Notes:

Richard Wells could be the son of John and Elizabeth Elyott Wells of Saltash, England. Harry Wright Newman supports this theory because Richard's son, George, used a seal on his documents that was highly similar to the arms of the Wells of Saltash, County Cornwall, England. That Wells family settled in County Cornwall about 1530 from Lincolnshire. Their arms included a shield with a chevron with three birds and horse's head for the crest. This evidence suggests that the Wells in Saltash need to be studied closely.

What we know for sure about Richard is that he was a staunch Puritan of wealth and influence at a period of history when the Puritans were in power. He and his wife were both the immigrant ancestors in this line. He immigrated from England to Virginia before Sep. 13, 1637. Richard was unmarried when he arrived and settled south of the James River in Virginia. (C-637) He received head rights in Charles City Co., Virginia and received fifty acres of land on the River between two creeks. He apparently had property back in England. He is sometimes confused with another Richard Wells also in Virginia.

Our Dr. Richard Wells is apparently the Richard who was a Surgeon. He was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1645. He and his family probably moved to Maryland to seek religious freedom offered by Lord Baltimore in 1653. The fact that he was a liberal puritan provoked the move. He took with him all of his children but Martha who had not been born, plus his servants, Thomas Boone, Henry Symonds, George Hall, Thomas Linstead, Edward Howard and Martha Windright.

The birth place of he and his wife's children was in Virginia. Only their daughter, Martha's, birth date and place is unknown.

In Maryland, he was granted 600 acres on Herring Bay that he named "Wells". He built the Manor House they lived in throughout their days on that property. He was appointed a member of the Parliamentary Commission on July 22, 1654, a year after arriving in Maryland. He along with Capt. Fuller, Richard Preston, William Durand Edward Lloyd, Capt. John Smith, Leonard Strong, John Lawson, John Hotch, and Richard Ewen controlled Maryland's government from 1654-1658. Any four of them could act as long as one of them was Fuller, Preston or Durand. (C-603)

He held multiple offices for the courts. He accumulated much wealth in the form of land and a sixteenth of a ship called "The Baltimore." In checking public record, one family researcher has found this Richard Wells and his sons to be ambitious, furious when thwarted, and unsympathetic to those who could not further their interests. (C-637)

After his death in 1667, his son Richard returned to England where his father's will was probated at the Prerogative Ct. of Canterbury, (1668). He still owned land in England at that time. His estate was appraised on Dec. 5, 1667 by Capt. John Howell and Godfrey Bayley. In it, a "chirugeon chest" contained interest in the ship "Majesty". His total worth was L1,735/6/4 plus 57,145 pounds of tobacco, several servants, silver plate, L7/8/9 currency. His Majesty owed him several sums on top of that. His will was witnessed by Francis Stockett, Bonham Turner and Wm. Linckhorne. He named five sons and three daughters. He wished all things to be divided including things in Maryland (the plantation where he lived), Virginia and England.

According to a book on the "Welsh Family" whom his grandson, Thomas Stockett through daughter Mary married into, Richard held the title of "Major" as well as Dr.

Family/Spouse: Francis WHITE. Francis (daughter of Richard WHITE and Catherine WESTON) was born in in , Essex, England; died before 1667. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Richard was born about 1635 according to Montgomery. He came with his parents to Maryland around 1652-3. He was the oldest son and heir, but seemed rather quiet compared to his more aggressive brothers in court records. Richard is mentioned in his father's will. He went to England after his father died and returned to Maryland on July 20, 1669 while importing sixteen persons. He filed claim for their headrights on that date. He deeded a gift of land, 300 acres of Planters Delight, to his brother George in 1670. He and his wife were childless when he died in his thirties. He left his lands to his brother George as he appeared to have the only male heir at that time. (C-637)

Richard married Sophia EWEN about 1660. Sophia died about 1675. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was not in his father's will. No record of his marriage or death date has been found. He died young according to Newman. He did come with his family to Maryland in 1652-3. (C-637)

Notes:

Mary was born in Virginia and was transported with them in 1653 when they moved to Maryland. One source estimates her birth date as 1637. Montgomery estimates it at 1644 and the seventh child of Richard. She is listed in her father's will as the wife of Thomas Stockett and appears to have been in her father's favor.

One source, Mrs. O. F. Weissgerber from Chula Vista Ca. lists a daughter, Elizabeth, by Mary's second husband, George Yates. (C-637) She had several more sons and daughters with her second husband. She was widowed a second time when he died in 1691. He was also of gentle birth with a Coat of Arms on his silver. (C-650)

Mary married Capt. Thomas STOCKETT before 1665. Capt. (son of Thomas II STOCKETT and Frances AYLEWORTH) was born on 2 Apr 1635 in Berkesbourne, Kent, ENG; died after 23 Apr 1671 in , Anne Arundel, MD, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mary married George YATES after 1671. George was born in 1640; died in 1691. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

This is the only child whose birth place is not known. She is listed as the wife of Anthony Saloway in her father's will. She was not in her father's favor in his will, being listed as the sometime wife of Anthony Saloway and receiving only 12 pence. Her husband, Anthony, had two of his servants commit suicide in 1663.

