep 1697; citing SAINT BARNABAS CHURCH,QUEEN ANNE PARISH,PRINCE GEORGES,MARYLAND; FHL microfilm 14,304.
• Personal Individual Genealogy: Hoosier Genes. Good site, gives sources. Shows two children, more descendants on this line.

• Ancestry Public Member Trees. User submitted. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA : The Generations Network, Inc., 2006.