Notes:

CD-100 says that Rachel's mother is named Rachel. This apparently comes from a Quaker baptismal record dated 12 July 1721 at All Hallow's, listing her father as Joseph Wells and his wife Rachel. In the Southern Friend, V. XVI, 1994, Richard Kelly states that the entry in the All Hallow's book was in error and they simply repeated daughter Rachel's name by accident. He also finds error with the date of birth listed for her in Quaker records as occurring on 3(May)/27/1720. This would have been before Joseph and Margaret were married. (C-575)

The Cane Creek Quaker record states she was the d. of Margaret Swanson and Joseph Wells, but this could be explained by the fact that she had only known Margaret as her mother, and gave her name without being concerned for the genealogy of it. This record was made sometime after 1758 which was 38 years after Rachel's birth. (C-1553, D.J. Rowe)

In any case, Rachel was born while her father, Joseph Wells, was farming land in Anne Arundel Co. belonging to his brother's stepson. The Cane Creek Monthly Meeting record was also in error in stating that she was born in Prince George, Maryland.

Rachel was a fairly well noted frontier Quaker minister before the American Revolution. She became a Quaker when she married. This is significant. Her parents moved into the faith several years after her marriage. She would not have been baptized Quaker and this where the controversy lies in Quaker Records. The Quaker Baptismal record would have been created after she was an adult and is therefore not first hand information. It is entirely possible that her mother was Margaret Swanson instead. She came from radical Puritan and Catholic stock who sought religious freedom in the tolerant Maryland under Lord Baltimore. Several of her ancestors were of armorial families in England. (C-575, p. 35)

Rachel and her husband moved to Orange County, North Carolina from the Monacy Meeting, Prince George Co., Maryland about 1749. They helped found the Cane Creek Meeting in Orange Co., North Carolina. She with Abigail Overton Pike and several others rode on horseback to the Little River Quarterly Meeting in Peruimans in 1751 to seek permission for Cane Creek's Monthly Meeting status. This was granted by them on the sixth month, 31st day of 1751. Cane Creek held their first monthly meeting on the tenth month of 1751 wherein fifteen certificates of removal were submitted. (C-1663)

She was the center of a major controversy in this region during the movement known as the Regulators. She committed the offense of defending her daughter, Charity, against false charges of "carnal knowledge" with Jehu Stuart". She later apologized and this was accepted by her Quaker Meeting until she applied to remove to Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1763. Some of the members doubted the sincerity of her apology and thought her certificate should not be granted. She was then disowned by the church. A principle, outspoken well known liberal Quaker of the time, Hermon Husband, was caught up in the feud defending her. Due to his violent reaction, he was disowned in 1763 and moved north back to Pennsylvania with his family after the decision was appealed to the Quarterly and Yearly Meetings where only his disownment was not reversed in Feb. of 1764. Rachel was granted her removal at the 1764 yearly meeting. (C-575)

The Cane Creek meeting back in North Carolina mentions her kindly at her death 23 12m 1771, aged about 52 years as "a friend of the Ministry, wife of John, one of the first beginners of a meeting at Bush River." (C-646, 966)

