The ancestral research has been done by others and I have no original records to verify this information. Much of this comes from the extensive research of Robert Jeffries. He says in an email "... I traced my line back to about 1820 and discovered where my line tied into a Dr. Guy Wells' line. While he was President of a College here in Georgia in the early 1940's he wrote a book on the Wells' family, I have seen only one time, but I copied much of my direct line from it. His ancestor and my ancestor were brother's who handled their father's estate in Telfair County in 1840. I didn't know whether he did the research, or hired a genealogist, who just put down anything to satisfy him, so I rechecked the information. I found it to be true, and have added much information he could not find in his day. (As you can imagine this helped me tremendously.)..."

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."[records of Robert Jeffries]

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]

1681, April 20 - Stephen sued Thomas Perryne. Stephen Wells receive 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]

1704, August 3 - Stephen was on the Grand Jury of Richmond County. Stephen Wells, of St. Stephens and Sittenbourne Parish, in Richmond County, deeded to David Cavender for 3,000 pounds of tobacco, etc. This land had been devised to Elizabeth Wells and her heirs forever, after the death of her mother and father, Rice Williams.

1705, February - Stephen Wells brought a suit against Wattakin Price in Richmond County.

1707- July 11- Stephen Wells is mentioned living on the property of Francis Settle. 

c1708 - Absalom Wells is born to Stephen Wells and Elizabeth (Williams) the widow of Francis Settle, in Richmond Co., VA. [ records of Gordon Wells]

1712, August 16 - Stephen witnessed a land deed from a Trussell to a Millard in Northumberland County.

Stephen Wells, son of Stephen and Alice (Howard) Wells married Elizabeth (Williams) Settle on December 3, 1677 in Richmond County. She was the daughter of Rice and Mary Williams and the widow of Francis Settle, Jr. The transaction was signed on October 3, 1722.

On December 23, 1723 Elizabeth Wells, Matthew Burroes, and John Davis received a bond in Richmond County for 100 pounds sterling swearing that they would correctly serve as administrators of Stephen Wells' estate. Elizabeth, the administratrix of the estate was to make an inventory of the goods, chattles, and credits of Stephen Well's estate. An abstract of the will made by Stephen Wells, planter in Sittenbourne Parish of Richmond County, was recorded in Deed Book VIII on page 108 and recorded on October 3, 1722.

Stephen Wells and three other men were ordered to appear in court and answer charges that they had not paid their church tithes for the last month in Richmond County. Property was mentioned in it which Elizabeth received from her father, and another Thomas Williams Settle was mentioned in the will.

1724, February 10 - Elizabeth Wells left her will in North Farnham Parish of Richmond County. In it she said Richard Topson was to receive his freedom at the age of 21 years old. She mentioned her daughter, Elizabeth Wells. She left her named sons Thomas Williams Wells a young horse, and Stephen Wells a rug, pistol, and a holster. She also left her son Thomas Williams Wells with Richard Losson until he was 21 years of age and he was then to be given a suit of apparel, and she named her daughter, Sarah Losson in her will. She also named her other sons as Absalom Wells, Francis Settle, and Stephen Wells. She also left Absalom Wells a grey parson mare.One of the items paid from her estate was to Richard Lee, the ancestral immigrant of Robert E. Lee. The will was witnessed by Henry Settle, Daniel Jackson, and Henry Spurrier.
[wills of Richmond County, VA]

[p. 227- Stephen Wells, inv. by Elizabeth Wells adm. ; 1 Jan 1723/24.[Headley, Robt. p52]

[p. 261 - Elizabeth Wells, Farn. Par., will; 10 Feb. 1724, 5 May 1725 Richard Losson; Elizabeth Wells; my son Thomas Williams Wells I leave him to Richard Losson while the age of 21 to have at his freedom one suit of apparel; Absolom Wells; Sarah Losson; sons Francis Settle and Stephen Wells; no ex; wits: Henry Settle, Daniel Jackson, Henry Spurrier. [Elizabeth Wells was the dau. of Rice Williams and wid. of (1) Francis Settle Jr. and (2) Stephen Wells. MRC, p. 228][Headley, Robt. p54]

On April 8, 1725 "Solomon Redman" (important in the next generation), Francis Settle, and Stephen Wells, the administrator, came into Richmond County Court and posted a bond that an inventory would be made of the estate and that Stephen would correctly administer the estate. (This Stephen Wells married a Priscilla Redman, [I believe she was Redman's daughter on August 21, 1729.)

source:

Currie, Randoph records.  email 3/25/09 curjax@accesstoledo.com
Headley, Robert K. Married Well and Often, Marriages of Northern Neck of Virginia 1649-1800, Gen. Pub. Co., Inc. Baltimore, Maryland, 2003
Headley, Robert K. Wills of Richmond County, Virginia 1699-1800, Clearfield Co., Baltimore, Maryland 1983, reprinted Gen. Pub. Co., Inc. Baltimore, Maryland, 1993,1995,1998, 2002
Records of Gordon M. Wells, 1584 Woodglen Drive, Jackson, Miss. 39204 (601) 373-4407
Records of Mildred Ezell, 60 M. St., Salt Lake City, Utah 84103
Records of Robert Jeffries, 300 Sivell Road La Grange, Georgia 30241- emails of Feb 1999 - rjeffries@mindspring.com

Wells Family Index || Ancestor Chart #14
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