Nicholas Wells ^{1 2}

  Research Notes:

From http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9985392 :

Son of Charles Wells and Elizabeth Prather

m: Rachel Witten Jan 9 1810, Washington Co OH

ch include:

WELLS

-Ruth Prather 1810-1885/Monroe Co OH m: Alexander T. Garden in 1830, ch: Charles Prather, Henry Evans, Nicholas D., James Prather Garden

-Elizabeth Prather 1812-1893/Woods Co WV/Selmon Cem, m: Caleb Wells abt 1831, 12 children

-Acheus Butler 1813- m: Robert Gale 1840, ch: William H., Rachel, Sarah A.. Catherine, George

-Catherine Adams 1815-1881/Washington Co OH/Hammet Cem WV, m: George Washington Gale 1836, 12 children

-Rachel 1818-1878

-Narcessa Doddridge/Dodridge 1821-bef 1858 m: Corbin Moore 1840, ch: Elizabeth, Rachel V, Nicholas W.

-Phillip Witten 1823-1895

-Sarah Delilah 1826-1902 m: Archibald Thistle in 1865 {may have had an earlier marriage}

-Unknown - there is a gravestone in Long Reach Cem engraved "Child of Nicholas and Rachel Wells, died Aug 12 1862", with no first name or DOB. None of their known children died in 1862. Appears to be a son.

-Unknown - 3 unidentified children, may be all sons. UNPROVED
- see note


note: Based on numbers for 1820/1830/1840 census, it appears there were 12 children counted in census, with at least 5 male, and 7 female. It appears all the males but Philip died before 1858 without heirs. Only Philip, Rachel and Delilih are specifically mentioned in Nicholas' 1858 will, but there is reference to "other daughters and descendents of deceased daughters", with no mention of other sons/descendents.

It is of course possible that some of the children counted in these census records were nieces/nephews or other children they were raising.


Nicholas left a will with three codicils. The will set aside land and road access for a graveyard, which is called "Long Reach Cemetery". He also freed his two slaves and their children, left them with some land and money. The 3rd codicil basically disinherited granddaughter Elizabeth Moore.


From the Will of Charles Wells, father of Nicholas, dated Dec 13 1814:

..."Item 3. To my son Nicholas Wells, he being already provided for, it is my will that he have nothing more of my estate either real or personal except whatever after my decease my said wife may gratuously give him of the part intrusted to her disposal."


From the Will of Elizabeth Wells, probated spring of 1845, mother of Nicholas:

..."3rd. I will and bequeath unto my son Nicholas Wells the Sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars in addition to what he has already received."


Source for information about the family Wills is RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: Gault and Collaterals, where the Wills are posted.

----------
From Kelli Weaver-Miner email of 8 March 2011:
excerpt from the Will....

I Nicholas Wells, of the County of Tyler in the State of West Virginia do make and publish this codicil to my last will and testament dated the 27th day of July 1858 as follows, that is to say. First----For the purpose of dividing the land divised in and by the fourth item of my said Will, to my daughters Rachel and Delilah between them. I will and direct that a line recently run by C.P.Russell, commencing on the bank of the Ohio River at a stone set up thence running S 56 E to a stone corner on the back line of my farm shall be the division line between my said daughters and the land lying between the land divised in said Will to my son Philip and said division line I give and devise to my said daughter Rachel and the land lying between the land of Selman Wells, and said division line I give and devise to my said daughter Delilah. Second---I will and direct that my negro man Samuel and my negro woman Lucy and her children shall be free at and after the time of my death, and I give and devise to the said Samuel and to the said Lucy and the the longest lived of them for and during their natural lives, the use and income of the following described tract of land situate in Pleasants County beginning at three chestnut oaks, thence N 27 E 24 poles with land of said S. Wells to a beech, thence S70 E along the land of said S. Wells , so many poles as may be necessary by running a strait line there from to a line agreed upon between myself, Edmund Riggs and Thomas Browse and thence to the beginning so as to include not exceeding one hundred acres, but in no event shall the last line along the land of said S. Wells, exceed 154 poles to a stone corner to land of Esely, whether the boundaries contain one hundred acres or less and after the death of the Samuel and Lucy I give and devise said land to the children of the said Lucy living at the time of her death in fee simple--I further will and direct that my son Philip and my daughters Rachel and Delilah each give the sum of one hundred dollars, to the said Samuel and Lucy to enable them to work and use said land. All property I hereby give to the said Samuel and Lucy and her children, on condition that neither of them make other claim whatever against my estate--Lastly I hereby revoke so much of my said last will and testament as is inconsistent herewith and republish and declare with this codicil thereto, to be my true last will and testament and to be taken together as one instrument in writing.

Signed, sealed and published by

the said Nicholas Wells as his........

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census, 12 Aug 1870, Union Twp, Tyler, West Virginia, United States. Series M593 Roll: 1700 Page: 340B

Nicholas married Rachel Witten on 9 Jan 1810 in Washington, Ohio, United States. (Rachel Witten was born on 14 Aug 1780 in Virginia, (United States), died on 12 Aug 1861 in Tyler, West Virginia, United States and was buried in Long Reach Cemetery, Sistersville, Tyler, West Virginia, United States.)

Nicholas had a relationship with Lucy Fisher.