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Descendants of Robert Lee Wells

Generation No. 2

3. Benjamin Franklin⁵ Wells (Robert Lee⁴, Zachariah³, Richard², James¹) was born 11 Sep 1817 in Lee CO., VA., and died 22 Jan 1904 in Wells Br., Willard, Carter CO., Ky.. He married (1) Nancy Robinson 28 Jul 1843 in Carter CO., KY., daughter of Ezekiel Robinson and Sabra Castner. She was born 18 Jun 1826 in Floyd CO., KY., and died 23 Jul 1888 in Wells Br. , Carter CO., KY.. He married (2) Angeline Pennington 04 Sep 1890 in Carter CO., KY., daughter of Levi Pennington and Sarah Justice. She was born 26 Oct 1868 in Carter CO., KY., and died 01 Jun 1928 in Cankee, ILL..

Notes for Benjamin Franklin Wells:
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WELLS WAS BORN SEPTEMBER 1, 1829, IN LEE COUNTY VIRGINIA, AND DIED JANUARY 23, 1904 AT WELLS BRANCH OFF ROUTE 1122 OR LITTLE FORK CREEK, CARTER COUNTY, KENTUCKY.. (HIS TOMBSTONE SAYS HE WAS BORN SEP 11, 1817, AND DIED JANUARY 23, 1904). HE IS BURIED IN A SINGLE GRAVE ON TOP OF THE HILL AT THE HEAD OF WELLS BRANCH.
HIS FIRST WIFE NANCY ROBINSON WELLS IS BURIED IN THE MCDAVID CEMETERY OFF ROUTE 32.
THE WELLS BRANCH FARM OF THE 1840'S IS THE CURTIS BLEVINS FARM IN 1992.
HIS PARENTS ARE ROBERT LEE AND ELIZABETH SHEPHERD WELLS. ELIZABETH SHEPHERD IS THE DAUGHTER OF JAMES P. AND RACHEL GUALT SHEPHERD, PROBABLY OF LEE CO., VA.
WE DO KNOW FROM OTHER WELLS RESEARCHERS THAT OUR EARLIEST ANCESTOR, RICHARD WELLS LEFT ENGLAND IN 1635 TO MAKE HIS, AND THEREFORE OUR, HOME IN AMERICA.
ALSO RESEARCHERS OF THE WELLS FAMILY SAY THAT WARWICKSHIRE, ENGLAND IS THE HOME OF OUR WELLS ANCESTORS, AND THAT RICHARD WELLS WAS BAPTIZED IN 1618 IN THE VILLAGE OF CHERINGTON, WHERE RICHARD'S GRANDPARENTS LIVED IN 1540'S, AND IS THE EARLIEST KNOWN ANCESTOR OF THE WELLS FAMILY. THAT RICHARD WELLS DEPARTED ENGLAND FROM THE
GRAVESEND SEA PORT.
RESEARCH NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED FROM 1635 TO AROUND 1800 WHEN WE FIND ROBERT LEE WELLS, FATHER OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WELLS LIVING IN LEE COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
THERE IS A GAP OF 165 YEARS OF THE WELLS ANCESTORS THAT MUST BE COMPLETED.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN "FRANK" WELLS MARRIED NANCY ROBINSON ON JULY 28, 1843, IN CARTER COUNTY, KENTUCKY. NANCY ROBINSON WAS BORN ON JUNE 18, 1828, IN KENTUCKY, AND HER PARENTS ARE EZEKIEL ROBINSON AND SABRA CASTNER.
HE WAS MARRIED TWO TIMES. FIRST TO NANCY ROBINSON AND SECOND TO ANGELINE PENNINGTON, ON SEPTEMBER 4, 1890, IN CARTER COUNTY, KENTUCKY.
