I'm not familiar with the Wells being mentioned here but I have a Shepherd married to a Wells. My 4th great grandmother, Martha Shepherd Blanton had a sister Rebecca Shepherd who married about 1797 Lee Co. VA. Zacharia Wells. For children I have: William b abt 1797-98 NC, Thomas Wells b.abt. 1798 Big Stone Gap, Wise Co. VA., he m.31 July 1823 Scott Co. VA., Zachariah T. Wells b. abt 1799 Big Stone Gap, Wise Co. VA., John Wells b.abt. 1801 Big Stone Gap, Wise Co. VA., James Wells, Marshall Wells, Levi Wells, Solomon Wells, Abigail Wells, Polly Wells and Elizabeth Wells. I also have this: Note: Zacharia Wells and Rebecca his wife of Russell Co. and State of Virginia to Charles West of Lee Co. VA., 100 acres lying on North Fork of Powell River in Lee Co. crossing Luneys Creek for 40 pounds. #3 CHILD OF ZACHARIAH AND ABIGAIL: 5...3..ZACHARIAH JR WELLS 1774 TAXED IN 1810 Married: REBECCA (BECKY) SHEPHERD- LISTED AS SELLING 100 ACRES ZACHARIAH WELLS AND WIFE REBECCA ON POWELL RIVER IN LEE COUNTY JULY 16 1809 STONEY CREEK SCOTT COUNTY VA NEAR BLACKMORE. STONEY CREEK PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH MINUTES. 'THEN CAME BRO. ZACHARIAH WELLS AND SISTER REBECKEY HIS WIFE AND JOIN THE CHURCH BY LETTER" ALSO MENTIONED JULY 23 1809 IN MINUTES. 1810 CENSUS LEE CO 1817-5-10 VA LAND PATENTS LEE COUNTY VA CARD 66 50 ACRES POWELLS RIVER 1817 1 N0V, LEE COUNTY ZACH JR AND JOHN LAMBRETH GRANTED 142 ACRES WATERS OF S FORK OF POWELLS RIVER. GRANT 110 P597 VA.L.10 1850 -MAY LEE CO. 50 ACRES WILD CAT VALLEY,POWELLS MTN.F66-P291 ======== 1870 WISE COUNTY CENSUS RICHMOND TOWNSHIP This Zacharia also witnessed an Indenture where George Blanton bought land in Lee and a William Wells also witnessed: This Indenture made and entered into this nineth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and four by and between Nathaniel Taylor by his Attorney William McCutchin of the County of Carter and State of Tennessee of the one part and George Blanton of the County of Lee and State of Virginia of the other part, witnesseth that the said Taylor by his agent William McCutchin hath this day bargained and sold unto the said Blanton a tract of land in Lee County for the Sum of 25.00 and bounded as followeth to wit, Beginning at a large oak thence due W 40 poles crossing Callahan's Creek to two beeches ? 30 E 160 poles to John Blanton's line, and with the same due E ? poles across the creek to a beech, the same due n 30E ?60 poles to the Beginning, containing by estimation ____ acres____the same more or less which tract of land ____the said Taylor will warrant ____defend free from me my heirs executors Administrators and assigns and from all persons claiming ! or to Claim ___by or under me unto him the said Blanton his heirs executors Administrators and assigns, In Testimony of the above ___ ___ ___ my said Attornery have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal the day and year first above written. Signed Sealed and delivered in prescense of Uriah Shepherd Nathanial Taylor William Wells William McCutchin Zacharia Wells Note: Uriah was a younger brother to Martha Shepherd Blanton(Source David Travillion Bunton, Extensive Researcher on the Shepherd line. He also states Zacharia is a brother-in-law of Martha, married to a younger sister, Rebecca Shepherd. I don't know if this any relation to your William Wells or not but thought I would submit this just in case. I know very little about my Blanton/Wells connection, Sheila