Family/Spouse: Anthony (Salaway) STALLOWAY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

George was a Captain in George Gouldsmith's Company. He later married his daughter. He was a Colonel in 1681 who commanded the "foote" as well a Justice. In 1685, he met with Indian leaders at his home at the head of the bay to help reduce danger from them. He gave each Indian a "match coat". In the tax lists of 1695, he had 10 tithes - Benjamin Wells, Ralph William, John English, Philemon Runegam and 5 slaves. George was in his father's will. He wrote his own will on Feb. 20, 1695 in Baltimore Co., MD and it was probated in that same year. He and his wife had at least five children. He was the only brother in 1671 who had had a male heir and therefore received land from Richard Jr. at his death. (C-637)

George married Blanche GOLDSMYTH about 1667. Blanche died about 1704. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He and his wife had one son and an unborn child mentioned in John's will, dated Mar. 10 1713/14. His will was proved on Nov. 15, 1714. This John may be confused with another John Wells who died in 1680 whose estate was of wealth, with no listed wife or heirs. (C-637)

Family/Spouse: Anne Or Jane BEEDLE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

No birth, marriage or death records have been found for this Robert. He was brought to Maryland by his parents in 1652-3. He inherited "West Wells" in Anne Arundel Co., MD in his father's will. He was also in business with his brother, Benjamin.

Notes:

Benjamin was the youngest son of Richard Wells. The birth date is a guess by Montgomery who believes him to be the 8th child in birth order. Benjamin inherited "Benjamin's Choice" from his father's will in 1667. He had two children by his wife, both girls who died as young infants. His wife died giving birth to his second daughter. She is buried at All Hallow's Parish.

Family/Spouse: Frances HASLAP. Frances died in May 1697 in All Hallows Parish, Anne Arundel, MD, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ann is listed in her father's will as the wife of Dr. John Stansby. Her marriage to Dr. John Stansby, apparently was against direct orders from her father, and she was left only 12 pence in his will. The executors of Richard's estate would not pay Dr. John Stansby's bill as attending physician to Richard and John sued the estate.

Family/Spouse: Dr. John STANSBURY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Elizabeth probably died between 1653 and 1667, after they moved to Maryland and before her father's will. She is not in his will.

Notes:

Frances moved to Maryland with the family but is not mentioned in her father's will. She is the youngest child or 11th in birth order according to Montgomery.

Notes:

Frances was left her Silver Seal in a Lozenge shield in her mother's will. (C-650) She supposedly had a boyfriend while she was still to be married to Maurice Duvall. (C-1659)

Frances married Mareen DUVALL, "The Elder" in 1685 in , Anne Arundel, MD. Mareen (son of Mareen DUVALL and Mary BOUTH) was born in 1661 in South River Hundred, Anne Arundel, MD; died after 1710 in , Prince George, MD. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Elizabeth's birth date is truly unknown. From her marriage date, Anita Fiedler estimates her birth date as between 1652 and 1658. If this is true, her parents married at a much younger date than currently listed in most 2nd hand sources. (C-1653) Elizabeth is mentioned in her Mother's will as the wife of Thomas Plummer. Her father's will only included the word daughters, without naming them. Her stepfather, George Yate's will mentions her too.

Elizabeth married Thomas PLUMMER about 1678. Thomas was born about 1634 in Ringmer, Essex, ENG; was christened in Oct 1634 in St. Botolph Without Aldgate, London, ENG; died after 12 Jul 1694 in , Anne Arundel, MD, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Mark RICHARDSON. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

This Thomas is possibly the Thomas Stockett who sold 219 acres of his land called "Obligation" to Samuel Galloway in Anne Arundel Co., MD sometime before 1719. (C-603) Thomas and his first wife had two children. Thomas and his second wife, Damaris, had fourteen children. (F-597)

Thomas married Mary SPRIGG on 12 Mar 1689 in , Anne Arundel, MD, USA. Mary was born in 1671 in , Anne Arundel, MD, USA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Damaris WELSH on 9 Apr 1700 in , Anne Arundel, MD. Damaris (daughter of Major John WELSH, * Gentleman and *Mary Agnes WYATT) was born in 1682 in All Hallowes Sou, Anne Arundel, Maryland, United States; died in 1735 in Anne Arundel, Maryland, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Sarah. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Susannah is listed as the third daughter, wife of Francis Swanson, in her father's will. (C-575) It is highly likely she married quite young, as her husband inherited his father's land in 1683, being a likely time thereafter for their marriage. One of their daughters was married by 1706, meaning that they would highly likely have been married before 1693. (C-1659) The land that Susannah inherited from her father passed down to Susannah and Francis Swanson's daughter Susannah. Daughter Susannah Swanson and her husband James Ward then sold it to George Wells. George Wells later became Susannah Swanson's lover and 2nd husband.

Susannah married Francis SWANSTON, Jr. before 1693. Francis (son of Francis SWANSTON and Isabella UNKNOWN) was born about 1674 in , Calvert, MD, USA; died about 1719. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He and his family removed to Prince George's Co. on Mar. 6, 1694. He purchased 100 acres of "Swanson's Lott" per that date. He still owned this property at the time of his death. His wife, Elizabeth, was indicted in March 1698 for sending Jonathan Brayn and Matthew Cooper to Thomas Well's plantation to steal onions, cabbage and bacon. She was acquitted by trial on June 27, 1699. They had twelve children. (C-575)

Family/Spouse: Hugh REILY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: William JACKSON. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: William (Iams) IJAMS. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]