JAMES WELLS I

                                  My Ninth Paternal Generation

                               The Emigrant Grandcestor

 James Wells I, progenitor of the LITTLE WELLS branch, was transplanted to 
Maryland upon the "Nightingale of York", in the year 1669.

 Maryland Land Office, Annapolis, Maryland, Libr. 11, Folio 581-582 contains 
"A Catalog of the Servants brought in by the "NIGHTINGALE OF YORK" who 
arrived in Maryland, the XXth of February MDCLXVIII (1668/9). 
Listed is JAMES WELLS.

 These records show that David Poole brought over sixty passengers on two 
ships which entitled him to sixty rights of land. The papers show David Poole
assigned all sixty rights to George Yate, and under date of May 25, 1669,
George Yate sold 300 acres and thereon appears the name of JAMES WELLS as 
a witness to the deal.

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  Born: Cir 1640 England

  Died: 22 Feb 1681/2 - Baltimore  Co., Maryland 
 
  Father: UNKNOWN
  b:

  Mother: UNKNOWN
  b:

  Married: UNKNOWN

  Wife's Parents: UNKNOWN

  Children: 
  1. Stephen - Not Proven
  2. Unknown Daughter - b: 1665-1670
  3. John - b: 1670/1
  4. Joseph - b: 1672/3
  5. James II - b: 1675/6

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                More Information About James Wells (I)



 On July 1, 1671 JAMES WELLS (I) became a landowner:

 "In consideration that Richard Mascall of the county of Ann Arundell hat
due unto him one hundred acres of Land...whose right title and interest in 
and to the same the afsd. Richard hat assigned sold and made over said 
province of Maryland, Planter...Doe hereby Grant unto him the sd. JAMES WELLS
all of that parcell of Land (Mascall's Haven) lying in the said County on 
the South Side of Patapsco River". - Maryland State Land Office, Libr. 16,
Folio 216-217. 


 The Maryland Hall of Records, Libr.7C, Folio 44-45 shows an inventory of 
goods and chattels of the Estate of JAMES WELLS, d. 22nd February 1681/82.
 This inventory bears the seals and names of Jno Thomas and Christopher Gist.
 In the "Maryland Historical Magazine", Vol 18, page 17 appears" 
 "November Court 1738 - Sundry persons, among them Cornelius Howard, 
William Gist, Joshua Howard, Thomas Gist, Nathaniel Gist, Edmund Howard, 
James Wells, and Christopher Gist certify that they are well contented with 
Mr. Murray's turning the Indian Road." (Editor's (Orin Wells') note: "Again 
circumstantial association, but strong. Some 57 years later, these could be 
either the sons or the grandsons of the first two gentlemen, if related at 
all.)

 John Thomas is linked again to the Wells family when in 1692 a young 
JAMES WELLS is included in the List of Taxables taken of the North Side of 
Patapsco Hundred, Baltimore County, Maryland at the household of John Thomas.
 In 1694 JAMES WELLS was taxed in the household of Daniell Welch. The reason
for this change may be the following:

 A list of Provincial Court Judgements for the year 1694 includes the 
settlement of the case. JAMES WELLS agt. John Thomas in which is written, 
"Know ye that I the said  John Thomas for in consideration that JAMES WELLS 
...Do Acquitt release and forever discharge me...from Learning Him to...read 
and write which I the said John Thomas do owne to stand obliged to do have 
Given granted and Sold...unto the said JAMES WELLS that Tract or Parcel of 
Land called "Wells Lot"...(Maryland Hall of Records - Libr.  R.M. #H.S. 
folio 460-461.)

 (Here Nadine Arnold speculates in the article that perhaps the obligation 
that John Thomas had to teach JAMES WELLS to read and write may have come 
about through the possible marriage to the widow of JAMES WELLS, I). He 
apparently failed at the effort. She suggests another possible explanation 
was that perhaps John was the brother of the boy's mother.) 

 JAMES WELLS b: before 1640, England - Two possibilities for the origin of 
James I) have been suggested. Either that he was from Somerset County, 
England, or that he may have been the son of THOMAS WELLS of St. Olaves 
Church, City of York. (Son JAMES WELLS baptized 16 July 1629). Both are 
unsubstantiated and there are certainly many more locations in England where 
men named JAMES born at the same time period can be found." Orin Wells /
Editor - "Wells Chronicles" Vol. 1 No. 2 - December 1988