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This information is contributed by Gloria Donaldson Wells
Jacob Wells
Revolutionary Veteran
Jacob Wells was born in Duplin County, North Carolina. There is speculation about the origin
of the Wells Family in Duplin County, North Carolina, even speculation about the name of
Jacob's father. Any provable record concerning Jacob Wells' family will have to start with him.
Jacob Wells, born 1758 in Duplin County, North Carolina, died 1843 in Duplin County, North
Carolina. Jacob was in the footservice (the Infantry) He served three separate times, 1779,
early in 1781, and late in 1781. Each enlistment was for three months. The first two times
he was in no battles, just a few skirmishes with the British. The third enlistment Jacob Wells
was in the Battle of Rockfish Bridge and was captured by the British. He was released but
he did not know how it happened. He told those interviewing him for his pension that one day
an American officer showed up and made arrangements for the release of the prisoners. He
was released but the British kept his mare and he never received compensation for her. After
his release, he returned to his home in Duplin County. A typescript of his appearance in
Court to apply for his pension is attached.
10 Mar 1785 Jacob married Mary Bowzer, daughter of Emanuel
Bowzer and his wife Mary.
Jacob Wells and Mary Bowzer had five children, all born in Duplin
County
i. Henry, born ca 1785, married Mary
ii. Hugh, born ca 1790, married Rhoda
iii. Jacob, born ca 1795, married 1st Boney, 2nd Sophia __
iv. Alexander, born 1802, married Ann "Nancy" Flanagan
v. Mary, born ca 1805, married John Bradshaw
Jacob Wells married 2nd Elizabeth Evens, ca 1812, also in Duplin
County. They had five children, all born in Duplin County:
vi. Margaret, born ca 1813, married Solomon Price
vii. Thomas E. born ca 1815, married Margaret S. Price
viii, Esther, born unknown, married John R. Taylor
ix. Elizabeth Jane, born 2 Nov 1819, married Benjamin Fussell
who died 1890 x. Sarah Ann, born 1822, married John D. Malpass who died 1854
Sources:
"Descendants of Jacob Wells of Duplin County, North Carolina," by James W. Wells of Benton,
Ark, privately printed 1973.
Typescript of appearance in court by Jacob Wells appliying for his Pension
Response from DAR listing Jacob Wells as Rev Vet
DAR papers Annette Wells McGhee
Map of Duplin county during period after Rev War showing residences and cemeteries of Wells
families
Suename Map, Duplin County., NC
Penson records from War Department
Continuing my line is Jacob's son Jacob, born ca 1795. He married
first Boney, he married second Sophia . It is assumed
Miss. Boney was the mother of his son Alexander born ca 1820. The 1840 census shows 4 older
children and one young girl, supporting the theory that Sophia was the younger wife with the
younger child. The names of his other children, besides Alexander, have been lost.
Alexander Wells was born 1830 Duplin County, died 1902 Crawford or Dooly County, Georgia.
Alexander migrated to Georgia ca 1840 while he was still single. This Wells line continues on in
Georgia.
The source for information on younger Jacob Wells and Alexander Wells is
"Descendents of Jacob Wells of Duplin County, North Carolina," by James W. Wells of Benton,
Ark, privately printed 1973,
State of North Carolina X
Duplin County
On this the sixth day of January-AD 1833 personally appeared before Alfred Ward 8t Gibson
Sloan, two of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Duplin aforesaid Jacob
Wells a resident of New Hanover-County and State of North Carolina, aged seventy-four-years
and some months, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the
following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 183Z.
