Family Group Sheet
NameBenjamin Wells
Birth8 Oct 1845, Morgan Co., Kentucky
Death12 Aug 1926, Menifee Co., Kentucky
FatherRichard Wells (~1804-~1870)
MotherSarah S. Smith (~1806-1892)
Marriageabt 1866, Kentucky
SpouseEmily J. Ratliff
Birthabt 1850, Kentucky
Death1929, Menifee Co., Kentucky
Children
SpouseMary Elizabeth Murphy
Birth16 Dec 1869, Menifee Co., Kentucky
Death5 Oct 1946, Menifee Co., Kentucky
SpouseEmma Etta Griffith
Notes for Benjamin Wells
There are two death certificates for Ben Wells (both using that name and both stamped DELAY) that are similar enough to be identifiably the same person, but with slightly varying details.
One of them, with the number 32118, is not signed or dated by the registrar. It gives his date of death as 12 Aug 1926, and his age at death as 78 years 10 months 2 days. The date of birth field is blank, but subtracting the age would yield 10 Oct 1847. It states that he is married, and lists his wife as Emily Wells, father Richard Wells, born in Old Va, mother’s maiden name Smith, born Bath, cause of death perlegma, informant W. H. Wells, Korea, Ky. There is no attending physician statement or burial information.
The other one, with the number 26308, and signed by the registrar, but with no filing date. It gives his age as 88 years 10 months 8 days, born 8 Oct 1836 in Ky, died 27 Aug 1926, married, father Richard Wells, mother’s maiden name Sallie Smith, both born in Ky, cause of death tuberlar of bowels (statement signed by attending physician O. H. Motley, but his statement also not dated), informant Billie Wells, Korea, Ky, burial in Lyons Cemetery on Aug 30, undertaker James Wells.
His age in this one has been quite inflated, since he was listed as age 4 in the 1850 census and age 15 in 1860.
It looks as if the physician and his son William Henry “Billy” Wells each reported the death independently, but both at some time after the date of death, and that Billy did not remember how old his father was.
One of them, with the number 32118, is not signed or dated by the registrar. It gives his date of death as 12 Aug 1926, and his age at death as 78 years 10 months 2 days. The date of birth field is blank, but subtracting the age would yield 10 Oct 1847. It states that he is married, and lists his wife as Emily Wells, father Richard Wells, born in Old Va, mother’s maiden name Smith, born Bath, cause of death perlegma, informant W. H. Wells, Korea, Ky. There is no attending physician statement or burial information.
The other one, with the number 26308, and signed by the registrar, but with no filing date. It gives his age as 88 years 10 months 8 days, born 8 Oct 1836 in Ky, died 27 Aug 1926, married, father Richard Wells, mother’s maiden name Sallie Smith, both born in Ky, cause of death tuberlar of bowels (statement signed by attending physician O. H. Motley, but his statement also not dated), informant Billie Wells, Korea, Ky, burial in Lyons Cemetery on Aug 30, undertaker James Wells.
His age in this one has been quite inflated, since he was listed as age 4 in the 1850 census and age 15 in 1860.
It looks as if the physician and his son William Henry “Billy” Wells each reported the death independently, but both at some time after the date of death, and that Billy did not remember how old his father was.
Census Notes for Benjamin & Emily J. (Family)
1870 census of Menifee Co., Ky, Dry Ridge precinct, enumerated 28 June, lists on p. 3 as family #16:
Wells, Benjamin, 24; Emily, 20; James, 3; William, 6/12. All born in Kentucky.
1880 census of Menifee Co., Ky, Ridge precinct, enumerated 12 June, lists on p. 33 as family #276/292:
Wells, Benjamin, 36, farmer; Emily J., 33, wife; James, 13, son; William H., 10, son; John, 6, son; Nancy E., 1, dau; Ratliff, Levi, 19, laborer. All born Ky Ky Ky.
Wells, Benjamin, 24; Emily, 20; James, 3; William, 6/12. All born in Kentucky.
1880 census of Menifee Co., Ky, Ridge precinct, enumerated 12 June, lists on p. 33 as family #276/292:
Wells, Benjamin, 36, farmer; Emily J., 33, wife; James, 13, son; William H., 10, son; John, 6, son; Nancy E., 1, dau; Ratliff, Levi, 19, laborer. All born Ky Ky Ky.
