Andy,
As I was looking for Zachariah, Ionly listed the males. Here they are:
Greg
Born Died 3a Thomas Wells 1711 QAP, PGC,
Maryland 5/20/1804 Maryland 3a John Wells 10/26/1712 QAP, PGC,
Maryland 3a Joseph
Wells 1729 1803 3b None 3c Nathan
Wells 4/8/1723 1724 3c George Wells 11/1/1728 QAP, PGC,
Maryland (Joseph George Wells) 3c Richard
Wells 1/26/26or27 QAP, PGC, Maryland 3c John Duckett
Wells 1/2/1733 QAP, PGC, Maryland 1808 3c Jacob
Wells 9/21/1735 QAP, PGC, Maryland 3c George
Wells 1737 3d George Wells before1725 AAC,
Maryland 1711 3d Joseph Wells before1750 PGC,
Maryland (Jacob) 3e Thomas Wells 12/2/1717 QAP, PGC,
Maryland 3e Nathan Wells 12/27/1722 QAP, PGC,
Maryland 3e Robert Wells 2/7/1728 QAP, PGC,
Maryland 3e William Wells 1/7/1730 QAP, PGC,
Maryland 3e Jeremiah Wells 7/20/1732 QAP, PGC,
Maryland 3e Joseph Wells (?) QAP, PGC, Maryland 3f Levi
Wells 1722 1723 3f Joseph Wells 7/20/1729 aft9/30/1804 Cane
Creek, Orange Cty, NC 3f William Wells 1735 3f James
Wells 1737 1826 3f Isaac Wells 1739 1792 3f John
Wells 1740 3/4/1819 Lincoln, NC previously Tryon 1768-1779, previously
Mecklenburg 1762-1768 3f Robert Wells 1742
Hi Greg,
I worked on the Zachariah Wells mystery for several years but
eventually got involved in other projects. "So many ancestors, so little
time". Could you post the list of 24 grandchildren so that I can compare
it with what I have?
I have also leaned toward George, son of Thomas as being Zachariah's
grandfather, but without any proof have not forwarded my opinion. One
thing I noticed that you didn't have in your notes of related families is
the Ward family. Wells Ward lived near Zachariah and I believe that two
of their children married.
The story goes that George Wells, son of Thomas, was admonished by
the church for being too friendly with a neighbor lady named Ward. There
are several church documents relating this. Also the widow Ward's son
Nathan gave George some land for being a good friend of the family. A
recent DNA test has shown that a direct descendant of this Nathan Ward
has Wells DNA. I believe it was a perfect match with Zachariah's
descendants. Also Nathan Ward named a son Wells Ward the same Wells Ward
as I mentioned before.
As Orin stated in his reply these families moved together just like
when Jacob Wells went with the Shepherds to Jackson County, Missouri.
Nathan Ward moved south to Virginia before the Revolutionary War. I am
not sure exactly where Nathan moved to but it was in the general area of
where Zachariah was known to live. My speculation was that Nathan brought
some of his "Wells" kin with him.
I have boxes of notes that I took when I spent dozens of hours at
the Maryland and Virginia State Libraries where a lot of the documents
are held. This message was taken from memory so I may have a couple of
things wrong. Thanks for stirring the pot. Maybe we can get some interest
back in the Zachariah Wells Mystery again.
Andy Weyer
-----Original Message-----
From: Greg Scalf <gscalf(a)pccsd.net>
To: zachariahwells <zachariahwells(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Tue, Aug 6, 2013 9:43 pm
Subject: [ZACHARIAHWELLS] Zachariah Wells
have been away from the research group for a while, but was able to get
ack at the Zachariah Wells mystery recently. I am optimistic that my
ecent research may have opened some new doors in solving the question
f.who was Zachariahs father.
After learning the DNA connection, I researched the children of Thomas
ells, born 1653. The good news (most of you are probably aware) is that
aryland has accurate birth records even for this time period. The six
ons of Thomas produced 24 male grandchildren. After looking over the info
nd birth dates, I believe 1 of these 24 male grandchildren is the Father
f Zachariah.
Several of the grandchildren can be eliminated because their birth was too
lose to the approximate birth date of Zachariah. I researched all the
thers and eliminated all of those that did not have Zachariah in the
aryland birth records. This leaves us with three prime suspects and two
ong shot prospects. The prime suspects are:
John Wells, son of Thomas Wells & Mary Hopkins: born 10/26/1712 Queen
nne's Parish, Prince George's County, Maryland
eorge Wells, son of George Wells & Susannah Plummer: born before 1725
nne Arundel County, Maryland
athan Wells, Son of Robert Wells & Ann Lackland: born 12/27/1722 Queen
nne's Parish, Prince George's County, Maryland
There are no Maryland records for the above suspects. In all likelihood
hey moved from the area to blaze their own trail. Where? That is the next
tep of research.
The long shot prospects are:
Possible unknown Wells, son of John Duckett Wells & Mary Margaret
arsfield. John was born between 1690-1695 and died before 1717. No
ecords of children for John Duckett Wells. He was married in 1715 but
ies soon thereafter. Did he leave Maryland and die in the wilderness? Did
e have children before his death?
Joseph Wells, Son of George Wells & Susannah Plummer born before 1750
rince George's County, Maryland. I highly doubt Joseph is a suspect due
o the fact when researches put before 1750 that usually means a date
lose to the given date, in this case 1750. However, cant rule him out at
his point though, especially since he has a brother born before 1725.
