SAMUEL WELLS 1754 - 1830 By Dennis J. Hahn (Six Times Great Grandson of Samuel Wells) May 16, 1998 Revised July 4, 1998 Samuel Wells was born in Stafford County, Virginia in 1754. He was the oldest of the 10 children of Samuel Wells and Ann Farrow Wells; and he was the third generation born in the Colony of Virginia. The Wells family came from Wales, England to Virginia in 1635. Samuel Wells' parents, and family, moved to Pennsylvania in the early 1770's and to Jefferson County, Kentucky in 1775 and 1776. Samuel Wells outlived his first two of three wives, Mary Rebecca Pope and Mary Spear (my 6 times great grandmother). His third wife was the widow Margaret Audrain Hoffmann. Samuel Wells and Mary Pope had one child, Samuel, who died at birth. Samuel Wells and Mary Spear had seven children: Margaret, Mary Elizabeth, Rebecca, Samuel, Levi, George and Ann Farrar. Samuel Wells and Margaret Audrain Hoffmann had six children: Peter, Fanny, David Barton, Caroline, Charles and James. The first nine children were born in Jefferson County, Kentucky. The last five children were born in St. Charles County, Missouri. Samuel Wells and his father both served in the Revolutionary War in the western regions. His father was killed in battle in 1782 in Jefferson County, Kentucky. Records in the Virginia State Archives indicate Samuel Wells served in the Revolutionary War as a Lieutenant under Col. George Rogers Clark in 1780. The "History of Kentucky" by Lewis Collins in 1882 indicates Samuel Wells served in the Revolutionary War as a Captain under Col. John Floyd in 1781. It is recorded that in 1781, 25 men under the command of Col. Floyd were attacked by approximately 200 Indians. About half the men were killed and Col. Floyd was on foot being pursued by Indians and near exhaustion when Captain Samuel Wells dismounted his horse and gave it to Col. Floyd, and ran by his side to support him as they made their escape. In the 1780's, Samuel built a station known as Capt. Samuel Wells' Station near Squire Boone's Station (now Shelbyville) Kentucky. After the Revolutionary War, Samuel Wells and family lived in Jefferson County, Louisville, Kentucky until 1817. Samuel was appointed a Major of Kentucky mounted volunteers in 1792. He served in the House of Representatives of Kentucky representing Jefferson County in the years 1795, 1796 and 1799. In 1799, he was appointed a Brigadier General in the Kentucky Militia. In 1804, he was appointed a Major General in the Kentucky militia. In the book entitled "Kentucky In The War of 1812" written by Anderson Chenault Quisenberry between the years of 1912 and 1915, it is stated that upon declaration of war (the War of 1812) by the President of the United States, James Madison, the President called for a militia of 100,000 men and assigned a quota of 5,500 men for Kentucky. 7,000 men enlisted in Kentucky. Samuel Wells recruited a regiment of "regulars" in Kentucky and was appointed its Colonel by President Madison. The regiment was known as the 17th U.S. Infantry. -- This military service is shown on Samuel Wells' tombstone. -- The 17th U.S. Infantry saw significant action in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Canada. Colonel Wells went on to command the 11th Cavalry Regiment in 1814. Samuel Wells and his brothers William and Charles, son Levi, and sons-in-law James H. Audrain (for whom Audrain County, MO is named; and husband of daughter Mary Elizabeth Wells) and Nathan Heald (husband of daughter Rebecca Wells) served in the War of 1812. Samuel Wells was presented a sword by General William Henry Harrison (who became President 30 years later) for his bravery and military tactics during the Battle of Tippecanoe. Brother Capt. William Wells was killed at Fort Dearborn (now Chicago, IL), son Ensign Levi Wells was killed at the Battle of Raisin River (today Monroe, MI), son-in-law Major Nathan Heald was the commandant of Fort Dearborn and was severally wounded (he was shot through the hips, and never