William Addison Wells

Notes:

E-mail from Judy Stowe, Descendant -- Directions to Gravesite


From Hwy 41 you will travel about a mile down the Dry Fork Road.
You will see Stowe Lane on your left.
You will turn on to Stowe Lane and follow this road which will turn into a farm road..you will pass some barns and a Stowe Cemetery on your left (keep going), you will then come to a house, it is white, looks like two houses joined together with another house close beside it (in the summer this house is used for the Mexican workers to live in)...you will keep to the right , pass that house and drive across a creek. After you cross the creek you will go on maybe 5 or 6 car lengths and stop. You will then walk across a field on your right and into the woods where the cemetery is located. I call this the Joel T. Stowe Cemetery since he is the oldest person buried there. This is where William Addison Wells is buried: his tombstone reads:
W. A. Wells
Born 1862
March 22 1899 (I have seen his death also listed as in April?)

Now, lets go back to Hwy 41
Again you will go down the Dry Fork, as before just under a mile. You will see Johnson Road on your left. You will not go down Johnson Road, this is just a starting point. Directly across the Dry Fork Road from Johnson Road is a field. You will need to cross this field to the woods, at the woods stay to the right and you will see the cemetery shortly. In the last year the woods have been cut down so now the cemetery is right in the edge of the woods. I call this the Davis/Wells Cemetery since the Davis Family were the first to be buried here. (the Davis family are my husbands family). This is where Lelia E. Stowe Wells is buried; Her tombstone reads:
Lelia E. Stowe
wife of W. A. Wells
Jan. 3, 1868
July 1, 1930
In loving memory
of our dear mother

It has been quite some time since I was in this cemetery...when we were there the Davis family was buried in the woods and the Wells graves were in grass over 6 foot tall. My husband went into the grass to read the stones to me and I couldn't even see him. There were close to 20 graves there and some, I don't know how many had been moved away.
Hope this is helpful to you...I enjoyed the Devintimber site. It helped me to draw some families together that I already had, but hadn't connected them to each other. I am anxious to look at your site. Have a great afternoon....Judy
-----Original Message-----
From: Mary Frances Eggleston
To: jhstoe

William married Lelia Ella Stowe 28 Aug 1892, Pittsylvania Co., Virginia. Lelia (daughter of Joel Thomas LY8T-4Z3 Stowe and Martha Judy K86-H49 Pigg) was born 3 Jun 1868, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; died 1 Jul 1930, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; was buried , Davis-Wells Family Cemetery, Dry Fork, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. [Group Sheet]

1. Willis Lee Wells was born Abt 1893, dif Twin Boys.
2. William Leonard Wells was born Abt 1893, Twin Boys dif.
3. Mattie James Wells was born 5 May 1895, Dry Fork, Virginia; died 4 Jan 1954, Dry Fork, Virginia; was buried , Davis-Wells Family Cemetery, Dry Fork, Pittsylvania County, Virginia.
4. Joel Estes Wells, Sr. was born 27 Dec 1895, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; died 11 May 1948, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; was buried , Davis-Wells Family Cemetery, Dry Fork, Pittsylvania County, Virginia.
5. Mary Clay Wells was born 26 Jan 1898, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; died 31 Dec 1984, Danville, Virginia; was buried , Highland Burial Park, Danville, Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA.

Notes:

Matthew Clay Wells Family (1875) [See Photo]

Standing - back row (L-R): William Addison, Peter Thomas, Olid Delin, Tabitha Gabrilla, & Sallie Fannie.

Sitting - front row (L-R): Charlie Wesley, Joseph Sidney, John James with Robert Lee (in front), Matthew Clay with Minnie Kathryn (in front), & Exie Clay.

Mary Henrietta and wife Mary Jane (Shorter) Wells were absent at the time.

