Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameAmelia 
Birth1746
Death1818
Misc. Notes
mentioned in the 1776 census, christening of her son, and the will of Neiahmiah.
Spouses
Misc. Notes
Neiahmiah is sometimes found as Nehemiah. I have found his surname as Trayham, Trahorn, Trahan, as well as Trahern.
Nehemiah Trahern was born in Maryland. He is found in very few records, and the church records for his parish have been destroyed. A census of Prince George and Queen Ann Parish show his family in 1776. By 1789 the family had moved to Pittsylvania County, Virginia. His will dated 1804 names his children. Three of his sons went to the Choctaw Nation in Mississippi Territory after his death. Another of his sons went to Tennessee. The final son remained in Pittsylvania county until his death. Bishob Asbury's journal mentions stopping at Brother Trahern's home, and that he had been a methodist for 20 years in 1799. This places Nehemiah among the early methodists in Maryland.
Possibly a child of Robert or William Trahern of Calvert Co, MD.
In 1757 or 1758 a Nehemiah Trahan is found in billeting information for the French Indian Wars in MD., source "Maryland Historical Magazine, vol. 9"
In 1762, he is listed as a bachelor in Queen Anne's Parish, Pautexant Hundred.
in 1772, he is listed as a creditor in a will in Maryland. Will of Eleanor Brooks
In 1775 Samuel's christening is found in St. John's Parish in Prince George's County, MD.
In 1776 Nehemiah Trahern and Amelia are found in a census of St. John's and Prince George's Parish, MD.
The census of 1776 lists Nehemiah's age as 49, Amelia as 30, and children as follows, sons ages 7, 5, 1, and a daughter 9.
The census of 1785 for Pittsylvania Co, VA shows 10 white souls, and 3 buildings.
In 1777 Nehemiah witnessed a deed as Neiahmiah Trahern, and in 1781 he obtained his deed.
1782 Tax list...
Jonathan Church 700 (this is the Church Asbury mentions)
Nehemiah Trayham 236
1789 tax list 2 males over 18, 9 slaves.
1799 Samuel, James, John and Nehemiah listed separately...Nehemiah 2 over 18 (Wesley)
Bishop Asbury - In 1799 the now aging preacher again visited the county. "Sept. 25, 1799. We rode Armistead Shelton's in Pittsylvania 20 miles; we stopped to dine, pray and feed our horses at Clement McDaniel's. Reached Shelton's by Sunset. Sept. 26. A congregation of from three to four hundred attended Divine Worship. On Friday we rode 12 miles to Carter's where a large company attended. Sat. 28th. Travelled 20 miles up Sandy River to George Adams. Sun. 29th I attended at Watson's meeting House. Visited brethren Trahern and Church from Maryland. Crossed Dan River at Perkin's Ferry to North Carolina."
In 1799 his daughter married, he is listed as giving his consent, and in 1804 his will was probated. His will is also found in 1817-1821 book of wills, so I think maybe Amelia died at that time. From this information, and the order listed in the wills, I have estimated the dates of birth.
James Trahern witnessed a deed in 1797, so he had reached his majority. The will mentions under age children.
I have estimated ages based on order of the will, and the data from the censuses, except for Samuel I do not know which order is correct, nor what date at this time.
Abstracts of Pittsylvannia County Va Wills 1767 -1820 Book 1 (also found in book 6 when Amelia dies) P. 262
6 August 1803 PR:17 September 1804
LWT Nehemiah Trahern being weak of body but of sound memory.
To my daughter Mary Ann, a negro woman Cas.
To my son James, a negro boy George.
To my son John, an negro named Phillis.
To my daughter Elizabeth Hester, a negro Hannah.
To my son Samuel, a negro Stepney.
To my daughter Serena, a negro Bob.
To my son Wesley, a negro called Gilbert.
To my daughter Milley, a negro girl Little Lucy.
To my son William, a negro girl Mary.
I desire my daughter Polley to have as much money to make equal with the value of the negros given to the others.
I gave Hester a negro earlier. (Is this his son in law Samuel Hester?)
\to my beloved wife Amelia, during her natural life, the tract of land where upon I now live, with all the stock, furniture and negros, Harry, Watt, Lucy, Cloe, and Jenny. At her decease, the negros to be divided between my children above named.