Based on the available information (if you want the specifics I used I can
end them if you like) the 1750 birth date for Zachariah as told by
onathon Brickey Wells appears reasonable. I found references on line that
ange from 1739 to 1745 to 1752 to 1755. The 1739 date can be eliminated
s this is calculated from the pension records of the Zach Wells from
ennessee. But, the remaining dates are reasonable when cross checked
gainst the available information. So our Zachariah was likely born
etween 1745-1755 with 1745-1750 more likely than 1750-1755. This is
specially true if the 1770 marriage date is accurate. All references I
ave seen have the marriage in Grayson County, but Grayson County did not
xist until 1793. However, it could have been in a town which is now in
rayson County. I have seen no other date for his marriage to Abigail
sborne, but I have not seen any references to validate it either.
Where was he born? I have found in family trees on line with references to
he states of North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland. I have
ound specific references to:
Paintsville, Kentucky
altimore, Maryland
iles, Virginia 1745
ig Stone Gap, Virginia
The only one of the above places that I think proves interesting is Giles,
s it is near the old Fincastle County and New River. The others I dont
hink are very promising.
I did come across this post in researching email posts on the old
rootsweb.
While I was in BSG 3 weeks ago, I visited the Museum and bought a couple
f books about the area. In one of them by Lawrence J. Fleenor, Jr., he
tates Zachariah was born in 1745 at the Mouth-of-the Wilson area which is
ver by Grayson Highlands.
Mouth of Wilson and Giles are in the same neighborhood both use the 1745
ate. Could be promising. Need to find this book by Fleenor!
Possible other clues as to his birthplace come from references from the
ovement of other grandchildren. Places that grandchildren of Thomas Wells
how up outside of Maryland are:
Cane Creek, Orange County, NC
eesburg , Fairfax County, Virginia
incoln County, NC (previously Tryon 1768-1779, previously Mecklenburg
762-1768)
The Zachariah Wells clan.
Several surnames show up in the same geographic places as Zachariah. James
oggs, James Shepperd, Micajah Pennington.and.the Osborne familyall
n Fincastle with the clan and about the time Zach & Abigail are
upposedly married. They are together in Fincastle County, Virginia. Then
hey show up in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Then in Lee County,
irginia and finally in Missouri.
Now this clan first appears in the Fincastle Militia & Tax records.
ronically enough, another interesting name in those records is Daniel
oone. So..I decided to look into Boones biography. Turns out Boones
ather moved the family to the Yadkin River Valley, North Carolina. Yadkin
iver is right next to the New River Valley where Zachariah and the clan
esided. Boone then, of course, goes to Kentucky, and eventually ends up
n Missouri. Members of the clan end up in the same places or nearby, like
achariah in Southwest Virginia not far from Boones establishment in
entucky.
An excerpt below from Boggs Genealogy:
Sometime around 1798 James L. Boggs and his two brothers, James and
zekiel, decided to move from North Carolina to find their fortunes
n Kentucky. The migratory route from North Carolina to Kentucky was
hrough Cumberland Gap, located in the tri-border of Kentucky,
irginia and Tennessee. This was the route which Daniel Boone
stablished in his first explorations of Kentucky from his base in
orth Carolina. For whatever reason,(some say the
rek became too difficult) James L. dropped out of the
ourney into Kentucky near Cumberland Gap and settled at the Three
orks of the Powell River in Lee County, Virginia, as did Zachariah
ells, his former neighbor in Wilkes County, North Carolina. This
ocation is near the mountain towns of Big Stone Gap and Appalachia.
hat area of Wise County was then part of Lee County, which in 1856
ecame part of Wise County when it was chartered
Jacob Wells, son of Zachariah ends up in Missouri as his wife was a
heppard and the eldest Sheppard had followed Boone to Missouri. Jacob
oves to Missouri following his father-in-law after Zachariah dies (which
as to be between March of 1827 last land transaction by Zach and August
f 1828 Jacob on Missouri voting rolls. It appears Zach was living with
acob in his final years).
I have found no reference to Zach and the clan as being pioneers with
oone. However, they certainly followed his paths. Based on that info I
ecided to keep digging into Boones past. An interesting item was the
oone family moved to Culpeper, Virginia during Indian uprisings from
758-1762. Since the clan followed Boones paths, could Culpeper offer
ome info regarding Zachariah.
Searching Culpeper and the records of Orange County, Virginia I found 8
eferences to a George Wells between 1734 and 1750. One on a Tithe List
he others on Road Orders.
Another reference to Orange County is this:
bigail Osborne, born - 15 JAN 1757, Orange County, Virginia.
I have not verified this with any documents, but if correct it gives more
ircumstantial evidence to connect Zachariah to George Wells of Orange
ounty.
ased on this circumstantial evidence I feel there is a very good chance
f the following lineage below.
Thomas Wells (1653-1718)
^
eorge Wells (1685-1764)
^
eorge Wells (before 1725 - ????)
^
achariah Wells (1745-55 1827-1828)
Now the problem is proving it. Since it appears that Zachariah was a
ioneer, as we all already know records are hard to find and may not even
xist. Hopefully this info will help to get people working on Zach again.
I will be happy to share my info, just contact me.
I have a Zachariah Wells timeline on excel. I have over 50 verified
eferences relating to Zachariah and a lot of notes.
Good luck Zach Wells researchers!
Greg
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