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Descendants of John Conway - June 24, 2003

7. JOSEPH² CONWAY (JOHN¹) was born 14 Dec 1763 in Greenbriar Co, VA (now WV), and died 27 Dec 1830 in St. Louis, St. Louis Co, MO. He married ELIZABETH CALDWELL 23 Feb 1792 in (or 22nd) Bourbon Co, KY; consent of her father, daughter of SAMUEL CALDWELL. She was born 01 Sep 1773 in Virginia (or Bourbon Co, KY), and died 30 Sep 1821 in St. Louis, St. Louis Co, MO.

Notes for JOSEPH CONWAY:
Joseph's son Samuel was interviewed by Lymon Draper (24S:169-171) and provided information that his father had been born in Greenbriar County, Virginia in 1763.

In 1779, accompanied by his father, mother, sister Elizabeth and husband William Daughterty, and one child, sister, Sally, also several other families, Joseph Conway moved from Virginia to Kentucky. The families settled about 10 miles north of Paris in the neighborhood of what was then called Riddle's Station.

Samuel Conway deposed that Henry Groff, a man name Purseley and others already lived at the Station.

The families took refuge at the fort, and during the day, the men left to tend their lands. Joseph and two other boys were assigned a morning chore to bring the cows in for milking. On their way back, they caught a loggerhead turtle and were teasing it with willow twigs on the beach of the river, when an Indian lying concealed in the bushes fired on Joseph, wounding him in the side, rushed out on him, knocked him down and scalped him, then vanished into the bushes. The incident happend so quickly that men on the other side of the river could not give assistance. No trace was found of the Indian. Joseph was carried into the fort, where an old woman named Wiseman succeeded in staunching the alarming blood flow from his head by using cobwebs as a poultice. The side would was slight.

It was three days later that the Indians attacked the fort and took all its occupants prisoner. Samuel Conway deposed that it was another two weeks before the station was overrun by Byrd and party.

Samuel Conway, St. Louis County, Missouri, gave deposition to Lyman Draper (24S:169-171) about this event.

"Old Kentucky Entries And Deeds," Jillison, p. 325:
      Military Warrants:
      Conway, Joseph, 3110-2/3 acres, Warrant #1627
            7 Yrs. Lieutenant, Virginia Line
            22 Aug 1783

Joseph Conway, according to the Henry Ogle account of 1903, grew up to full manhood and was for a number of years engaged as a spy to watch the Indians. Although peace was made with England in 1783, the Indians would still make raids into Kentucky, stealing horses and murdering the settlers. A double cabin, the house of a settler named Shanks, living in Bourbon County, was attacked in February 1787 and the house burned to the ground, and all the family murdered except one daughter, a widow Gillespie, and one son. Joseph conway was at the house in the early part of the night, but left shortly after dark. The attack was made about 10 o'clock. This incident is written of in histories of Bourbon County.

During the attack, the Indians broke into one part of the cabin where two grown sisters were weaving and tried to carry them off. One of them defended herself with a knife whick she used about her work on the loom and killed one of the Indians. The others then killed her and took the other captive. When the Indians found the whites were about to overtake them, they sunk their tomahawks into her heart.

A party was hastily organized the next day to pursue them, and Joseph Conway was part of the party. A light snow fell and they had no trouble following them, overtaking them on the Licking Hills. Two of the Indians dropped behind and showed themselfs and kept jumping from tree to tree to make the whites believe there were more of them. Joseph rushed up in shooting distance of them and got behind a tree. Putting his hat on a stick, he poked it slowly and continuously around the tree. The Indians fired on his hat, exposing their positions, and Joseph was able to rush them, killing one. The other escaped.

Joseph Conway appears on Bourbon County, Kentucky tax lists for 1791 and 1793.

In 1793, Joseph appears on a list as a private for the Muster Roll of volunteers under the command of Capt. James Lanier, Lt.Col. Horatio Hall's Regiment, Maj. Gen. Charles Scott's command, along with Benjamin Wells, William Wells, and James Furnish, all kinsmen.

Mia Fleegel's notes indicate that Joseph returned to Licking River and participated in Harmar's and Wayne's campaigns.

After marrying, Joseph Conway settled on a farm on Coopers Run in Bourbon County, but afterward, about 1797 or 1798, removed to Missouri, then called Spanish Territory, and settled in St. Louis County. There, he settled in Bonhomme township on land granted him in 1796 by Zenon Trudeau, Lt.Governor of Upper Louisiana.