I desire the children under age remain with their mother until lawful age.
Appoint my son, James and Samuel Hester executors.
Nehemiah Trahern
Nehemiah Trahern was born in Maryland. He is found in very few records, and the church records for his parish have been destroyed. A census of Prince George and Queen Ann Parish show his family in 1776. By 1789 the family had moved to Pittsylvania County, Virginia. His will dated 1804 names his children. Three of his sons went to the Choctaw Nation in Mississippi Territory after his death. Another of his sons went to Tennessee. The final son remained in Pittsylvania county until his death. Bishob Asbury's journal mentions stopping at Brother Trahern's home, and that he had been a methodist for 20 years in 1799. This places Nehemiah among the early methodists in Maryland.
Possibly a child of Robert or William Trahern of Calvert Co, MD.
In 1757 or 1758 a Nehemiah Trahan is found in billeting information for the French Indian Wars in MD., source "Maryland Historical Magazine, vol. 9"
In 1762, he is listed as a bachelor in Queen Anne's Parish, Pautexant Hundred.
in 1772, he is listed as a creditor in a will in Maryland. Will of Eleanor Brooks
In 1775 Samuel's christening is found in St. John's Parish in Prince George's County, MD.
In 1776 Nehemiah Trahern and Amelia are found in a census of St. John's and Prince George's Parish, MD.
The census of 1776 lists Nehemiah's age as 49, Amelia as 30, and children as follows, sons ages 7, 5, 1, and a daughter 9.
The census of 1785 for Pittsylvania Co, VA shows 10 white souls, and 3 buildings.
In 1777 Nehemiah witnessed a deed as Neiahmiah Trahern, and in 1781 he obtained his deed.
1782 Tax list...
Jonathan Church 700 (this is the Church Asbury mentions)
Nehemiah Trayham 236
1789 tax list 2 males over 18, 9 slaves.
1799 Samuel, James, John and Nehemiah listed separately...Nehemiah 2 over 18 (Wesley)
Bishop Asbury - In 1799 the now aging preacher again visited the county. "Sept. 25, 1799. We rode Armistead Shelton's in Pittsylvania 20 miles; we stopped to dine, pray and feed our horses at Clement McDaniel's. Reached Shelton's by Sunset. Sept. 26. A congregation of from three to four hundred attended Divine Worship. On Friday we rode 12 miles to Carter's where a large company attended. Sat. 28th. Travelled 20 miles up Sandy River to George Adams. Sun. 29th I attended at Watson's meeting House. Visited brethren Trahern and Church from Maryland. Crossed Dan River at Perkin's Ferry to North Carolina."
In 1799 his daughter married, he is listed as giving his consent, and in 1804 his will was probated. His will is also found in 1817-1821 book of wills, so I think maybe Amelia died at that time. From this information, and the order listed in the wills, I have estimated the dates of birth.
James Trahern witnessed a deed in 1797, so he had reached his majority. The will mentions under age children.
I have estimated ages based on order of the will, and the data from the censuses, except for Samuel I do not know which order is correct, nor what date at this time.
Abstracts of Pittsylvannia County Va Wills 1767 -1820 Book 1 (also found in book 6 when Amelia dies) P. 262
6 August 1803 PR:17 September 1804
LWT Nehemiah Trahern being weak of body but of sound memory.
To my daughter Mary Ann, a negro woman Cas.
To my son James, a negro boy George.
To my son John, an negro named Phillis.
To my daughter Elizabeth Hester, a negro Hannah.
To my son Samuel, a negro Stepney.
To my daughter Serena, a negro Bob.
To my son Wesley, a negro called Gilbert.
To my daughter Milley, a negro girl Little Lucy.
To my son William, a negro girl Mary.
I desire my daughter Polley to have as much money to make equal with the value of the negros given to the others.
I gave Hester a negro earlier. (Is this his son in law Samuel Hester?)
\to my beloved wife Amelia, during her natural life, the tract of land where upon I now live, with all the stock, furniture and negros, Harry, Watt, Lucy, Cloe, and Jenny. At her decease, the negros to be divided between my children above named.
I desire the children under age remain with their mother until lawful age.
Appoint my son, James and Samuel Hester executors.
Nehemiah Trahern
ChildrenJames Wesley (~1770-1829)