This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: OxonianSM Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.wells/4860.2.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I am a descendant of the Samuel J Wells (he was born about 1787 in Georgia), who was living in Marshall County, MS in 1850. He married Keziah/Kizziah Belcher in Amite County, MS in 1822. His children settled in Lafayette County, MS in the early 1850s. I believe that Samuel and Kizziah moved to Lafayette County at about the same time, too. Samuel, who was a Methodist minister, performed numerous wedding ceremonies here in the 1850s. The last record of him that I can find is a marriage ceremony in 1856. I have searched extensively for he and Kizziah on the 1860 census and cannot find them. Kizziah shows up again on the 1870 census, living with her son, Isaac E. Wells. Samuel and Kizziah's children that I have found record of include: Samuel Wells, born abt 1824 and married Cornelia Gilpin; Isaac E Wells, b. 11 Feb 1825 d. 12 Mar 1875 who married Elizabeth Ann Atkins; Sophronia Wells b. 10 Dec 1827 d. 27 Oct 1857, she married Jacob Bogard; John Jordan Wells b.abt 1830 d. before! 1870, he married Amanda J Deckard (their children are living with his brother Isaac's family during the 1870 census); William B Wells b. abt 1835, he married Melvina Holland; Benjamin Wells b. abt 1839, who married Frances Louisa Holland; and Virginia G Wells b.abt 1841 and d. after 1872, she married Benjamin Washington Pate. Isaac E Wells and Elizabeth (they are my 3rd great grandparents) settled about 5 miles south of Oxford, MS. Isaac owned a grocery store on South Street in Oxford, where he was the butcher. They built a church on their land, which is the current site of Church Grove cemetery. Isaac was the first known person to be buried there. >From my research, I too believe that Samuel J Wells was the son of Isaac Wells, who died in Florida. I also believe that he was somehow related to Wiley Wells, who lived in Franklin County, MS in the early 1800s. Were they brothers? For some reason, a lot of this line of Wells have all died at a young age. My great-grandfather was Samuel Wells, the son of Isaac E Wells and Elizabeth. This Samuel Wells, (b. 16 Sep 1861 and his headstone says that he died 14 Aug 1922...but his wife is listed as a widow on the 1920 census) married Sara Elizabeth "Sallie" Kerby, daughter of Hawkings Judson Kerby and Nancy Emeline Bundren. My mother told me that her grandfather, Samuel, was an oilman. I believe the oil was discovered not long before he died. My great uncle told me that the oil was down in South Mississippi. From researching this, I belive the land was in Franklin County, MS. This makes sense, because Samuel's grandparents (Samuel J Wells and Kizziah Belcher) were married in Amite County. Not sure if they still owned land there or just the oil and mineral rights to the land. I have been trying to find where Samuel and Kizziah were living in 1830 and 1840. And trying to figure out what the relationship was between Samuel and Wiley Wells. 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.