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Alexander Wells, of Cross Creek Township
m. Bef 1709 - Thomas Wells1709 - 1804
- Alexander Wells, of Cross Creek Township1727 - 1813
Facts and Events
Alexander Wells was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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Early Land Acquisition in Virginia
Early Land Acquisitions:
- 1,500 Acres in partnership with Nathan Cromwell
- 500 Acres in partnership with Nathan Cromwell
- Stillton - 423 Acres
- The Cliffs - 400 Acres
- Mayfield - 389 Acres
- Rocky Ridge - 407 Acres
- The Grove - 199 Acres
- {Source: History of Washington County, (Pennsylvania), by Boyd Crumrine-1882]
Land Grant Surveys in Virginia:
- Page 239: Alexander Wells and Nathan Cromwell both of the County of Baltimore in the Province of Maryland, 2,000 acres, lying in the County of Augusta in the forks of Gross [sic, s/b "Cross"] Creek, a branch of the Ohio. Henry Wells and James Homes sworn as Chainmen. January 18, 1775. [Abstract of Land Grant Surveys, 1761-1791, Augusta & Rockingham Counties, Virginia, by Peter Cline Kaylor, pg. 84].
- Page 245: Alexander Wells, 200 acres, Ohio River, generally called Mingo Bottom, opposite the old Mingo Town on the said River. Mentioned Sarah Gibbs, John McNeely. June 6, 1775. [Abstract of Land Grant Surveys, 1761-1791, Augusta & Rockingham Counties, Virginia, by Peter Cline Kaylor, pg. 87].
Records in Augusta County, VA
From Chalkley's:
- Vol. 2 - Alexander Wells vs. Decker's Heirs--O. S. 78; N. S. 26--Bill in Brooke County, 1799. Defendants are Joseph, Abraham, Moses, and Luke Decker, and George Cox and Susannah, his wife, heirs-at-law of John Decker, deceased, who died intestate. Isaac Cox claimed to have made a settlement before 1779. Richard Elson deposes, 14th August, 1801, that in 1773 he saw a cabin on the land; it was called Cox's; Isaac moved to the Mingo bottom in 1775. George Cox of Brooke County, deposes, 14th August, 1801, that in September, 1772, he raised a cabin on the land. Certificate by Dunmore, 24th March, 1774, to Surveyor of Augusta County, that Sarah Gibbs, as representative of John McNeely, deceased, is entitled to 200 acres by his proclamation of 1763. Thos. Lewis's certificate, 10th May, 1774, that Alexr. Wells, assignee of Sarah Gibbs, wishes to locate above on 200 acres at the Mingo Path. Sarah has assigned to Alexr. Wells, of Baltimore County, Maryland.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees: (Note: not considered a reliable primary source).
Early Settlements - Alexander Wells was one of the earliest, if not the first, of the pioneer settlers of Cross Creek township, as he came here prior to the year 1772, and located a very large area of land. He came from Baltimore, where he had purchased soldiers' rights from men residing in that city; and upon these he located tracts amounting to two thousand acres of land, which are now within the boundaries of Cross Creek, Jefferson, and Independence townships. Fifteen hundred acres of the land was situated on the middle branch of Cross Creek, and the remaining five hundred was located near Cross Creek village, on the head-waters of the north branch of Cross Creek. The patent for this land was granted to Alexander Wells in 1780; and on April 23, 1796, five hundred acres of the land, situated on the middle branch of Cross Creek, was sold by him to Thomas Bay. That property is now owned by Arnold Lawton, Joseph Brownlee, James Stevenson, and John F. Sharp. The five-hundred-acre tract situated near Cross Creek village was conveyed by deed to Rev. Thomas Marques, Aug. 27, 1794. Whether sold by Alexander Wells to Marques is not definitely known; but tradition has it, and it has become an established belief, that it had previously been sold by Wells to William Parks, a brother-in-law of Thomas Marques..
Subsequent to the first location of land made by Alexander Wells, he at different times took out warrants for other tracts, some of which were in his own name and others in the name of some member of his family. For the tract "Stillton" he received a Virginia certificate, Dec. 21, 1780, and also one for "Mayfield" upon the same date. "Stillton" received its name from a still which was in operation upon the tract, at the head of the creek..
A Virginia certificate, dated March 23, 1780, granted Alexander Wells the tracts "Wellwood" and "The Cliffs," but the dates upon which he warranted "The Grove" and "Rocky Ridge" are not given. "Jerusalem" was warranted May 9, 1785, in the name of James Wells, son of Alexander. The tract contained two hundred acres, and was adjoining the lands of Alexander Wells, Thomas Wells, and Mrs. Mary Patterson. "Wellington" (two hundred and twenty-two acres) was warranted to James Wells on March 29, 1786, and surveyed June 1st of the same year. "Wellton" was warranted by Thomas Wells March 29, 1786; "Black Walnut Thicket," by James Wells on Aug. 4, 1788; "Sugar-Tree Run," by Richard Wells, Jan 9, 1788; and "Buffalo Lick," by Richard Wells, Jr., Jan. 22, 1788. In the first survey book of Yohogania County, opened in 1780, is found the following record of land taken up in Cross Creek township: "No. 12 Pre-emption Warrant. Alexander Wells produced a warrant from the land-office for one hundred acres of land, in right of pre-emption, dated March 23, 1780, No. 314, which he enters on lands adjoining his settlement made in 1776, on the waters of Cross Creek.".
