Hello Wills Cousins,

I have just found some estate records in Orange County, NC, which appear to have great bearing on our research of the John Wills(Wells) family of Bertie. There are several points that make me believe that these records pertain to the brother of Miles Wells(Wills) of Bertie, Granville, and Caswell County. The estate records are for John Wells which was recorded in the Orange County November Term 1807 of Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions.

Point one: The estate seems substantial and considerable for the time, which would indicate an older person.

Point two: Many of Miles Wells family attended and purchased things from the sale.

Point three: No accounting has been made for other children of John Wills of Bertie, especially an elder son who would have been named for John’s father, John Wills of York and Warwick County, Virginia. There were several Wells males in the records of Bertie: Thomas, Jonathan, Willis, John, Henry and James to name a few.

Point four: I would surmise that the wife of John Wells was the Nancy who is purchasing many items of the estate.

Of the buyers, Miles Wells is a son of Miles Wells, Sr., Benjamin Bowls is a son-in-law of Miles, Sr., David Herndon was the father of several of the wives of Miles, Sr.’s sons, George Herndon was a son of David, Stephen Wells was a son of Miles’ Sr., Benjamin and John Wells-sons of Miles, Sr., Stephen was administrator of the estate.

At this point I have not located a listing of the heirs to his estate, but plan to check on this, especially in the guardian accounts at the State Archives in Raleigh.

The estate inventory is below.

Best regards,

Cuzzin John Fox

Winston-Salem, NC

Inventory of the Estate of John Wells Decd.

I pair of Stirup Irons to Miles Wells 2

Box and lumber Nancy Wells 5

Ouantdy of lumber Nancy Wells 15

1 pair of Traces ditto 1 1

1 Plough Benjamin BoWs ig

1 Pair of Traces Nancy Wells 19

1 Mattock ditto ditto 6

1 Weeding Hoe ditto ditto a

1 Weeding Hoe ditto ditto 7 6

ditto ditto ditto ditto 2

ditto ditto ditto ditto 8 6

ditto ditto Stephen Wells 5 6

ditto ditto ditto ditto 3

ditto ditto ditto ditto 2

I Axe & Cart hobs Nancy Wells a 6

1 Axe John Smith 4 6

1 ditto Nancy Wells 15 1

1 Broad Axe Benjamin Bo*ls 16 1

1 pair of Iron Wedges Isaac Durram 126

1 foot adze John Smith 6 a

1 Case & guage Aquills Crumpton 3 6

2 Planes to M Miles Wells Senr. 6

1 Coopers adze Aquilla Crumton a

1 Auger Ezekiel Curry 4 1

Square & compass Senj. Bovds 1 9

1 Centre bit Miles Wells Senr. 1 2

1 Howel ditto ditto 1 6

1 Chissel & auger George Herndon 2 6

1 Auger Nancy Wells 2 6

2 Chissels Senj. @s 3 3

Drawing Knife Ezekiel Curray 10 2

1 Hand Saw John Smith 13 1

1 Reap Hook Miles Wells Senr. 2 6

1 Basket and lumber ditto ditto 39

1 Bell ditto ditto 5 6

1 Gun Miles Wells 5 1

1 Coffee Mill Nancy Wells 0 10

To Tools Miles Wells 16

1 pair Steelyards George Horniday 15

1 Candle Stick & Snuffer To MilesWells Senr. 66

To Books Nancy Wells 106

To a book Miles Wells Senr. 3 6

1 saddle Nancy Wells 110 6

1 Saddle Nancy Wells 110 6

1 Pr. Cotton Cards ditto ditto 5 6

2 flat Irons ditto ditto 13 6

flash fork & ladle ditto ditto 1 6

Cannister & vinegar crewet ditto 7

1 Coffee Pot ditto ditto 4 6

I Glass Miles Wells Junr. 7 6

1 ditto John Fargusson 7 6

2 ditto James Wells 5

1 Candle Stick Nancy Wells 3 9

2 Glass Ticklers John Fargusson 4 6

3 Vials Miles Wells Senr. 5

6 spoons James Wells 6 1

6 Tea cups & Saucers Nancy Wells 10 10

6 Plates ditto ditto 3 3

3 Basons ditto ditto 10 7

1 Bowls ditto ditto 3 3

6 Pewter Plates ditto - ditto I 0 1

3 Earthern Do. David Hamdon I 9

2 Quart Bottles Nancy Wells 3 1

2 Jugs William McClusky 2 7

2 Quart Bottles Nancy Wells 4 1

1 Looking Glass ditto ditto 10 3

1 Clock Reel John Wells 15 2

1 Case & bottles Nancy Wells 16 1

1 Cotton Wheel ditto ditto 0 1

1 Case Miles Wells Sehr- 1 2

1 Cotton Wheel Nancy Wells 7,11

1 Flax Do. ditto ditto 6 1

Warper & Screen Miles Wells 6 6

1 shovel Nancy Wells I I

1 Pr. Compass John Smith I T

I Skillett Nancy Wells 3 1

1 lron Pot Rack ditto ditto

I pair Dog Irons To Miles Wells Sent. 1 10

I Table Nancy Wells 1 2 6

6 Chairs ditto ditto 1 1 6

I Grind Stone George Hamdon 6

1 ditto Benj. Wells 6

1 large Pot Nancy Wells 13 1

1 Skillet & lid John Wells 15 4

1 Small Pot Nancy Wells 5

1 frying Pan John Smith Senr. 9

1 Oven & lid Nancy Wells 15 6

1 Pot Hook Stephen Wells 2 10

1 Pot Nancy Wells 12 6

1 Slay & harness ditto ditto 11

1 side of Leather William Smith 7 6

I side of leather Aquilia Crumton 7 6

1 Side of leather Miles Wells Senr. 7 5

3 Barrels Nancy Wells 10

1 Cutting Knife & box Miles Wells 10 1

1 Loom& Tacklin Nancy Wells 2 17 5

1 Cow ditto ditto 4 13 9

1 small.heifer Wm. McClusky 4 13

1 small Yeadin ditto dftlo 2 13 1

1 ditto ditto ditto 1 16

1 ditto ditto ditto 1 5 8

I Colt Nancy Wells 6 @0 6

1 Bell Miles Wells Senr. 3

1 Coulter Plough Nancy Wells 3 6

1 Washing Tub ditto ditto 6

1 Water Pail ditto d@lo 3 6

1 Water Piggin ditto ditto 1 10

1 Shear Mold ditto ditto 9 2

I Horse ditto ditto 37

3 Sow ditto ditto 1 14 1

4 ditto ditto ditto 10

To the hire of Negroe Woman

to Benjamin Poelor 6 2 1

1 Bed & furniture Nancy Wells 513 1

1 Dish To Miles Wells Senr. E 5

1 Bed Nancy Wells 60 6

1 ditto ditto ditto 3

Stephen Wells

Orange County Novr- Term 1907 The foregoing Inventory of the Estate of John

Wells Decd. was

returned by Stephen Wells on oath and ordered to be recorded. Test

J. Taylor