That he entered the service of United States under the following named officer and served as
herein stated:
Col. Thomas Rutledge, Major not recollected, that he entered the service under - Captain
Fredrick Wells, Lieutenant and Ensign not recollected, a Adam Platt, Sergeant, that he does
not recollect the day, month, or year, when he entered the service but that it was during the
warm season and in 1779 - or - 1780, he rather thinks in 1779, because he was in service
before he heard of Gen. Gates defeat. That he left this tour of service under the aforenamed
officers in the fall season, that he resided in Duplin County North Carolina about nineteen
miles from Duplin Courthouse when he entered the service, that he was drafted in the footservice
( in other words the infantry) for three months that he was in no battle while in this tour of service,
that he rendezvoused in the first place at Rockfish Bridge, the dividing line between New Hanover
& Duplin Counties, that from then he marched to Jumping Run two miles below Wilmington,
that he served with no continental regiments or companies in this tour of service, that he knew
General Joseph Rhodes, Captain Hardy Holmes of the continental lines and Colonel's Ruthledge,
Ash, James Kenan, Charles Ward, and Thomas Bludworth, some of whom he believes were
of the continental line. Captains James Gillespie (h), David Dodd (h), Michael Kenan, James
Wright (h), William Wright, James Love (h), of the Cavalry, Adjutant General Robert Bannerman,
Gea. Luddington, that he has no documentary evidence but that he can prove this tour of
service by John Duff as a resident of Duplin County and knows of no person, whose testimony
he can procure who can testify to his service in this tour. The names of the Captains marked
with the letter (h) were of the Cavalry,
That he entered the service again under the following named officers. Col. James Kenan, Major
John Moulton, Captain Shadrack Stailings, Fredrick Williams, Lieutenant, Aaron Williams,
Ensign, that he entered this service in the year 1781 - that he does not recollect the day or
month but that it was in the winter, that he still reŽsided in Duplin County, N. C. about
seventeen miles from Duplin Courthouse, that he was drafted in the foot service { as perhaps
more properly speaking the infantry), that he was in no battle during these three months, but
that there were some little skirmishings with the British, that he was stationed near the Big
Bridge about twelve miles from ,.Wilmington that he rendezvoused in the first place at Rockfish
Bridge the dividing line between New Hanover and Duplin Counties. That from thence he
moved to the Big Bridge where he remained he thinks some longer than the time he was drafted
waiting for the arrival of other troops, that he has no documentary evidence to show his service,
but can prove this tour of service by John Duff a resident of Duplin County North Carolina.
That he entered the service a third time under the following named officers: Col. Charles Ward,
Major not recollected, Captain James Gillespie, Lieutenant not recollected. Ensign not recollected.
That he does not reŽcollect the day or month when he entered this service, he rather thinks it
was in the last of June or first of July and in the year of 1781 - that he left this service under the
aforenamed officers in the fall and he thinks in the last of September - that he still resided in
Duplin County N. C. about seventeen miles from Duplin Courthouse, that he was of the infantry,
that his entrance into service was called drafting, that he was drafted for three months, that he
was in one battle at Rockfish Bridge the dividing line between New Hanover and Dublin Counties,
while in this service, that this battle was fought on the third day of August, that he retreated to
Island Creek to a place where John Cook lived, that near this place (Island Creek) he was carried
to Laredo Bridge where after being kept for several days he was set at liberty but does not know
how it was done, but that an American officer came to the British camp for the purpose of effecting
the release of prisoners, which was done, that he had a very good mare taken with him when he
was taken prisoner, that the British kept his mare, and that he has never received any
compensation for her, that he was stationŽed in this tour of service at Rockfish Bridge where the
battle was fought, that he served with some continental regiŽments during this tour of service, he
thinks there were 500-600 regulars stationed at Rockfish Bridge with whom he served in this tour
of service, that he knew Gen. Joseph Rhodes,- Captain Hardy Holmes of the continental line,
that he knew David Jones, a Recruiting Officer, that he still resided in Duplin County.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and
declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
A search of our Patriot Index provided the information found below.
WELLS, Jacob
Birth: NC 1758
Service: NC
Rank: Pvt
Death: NC 18 Nov 1843
Patriot Pensioned: Yes Widow Pensioned: Yes
Children Pensioned: No Heirs Pensioned: No
Spouse: Elizabeth Evans
Spouse: Mary Bowzer
Sincerely,
Cheryl
Patriot Lookup Volunteer
Original Request
Reference Code: RXYPZBPK
Requestor: Gloria Donaldson Wells
Patriot First Name: Jacob Patriot Last Name: WellsBirth: 1758 New Hanover Co., NC
Death: 18 Nov 1843 New Hanover Co., NC Spouse First Name: Mary Bowzer
Comments: Married 2nd Elizabeth Evens, Duplin Co., NC
4/20/2005
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