ANGELINE PENNINGTON, WAS THE DAUGHTER OF LEVI PENNINGTON AND SARAH JUSTICE. ANGELINE PENNINGTON LIVED ABOUT TWO MILES NORTH OF WELLS BRANCH ON LITTLE FORK CREEK ROAD, NOW STATE ROUTE 1122, ON A BIG CURVE IN THE ROAD AND BELOW THE POLK, GRAHAM, AND LITT PENNINGTON CEMETERY WHICH IS ON THE HILL OVER LOOKING THE LEVI PENINGTON HOME PLACE. THE LEVI PENNINGTON HOME PLACE WAS TORN DOWN IN 1995, AND A NEW HOUSE NOW STANDS ON THE ORIGINAL SPOT.
FRANK AND NANCY ROBINSON WELLS HAD THE FOLLOWING CHILDREN ALL BORN ON WELLS BRANCH, CARTER COUNTY, KENTUCKY:
1. MARY ELIZABETH, BORN JULY 14, 1844, DIED JANUARY 19, 1880, IN ELLIOTT COUNTY, KENTUCKY. SHE MARRIED JOHN SLOAS ON DECEMBER 1, 1864.
2. WILLIAM R., BORN IN 1847, DIED NOV 22, 1910, AND MARRIED NANCY VIRGINIA SLOAS, ON MARCH 12, 1866, IN CARTER CO. KY.
3. JAMES ANDREW, BORN DECEMBER 12, 1848, DIED APRIL 24, 1929, AND MARRIED MARY ELIZABETH WAGGONER IN 1872.
4. ROBERT, BORN DEC 15, 1852, AND MARRIED ANGELINE HAMMONDS.
5. LOUISA, BORN DECEMBER 6, 1855, DIED CA. 1887, AND MARRIED PETER LEADINGHAM, ON APRIL 18, 1885, IN CARTER CO. KY.
6. MARGARET, BORN DEC 1, 1859, DIED AUG 29, 1949. SHE MARRIED SAMUEL S. SLOAS.
7. VENNA AMANDA, BORN AUG 8 1861, DIED OCT 6, 1960. SHE MARRIED FIRST JOHN TAYLOR BOOTH, AND HAD ONE SON. SECOND TO BILL MASON AND HE DIED AND SHE MARRIED FRANK MCDAVID AND LIVED WITH HIM 6 WEEKS. SHE DIED IN WILLARD, CARTER CO., KY AT THE AGE OF 99.
8. NANCY, BORN DEC 26, 1870, AND DIED FEB 19, 1949. SHE MARRIED JESSIE MCDAVID IN 1885.
9. DELILAH JANE, BORN JULY 25, 1868, DIED FEBRUARY 3, 1926, AND WAS MARRIED TWO TIMES, FIRST TO JACOB MAGGARD, CA. 1890, IN CARTER CO. KY. AND SECOND TO JESSE CAUDLE LEADINGHAM, ON OCTOBER 30, 1894, IN CARTER CO. KY. SHE HAD ONE SON, REECE D. MAGGARD BY HER FIRST HUSBAND, AND SHE HAD THE FOLLOWING BY JESSE CAUDLE LEADINGHAM; OLLIE, VIRGIE,
EVERETT EARL, CLYDE C., LLOYD (KILLED IN THE MINES AT AGE 20), AND MEREDITH FRANKLIN. MEREDITH FRANKLIN MARRIED BELVA "BELL" ADKINS OF SHANTY BRANCH, CARTER COUNTY, KENTUCKY,IN 1925. MEREDITH FRANKLIN AND BELVA "BELL" ADKINS LEADINGHAM HAD THE FOLLOWING TEN CHILDREN: BEATRICE, IMOGENE, JOSEPH EARL, MEREDITH PAUL, JESSE FRANKLIN, JOYCE ANN, LAWERNCE EVERETT, PATTIE SUE, DONALD RAY, AND CHARLES DAVID.
10. SABRA BORN MAY 22, 1870, DIED AUG 9, 1872.
11. THOMAS BORN AUG 22, 1872, AND DIED IN 1919 AND MARRIED BETTY MCDAVID.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WELLS AND HIS SECOND WIFE ANGELINE PENNINGTON HAD THE FOLLOWING CHILDREN ALL BORN IN CARTER CO. KY: (ANGELINE PENNINGTON WAS MARRIED THREE TIMES. FIRST TO A MR. ZIEGLER. SECOND TO ANDERSON EVANS, AND THIRD TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WELLS). (ANGELINE PENNINGTON DIED IN JUNE OF 1928, IN CANKEE, ILL).