After the purchase of Louisiana Territory in 1803, the government made arrangements to send out two exploring companies to go across the great plains, the Rocky Mountains, and thence to the Pacific Ocean. The companies were outfitted in St. Louis and began the trip in 1804. The command of oneof the companies was tendered by President Jefferson to Joseph Conway, but he declined to take it because of his limited education (*see note). A Captain Clark commanded one of the companies, and Captain Lewis the other. The latter was a nephew of Jefferson.

*Note: It seems curious that the son of a teacher, a Latin scholar, would be ill educated.

Joseph Conway was again called into active service by His Excellency Benjamin Howard, Governor of the Territory of Missouri to serve with the infantry as a captain in the War of 1812.

Joseph Conway's harrowing experiences with the Indians were written up in Ripley's "Believe It Or Not," with the caption, "Scalped 3 times, tomahawked 3 times, shot 3 times, left for dead 3 times, recovered and died at the age of 70."

The Conways were Presbyterians, and Joseph Conway gave land located diagonally across the road from his home, assisted in furnishing the funds, material and construction labor for the erection of the Bonhomme Presbyterian Church, which is still a viable house of worship today. It is said to be one of the oldest Protestant church west of the Mississippi.

He appears on the Census of 1830 in St. Louis County, MO, Bonhomme Township. The record shows:
(males 1 20-30; 1 40-50; 1 60-70) (females 1 15-20)

Information is added from the speech given by Dorothy V. Conway, Regent of Lucy Jefferson Lewis Chapter, NSDAR in 1959. The chapter is dedicating a marker at the cemetery for Joseph Conway:

Joseph Conway settled in the Louisiana Territory during Spanish regime. In 1798 he was granted land by the Lt. Gov. of Upper Louisiana in Bonhomme District. Two years later, Napoleon made the transfer from Spain to France. In 1803, the U.S. became the official owner through the Louisiana Purchasse, but it was not until 1804 that the French flag was lowered and the flag of the U.S. was flown.

Capt. Conway cultivated many acres of farm land and built a home for his family. Seven children were born in Missouri. He fought under General Harmon, and General Wayne. President Jefferson offered leadership command of an exploration party, but Conway declined, and the command went to Lewis & Clark. Conway, however, continued to fight through the war of 1812. He served as the first sheriff of St. Louis County when the state was organized, and after him, his sons Samuel and Joseph served in the same office.

Joseph Conway wore a wig or scarf the rest of his life to conceal his scarred head. He and his family prospered in Bonhomme, St. Louis County, Missouri, and the Conway name can still be found today. His 340/28 acres land adjoined that of Gabriel Long, possibly a kinsman of Jonathan Long. Adjoining Long's land was that of "L. Long's heirs." (note that other records of claims gives this as "Lawrence Long's heirs, 850/70 acres.)

Joseph Conway was a slave owner, and slaves were mentioned in his will (5 males, 6 females, 5 children, named Billy, Eliza, Sylvia and her children Lewis, Fanny and James; Currie, Jefferson, Stephen, Nancy and child Nelson; Frances; Caty, Edmund, Margaret, Maria). The will is dated 2 Mar 1830. Mentions son Samuel, son Joseph, son John, son James, daughter Lucinda, daughter Ann wife of James Pollock of Illinois. Exec (sons) Samuel and Joseph. Witnesses: Stephen Lanham, Greenberry Baxter. Signed Joseph (x) Conway

The will was proved 3 Feb 1831 in St. Louis County, MO.

The family burial ground where Joseph and Elizabeth Conway are buried is located in Chesterfield, Bonhomme Township, St. Louis County, MIssouri, at the corner of Conway and White Roads. The old pioneer home still stood at an unknown date after September, 1959, which is when the Lucy Jefferson Lewis Chapter NSDAR marked the grave of Capt. Joseph Conway as a Revolutionary soldier and patriot. The cemetery is on the grounds of Conway Day School on Conway Road, Chesterfield, St. Louis County, Missouri.

Burial is listed in "Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in Missouri" (Houts, 1966), p. 57

Notes for ELIZABETH CALDWELL:
Elizabeth had a brother, James Caldwell.

In a letter written by Dr. Samuel Conway, son of Joseph and Virginia (Lanham) Conway, he states that "Uncle Nat" gave him a history of the Coldwell family in 1875 while on a visit to Kentucky. One of Elizabeth Caldwell's brothers, James, was a Captain and served in the war of 1812, and was with General St. Clair in th ebattle fought in 1891 in which the Army was so terribly defeated.

