Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameAnna “Maria” Motmiller
Birth18 Jan 1805, Ihringen, Baden, Germany
Immigration1818, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co, PA
Census1830, Washington Twp, Fayette Co, PA
Memoroll#162, pg 261
Census1840, Monroe Twp, Guernsey Co, OH
Memoroll#397, pg 384
Death1841/1846, Guernsey Co, OH
MotherAnna Maria Rieflin (1783-1859)
Misc. Notes
Birth and baptism record lists her as Anna Maria Mattmueller, hence her listing in the indenture document as Maria Jr.
Upon the family’s arrival in Philadelphia in 1818, Maria Mattmuller Jr was indentured by her parents to William McClellan and Joseph Thornton (both of Fayette Co) for 4 years 3 months, with 6 weeks of schooling each year, and two suits of clothes (one new) upon completion, for a consideration of $30.
Listed as between 20 and 30 in the 1830 census with Jacob. The deed selling their property in Washington Twp, Fayette Co to Jacob’s brother in 1835 spelled her name both as Maria and Mariah.
She was listed as Maria Wells in her mother’s (1859) will, which may be the result of her moving to Guernsey County, OH when her parents moved to Tuscarawas Co, OH.
Spouses
Birth1805, Washington Twp, Fayette Co, PA
Death17 Sep 1876, Berlin Twp, Knox Co, OH
Memoprobate handled by his (oldest living) son George instead of Sarah.
BurialForest Cem, Fredericktown, Knox Co, OH
OccupationFarmer
ReligionPresbyterian
FatherTunis Wells (1745-1809)
MotherMargaret Williams (1767-1845)
Misc. Notes
NAME: Minutes of Proceedings of Trustees of Dunlap's Creek Presbyterial Academy; 4 July 1849 - April 1930; in Uniontown, PA library.
Stories of Guernsey Co by Wolfe; 1943
LAND: land records; 1835-1851; Guernsey Co Recorder; Vol M, pg 491 Vol S, pg 178 Vol T, pg 239 Vol W, pg 160 Vol Y, pg 356; Guernsey Co, OH.
LAND: land records; 1851-1876; Knox Co Recorder; Vol MM, pg 97 Vol TT, pg 494 Vol VV, pg 196 Vol XX, pg 123/225 Vol YY, pg 90/636 Vol 61, pg 15 Vol 62, pg 343 Vol 63, pg 386/389 Vol 64, pg 39/40 Vol 66, pg 551 Vol 71, pg 86/87; Mt Vernon, OH.

Was apparently named after Rev. Jacob Jennings; a doctor and minister of Dunlap's Creek Church from 1792 to 1811. Both Rev. Jennings and Jacob’s father are buried in the Dunlap’s Creek churchyard, with a monument written for him after his death in 1818. There are also a couple other people buried there who were named Jacob Jennings ____ in his honor besides Jacob Wells.
Jacob’s birthday is apparently after July, based on age listed during 1870 census.
Jacob was living in Fayette Co, PA in 1830 when his son Joseph was born. The census shows they had a young girl (10-15) and his mother (50-60) living with them:
male 1=20-30 fem 1=10-15, 1=20-30, 1=50-60
On March 14, 1835 he sold the 50 acres on Big Redstone Creek in Fayette Co which he inherited from his father, to his brother Joseph for $1,000. Moved the family to Guernsey Co, OH in 1835. and on 2 April 1838 he bought 81 acres, 5 sec from Arthur Hill for $450.
1840 census for Monroe Twp, Guernsey Co shows:
male 2<5, 3=5-10, 1=30-40 fem 1=30-40
On 31 May 1845 he sold 21 of those acres to Thomas Orr in exchange for another 18 acres (value $50).
2 April 1846 he married Elizabeth Watson, born in PA. 21 July 1848 he bought 41 acres from William Drake for $260. 1850 census of Monroe Twp, Guernsey Co says he was a farmer, owned $2,000 worth of land, and is age 45. Also listed is his wife, Elizabeth (33), Joseph (19), George (16), and John (15) all born in PA. Then James (11), Robert (8), Samantha (3), and Newton (1) all born in OH. Listed with them on the census is Evaline Watson (13), possibly a sister of Elizabeth, Jacob's (2nd) wife, or possibly her daughter from a previous marriage. In 1851 Elizabeth died and was buried in a private cemetery there. On July 3rd, 1851 he sold all of the land (~120 acres) to Thomas Moore for $1,950, probably in preparation for moving west after Elizabeth's death.
8 Sept 1851 he bought 82 Ac from Thomas Neal in Middlebury Twp, Knox Co for $2,000 and was listed as living in Morrow Co at the time. On Nov 16, 1851 he married Sarah Knouse (born PA) in Morrow Co, OH. 15 July 1856 he bought 120 Acres from Stephen Newcomb for $5,000 19 July 1856 he sold 82 Acres to Benjamin Jinkens for $2,700 1 April 1859 he sold 5 Ac (of 120) to Jesse Vore for $250 8 Sept 1859 he sold 13+ Ac (of 120) to John Elliot for $480 8 Sept 1859 he sold 29+ Ac (of 120) to Clarissa Richards for $881 The 1860 census shows him living in Middlebury Tp, Knox Co with $2,700 of land and $605 of personal property, age 55. His (3rd) wife Sarah (54) is listed with him, both born PA. Also listed are James (21), Robert (19), Samantha (13), Newton (10), and Sarah (8) all born in OH. 20 Feb 1861 he bought 51 Ac from Dixon & Sillyman for $2,000 3 June 1861 he sold 76 Ac (0f 120) to John Dixon for $3,000 19 Oct 1869 he bought 19.22 Ac from James Grant for $1,550. In 1870 he was living in Berlin Tp, Knox Co with only Newton (21), Sarah (19) and grandson Jacob (John's son 13) at home. He and Sarah are both 64 with $3,060 of land and $580 of pers property. It also says that neither he nor Sarah can write. Listed next door is his son Robert and family. 25 Nov 1870 sold 19.22 Ac to Newel Grant for $1,600 4 Mar 1871 bought 35 Ac + 2 lots from William Morrison for $4,000 4 Mar 1871 sold 51 Ac to William Morrison for $4,000 8 May 1873 sold 1.21 Ac to his son, Robert Wells for $50. He died in Berlin Twp in Sept 1876, leaving Sarah as his widow and his oldest surviving son George administered his will of the above property. 28 Jun 1877 Sarah bought 2 lots in Wayne Twp from his estate for $600. 2 Jul 1877 sold 35 - 1.21 Ac to William Auten from estate for $1,802. During the 1880 census Sarah was living in Fredericktown with her step-daughter, Sarah Brentlinger, Jacob's youngest child.
He and Sarah are buried in Forest Cemetery. They have fairly impressive (large) stones pointed and 5-6 ft tall, located in the 2nd section from the right and second from the back, about 4 rows in each direction from the left, front corner.
Marriageabt 1828, Fayette Co, PA
ChildrenJoseph (1830-1872)
 George W. (1832-1908)
 John (1834-1863)
 James Alexander (1838-1907)
 Robert B. (1839-1874)
Last Modified 14 Mar 2023Created 5 Aug 2023 using Reunion on a Mac