Rachel married John C. WRIGHT, * about 1737 in Hopewell M.M., Frederick, VA, USA. John (son of James WRIGHT, * and Mary BOWATER or DAVIS, *) was born on 4 Nov 1716 in East Nottingham, Chester, PA, USA; died between 17 Sep 1789 and 8 Jun 1790 in Bush River, Newberry, SC; was buried in Newberry, Newberry County, South Carolina, United States of America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. William WRIGHT was born on 2 Jan 1738 in Monocacy Valley, Prince George, MD; died in 1793 in Orange County, North Carolina, United States of America; was buried in Snow Camp, Alamance County, North Carolina, United States of America.
2. Mary WRIGHT was born on 24 Jul 1739 in , Prince George, MD, USA; died before 1789 in Cedar Grove, Orange County, North Carolina, United States of America; was buried in Cedar Grove, Orange County, North Carolina, United States of America.
3. Joseph WRIGHT was born on 12 Dec 1740 in , Prince George, MD, USA; died on 8 Jan 1794 in Newberry County, South Carolina, United States of America; was buried in Newberry, Newberry County, South Carolina, United States of America.
4. Margaret WRIGHT was born on 12 Nov 1742 in , Prince George, MD, USA; died on 13 Nov 1822 in , , SC, USA.
5. Charity WRIGHT, Minister was born on 13 Nov 1742 in , Prince George, MD, USA; died on 13 Nov 1822 in , Warren, OH, USA; was buried about 16 Nov 1822 in Warren, Trumball, OH, USA.
6. Rachel WRIGHT was born on 10 Nov 1747 in , Prince George, MD, USA; died on 2 Sep 1790 in , , SC, USA.
7. John WRIGHT was born on 12 Dec 1748 in , Prince George, MD, USA; died on 18 Nov 1797 in , , Tennessee, USA; was buried in Martinsville, Clinton County, Ohio, United States of America.
8. Sarah WRIGHT was born on 23 Dec 1749 in Cavor Creek, Orange, NC; died on 18 Nov 1789 in Bush River, Newberry, SC.
9. Hannah WRIGHT was born on 27 Sep 1751 in Cavor Creek, Orange, NC; died after 1822 in Orange, Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States.
10. James WRIGHT was born on 28 May 1753 in Cane Creek, Orange, NC, USA; died on 19 Oct 1812 in , Clinton, OH, USA.
11. Susanna WRIGHT was born on 16 Apr 1755 in , Orange, NC; died on 31 Jul 1830 in West Milton, Miami, OH, USA; was buried in West Branch Quaker Burial Grounds, Union Twp., Miami, OH, USA.
12. Elizabeth WRIGHT was born on 15 Dec 1756 in , Orange, NC; died about 1826 in , Frederick, Virginia, USA.
13. Nathan WRIGHT was born on 7 Oct 1758 in , Orange, NC; died after 1805 in , Newberry, SC, USA.
14. Thomas WRIGHT was born on 8 Aug 1761 in Newberry, Newberry, South Carolina, United States; died on 30 Apr 1835 in , Randolph, IN, USA; was buried about 1 May 1835 in White River, Randolph, IN, USA.
15. Keziah (Kerial) WRIGHT was born in 1763 in , Newberry District, SC; died before 1789 in Miami, Ohio, United States.
16. Isaac (Joel) WRIGHT was born on 13 Jun 1764 in Bush River M.M., Newberry, SC, USA; died on 20 Feb 1844 in New London, Howard, IN; was buried in 1844 in Honey Creek Bg, Howard, Indiana, USA.
17. Barbara WRIGHT was born in Apr 1766 in , Newberry, SC; died in 1789 in Miami, Ohio, United States.

Notes:

Joseph apparently had a twin sister named Sarah. Joseph Wells was living in Anne Arundel Co., MD. on Dec. 8, 1726. He paid taxes on the Mattapony Hundred of Prince George's Co. (now Frederick Co., MD). He had moved to the Monocacy Valley in west Prince George's Co. by 1742. His name is on a petition that sought the establishment of All Saints Parish from Prince George's Co in 1742. He bought land named "Boyling Springs", which was forty acres surveyed June 12, 1743. In November of that year, he was made constable of the Monocacy Hundred. He had 2 known wives and possibly 3. Rachel is the wife in question. She is only listed in one place as the mother of his daughter Rachel. There is a fairly strong theory out there that Rachel was simply a repetitive error on the person in the Quaker records later listing her as Rachel's mother in a Quaker record written after Joseph had become a Quaker. His wife Margaret was received in membership on 11/29/1745 and he on 2/29/1746.

They removed to North Carolina around 1750 after they sold "Boyling Spring", on Tuscorrah Creek near the mouth of the Monquescy. His certificate of removal to Carver's Creek MM, Bladen, NC was dated Jun 25, 1750. He and his wife were charter members of Cane Creek Monthly Meeting that was estabalished Oct. 7, 1751. Joseph gave his son Joseph 269 acres of land in Orange County, North Carolina on June 13, 1752. He sold another 137.5 acres of land to John Marshall in Sept. 1752. In that same year, Margaret stops appearing in Quaker Records when her husband Joseph and some children are in it. This could suggest that she had passed on in 1752 or earlier. (C-575)

Joseph married Rachel MARSH in 1719 in MarylandD USA. Rachel (daughter of Thomas MARSH and Mary TRUMBULL) was born in in Hatfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA; was christened on 7 Jan 1825 in Tottington, Lancashire, England; died after 1721 in Westminster Parish, Ann Arundel, MD, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It is not known with any certainty if this Rachel ever was real or a wife of Joseph. The only evidence we have is a christening record made after the fact listing Joseph's daughter, Rachel's christening that lists her mother as Rachel. There have been no records found of any marriage between a Joseph and a Rachel and his daughter is listed as the daughter of Joseph and Margaret Wells in her marriage record.