1. HARRY MILTON, BORN ABT 1886 OR 1887, MARRIED A ROSIE MELISSA SPARKS ON DECEMBER 9, 1934, IN CARTER CO. KY.
2. THOMAS, BORN AUGUST 22, 1888, DIED IN 1919, AND MARRIED BETTY MCDAVID.
3. FRANCIS B., BORN OCTOBER 25, 1890, MARRIED W. STEVE HAMMOND.
4. PALINA ALICE, BORN JULY 4, 1891, MARRIED GEORGE HENRY VANDEWAKLER.
5. SARAH, BORN FEBRUARY 14, 1893, MARRIED CHARLES LESLIE EVANS ON JANUARY 11, 1911.
6. LLOYD ALLEN, BORN MARCH 20, 1896, MARRIED MADGE LEADINGHAM ON JUNE 28, 1924, IN CARTER CO. KY.
7. HARRIETT, BORN MARCH 9, 1902, DIED DECEMBER 21, 1961, MARRIED JASPER A. STAHL. SHE DIED IN PORTSMOUTH, SCIOTO CO. OHIO.
FRANK WELLS IS BURIED ON THE CURTIS BLEVINS FARM, LOCATED ON WELLS BRANCH, OFF LITTLE FORK CREEK (ROUTE 1122), ABOUT 12 MILES FROM GRAYSON, CARTER COUNTY, KENTUCKY). WELLS BRANCH IS ABOUT A MILE SOUTH OF LEADINGHAM AND HYLTON BRANCHES.
THE FOLLOWING QUOTED FROM AN E-MAIL AND BOOK REFERENCED BELOW:
QUOTE:
DURING THE CIVIL WAR AN INCIDENT OCCURRED. THERE WERE THREE UNIONISTS, JAMES ROSS, JAMES BALL AND _____HUFF THAT WERE KILLED BY A PARTY OF REBELS LED BY SOME BROTHERS WHOSE PARENTS HAD BEEN ABUSED AND ROBBED BY THE HOME GUARDS. HENRY SLOAS WHO LIVED IN THE BRUSH CREEK AREA ON THE BORDER OF ELLIOTT AND CARTER COUNTIES WAS ARRESTED IN MAY 1863 AND CHARGED WITH BEING A REBEL SYMPATHIZER AND HELPING TO DIG THE MASS GRAVE ON THE FRANK WELLS FARM IN DECEMBER OF 1862 WHERE THE MEN HAD BEEN BURIED. FRANK WELLS WAS WRONGLY BLAMED FOR THE KILLINGS AND BARELY ESCAPED BEING LYNCHED. HE HID IN A CANE BREAK ON HIS FARM AND NEARLY DIED FROM PNEUMONIA.
IN THE BOOK "NO MORE MUFFLED HOOF BEATS" (1960) BY ESTELLE S. RIZK, THE AUTHOR INTERVIEWED VENA WELLS BOOTHE MASON. IN THE BOOK VENA STATED THAT HER PARENTS WERE FRANK AND NANCY ROBINSON WELLS. SHE DESCRIBES A EPISODE DURING THE CIVIL WAR, WHICH SEEMS TO REFER TO THE ABOVE INCIDENT VENA STATED.
VENA STATED HER MOTHER HAD A COVERLET IN THE BIG LOOM WEAVING WHICH SHE HURRIEDLY HID FROM THE SOLDIERS WHEN THEY FIRST CAME RAIDING THE HOME. IT WAS
ONE OF THE FEW THINGS SAVED. VENA'S FATHER FRANK WELLS, HID IN THE NEARBY CAVE TO ESCAPE BEING HUNG BY THE NORTHERN SOLDERS.
UNQUOTE.
ALSO MY FATHER, REV. MEREDITH FRANKLIN LEADINGHAM, GRAND SON OF FRANK AND NANCY ROBINSON WELLS TOLD ME, MEREDITH PAUL LEADINGHAM SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE HE DIED IN 1994, THAT HE HAD BEEN TOLD OF A PERSON THAT HAD TO HIDE OUT FOR THREE YEARS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND CAVES OF THAT AREA TO ESCAPE THE UNION SOLDIERS, AND THAT THEY CAMPED ON THE MOUNTAIN ABOVE LEADINGHAM BRANCH, WHERE THE PETER AND SARAH HAMILTON LEADINGHAM CEMETERY IS LOCATED TODAY IN 1999.

INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM:
1. 1860 AND 1880 CARTER COUNTY, KENTUCKY CENSUS.
2. DONNA SUE PENNINGTON BRYANT, OF ASHLAND, KY., in 1992.
3. COMPUTERIZED BY MEREDITH PAUL LEADINGHAM, OF FREDERICK. MD. IN 1992.
MEREDITH PAUL LEADINGHAM IS THE GREAT-GRAND SON OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WELLS AND NANCY ROBINSON WELLS.
4. HIS MARRIAGE TO NANCY ROBINSON CAN BE VERIFIED IN THE CARTER CO., KY. MARRIAGES OF 1838 TO 1852, OR FROM THE INTERNET WEB PAGE OF CARTER COUNTY, KENTUCKY.
5. EDITED AND UPDATED IN 1997.
6. INFORMATION ON WARWICKSHIRE, ENGLAND WHERE RICHARD WELLS WAS BORN IN 1618, AND THE PORT OF GRAVESEND, ENGLAND WHERE HE DEPART ENGLAND FOR AMERICA WAS COPIED FROM THE WELLS FAMILY HERITAGE TRIP INFORMATION SHEET GIVING THE PROPOSED ITINERARY ON THE WELLS TRIP TO ENGLAND IN JUNE OF 1998. INFORMATION WAS WRITTEN BY JOHN B. WELLS III OF 733 COURT STREET, PAINTSVILLE, KY. 41240, IN JANUARY OF 1998.
7. REVIEWED AND UPDATED IN JANUARY OF 1998, BY MEREDITH PAUL
LEADINGHAM OF FREDERICK, MD.
8. C IVAL WAR INFORMATION ADDED JANUARY 18, 1999, FROM AN E-MAIL RECEIVED FROM CHRIS ROBINSON, IN FLORIDA, SHE FOUND IN A BOOK TITLED "NO MORE MUFFLED HOOF BEATS "1960" BY ESTELLE S. RIZK.
9. STORY OF THE CIVIL WAR AS TOLD TO MEREDITH PAUL LEADINGHAM BY HIS FATHER REV. MEREDITH FRANKLIN LEADINGHAM GRAND SON OF FRANK AND NANCY ROBINSON WELLS.
10. UPDATED IN AUGUST OF 1999 TO REFLECT THE WIFE OF ROBERT LEE WELLS BEING ELIZABETH SHEPHERD AND NOT MARY ROBERTS AS EARLIER BELIEVED.

