This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: debraanderson15 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.wells/5154.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi Orin. Yes, I am familiar with DNA testing and anxious to find a representative for my Wells line. I have about 11 on going projects to date, and, if used correctly, they are an important tool in my research. I also understand, from experience, that it is important to make sure that a representative is a "documented" representative of a family. Just had a 'long time' (understood no questions asked) assumed member of my extended Evans family take a DNA test. Not a match, at least not a match within 400 years or more. So we took another look at his 'genealogy'. The 'genealogy' was wrong two generations back (the early 1900's)! Think of it.... he put in years of research on the wrong family because he made a guess as to who his grandfather was when he first started this over 30 years ago. >>We have tested on descendant of this family through William Wells Jr. in our Wells DNA project I disagree. Please tell me why you state this. Please ask Robert why he states this. Just one piece of documentation; any record at all that ties his group to Wm Wells d.1833 would be very much appreciated. >>namely Ransom, John, George Thomas, Robert, Henry or Jesse -Ransom is my ancestor. He is a documented son of Wm Wells d.1833. He had one son; only two grandsons. Still looking for a male descendant. My Gus Wells was one of his g.sons. Gus had a couple of sons, but they "go missing" in OK/TX (state line area). Hoping the release of the 1940 census helps. Oklahoma records tough. -Wm Wells d.1833 had a son Jack. Always referred to as either Jack or Jacky (in the records = beginning when he was age about 16). Never listed as John that I know of. (I know that Jack is sometimes another given name for John, like Polly is for Mary) Also noting that Jack Wells (s/o Wm d.1833) should not be confused with the John Wells of Giles who was f/o Levis S. The records make this very clear. -George is not the same as Thomas. They were two different men. Have no idea what became of George. He goes missing late 1840's. Thomas (s/o Wm d.1833) may be the Thomas who marr to Frannie Yancy Graves... still working on that puzzle. The records located to date all fit (so far), and it really helps that Wm Wells had something to do with the John Graves Estate, but want more to prove that this is the Thomas that I am looking for. -Robert (s/o Wm d.1833) was the only Robert in Giles during this time period of a certain age. There was a Robert in Maury (s/o David), but he is accounted for and living in Maury, and not (really) of an age to be Administrator of an Estate in 1825. I have quite a bit on this Robert s/o David. David Wells of Maury is ancestor of my dau-in-law, and the Wells DNA participant of this line is a first cousin of her mother. -Not sure Henry was a son of Wm Wells d.1843, and not sure why you list him. No record of a Henry Wells. A Henry was referred to as "brother Henry" in a family letter. But that does not mean that he was Henry Wells, or a s/o Wm Wells. He could have been a brother-in-law. If Henry was a son of Wm Wells d.1833, he is not in Giles TN. &, also noting that Wm H Wells could have been referred to as 'Henry' ( his middle name was Henry and a name the family used). -Jesse had two sons. Neither had issue. >>We need to find a descendent of one of the other sons of William Wells Yes. On another note, I also believe that you have a documented descendant of David Wells of Maury CO TN. & Wishing we could prove who the David (d.1843 Maury TN) was the son of. We know who his 2nd wife was...... but only a best guess as to who his first wife was. I thought it interesting that the two Wells families of = the earlier group in NC and my elder Wm Wells d.1833 Giles were all from the same area (county) of VA during the same time period; one group migrating on to NC, and the other to Giles TN. Perhaps only a coincidence, so many Wells about, but it makes it more 'convenient' when pulling those VA records! Hope all is well with you, & thanks for your response. Always good to hear your input. Debra Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.