fully recovered), and daughter Rebecca Wells Heald was severally wounded (shot 6 times; and some accounts also say she was scalped). Nathan and Rebecca both survived their wounds, were taken prisoner, and escaped. A friendly British Officer helped Major Heald escape and a friendly Indian Chief purchased Rebecca Wells Heald's freedom. Nathan and Rebecca came to St. Charles County in 1817 with Samuel Wells and family and purchased Fort Zumwalt; and called it home until they died. -- Major Nathan Heald's and Rebecca Wells Heald's tombstones are located right by Samuel Wells' tombstone. In the Jefferson Memorial Building in Forest Park in St. Louis, under the auspices of the Missouri Historical Society in 1915, two bronze tablets were erected bearing the names of Distinguished Missourians. Among the names listed on the bronze tablets are Samuel Wells, Nathan Heald and Rebecca Wells Heald. In 1816, Samuel Wells purchased land in St. Charles County. At the age of 63, Samuel and his wife, Margaret, departed Kentucky for St. Charles County, Missouri in March, 1817. They lived the remainder of their lives in St. Charles County. The Wells home was located where the Fred Weber quarry is located today at I-70 and Brian Road near O'Fallon. Samuel Wells in St. Charles County was a farmer and stock raiser. Samuel Wells prospered in St. Charles County and ended up owning over 1,400 acres north of Peruque Creek, nearly 1,000 acres west of Peruque Creek, and 350 acres in Lincoln County near Troy. He served as a St. Charles County Court judge in 1826 and 1827. Some accounts also state he served as a Missouri State Representative for St. Charles, County. Throughout his life, Samuel Wells served his country and local community. This dedicated son, brother, husband, father, soldier and statesman died at his home in St. Charles County on July 25, 1830 at the age of 76 years old. He was buried on his farm. His grave was relocated in 1966 to the Mount Zion Cemetery, O'Fallon, Missouri. Wellsburgh, MO, which was located near St. Paul but is no longer in existence, is believed to have been named by German immigrants of the 1840's for Samuel Wells who had previously owned over 1,200 acres of land in that area. Descendants of Samuel Wells have been active in the DAR through the years. The Organizing Regent of the O'Fallon Chapter, Rebecca Heald McCluer, and the Organizing Regent of the Cornelia Greene Chapter in St. Louis, Frances Otey Heald Ottofy, were descendants of Samuel Wells. Early members of the St. Charles Chapter were descendants of Samuel Wells. The St. Charles Chapter presently has a descendant as a member, Carrol Geerling. Another descendant, Joan Koechig, is working on her documentation to become a member of the St. Charles Chapter. A charter member of the St. Charles, Missouri, Fernando de Leyba, Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, Dennis Hahn, is a descendant of Samuel Wells. WELLS, AUDRAIN, ARENS, HAHN DESCENDANT LINE As of December 23, 1996 Samuel Wells Eleanor Carty Arrived in U.S. 1635 - Died 1716 VA ? VA - Died 1729 VA Charles Wells Mary Edwards Born 1712 VA - 1765 VA 1716 VA - 1768 VA Capt. Samuel Wells Ann Farrow 1734 VA - 1781 KY ? - 1779 or 1780 PA Col. (Major General) Samuel Wells Mary Spear 1754 VA - 1830 MO ? - 1812 KY (Name sake of Wellsburg, MO) Mary Elizabeth Wells Col. James Hunter Audrain, Sr. 1785 KY - 1834 MO 1781 PA - 1830 MO (Namesake of Audrain County, MO) James Hunter Audrain, Jr. Mary Gaty (Gatty) (Gattii) 1811 MO - 1873 MO 1817 MO - 1877 MO Mary Frances Audrain Joseph Arens 1836 MO - 1880 MO 1830 Pr - 1885 MO Joseph Alexander Arens Mary Lewis 1855 MO - 1932 MO 1856 MO - 1894 MO Jerome Ambrose Arens Gertrude Agnes Schwegmann 1891 MO - 1921 MO 1891 MO - 1928 MO (Living relatives have been omitted from this posting) ******************************************************************************* USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. 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