James Wells (1751 - 1814)

Born 15 Jun 1751 in Frederick County, Province of Maryland

Ancestors

Husband of Rachel (Brown) Wells — married 24 Apr 1775 in Glades Stoney Creek, Bedford, PA

Descendants

Died 29 Jan 1814 at age 62 in Fairfield County, Ohio, United States

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Caution: Conflicting Information

The James Wells who was Gen. James Wells may not have the dates or parents connected in this profile. The DAR has further information in a correction to the info in the Linage Book on the Patriot James Wells #A122512. The number and names of his wives and the number and names of children are uncertain; even his parents are uncertain.^[1]

Biography

Birth

James Wells is assumed to have been born circa 1751 in Frederick County, Maryland, son of Richard Wells and Nancy Brown.^{[citation needed][2]}

OR

Birth 1740 Frederick County, Maryland, USA^[3]

Marriage

Marriage 1 Miss CARR ^{[citation needed]}

Marriage 2 Miss BARTON ^{[citation needed]}

He married 24 APR 1775 in Glades of Stoney Creek, Bedford Co., PA to his first cousin Rachel Brown b: 29 DEC 1760 in Bedford Co. Pa.^{[citation needed]}

Husband: James Wells

Wife: Rachel Brown

Child: John Wells

Marriage: ^[4]

Children:^{[citation needed]}

1. Mary Brown WELLS b: 13 AUG 1776
2. Sarah WELLS b: 23 JAN 1779 in Holidays Cove Brook County Virginia
3. Richard WELLS b: 2 MAR 1781 in Holidays Cove Brook County Virginia
4. Honor WELLS b: 5 DEC 1782 in Holidays Cove Brook County Virginia
5. Sarah WELLS b: 4 APR 1784 in Somerset, Somerset County, Pennsylvania
6. Rachel WELLS b: 4 JAN 1786 in Bedford Co Pa
7. James WELLS b: 11 OCT 1789
8. Honor WELLS b: 16 FEB 1782 in Bedford County, Pennsylvania
9. John WELLS b: 24 SEP 1795 in Pennsylvania Road
10. Anne Brown WELLS b: 5 AUG 1798 in Pennsylvania Road, Somerset co Pa
11. Margaretta Madden WELLS b: 31 MAY 1801 in Holliday's Cove, Brook County Virginia

Military

James Wells is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: P-316224
Rank: 1st Lieutenant

1st Lieutenant James Wells served with 4th Continental Artillery Regiment (1779), Continental Army during the American Revolution.

James Wells is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A122512.

Begin BET 1777 AND 1778 served as lieutenant in the Continental Artillery ^[5]

Residence

Census 2 AUG 1790 Frederick County, Maryland, USA - Number of Free White Males Under 16 =2 Number of Free White Males 16 and Over =4 Number of Free White Females =2 Number of All Other Free Persons=0 Number of Slaves =5 Number of Household Members =8, , James Wells Frederick, Maryland 2 4 2 5 8^[6]

James lived in Somerset County, Pennsylvania; and died 29 January, 1814 in Greenfield Township, Fairfield County, Ohio.^{[citation needed]}

He served as an Associate Judge of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, starting December 21, 1795. James Wells served as a 1st Lieutenant and a Captain during the Revolutionary War in the 4th Artillery Continental Troops. He is said to have served as a General in the War of 1812 (not verified ).^{[citation needed]}

Moved to Holliday's Cove, Brooke Co, VA (now WV) with his father-in-law, Col. Richard Brown. And relocated to Fairfield Co, OH about 1801. He might have served as Justice of the Peace in Greenfield Twp.^{[citation needed]}

Death

Death 1811^[7]

OR

He died January 29, 1814 and was buried with wife, Rachel Brown, at Hooker-Wells Cemetery, a few miles West of Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio. Their tombstones are broken and chipped. His tombstone carries the title "Gen' l" as does his wife's.^{[citation needed]}

Property and Positions

James Wells settled at Fairfield County, Ohio in about 1799 "on the present Hooker land" (this written in 1877).^[8]

Will

In the name of god amen, I James Wells of Fairfield County and state of Ohio being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and Testament in manner and form following. First, I give and bequeath unto my sons James and John the Plantation I now live on which is to be sold and in proportionable part to be deducted to pay my debt s. I do also give and bequeath unto my two youngest daughters, all of my Personal estate except a negro girl and a proportionable part to be deducted to pay my debts. I do also give and bequeath unto my nephew Thomas Wells fifty dollars of which each of the above mentioned children is to pay an equal part. I do also give and bequeath unto my two sons and two daughters as is above mentioned a negro girl which is to be sold and equally divided. I hereby appoint George Tong and Samuel Tolman sole executors of this my last will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In Witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this sixth d ay of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen. Signed sealed published and declared by the above mentioned James Wells to be his last will and Testament in the presence of us who have here unto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the Testator. George Wells, James Wilson, James Wells. P.S. My oldest children (to wit) Mary McCall, Sally Tolman, Rachel Wilson, Hona Reaves having been previously had their portion their names were omitted in the body of this Testament. George Wells, James Wilson, Fairfield County Ohio, At a court of common Pleas holden for said county on the 7th day of February 1814 the foregoing last will &Testament is produced in court and is Proven by George Wells and James Wilson the two subscribing witness thereto on which it is ordered to be recorded.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ Wells, Orin R., Wells Family Research Association, (27 Oct 1997) Richard Wells & Nancy Brown WELLS-L Archives.
2. ↑ Willy, (31 Dec 2013) James Wells Istvan-Gruber-Donaldson-McKownTree, Note: most of the biography is copy & paste from this web page; Caution: lacks appropriate sources.
3. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Books (152 Vols.), Ancestry.com Page: 11272, 47003, & 56156
4. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Books (152 Vols.), Ancestry.com Page: 11272, 47003, & 56156
5. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Books (152 Vols.), Ancestry.com Page: 11272, 47003, & 56156
6. ↑ 1790 U.S. Census Population Schedule, Frederick County,Maryland, National Archives and Records Administration James Wells household, p. 179
7. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Books (152 Vols.), Ancestry.com Page: 11272, 47003, & 56156
8. ↑ Scott, Hervey, (1877) A Complete History of Fairfield County, Ohio. Columbus, OH: Siebert & Lilley, Archive.org (Page 181).
9. ↑ Attest Hugh Boyle, Clerk "Last Will and Testament of General James Wells," transcribed by Lane Joseph Beougher, fifth great-grandson of James Wells, through his daughter, Rachel Wilson, at Reynoldsburg, Ohio on September 25, 1998 from microfilm of Fairfield County Will Book No. 2, page 18, Case No. 154.

See also:

• Sons of the American Revolution Patriot #P-316227 .
• Find A Grave: Memorial #39663731 for Gen. James Wells.