*these files were found in the Somerset co files in Pennsylvania.
I have been researching in pa because the papers we found that my father in
law had said zachariah was son of Richard , son of james ,and james and
brother george came to america to Pennsylvania in the 1700's, then Richard
came to va and then nc and zachariah was born in nc and came to va.
I have found a lot of these counties were all in va at one time. then divided
is it possible that this james wells and james wells jr is our james
maybe the early james in md is another family.????? what do you think? notice
the file on utf warrant map early residents it lists
wells, brown.....james jr, R meaning james wells and r brown.
anyone have any thoughts on these files???
"ACRES 1772 TAX" is taken from "The History of Bedford, Somerset and
Fulton
Counties" and is the tax roles for Brother's Valley Township, Bedford County
which, at
the time, covered all of what is now Somerset County. Single residents
without property,
are shown as "Freeman".
* "PRE 1769" is from the same history and designates the settlers living
there before
William Penn opened the area for settlement.
* "TRADE" again is taken from the same history showing the occupations of a
few
people, other than farming.
* "ACRES WARRENTS 1773-1848" are extracted from the Lower Turkeyfoot Map
showing the acreage in original land grants given in that township.
* "1790 & 1788 CENSUS" shows heads of households for both Turkeyfoot
Townships.
* "1796 TAX LIST" shows 1796 taxpayers recorded in the history of Lower
Turkeyfoot
Township in the same history book.
1788 tax assessment residents and non residents
Wells George 50 Wells James
Wells James Freeman
Wells Richard 300
Wells Richard Freeman
QUEMAHONING TOWNSHIP. 1788 TAX ASSESMENT SOMERSET PA (WAS
BEDFORD)
Wells James Esq.
WELLS James205 WELLS James 333 WELLS James334
WELLS Richard314
1773 BrothersValley Township head of household
WELLS Richard Brothersvalley Freemen
1779 tax assesment Quemahoning township
Wells James 300 a
1783 Supply Tax for
Quemahoning Township Somerset co pa,(then Bedford)
Wells James #300 a
1784 census (then Bedford) now Somerset
non-resident landowners
Wells Richard 314 acres
789 subject to militia duty, taken by Daniel Stoy
Wells James
Brunerstown was renamed the same day and was given the county name of
Somerset - which was in reference to Somersetshire, England. The towns
people set out immediately to create a county government and by the
following December a full board of county officers were in place.
The first session of court was held on December 21, 1795 with Judge
Alexander Addison presiding. The county court house was erected in 1801.
First Elected Officers
�James WELLS of Quemahoning Twp., Associate Judge �Abraham CABLE of
Brothers Valley Twp., Associate Judge �Ebenezer GRIFFITH of Elk Lick
Twp., Associate Judge �Thomas KENNEDY, Sheriff. �David KING, Coroner. �
John FLETCHER, Berlin, County Commissioner. �John READ, Quemahoning
Twp., County Commissioner. �John LEECH, Milford Twp., County
Commissioner.
Somerset County
The portion of Bedford County west of the Allegheny Mountain was so
remote from the county seat of Bedford, which was east of the Allegheny
Mountain, that the residents petitioned the Pennsylvania legislature to
organize a new county. April 17, 1795, Somerset County was created,
consisting of six townships: Brothersvalley, Turkeyfoot, Quemahoning,
Milford, Elk Lick, and Stony Creek. In 1795, from Quemahoning Township,
James Wells was appointed as an associate judge, and John Reed was
elected as one of the first county commissioners.
The area of Bedford County west of the Allegheny Mountains was unsettled at
the time
of theFrench and Indian War. However, there were some who fought in this
war who
later settled in Quemahoning Township, one of whom was Casper Statler
Revolutionary War (1775-1783)
Somerset County was sparsely populated when the Revolutionary War began.
There were Indian raids in Bedford County during this time period, and
settlers were
forced to flee their homes. There were many Quemahoning citizens who fought
in this
war.The Bedford County militia was organized for the defense of the
frontiers. In 1777,
in the area of Bedford County west of the Allegheny Mountain which would
become
Somerset County, three companies of approximately 50 men each were organized.
The
Fifth Company was from Quemahoning and was under the command of
Captain James Wells.
In 1778 and 1779, there are no remaining records of the militia companies
organized in
Quemahoning Township since most of the area was abandoned due to difficulties
with
the Indians.<
UTF Warrant Map Early Turkeyfoot REsidents
East Side of LHWellsCreek/SW Head of Stream/SW Border
Wells&Brown JamesJr&R. 121 1792
Oaths of Allegiance, Bedford County Pa.
Original documents in Prothonotary's Office, Bedford County Court House,
dates
22 Dec. 1778 1779
Samuel Davidson William Phillips, 4/12
Anthony Nawgle Gideon Ritchey, 1/13
William Todd Edward Rose, 1/13
Thomas Wilson Hugh Robinson, 1/19
Allen Rose, 1/19
Abram Henry, 21 Jan 1779 Matthias Ruff (or Huff), 10/12
John Armstrong, 26 Mar. 1779 Peter Ruff, 10/12
James Arthur, 12 Oct 1779 Robert Scott, 3/2
Henry Armstrong, 12 Oct 1779 Michael Sill, 6/24
Henry Amorine, 9 Nov 1779 Henry Saylor, 10/11
John Bowser, 20 Feb 1779 Gas Smith, 10/12
Thomas Blackburn, 12 Oct 1779 George Swigert, 10/12
William Boyd, 25 Jul 1779 William Tissue, 1/15
Abram Cable, _9 Jan 1779 Samuel Thompson, 3/29
James Carmichael, 13 Jan 1779 Richard Tull, 10/12
James Coyl, 13 Jan 1779 James Wells, 3/31
James Creal, 4 Feb 1779 Adam Keigh, 1/9
John Campbell, 29 Mar.1779
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