LDS Records show that Elizabeth is the daughter of Matthew Caldwell, born about 1747 in Culpepper County, Virginia, and wife Ann --, born about 1751 of Culpepper County, Virginia. No other children are listed.

Marriage Notes for JOSEPH CONWAY and ELIZABETH CALDWELL:
Marriage record can be found in Kentucky Historical Society publication, "Marriage Records: 1786 - 1800," Vol. 22, p. 56 (Bourbon County). Bride is listed "Elizabeth Calwell."

"Bourbon County, Kentucky Marriages 1786-1835" Michael L. Cook, LG. page 10, gives marriage date of 22 Feb 1792. Names Elizabeth Caldwell, daughter of Samuel Caldwell.

Children of JOSEPH CONWAY and ELIZABETH CALDWELL are:

	i.		WALTER³ CONWAY, b. 01 Jul 1793, (William?) Kentucky; d. 1824, Mississippi.
	ii.		JOHN CONWAY, b. 14 Apr 1795, Kentucky; d. 1881, (or 1863 or 1865?) Gasconade Co, MO.
	iii.		FOUNTAIN CONWAY, b. 06 May 1797, Kentucky; d. 1881, St. Francis Co, MO; m. REBECCA ORTEN, 27 Dec 1842, St. Francis Co, MO; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.

Notes for FOUNTAIN CONWAY:
An F. R. Conway was a member of the board of land commissioners for Missouri in 1828.

Fountain Conway may have married before he married Rebecca Orten.

30.	iv.	SAMUEL CONWAY, b. 25 Jul 1799, Bonhomme, St. Louis Co, MO; d. 28 Oct 1870, Bonhomme, St. Louis Co, MO.
	v.	PRESLEY CONWAY, b. Dec 1801, Bonhomme, St. Louis Co, MO; d. 1802, age 9 months; d. Bonhomme, St. Louis Co, MO.
31.	vi.	ANN ELIZA CONWAY, b. 26 Sep 1803, Bonhomme, St. Louis Co, MO; d. 03 Dec 1878, Preston, Randolph Co, IL.
32.	vii.	JAMES CONWAY, b. 05 Sep 1805, Bonhomme, St. Louis Co, MO; d. 1842, St. Francis Co, MO.
33.	viii.	JOSEPH CONWAY, JR., b. 22 Aug 1807, Bonhomme, St. Louis Co, MO; d. 14 Mar 1888, LaMonte, MO.
	ix.	ELIZABETH CONWAY, b. Jul 1809, Bonhomme, St. Louis Co, MO; d. 1809, (infant) d. Bonhomme, St. Louis Co, MO.
	x.	MARY CONWAY, b. 27 Dec 1811, "Polly" b. Bonhomme, St. Louis Co, MO; d. 1812, (age 9 months) d. Bonhomme, St. Louis Co, MO.
	xi.	LUCINDA CONWAY, b. 09 Apr 1814, Bonhomme, St. Louis Co, MO; d. Abt. 1854; m. JOHN HEMPSTEAD, 11 May 1837, St. Louis Co, MO; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.

8. NANCY² CONWAY (JOHN¹) was born 28 Jan 1770 in (See Notes), and died Aft. 1840 in Living in Gallatin Co, KY 1840. She married BASIL WELLS 06 Jun 1786 in Bourbon Co, KY ⁵, son of BENJAMIN WELLS. He was born Abt. 1766, and died 26 Aug 1834 in Gallatin Co, KY ⁶.

Notes for NANCY CONWAY:
It has been speculated that this daughter of John Conway and Elizabeth Bridgewater may have married John Daugherty, a brother of William M. Daughterty who married Elizabeth Conway. She may also have married a Long, although this is more likely to have been another sister named Dulcinea.

Nancy was with her family at Ruddle's Station when it was attacked and all survivors taken prisoner.

If Nancy married John Daugherty, she may have settled near Paris, Kentucky about 1810 and later traveled to Missouri. Records indicate that John Daugherty migrated in this manner.