Matthew married Mary Jane Shorter 21 Feb 1853, Henry County, Virginia. Mary (daughter of Booker Randolph Shorter and Tabitha Gabrella Hubbard) was born 23 Oct 1831, Pittsylvania County, Pennsylvania; died 21 Dec 1893, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; was buried , Wells Plantation Family Cemetery, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. [Group Sheet]

Joseph married Sarah "Sally" Fuller 19 Dec 1808, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Sarah (daughter of Zachariah Fuller and Letitia "Letty" Pearson) was born 1785, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Bible Record Transcribed Reynolds Family Bible:
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/pittsylvania/bibles/reynolds.txt


All family listed on one stone in the Shorter family Cemetery, Sandy River, Pittsylvania County, Virginia

Booker married Tabitha Gabrella Hubbard 14 Apr 1829, Sandy River Pittsylvania Co., Virginia. Tabitha was born 1811, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; died 1883, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Matthew5 Wells (John4, Barnaby3, John2, Barnaby1) was born 1758 in Lunnenburg Co., Virginia, and died April 1828 in Pittsylvania Co., Virginia. He married Tabitha Morton 1785.

Notes for Matthew Wells:
In the name of God - Amen, I, Matthew Wells of sound and perfect mind and memory but low in health and much afflicted in body and advanced in years have thought proper to make and ordain this my last will and testament and forever following (Viz.) I give to my four daughters namely Clary Ray, Mary Petty, Judith Mitchell, and Martha Walker, four hundred acres of land lying in the county of Pittsylvania on the waters of Sandy River and adjoining lands of my sons John, Joseph and Joel Wells to them during their natural life and at their decease to their heirs in the following way. It is my wish and desire that at the decease of my daughter Clary Ray that two children by a former husband shall inherit that portion of the above named the four hundred acres of land which may fall in Division of the same to the mother, the names of these two children are Matthew R. Allen and John P. Allen the only surviving children of daughter Clary by William Allen, a former husband. It is my further will and desire that at my decease whatever proportion of my personal estate would in Division have fallen to my daughter Clary Ray shall remain in the hands of my executors and by them be fully accounted for to the above named to children of my daughter Clary Ray, Matthew R. and John P. Allen when they shall arrive to the age of 21 years. It is further my will and desire that my daughter Mary Petty shall have the enjoyment and full of benefit of one equal part and fourth of the above named four hundred acres of land during her natural life and at her decease to go to the heir for her body lawfully begotten and I further wish and desire that at my decease whatever proportion of my personal estate would have fallen to my daughter Polly Petty shall remain in the hands of my executors for her special benefit during life to be distributed as may be necessary for her support to and childrens while she lives and at her decease whatever remains to her children as they may come to full age or marry but my executors are to have the control and management of the whole matter during my daughter Polly's life but honestly and fully account as above required to her children afterwards. It is further my wish and desire that one hundred and fifty-six acres of land which I hold in the county of Henry on the waters of Turkey Cock Creek and adjoining the lands of Henry Jamerson, James Johnson and others shall be inherited by three grandchildren namely George B. Wells the only child of my daughter Tabitha who intermarried with my nephew Benjamin G. Wells, also Tabitha Eanes and Joel S. Eanes the only children of my daughter Catherine who intermarried with Abraham Eanes. My will and desire is that the aforesaid named one hundred fifty six acres of land shall be equally allotted into two parts to my three grandchildren above named (Viz) the only child of my daughter Tabitha to receive one-half and the only two children of my daughter Catherine to receive the balance. It is further my wish and desire that whatever proportion of my personal estate would have fallen to my daughter Tabitha Wells and Catherine Eanes shall remain in the hands of my executors and by them be honestly accounted for with legal interest to the child and children of my two daughters Tabitha and Catherine when those children shall marry or arrive to full and lawful age. It is further my will and desire that if it should for the interest of mine above named three grandchildren be thought most advisable by my executors it shall be their privilege to sell the aforesaid one hundred and fifty six acres of land on the most judicious terms in their discretion and account for the amount with interest to my above named three grandchildren as they marry or come to full age. I further devize to my three sons John, Joseph and Joel the following lands - To my son John I give one hundred ninety two acres at the upper part of my plantation, to my son Joseph I give two hundred twelve at the lower end of my plantation, to my son Joel I give the middle part of my land of two hundred eight acres including my mansion House. All of which tracks of land I have conveyed by deed to the respective parties and wish them to stand precisely as deeded. It is further my will and desire that my son Joel should receive a small negro being named Henderson to make him every way equal with the rest of the my children exclusive of the general distribution to be afterwards made and it is further my will and desire that the residue you've of my estate to after all my just debts are paid shall be equally divided among my children subject however to the control and management of my executors in regard to a part of them as above particularly expressed and identified. It is further my wish and desire that should either of my three grandchildren die before they receive what I have devised to them in the hands and at the control of my executors that such decedant's portion of estate shall return into general estimation and be equally divided among my surviving heirs.