COPYRIGHT 2004 IN THE PAUL LEADINGHAM AND ALLIED FAMILIES GENEALOGY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY THE AUTHOR AND FAMILY MEMBERS.

More About Benjamin Franklin Wells:
Burial: 1904, He is buried in a single grave on top of the hill at the head of Wells Branch, Carter CO., Ky.

Notes for Nancy Robinson:
According to the 1880 Carter CO., KY. Census, she was born in Virginia, married Frank Wells and they raised their family on Wells Branch, Little Fork Creek, Carter Co., Ky. After she died Frank remarried and raised another large family on Wells Branch and he is buried on the Wells Branch farm.
Nancy is buried in another cemetery.
Take Route 1122 where it dead end into route 486, route 486 takes you to Isonville where you have to turn right on route 32 to Sandy Hook. Go to the end of 1122 Turn right up the small hill when you top it and start down the cemetery is on the left. In 1999 the Cemetery is very grown up and has not been clean for 8 years.
Nancy Robinson Wells's grave is at the lower end of the cemetery, and there are only about 3 or 4 graves around hers, but they are Dobbins and no relation to her. According to Eleanor Mcdavid-Brewster who lives down in the area, Nancy is buried in the McDavid Cemetery.
Nancy's brother James Castner Robinson is buried in the Leadingham Cemetery high on the hill overlooking Little Fork C reek, and Route 1122.

More About Nancy Robinson:
Burial: 1988, McDavid Cemetery, off route 32, in Elliott CO., KY..
Information: LIved on Wells Branch, Carter CO., Ky.

Children of Benjamin Wells and Nancy Robinson are:

+	10	i.	Mary Elizabeth⁶ Wells, born 14 Jul 1844 in Carter CO., Ky.; died 19 Jan 1880 in Elliott CO., KY..
+	11	ii.	William R. Wells, born 1846 in Carter CO., KY.; died 22 Nov 1910.
+	12	iii.	James "Jim" W. Wells, born 12 Dec 1849 in Carter CO., KY.; died 24 Apr 1929 in Carter CO., KY..
	13	iv.	Robert Wells, born 13 Dec 1853 in Carter CO., KY.. He married Angeline Hammonds; born Abt. 1853.
+	14	v.	Louisa Wells, born 06 Dec 1855 in Carter CO., KY.; died Abt. 1887 in Carter CO., KY..
+	15	vi.	Margarett Wells, born 30 Dec 1859 in Carter CO., KY.; died 29 Aug 1949 in Elliott CO., KY..
+	16	vii.	Venna Amanda Wells, born 08 Aug 1861 in Carter CO., KY.; died 06 Oct 1960 in Willard, Carter CO., KY..
+	17	viii.	Nancy Wells, born 26 Dec 1864 in Carter CO., KY.; died 19 Feb 1949 in Carter CO., KY..
+	18	ix.	Delilah "Delila" Jane Wells, born 25 Jul 1868 in Wells Branch, Carter CO., KY.; died 03 Feb 1926 in Ashland, Boyd CO., KY..
	19	x.	Sabra Wells, born 22 May 1870 in Carter CO., KY.; died 09 Aug 1872 in Carter CO., KY..

More About Sabra Wells:
Burial: 1872, McDavid Cemetery, off route 32, in Elliott CO., KY..
Information: OWN OR RENT/ADDRESS.: BORN ON WELLS BR. OFF ROUTE1122

xi.

Thomas Wells, born 22 Aug 1872 in Carter CO., KY.; died 1919 in KY.. He married Elizabeth "Betty" Mcdavid Abt. 1908; born Abt. 1872.

Children of Benjamin Wells and Angeline Pennington are:

+	21	i.	Palina Alice⁶ Wells, born 04 Jul 1891 in Wells, Branch, Carter CO., KY.; died in Arizonia.
+	22	ii.	Sarah Belle Wells, born 14 Feb 1894 in Carter CO., KY.; died in Ashland, Boyd CO., KY..
+	23	iii.	Lloyd Allen Wells, born 20 Mar 1896 in Carter CO., KY.; died Oct 1955 in Indiana.
	24	iv.	Francis B. Wells, born 25 Oct 1898 in Carter CO., KY..
	25	v.	Harriett Wells, born 09 Mar 1902 in Carter CO., KY.; died 21 Dec 1961 in Portsmouth, Scioto CO., OH..
+	26	vi.	Harry Milton Wells, born 15 Jan 1904 in Elliott CO., KY.; died 26 May 1995 in Ashland, Boyd CO., KY..

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