State of North Carolina )
Orange County )Know all men by these presents that we Samuel Barker, Joseph Wells, Thomas C. Foust are held and firmly bound unto Hutchins G. Burton, Bov. for $200 - this 30th day of November 1826 - Samuel Barker kdmr. estate of John Wells decld.

State of North Carolina )
Orange County )Court of Please & Quarter Sessions Novr. Term 1826.
To the worshipful the ------- of the court of Please & Quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid, the Petition of Samuel Barker Admr. of John Wells Decd against Joseph Wells, Jesse Wells, Jacob Strain & Sarah his wife, Benjamin Moss and Charity his wife, Danl Freeman & Mary his wife, Joshua Freeman and Margaret his wife, Michael Crowell & Hanah his wife, Alexander, John, Joseph, Nathan, Jesse & Enos Wells, Sarah Wells, Betsy Wells, Henry Stout & Susanna his wife & Jess & Hanah his wife. Humbly complaining showeth to your worships that John Wells the dec'd was in his lifetime and at the time of his death was partly indebted to your Petitioner in the sume of $311.66 or thereabouts and that administration on the estate of the said John Wells has been granted to your Petitioner as the greatest creditor of the said Wells. Your Petitioner further showeth that the intestate at the time of his death had no personal property except a small quantity of corn (towit) about eight barrells- that the said John Wells was in his lifetime and at the time of his death seized and possessed of a certain tract of land situate lying and being in the county aforesaid containing two hundred acres more or less which said tract of land descended on the defendants as his heirs at law - your Petitioner further showeth that the defendants Joseph Wells, Jesse Wells, Jacob Strain and Sarah his wife, Benjamin Moss and Charity his wife, Daniel Freeman and Mary his wife, Joshua Freeman and Margaret his wife, Michael Crowell and Hanah his wife are not inhabitants of this state and that the defendants Sarah Wells and Betsy Wells are infants under twentyone years of age and have no guardians. Your Petitioner prays this worshipful court to order a sale of the aforesaid tract of land on such terms as this court may think proper and that the proceeds of said sale be applied to the discharge of your petitioners claim against said estate- that publication be made as to the defts. who are not inhabitants of this state and that proscess-issue (?) to the other defendants

And your Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray

The following was found among loose papers in the Sevier County,
Tennessee courthouse by your editor several years ago.

Chancery Court - File #411 - Sevier County, Tennessee

Benjamin Wells and William Bales & wife Mary J. Biiles agst H. B.
Baker, R. R. Reagan of Sevier & Robt J. Lewis of Knox Co. Oct. 1868.
H. B. Baker named igdn of Benj. Wells & Mary J. Wells chn. of Ellison
Wells decld who was a federal soldier in late war & died in line of
duty. Benjamin Wells born 28 March 1860

Mary J. Wells born 5 May 1862 and m. Wm. Bales 9 Oct. 1879

Witn. William Fox

392