William Wells
Privacy Level: Open (White)

William Wells (1814 - 1900)

William Wells
Born in South Carolina, USAmap
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married about 1847 in Wadesboro area, Livingston Parish, Louisiana, USAmap [uncertain]
Husband of — married 24 Jan 1883 in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United Statesmap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 85 in Ponchatoula, Tangipahoa, Louisiana, USAmap
Problems/Questions
Profile last modified | Created 8 Nov 2017
This page has been accessed 517 times.

Contents

Biography

William Wells, son of William Wells and Nancy Blount, was born on 26 June 1814 in South Carolina.[1][2][3] At the time of the 1820 census, William's parents and family were found in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana,[4] where they were still living in 1830.[5] By 1840, William was shown in Livingston Parish as the head of his own household, which included a young woman aged 15 to 20 years of age, possibly a relative or boarder.[6]

William married first to Lavinia Durbin, daughter of William Durbin and Rebecca Richardson, about 1847, probably in the Wadesboro area.[7] They may have had the following children:
(* see research note below)

  1. Flavius Josephus Wells, b. 13 Sep 1848[8]
  2. *Florence Wells, b. about 1849.[9]
  3. William Americus Wells, b. 9 Dec 1850, d. 12 Apr 1860[10]
  4. John Wells, b. about 1851.[11]
  5. *Lafayette W. Wells, b. about 1853.[12]
  6. *Ella Wells, b. about 1854.[13]
  7. Lavinia Wells, b. about 1855.[14]
  8. Georgia Kirk Wells, b. 12 Apr 1856[8]
  9. Rebecca Wells, b. about 1857.[15]
  10. *Edwin Rusha Wells, b. 5 Apr 1858.[16]

William and Lavinia were enumerated on the 1850 census in Livingston Parish, with their son Flavius. There were several others living in his household, including three Murray children and two boarders. William was a "Lumberseller," and owned real estate valued at $9,460. He also owned 11 slaves who lived nearby.[17][7]

The family was enumerated on the 1860 census in Springfield, Livingston Parish, with children William (age 11), John (9), Lavinia (5) and Rebecca (3). William was a farmer with real estate valued at $15,000 and personal estate valued at $50,000, most of which was due to the ownership of his 21 slaves.[18][7]

On the 1870 census, they lived in Ponchatoula, Tangipahoa Parish, with children Florence (21), Lafayette (17), Ella (16), Georgia (14) and Edwin (12). Living with the Wells family was Joseph Wells, a black laborer, age 75; Elijah Jones of Maryland, age 45, black, also a laborer; Emeline Jones of Maryland, age 40, and Amelia Jones, age 10. William's real estate was valued at $13,000, and he had personal property worth $12,000.[19][7]

By 1880, they lived in Tangipahoa Parish with their children Flavius (31) and Georgia (24). Living with the family were Sam Wickman, age 53, an employee; and the black/mulatto Hagan family, servants of the household.[8]

William was a Master Mason. He regularly attended meetings of a masonic lodge, Livingston Lodge No. 160, in Ponchatoula.[1] It has been said he was a member of a lodge in New Orleans in 1854, but the name of the lodge is unknown.[3]

He was left a widower at age 67, when Lavinia died on 20 June 1882 in Ponchatoula.[20] He married second to Mary Satena Threeton, daughter of Jacob Threeton and Mary Tucker, on 24 January 1883 in Tangipahoa Parish.[21] There were five children of this marriage:

  1. Inez Wells, b. Feb 1884
  2. Charles Roscoe Wells, b. Aug 1885
  3. Carrie Wells, b. Dec 1887
  4. Mary "Mollie" Wells, b. Mar 1890
  5. William E. Wells, b. Jul 1892

William died on 16 April 1900 at age 85, in Ponchatoula, and was buried at Wetmore Cemetery. Note that a date conflict exists compared to his headstone, which says he died in 1901. However, based on a funeral home listing in date order, his death date is given as 16 Apr 1900; the date fits surrounding dates in the list. This seems hard to dispute when combined with 1900 census evidence (wife widowed), so 1900 has been determined to be the best date.[1][7][22][3][2]

Slaves

Evidence of slave ownership has been found in the following places.

  • 24 Jan 1835, Livingston Parish; sale of land and slaves to William Wells. Names of the enslaved in this document:[23]
    - Patsy, a girl about 11 years old
    - Judy, a girl about 2 years old
    - Catherine, a girl about 9 years old
    - Holy, a girl about 7 years old
    - C..., a girl about 3 years old
  • 1840 census, Livingston Parish.[6]
    Need to check census entry
  • 1850 census, Livingston Parish.[17]
    Need to check census entry
    Total 11 slaves
  • 1860 census, Springfield, Livingston Parish.[18]
    Need to check census entry
    Total 21 slaves

Research Notes

Most of the children assigned to William and Lavinia need additional research to verify their parents. The pre-1880 censuses did not indicate relationships of household members, so these children were presumed to be his as a starting point. However there are several discrepancies that make this assumption suspect. The *'d children in particular do not appear on censuses where they should be with the family. There could be reasons why they were not listed. Several birth dates are estimated and could be off. Maybe the person providing the information to the census taker was a neighbor who didn't know the family very well, or maybe some of the children were living with another relative. But it could also be that these children actually belonged to another Wells family, perhaps were orphaned and William took them in. This family has not been researched thoroughly, and so more work needs to be done.

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 E-mail message from Jim Perrin to Joyce B Rivette, dated 14 Nov 1997, regarding details about the family of William Wells and Nancy Blount of SC
  2. 2.0 2.1 Wetmore Cemetery, Tangipahoa, LA, USA, headstone; William Wells, 1814-1901.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Letter from Caliste Alford (Ponchatoula, LA) to William Bjorkgren, 6 Feb 1964, original held by Martha Bjorkgren; gave birth date June 1814. Also mentions "Plantation on Red River" where he may have been born, but this could be in error
  4. 1820 U.S. Census, St. Helena Parish, LA, population schedule (digital image), accessed 14 Mar 2010; p. 78 (stamped lower left), household of Wm Wells.
  5. 1830 U.S. Census, St. Helena Parish, LA, population schedule (digital image), accessed 14 Mar 2010; p. 58, household of William Wells.
  6. 6.0 6.1 1840 U.S. Census, Livingston Parish, LA, population schedule (digital image), accessed 11 Mar 2010; p.297, household of Wm Wells Junior; 1 free white male 20-30, 1 free white female 15-20.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 "Early settlers: William Wells family," Ponchatoula Times, Ponchatoula, LA, 11 Jan 2007, pages 2-3
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 1880 U.S. Census, Tangipahoa Parish, LA, population schedule (digital image), accessed 29 July 2008; 6th Ward, E.D. 183, p. 13, dwelling #83, family #87, household of Wm. Wells, Flavius listed as son, Georgia listed as daughter.
  9. Does not appear on 1850 or 1860 censuses. Appears in 1870 census (age 21).
  10. He is buried in the Bjorkgren plot at Wetmore Cemetery, next to William Wells. His lifespan fell in between the 1850 and 1860 censuses.
  11. On 1860 census (age 9)
  12. Not with family on 1860 census, but appears on 1870 census (age 17). Married by 1875.
  13. Not on 1860 census, but appears on 1870 census (age 16).
  14. On 1860 census (age 5)
  15. On 1860 census (age 3)
  16. Not on 1860 census. On 1870 census (age 12)
  17. 17.0 17.1 "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (familysearch.org : 20 May 2021), household of Wm Wells [indexed as Nells], Livingston, Livingston, Louisiana, United States; citing p. 725, line 22, family 429, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 233; FHL microfilm 443,476. See also Ancestry Record 8054 #2760309.
    Name Sex Age Birthplace
    - William Wells M 36 Louisiana
    - Levina Wells F 20 Louisiana
    - F J Wells M 2 Louisiana
    - Manfred Murry M 12 Louisiana
    - Theresa Murry F 15 Louisiana
    - Mildred Murry F 9 Louisiana
    - James Lattimore M 33 Mississippi
    - Thos Ray M 33 Kentucky
  18. 18.0 18.1 "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (familysearch.org : 20 May 2021), household of William Wells [mostly illegible], Livingston, Louisiana; citing p. 72, Springfield post office, line 26, family 753, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M653, roll 413; FHL microfilm 803,413. See also Ancestry Record 7667 #38288542.
    Name Sex Age Birthplace
    - Wm Wells M 48 Louisiana
    - Livina Wells F 30 Louisiana
    - William Wells M 11 Louisiana
    - John Wells M 9 Louisiana
    - Lannia Wells F 5 Louisiana
    - Rebecca Wells F 3 Louisiana
    - Mildred Murry F 22 Louisiana
  19. 1870 U.S. Census, Tangipahoa Parish, LA, population schedule (digital image), accessed 29 July 2008; Ward 3, p. 5, dwelling #31, family #31, household of William Wells.
  20. Wetmore Cemetery, Tangipahoa, LA, USA, headstone; visited 27 Nov 1987, Lavinia Durbin, wife of William Wells, died June 20, 1882, aged 51 yrs 3 mos and 16 days.
  21. Jim Perrin, Personal research files; cites Tangipahoa Parish Marriage Book 1-A, p. 206; gives ages and parents' names.
  22. 1900 U.S. Census, Tangipahoa Parish, LA, population schedule (digital image), accessed 30 Jul 2008; E.D. 93, Sheet 23B, dwelling #326, family #326, household of Mary Wells; she is widowed head of household with her 5 children by June 1900.
  23. Rootsweb.com, Rankin Family History Project, transcription of conveyance, "Consideration, John Wells and Brother to William Wells, 24 January 1835," sale of land and slaves; citing Conveyance Records - 1835-1865, Livingston Parish, Louisiana (FHL Film 0355915).
    Note: Because of the stilted legalese, it is difficult to determine who is selling to who, but it appears that two brothers John and Levi Wells are selling to their brother William Wells.




Is William your ancestor? Please don't go away!
 star icon Login to collaborate or comment, or
 star icon ask our community of genealogists a question.
Sponsored Search by Ancestry.com

DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with William: Have you taken a test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.


Comments

Leave a message for others who see this profile.
There are no comments yet.
Login to post a comment.

Acadian heritage connections: William is 17 degrees from Beyoncé Knowles, 19 degrees from Jean Béliveau, 19 degrees from Madonna Ciccone, 19 degrees from Rhéal Cormier, 19 degrees from Joseph Drouin, 21 degrees from Jack Kerouac, 20 degrees from Anne Murray, 20 degrees from Matt LeBlanc, 19 degrees from Roméo LeBlanc, 19 degrees from Azilda Marchand, 18 degrees from Marie Travers and 19 degrees from Clarence White on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.