Notes:

This Thomas could be the son of widow Elizabeth Mellows of St. Olaves, Southwark, Surry. Her will dated Jan. 15, 1682/83 names Thomas Wells, "my son who went into parts beyound the seas to Maryland or other parts in America or elsewhere when he shall come and arrive in England." Her daughter Mary Parker (wife of John Parker) was executor. (C-575) Thomas Wells was transported by Robert Conant of Anne Arundel Co., MD. sometime before 20 Apr. 1679 to the province of Maryland. For this deed, Robert Conant was owed 50 acres of land which Thomas agreed to inhabit for 16 years. These rights were afterwords assigned to Nocholas Laintes of St. Mary's City. Thomas was one of several that agreed to these same terms for their passage.

On Jan. 26, 1696, Thomas Wells, planter, purchased 200 acres called "Strife" in Calvert Co., MD. on the west side of the Patuxent River. The land was surrounded by the following owners: Francis Swantstone, Edward Isaak, and Henry Darnell, Esq. He later acquired an adjoining property called "Something" that was in the Patuxent Hundred of Prince George's Co.

He is in the Prince George Co. records often. In July 1696, he was found guilty of assaulting Thomas Swareingen. He was sentenced to pay a fine and post a bond to guarantee good behavior. In Nov. 1697, "he was paid a bounty for one wolves head." He was a Grand Jury member. He was subpoenaed in March 1698 to testify that Elizabeth Plummer (mother of Margaret Swanson) sent a servant to steal onions, cabbage and bacon from him. On March 28, 1698 he became drunk and was caught fighting, again noted in the courts. By Sep. 29, 1699, all was forgiven as he was again served on a jury. In Sep. 29, 1699, he and Thomas Pelle were appointed overseer of the Patuxent Hundred. In Queen Anne's Vestry minutes of April 7, 1707, Thomas Wells, Sr. was appointed vestryman. In 1714 he witnessed the boundary lines of an adjoining tract of land where the records state "Thomas Wells, Senr. aged about sixty one years." (Maryland, Chancery Record, Liber 3, folio 27)

In his will probated Jan. 5, 1718/19, he gives his land for life to his wife, France. He then divided it amongst 4 sons; Thomas, Nathan, Robert, and Joseph. He gave slaves to his four daughters. Lastly he gave his eldest son George five shillings. (C-575) The low amount of money he gave to his son George could be explained by his son's cohabiting with his married neighbor, Susannah Swanson Ward according to Queen Anne's Vestry Minutes, Apr. 12, 1719. George and Susannah were married at several years later according to Queen Annes Vestry minutes on June 16, 1725. (C-575, p. 52) DNA evidence is supporting the lineage of descent that I come from as being from this Thomas Wells to his son Joseph as listed in the will and as I have stated in this genealogy.

Thomas married Frances SMITH about 1678 in , , MD, USA. Frances was born about 1657 in , , MD, USA; died about 1726 in , Prince George, MD. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She died after her husband's will in 1718 and taxes in 1719 and probably before 1733 when she didn't pay any taxes. Her surname is sometimes listed as Smith but there is no proof for this. (C-575)

Thomas married Mary TRUMBULL on 19 Jun 1702 in Hatfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States. Mary was born on 20 Mar 1681 in Suffield, Hartford, CT; died on 27 Jun 1765 in Ware, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Elizabeth MELLOWS. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

SAMUEL married MARY ALLISON (ELLISON) on 6 May 1667 in Hartford, Hartford, CT. MARY (daughter of Richard ELLISON and Thomasine RICHMOND) was born on 15 Jun 1646 in Braintree, MA; died on 13 Oct 1726 in Hadley, Hampshire, MA; was buried in Hatfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States of America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]