In the location of the large amount of land which Alexander Wells warranted in this vicinity, he was very careful to so run his lines that he cut off and prevented all other persons from gaining any of the water privilege of the streams upon which his lands were situated. Three of the tracts were made to corner in very acute angles on the Creek Bottom, near the old Patterson Fulling-Mill, while the dividing lines of the tracts cross and recross the stream at several points. But in 1794, Thomas Patterson, who was equally alive to the advantages of water-power, established the Patterson Mills upon the stream, securing a site for it and a right to reach the creek by purchasing two abutting patents. The first mills in this section of Cross Creek township were built by Alexander Wells in 1775, at the junction of the north branch of Cross Creek with the main stream. These mills were operated by himself in 1796, when the Western Telegraph, published on January 11th of that year, contained the following advertisement of his property: "I will sell sixteen hundred acres of land with my mills, and the property on which I live.".
A store of general merchandise had been for some time in operation at these mills at the time the above offer of sale was announced, the proprietors announcing the fact through the following advertisement of Oct. 25, 1795: "John Kerr & Co. have opened and are now selling at Alexander Wells' mills, on Cross Creek, a neat assortment of merchandise suitable for the season, for cash or country produce.".
Richard Wells was a nephew of Alexander Wells, and his son-in-law also, having married his daughter. When Alexander Wells advertised his property in 1796, it was purchased by Richard Wells, mills, homestead, and all entire. He continued the business until his death, when all the property except the mills was inherited by his youngest daughter, who was the wife of Thomas Patterson. The mills were left to Bazileel Wells, who operated them for some time and then sold them to Thomas Patterson. After conducting the business for a while, he in turn sold them to his brother, James Patterson, who prosecuted a very successful business for a year or two, when the mill again changed hands, David Campbell being the purchaser. William Bushfield afterwards came into possession of this property, and in time it was owned by William Fullerton, who was a member of a family of bachelor brothers and maiden sisters. Under this last proprietorship the mill ceased its functions as a grist-mill, after nearly a hundred years of continual service, and was remodeled into a woolen-factory. In this business it was run for a few years, but has now passed into disuse. The saw-mill is still in existence and operation, the water by which it is driven running through the same old race used when Alexander Wells started it. Alexander Wells died in 1813, aged eighty-six years, and was buried on the old homestead. Many of his descendants still remain in this section..
The fort known as Wells' Fort was located on Alexander Wells' land, a little east of the stone house built by Richard Wells, and now occupied by Oliver Clemmens..
from http://www.chartiers.com/crumrine/twp-crosscreek.html
- Brooke County, West Virginia Genealogy Society.
Alexander Wells was born, March 12, 1727 in Baltimore County, Maryland. (Source: St. Paul’s Episcopal Parish, Register of Births, Baltimore, Maryland, on file at the Maryland Historical Society Library. Alexander was the fifth of the six children of James Wells (2) and his wife Ann whose births are recorded in the St Paul’s register.
(Ed. Location of the library is not given, but there are elsewhere in the notes evidence that the library is in Baltimore, Md.)
Alexander Married: Leah Owings on July 12, 1753. (Source: St. Thomas Episcopal Parish Records: Garrison Forest Church, Baltimore County, Md). Leah Owings was born ca. 1728.
(Ed. The location of these records too is not stated. They are most probably at the previously mentioned Maryland Historical Association Library thought to be in Baltimore. If not, the Maryland Hall of Records at Annapolis.)
Leah was the daughter of Captain Henry Owings (1692 – 1763) and his wife, Helen. Helen was probably, Helen Stinchcomb (ca.1702 – 1763). The couple was married about 1719. The Owing's home plantation, Long Acre, was in Baltimore County. Leah had six siblings, several of who will be mentioned later as associates of Alexander Wells. (Ed. Source: Informal record of 1960’s interview with an Owings family researcher).
Some of the children of Alexander and Leah Owings Wells are listed in the records of St. Thomas Parish – Garrison Forest Episcopal Church –Baltimore County, Md., as follows:
•Henry Wells son of Alexander Wells and Leah his wife was born the 7th September 1754.
•Alexander Wells son of Alexander Wells and Leah his wife was born, the 6th of March 1756.
•Anne Wells, daughter of Alexr Wells and Leah his wife was born the 12th January 1758.
•Michael (should read Michal) Wells daughter of Alexr Wells and Leah his wife was born 12th of March 1759."
•Nathaniel Wells son of Alexr Wells and Leah his wife was born the 1st day of April 1761"
•Bezaleel Wells son of Alexr Wells and Leah his wife was born the 28th Janry 1763"
There were other children of Alexander and Leah Wells who were not recorded at St. Thomas. These children included Helen Wells, born July 25, 1775. She was married November 10, 1795 to her first cousin once removed, Richard Wells. The existence of this daughter is proved by a Deed dated October 16, 1797 under which Alexander and Leah Wells transferred a tract of Washington County, Pa. land known as "Stillton" to Richard Wells and his Wife, Helen. The document recited as consideration, "5 shillings and the natural affection which the said Alexander Wells beareth toward his said daughter and for the better maintenance and support of the said Richard and Helen."
http://www.brookecountywvgenealogy.org/wells-family.html
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