The following Dougherty families are located in 1830 in Bonhomme Township, St. Louis County, Missouri:

Dougherty, Simeon       1-1-0-0-0-1      1-2-0-0-1
Dougherty, John            0-0-0-2-3-0      0-0-0-0-0
Dougherty, Thomas            0-0-0-0-0-1      1-0-1-1-1

Fred Westcott -- (fredwes@interactive.net) writes 17 Dec 1999:

"There is evidence this Nancy Conway married Bazil Wells ca 1790 Bourbon county, Kentucky. The implication is that Drucilla Conway died and Bazil married her younger sister. Bazil and Nancy Wells are found as founding members of the Mill Creek Baptist Church in Harrison County, Kentucky in Sep 1808. They moved to Pendleton County, Kentucky and from there to Gallatin County, Kentucky, where Bazil is supposed to have died 1834. Nancy Wells is found on the 1840 census there living alone. I have tracked Bazil through these Kentucky counties on the various taxes. Bazil and son John also served in the War of 1812 from harrison County, Kentucky. John's 3rd wife received a widow's pension in Missouri. John sold his land in Kentucky in 1830 and went to Illinois and later on to Missouri. Perhaps he accompanied Conway uncles?"

(Note that we do not know Basil Wells' age, but it appears more likely that he was born about 1766, which brings the marriage to Drucilla Conway into question, since she was born in 1753. This seems an unlikely match. The Drucilla/Dulcenea marriage apparently comes from the writings of Henry Ogle.)

Fred Westcott -- again writes in June 2000, sending proof of the marriage of Basil Wells and Nancy Conway:

Ref: Bounty Land Warrent File 91825-40-50 (National Archives)
Nancy WELLS filed for bounty land under the act of 1850. She began the petition from Cole Co., MO 14 Jan.1851:

"Nancy Wells, aged about Eighty two years, a resident of the said County of Cole, in the State of Missouri...the widow of Basil Wells, deceased, who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Richard Matson in the First Rifle regiment of the Kentucky Volunteer Militia, commanded the John Allen, Colonel, in the war with Great Britain...1812. That her said husband volunteered in the county of Harrison in the State of Kentucky...and was mustered in ...on or about the 14th day of August AD 1812, ...and was honorably discharged at Frankfort ...on the 27th day of March AD1813... .She further states that she was married to the said Basil Wells, in the County of Bourbon, in said State of Kentucky, on or about the 6th day of June AD 1786, by one David Rankins, a minister of the Gospel, that her said husband died in the County of Gallatin in said State of Kentucky, on or about the 26th day of August AD 1834, and that she is still a widow.

She further states that she knows of no public record, and she has no private record of her said marriage, and she further states that when she was married, she was accompanied by a guard of twelve men, armed and mounted, and that they went to the residence of the minister a distance of about two miles, the said Minister, on account of the fear of Indians, refusing to come to her fathers House. She further states that her name before marriage was Nancy Conway. ..."

Nancy X Wells (her mark)

(CONWAY family history tells that the 9 year old Nancy CONWAY and family were attacked by Indians at Ruddel's Station in 1780, forced marched to Detroit where they were captive for four years, and then made their way back to their former home in Kentucky. By the time of her marriage at age 16 1/2 Nancy was certainly a seasoned frontierswoman and had experienced far more
than a sheltered 16 year old back east.)

An accompanying deposition made the same date and place, signed by John WELLS, Elizabeth FRESHOUR and Mary CHAMBERS, confirmed the statements by Nancy WELLS and added one statement: "That one of these deponents, John Wells, volunteered with said Basil Wells at same time served in same compaign, for said period and was discharged at same time." (Other documents prove that Elizabeth and Mary were daughters of John WELLS.)

An accompanying letter, Jan. 20, 1851, Jefferson City, Missouri, written by James LILLARD describes Nancy as a poor neighbor, and adds "It may be proper here perhaps to State that the John Wells, whose certificate of discharge is herewith transmitted was the son of the Basil Wells mentioned in the Widows petition. The father & son volunteered, marched and suffered together at the defeat of the River Raisin."

The warrant for land was not issued because Basil's name was not found on the muster rolls of Richard MATSON, however the company had originally been under Capt. Wm. ELLIS, who died in service, and in 1853 Basil WELLS' name was found on Ellis' rolls. Another letter by LILLARD in 1853 describes Nancy: "Mrs. Wells, permit me here to state, is a very aged and very poor widow, & I am afraid, that ... the bounty... may prove too tardy." The warrant was issued Aug. 4, 1853, but did indeed come too late. Nancy died that summer and the warrant went immediately into Nancy's estate, administered by her son, John WELLS. In fact, the warrant for 40 acres was her estate. The warrant may have passed through several hands. The land was not submitted to a land office for location until 5 Nov. 1875 by Richard P. BABCOCK, in Mendocino, CA.

The son, John WELLS, made his own application for bounty land which he received under the act of 1850, and additional land which he received under the act of 1855, to a total of 160 acres.

John WELLS' widow, Mary Jane (SCRANTON) WELLS, made her application for widow's pension in 1878 in Leavenworth, KS.

Notes for BASIL WELLS:
Basil Wells and wife lived in Bourbon County, Kentucky, but were apparently in Pendleton County, Kentucky by 1821.

He was appointed guardian for Ruth Boner, daughter of Charles Boner 19 Mar 1821 in Pendleton County, Kentucky.

John, Basil, and Benjamin Wells arrived in Gallatin County, Kentucky in the 1820s, where Bazil is said to have died in 1834. His son, John, left Gallatin County at about this year or just previous for Illinois, and later migrated to Missouri, possibly following his Conway uncles and cousins.

A timeline for Bazil Wells, sent by Fred Westcott (fredwes@interactive.net) in December 1999:

Bazil/Basil/Bas(s)ell/ Barzillai/Bassel/Bazel Wells:
Bourbon, Harrison, Pendleton, Gallatin Counties, Kentucky, 1785-1834

(marriages need further verification)
1750 - Bazil Wells b. possibly as early as 1750
1770 - (abt) Bazil Wells m 1. Drusilla Conway (b 11 Jan 1753 VA)
1785 - Virginia Petition #31 with William Steele, John Welch for ferry across
      Kentucky River (Fayette/Lincoln counties)
1786 - Bazil Wells m. 2. Nancy Conway (b. 1770 VA) on 6 Jun 1786 Bourbon County,
      Kentucky (source, Hughes, email Pat Vorenburg, stevevxx@tiac.net
      21 Jan 1999)
1787 - Bourbon County, Kentucky, Tax List B (next Benj. Wells, near James
      Furnace, Reuben Underwood, John Conway, Wm. Marsh, David & Sam'l
      Tharp and others)
1788 - Bourbon County, Kentucky, Tax List
1788 - Virginia Petition #55 (also Benj. Wells et al), Bourbon County, Kentucky,
      south of Main Licking
1789 - Bourbon County, Kentucky, Tax List
1789 - Virginia Petition #66, Bourbon County, Kentucky
1790 - Bourbon County, Kentucky - pd. 600 pounds for 6 wolves' heads
1792 - Bourbon County, Kentucky, Tax List
1793 - Bourbon County, Kentucky, Tax List
1793 - July, proved deed of Nathaniel Massie
1794 - (No tax found)
1795 - Bourbon County, Kentucky, estate of Benjamin Wells, signs with
      Dorothy Wells.
1796 - Bourbon County, Kentucky, Tax List
1797 - Bourbon County, Kentucky, Tax List
1797 - Harrison County, Kentucky, Tax List
1798 - (No tax list available)
1799 - Harrison County, Kentucky, pay one day's court attendance as a witness,
      court trial of Isaac Levi, charged with stealing wheat.
1799 - Harrison County, Kentucky, Grand Jury duty
1799 - 1816 - Harrison County, Kentucky, Tax List
1808 - Bazil, Nancy Wells; James, Asinor Furnish, and Clemmons
      Charter members of Mill Creek Baptist Church, Harrison County, KY
1809 - Harrison County, Kentucky, Estate of John Wells (also Nancy Wells,
      James Furnace)
1812 - Harrison County, Kentucky, August, Sale Bill on Estate of Michael Ritter
1816 - Harrison County, Kentucky, Tax List. Does not appear in this county after.
1817 - 1819 - (No reference found in Harrison or Pendleton Counties)
1820 - 1823 - Pendleton County, Kentucky, Tax List
1820 - Pendleton County, Kentucky, US Census, page 18, near Henry Daugherty,
      Charles Boner
1820 - Pendleton County, Kentucky, made guardian of Ruth Boner, daughter of
      Charles Boner
1821 - Pendleton County, Kentucky, appraised estate of James Nolan.
1821 - Pendleton County, Kentucky, bill of sale on estate of Isaac Lockwood
1823 - Pendleton County, Kentucky, Delinquent Tax List - "removed to Gallatin Co."
1824 - Gallatin County, Kentucky, Tax List
1825 - 1828 - (not found on Gallatin County, KY tax list)
1829 - Gallatin County, Kentucky, Tax List (last tax record found)
1834 - Gallatin County, Kentucky, death 26 Aug 1834 (reference Hughes, email Pat
      Vorenburg, stevevxx@tiac.net, 21 Jan 1999)
1840 - Gallatin County, Kentucky, US Census, Nancy Wells living alone, age 60-70


Child of NANCY CONWAY and BASIL WELLS is:

34.

JOHN³ WELLS, b. 1791; d. Bet. 1851 - 1878.

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