I hereby moreover ordain and a point my beloved sons John Wells and Joseph Wells executors to this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made in testimony of which I I have before warm witnesses signed sealed and acknowledged this to be my last will and testament this 8th day of April Anno Domino 1828.

Matthew Wells X(his mark)

Teste

James Morton
John Carter
Stephen Austin
Willis W. Dearing
John Gardner
Isaiah Morton (Suterlined before assigned)

At a Superior Court of law held for the County of Pittsylvania 28th day of April 1828 this last will and testament of Matthew Wells deceased was presented in court and was proved by three of the subscribing witnesses and ordered to be recorded and with the motion of Joseph Wells one of the executors of in said will named who made oath according to law and with Thomas S. Jones, James A. Mitchell, Samuel Beck, Thomas Ragsdale, and Jabez Smith his securities entered into and acknowledged bond in the a penalty of the four thousand dollars conditions as the law directs certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate of said will in due form - liberty being reserved to the other executor in said will name to join in the probate when he shall think fit.

Teste

Will Tunstall
clerk of court




Children of Matthew Wells and Tabitha are:
+ 30 i. Catherine6 Wells, died 1828.
31 ii. Tabitha Wells. She married Benjamin G. Wells; born in Henry Co., Virginia.
+ 32 iii. Clarissa Wells.
+ 33 iv. Mary Polly Wells.
34 v. Judith Wells.
35 vi. Martha Patsy Wells.
+ 36 vii. John Wells, died December 1848 in Pittsylvania Co, Virginia.
+ 37 viii. Joseph Wells, born 1787 in Pittsylvania Co., Virginia; died 1830 in Pittsylvania Co., Virginia.
+ 38 ix. Joel Wells, born 1801 in Pittsylvania Co., Virginia; died November 1856 in Henry Co., Virginia.

Buried:

He was a Revolutionay War veteran and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in Company G, Henry County VA Militia on June 2, 1799.

His father John Wells was a Captain in the same Company G.

Matthew married Tabitha Morton 1785, Richmond co., Va. Tabitha (daughter of Lieutenant James Blythe Morton and Catherine Wells) was born Abt 1760, Prob. Lunenburg, Virginia; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

He took the Oath of Allegiance to this country in 1777. He was listed as head of household in VA when Pittsylvania Co was forned in 1767; per Collins Families and Allied lines by Nala Mae Collins Hamrick; 164 Covernty RD; Decatur, GA 30030 on 8-1-1871. Washington Memorial Library in Macon, GA. Will dated 20 Jan 1834; BK I, Pg 175, Pittsylvania Co. VA.

Birth:
Birth also seen as Halifax

Zachariah married Letitia "Letty" Pearson Abt 1780. Letitia was born Abt 1760, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; died Abt 1830, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. [Group Sheet]

John married Nancy Palmer. Nancy (daughter of William Randolph Palmer and Frances Westbrook) was born 1781, Charlotte Co., Virginia; died 18 Feb 1854, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. [Group Sheet]