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Descendants of William Wellford

Generation No. 3

3. JOHN SPOTTSWOOD³ WELLFORD (ROBERT², WILLIAM¹)¹⁰ was born 1783, and died 1846. He married JANET HENDERSON, daughter of DAVID HENDERSON.

Notes for JOHN SPOTTSWOOD WELLFORD:
He gave two of the four lots on which the Presbyterian Church was built in 1833. - publication unknown - top of page says "The Streets of Fredericksburg"

WELLFORD, JOHN S. (1828, 1 Mar., 19 Nov.) - SAMUEL L. SOUTHARD PAPERS, I. Correspondence, 1807 - 1842 Southard Letters (http://infoshare1.princeton.edu:2003/libraries/firestone/rbsc/aids/south/index.html)

Child of JOHN WELLFORD and JANET HENDERSON is:

FRANCIS PRESTON⁴ WELLFORD, b. September 12, 1829, Fredericksburg, VA; d. October 19, 1877, Fernandina, Florida.

Notes for FRANCIS PRESTON WELLFORD:
According to the 1908 document written by Beverley Randolph Wellford, Jr. to Mary R. Wellford Wilson (original held by Susan Schueler of Akron, Ohio):

"My cousin, Mrs. Wilson, tells me she knew one (descendant of John Spotswood Wellford), Francis Preston Wellford, my junior by a few months, the companion of my childhood, my boyhood and my opening manhood, as my schoolmate at home and my roommate at College. I knew him intimately and well, and in the experience of a long, long life I have never known a nobler type of the highest christian manhood. He went to his death at what he thought and wrote to us in Virginia was the imperious call of His Master -- to die a martyr's death at the post of duty, a victim of that fearful Yellow Fever which had swept away your father and his family, your grandfather's younger brother Edward at sea, and my mother's youngest brother, Dr. James Alexander, in New Orleans."

The following is from correspondence of Rebecca Wilson in 1930: "During his residence in Florida, Dr. Francis Preston Wellford was on terms of affectionate intimacy with Capt. Joseph D. Wilson (father of Rebecca Wilson and spouse of Mary Richard Wellford) and his family and upon one occasion during a severe illness of Mrs. Wilson, he came from Jacksonville, where he lived, to Tallahassee and remained there three weeks or more until she was well on the road to recovery. This friendship continued until the doctor's death in 1877.

The following is from "History of Fredericksburg, Virginia," p. 174 "Dr. Wellford settled in Jacksonville, Florida, to practice his profession. In 1877 yellow fever visited Fernandina and raged for weeks, the awful scourge almost depopulating the doomed City. The few physicians resident of Fernandina had either become exhausted or had died, and in response to calls for assistance and volunteer physicians, Dr. Wellford left his practice in Jacksonville, and forgetting self, and disregarding personal danger, hurried to the relief of the sick and dying in the panic stricken City.

Not alone the relation of doctor and patient between Dr. Wellford and the sufferers, but as the good physician and friend, did he make his rounds from house to house, small and large, to the people of all races, colors and creeds in this Southern City, dispensing medicine and food as doctor and nurse, cook and servant, bringing some back to health and closing the eyes of others in the long sleep of death.

Worn out by ceaseless labor, his vitality lowered by lack of sleep, rest and food, he himself fell a victim of the dreaded scourge."

A memorial window was erected in St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Fernandina, Florida, is inscribed as follows:

Francis Preston Wellford, M.D.
Born in Fredericksburg, Va.,
September 12th, 1829

James Carmichael Herndon, M.D.
Born in Fredericksburg, Va.,
October 18, 1831

Died in the faithful discharge of their duties,
at Fernandina, Florida,
October 19th, 1877.

The J. Florida M.A., December 1945, p. 308-312, chronicles Dr. Wellford's work in Florida and his death in Fernandina. Following are some excerpts:

"As a youth Francis was said to have had a 'delicate constitution.' He received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Princeton University and in 1852 was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Wellford served as surgeon with the army of the Confederacy in a territory which extended from the Potomac River into the state of Georgia. Following the war he found his fortune dissipated, his family scattered and his health broken. In the fall of 1870 he came to Jacksonville and thenceforth made his home there."

"Dr. Wellford, in 1874, was one of the founders of The Florida Medical Association and he was elected its first secretary . . . In 1877 he was elected president of the Association. " In that same year, there was a yellow fever epidemic in neighboring Fernandina. "In answer to the call to physicians for aid in the holocaust, Dr. Wellford volunteered his services and on September 22 left for Fernandina by train, never to return. . . "

"On September 30, Dr. Wellford wrote to Dr. Daniel in Jacksonville: 'Dear Doctor: I am tired after over fifty visits today. Dr. Martin and . . . I are the only active helpers professionally, the others from sickness and . . . unavoidable causes being climinated . . . I am hearty and well and on the principle of 'naught ne'er being in danger' am brighter and brisker than half the people here. Don't think I am either wreckless or boastful. I appreciate life as most but, thank God, I appreciate something higher still than mere physical existence. When you kneel down at night to offer thanks for present favors and future good implore, ask for me that God bless that immortal heart which will survive the grave, and if your prayer be granted I care not how soon the summons may come.'"

The following day he came down with a fever and by October 5 he was critically ill. He passed away on October 10.

4. ROBERT YATES³ WELLFORD (ROBERT², WILLIAM¹) was born April 16, 1787 in VA, and died September 28, 1841 in Tallahassee, FL ¹¹. He married LOUISA GITTINGS March 14, 1815 in Baltimore, MD ^12,¹³, daughter of RICHARD GITTINGS and MARY STERETT. She was born December 29, 1789 in Baltimore, MD, and died September 30, 1841 in Tallahassee, FL.

Notes for ROBERT YATES WELLFORD:
The following is an excerpt from a 1908 document written by Beverley Randolph Wellford, Jr. to Mary R. Wellford Wilson (original held by Susan Schueler of Akron, Ohio):

"Then came your own grandfather, the second Robert, with the addition of Yates, the name of his mother's father. He was born April 16, 1787 and died in Tallahassee Sept. 28, 1842. (Of the year the family record in the Bible now in possesion of my cousin Mary Roy, in Fredericksburg, is silent, and it may have been 1841. Of course my cousin, Mrs. Wilson, knows) I can add nothing to his family tradition except that as quite a youth he left Fredericksburg to engage in mercantile business in Baltimore. He was soon followed by his next younger brother, Edward V., July 10th, 1788, who died at sea August 16th, 1809.

Some years afterwards my father spent two or three winters in Baltimore studying medicine at the University of Maryland, from which he graduated before he was of age, to engage with his father, in the practice of his profession in Fredericksburg. While there he saw, much of course, of his brother (Robery Yates Wellford), even after his marriage with Miss Louisa Gittings. My Uncle Edward (Randolph Wellford) was sent by some Baltimore merchants as Supercargo of a vessel engaged in the West India trade and died on the Gulf of Mexico shipboard near one of the Islands. His oldest sister, my aunt, Mrs. Lucy Gray, then lived in Tappahannock, was very much disturbed in her sleep and her husband, Dr. Gray, awakened her, to hear her vivid recital of a disturbing dream. She said that she had seen a vessel lying to at sea and lowering into a small boat a dead body to be carried and buried in the sands of the shore, and that the body was the corpse of her brother Edward. Dr. Gray made a note of the time and circumstance. In these days no information from the vessel could e recieved until its return home. When its return was announced in the offing, Uncle Robert (Yates Wellford) rode down in a hack to welcome his brother's return, but was startled by the report of the captain of his death at sea, at the very time of Aunt Grays dream and of his burial, as she saw it, upon the seashore of an island. This remarkable story I have often heard as a boy in the family circle. I do not remember to have ever asked Aunt Gray about it, but I grew up accepting it as very fact."

"My father often said that Uncle Robert as one of the Baltimore defenders stood in the front rank as one of the low men in height, and in the attack of the enemy a British bullet passed through his hair, found lodgement in the man behind him and killed him. "

Was 5th child, 4th son. He and his wife, along with their three children died of yellow fever in
Tallahassee, Florida. The following three letters were written to Robert Yates Wellford in Tallahassee. (The original letters are held by Carmen Trammell in Tallahassee, Florida.)

Records to review: 1) Leon Co. General Orders at Chambers, A. 37-39 has order re: estate of Richard Y. Wellford (includes descriptions of real property); 2) Misc. proceedings, Leon Co., Fl p. 327, 27 Nov. 1841, William H. Brockenborough named curator? of estate. Bond of $4K.; 3) Leon Co. Deed Book A, p 199, 200, Conveyances dated 11 Feb 1828.

Fredericksburg - April 14, 1830
Dear Robert,

Your very welcome lettter came to hand on Wednesday last evening 13.6. Willis? check on Washington for $308.38 which is placed to your credit with $266? W.J. Lane this day ? to the care of B. Taylor & Brown a check in Baltimore for one hundred thirty dollars in a letter to your wife, whose cap in her vernerable worthy and most respectable father I do most ? and deeply ?, the money is also sent to Skinner for the ? register for Byrd say five dollars and both sums amounting to one hundred thirty five dollars to your debit with ? 266. W. The costs were in February I made a visit to my son Wm. and daughter Jane in the lower country and after being with them only two days was sent for in consequence of a severe illness with which our dear mother was served? and which continued for fourteen days with great severity and every day during the time gave fearful evidence that it was the last. Bevereley slept in the house and continued almost constantly with her during the time. I have much pleasure in saying she is mending very gradually and most ???? will again to restored to her usual health. Charles has been very unwell lately and has given us some ?? least his general health should be on the decline for you know he has been long threatened with a breast complaint. Beverley was however of opinion that he might leave home for the month and he accordingly left here for New York on Thursday last and his letter form Philadelphia this morning statued his health to be rather improving, he is ??? to make satisfactory replies to an inqueries that may be made respecting you on your ? It affords me great pleasure to leave that up ??? is more knowing? and that you are determined to give it close and ?? attention.

My old and intimate friend Daniel ? has ? the ? of nature ? leaving me his first acting executor but his affairs involve so much responsibility that I think it will be ??? in ?? is also left and is now somewhere in your country and is much wanted to take ?? of his affairs.

Say to my friend Ms. Willis her grandson is a fine ?? boy and in good health - that Ms. Stine departed this life on Sunday week last.

Your relatives and friends ? every care ? with ? in our ? good wishes for your health and happiness.

Yours affectionately,
J. S. