Benjamin G Wells

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Oct 1779, , , Virginia, USA
• Residence: 1820, , Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA

Notes:

He was a Revolutionay War veteran who served as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company G, Henry County VA Militia. His father Jonathan Wells was a Captain in the same Company G. He married Tabitha Morton in 1785. Matthew's business, like his father John Wells, included buying and selling land. On March 24, 1785 he purchased 272 acres of land for 25 pounds on branches of Leatherwood Creek and a spur of Turkey Cock Mountain in Pittsylvania County, VA. On January 23, 1786 he sold 140 acres of this land for 17 pounds. He was buried in 1828 on Turkey Cock Mountain, VA. Matthew Wells' "mansion house", mentioned in his will below, was in the vicinity of present-day Mapleton Drive, not far from Franklin Turnpike. His Rifle Gunn, Powder Horn, and Shot bag sold together for $15.50 after his death. He died in Pittsylvania County in April of 1828.

The following is a transcription of his last will and testament:
In the name of God Amen I Matthew Wells of sound and perfect mind and memory but low in health and much afflicted in body and advanced in years have thought proper to make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following (Viz.) I give to my four daughters namely Clary Ray, Mary Petty, Judith Mitchell, and Martha Walker, four hundred acres of land lying in the County of Pittsylvania on the waters of Sandy River and adjoining the lines of my Sons John, Joseph & Joel Wells to them during their natural life and at their decease to their heirs in the following way.
It is my wish and desire that at the decease of my daughter Clary Ray that two children by a former husband shall inherit that proportion of the above named four hundred acres of land which may fall in division of the same to the Mother. The names of these two children are Martha R. Allen [written in the original as Martha here, but Matthew below] and John P. Allen, the only surviving children of my daughter Clary by William Allen a former husband.
It is my further will and desire that at my decease whatever proportion of my personal estate would in division have fallen to my daughter Clary Ray shall remain in the hands of my executors and by them be fully accounted for to the above named two children of my daughter Clary Ray, Matthew R. and John P. Allen when they shall arrive to the age of 21 years.
It is further my will and desire that my daughter Mary Petty shall have the enjoyment and full benefit of one equal part and fourth of the above named four hundred acres of land during her natural life and at her decease to go to the heir of her body lawfully begotten and I further wish and desire that at my decease whatever proportion of my personal estate would have fallen to my daughter Polly Petty shall remain in the hands of my executors for her special benefit during life to be distributed as may be necessary for her support and children's while she lives and at her decease whatever remains to her children as they may come to full age or marry, but my executors are to have the control and management of the whole matter during my daughter Polly's life, but honestly and fully account as above required to her children afterwards
It is further my wish and desire that one hundred and fifty six acres of land which I hold in the County of Henry on the waters of Turkey Cock Creek and adjoining the lands of Henry Lawson, James Johnson & others shall be inherited by three Grand children namely George B. Wells, the only child of my daughter Tabitha, who intermarried with my Nephew Benjamin G. Wells, also Tabitha Eanes & Joel S. Eanes, the only children of my daughter Catherine, who intermarried with Abraham Eanes, my will and desire is that the aforesaid named one hundred and fifty six acres of land shall be equally allotted into two parts to my three grand children above named (Viz.) the only child of my daughter Tabitha to receive one half and the only two children of my daughter Catherine to receive the balance, it is further my wish and desire that whatever proportion of personal estate would have fallen to my two daughters Tabitha Wells & Catherine Eanes should remain in the hands of my executors and by them be honestly accounted for with legal interest to the child and children of my two daughters Tabitha and Catherine when those children shall marry or arrive to full and lawful age.
It is further my will and desire that if it should for the interest of my above named three grand children be thought most advisable by my executors it shall be their privilege to sell the aforesaid one hundred and fifty six acres of land on the most judicious terms in their discretion and account for the amount with interest to my above named three grand children as they marry or come to full age.
I further devize to my three sons John, Joseph & Joel the following lands (Viz.) to my son John I give one hundred and ninety two acres at the upper part of my plantation, to my son Joseph I give two hundred and twelve acres at the lower end of my plantation, to my son Joel I give the middle part of my land of two hundred and eight acres including my mansion house &c. All of which tracts of land I have conveyed by deed to the respective parties and wish them to stand precisely as deeded, it is further my will and desire that my son Joel should receive a small Negro boy named Henderson to make him every way equal with the rest of my children exclusive of the general distribution to be afterwards made and it is further my will and desire that the residue of my estate, after all my just debts are paid, shall be equally divided among my children subject however to the control and management of my executors in regard to a part of them as above particularly expressed and identified.
It is further my wish and desire that should either of my three grand children die before they inherit what I have devized to them in the hand and at the control of my executors that such decedents proportion of estate shall return into general estimation and be equally divided among my surviving heirs.

I hereby moreover ordain and appoint my beloved sons John Wells and Joseph Wells executors to this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made in testimony of which I have before witnesses signed sealed & acknowledged this to be my last will and testament this 8th day of April Anno Domini 1828.

Matthew Wells
his X Seal mark.

Teste
James Morton
John Carter
Stephen Austin
Willis W. Dearing
John Gardner
Josiah Morton

At a Superior Court of law held for the County of Pittsylvania the 28th day of April 1828 This last will and testament of Matthew Wells Decd. Was presented in court and proved by three of the subscribing witnesses and ordered to be recorded – And on the motion of Joseph Wells one of the executors in said will named who made oath according to law and with Thomas S. Jones, James A. Mitchell, Samuel Beck, Thomas Ragsdale and Jabez Smith his securities entered into and acknowledged bond in the penalty of four thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate of said will in due form. Liberty being ____ to the other executor in said will named to join in the probate when he shall think fit.

Matthew married Tabitha Morton in 1785 in , Henry, Virginia, USA. Tabitha was born in 1760 in , Lunenburg, Virginia, USA; died in 1828 in , Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jonathan married Judith Gravely. Judith was born in 1739 in , Lunenburg, Virginia, USA; died on 5 Nov 1819 in Leatherwood, Henry, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Barnabas married Joyce Smith in 1731 in , , Virginia, USA. Joyce (daughter of Thomas Smith) was born in 1710 in Richmond, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA; died in 1764 in , , Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Arrival: 1662, , , Virginia, USA

Notes:

Stephen Wells II
b. bef 1646 England
d. abt Oct 31, 1712, St. Stephens, Richmond Co., Virginia Colony

Alice Howard 3 Dec 1677 Richmond Co., Virginia Colony (see notes)
b. ?
d. ?
her father: Henry Howard
her mother: Lady Eliz. Spencer Craven

his father - Stephen Wells I
his mother - unknown

children with Alice Howard:
1. Stephen Wells III
b. abt 1678 (probably England)
d. 1722-23 St. Stephens, Richmond Co., Virginia Colony;
m. Elizabeth (Williams) Settle (a widow)
2. Mary Wells
b. 1685 Northumberland County, VA
d. before 1712
m. John Favor / Fever (b. 1672 France d. Essex County, VA)

Stephen Wells was an immigrant who married Alice Howard 3 Dec. 1677 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond Co., VA. They seem to have been early immigrants to Virginia. They had two known children, Mary Wells who married John Fever(Faver) about 1712 and Stephen Wells born about 1678 in Settingham Parish, Richmond Co., VA.
1662, On February 10 - Robert Richard was granted 136 acres of land for transporting three persons to the new world, including a Stephen Wells. Ten days later another Stephen Wells was transported to Virginia on another ship. Both of these ships landed in Richmond County, Virginia. By following the way the name Stephen was followed continually for several generations it is believed the line could be traced in England. It is impossible to determine which of these two may have been the father and which the son. The age of Stephen Wells when he came to the colonies is unknown, but he was probably of legal age. He marries in 1667 probably being 21 years old then. Meaning that he was probably born before 1646.
1662, February 20 - William Moseley and John Hill was granted 5,790 acres of land for transporting 116 persons to Virginia, one of whom was Stephen Wells. [records of Robert Jeffries]
1667, December 3, - Stephen Wells married Alice Howard, daughter of Henry Howard, who had been transported to Virginia on April 8, 1664 by Richard White. [The Register of North Farnham Parish 1663-1814 and Lunenberg Parish of Richmond County, page 197].
On April 4, 1671 Stephen bought 212 acres of land in Richmond County.
1677- Francis Settle gave a deed of gift to George and Jane Bruce, children of George Bruce. [recorded in Rappahannock County, later Richmond,VA]
1677, Dec 3 - Stephen Wells marries Alice Howard. [Headley Marriages p371]
1681, April 20 - Stephen sued Thomas Perryne. Stephen Wells received a bill from Benjamin Marsh, as ordered by the Rappahannock County court in 1692.
1692 - Stephen Wells was given the Power of Attorney for John Tavener by the Court of Rappahannock County.
1696, July 9 - Two colonial grants in the Northern Neck Region of Virginia were awarded to Stephen Wells of Northumberland County.
2-245: Stephen Wells of Northumberland Co. 166A. adj. to William Barber on Br. of Mattopany, Edward Lewis. 9 July 1696.
2-245; Stephen Wells of Northumberland Co. 36 A. on Br. of Mattopany, adj. to William Barber. 9 July 1696.
[Northern Neck Land grants, Vol. 1, p.18]

1705, February - Stephen Wells brought a suit against Wattakin Price in Richmond County.
1706, Nov. 13- Stephen Wells is a witness to the will of Daniel Jackson, also mentioned is daughter Mary Settle.

Daniel Jackson: will 13 Nov 1706, 5 Feb 1706/07 son David the plant. whereon he now lives if he die with heirs, then plant. to go to son Nathaniel, and if he died without heirs, plant. to go to son then plant. to go to son Daniell sons Nathaniel and Daniel also received other land; daus. Mary Settle, Sarah Gower, and Anne Hutt; ex: son Daniel; wits: Joshua Lawson, Stephen Wells, Thomas Dickenson. [Headley, Wills of Richmond Co. p14-15]

1712, August 16 - Stephen witnessed a land deed from a Trussell to a Millard in Northumberland County.
1712, October 31 - a will was filed on in Saint Stephen's Parish of Northumberland County, which said:
"I, Stephen Wells, being sick in body, but sound and perfect in my mind and memory, give to each of the children of my daughter, Mary Favor (deceased) one shilling. (Mary had married John Favor, who had been born in France in 1672 and died in Essex County. Mary had been born in Northumberland County in 1685.) I then give my son, Stephen Wells, all my land, property, and orchards whichever situate, or being now belonging to me, for and during his natural life and after his death, I give it to my grandson, Stephen Wells. To my grandson, Stephen Wells, I give a young horse. My son, Stephen Wells, is to be the administrator of my estate.
Witness: Tho Williams, Humph: Thomas, tho Dickinson. Proved by oaths of Williams and Thomas. 12.12. This will presented by Steph: Wells Junr the exor. 21 Jan 1718/19. 6.296.
[Northumberland County Wills and Administration Book, Volume I, 1713/1749]
1712, Oct 31 - Faver, Mary dec'd. Bequests to her children, not individually named in the will of her father Steph: Wells. 31st Oct 1712. 1912. [Northunbria Collectanea, 1645-1720, A-L]

Stephen married Alice Howard on 3 Dec 1677 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond, Virginia, USA. Alice (daughter of Henry Howard and Elizabeth Spencer) was born in 1663 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond, Virginia, USA; died on 31 Oct 1712 in St Stephens Parish, Northumberland, Virginia, USA; was buried in Heathsville, Northumberland, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Henry married Elizabeth Spencer on 7 Jul 1648. Elizabeth was born on 16 Feb 1618 in Brington, Northamptonshire, England; died on 11 Aug 1672 in , , , England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]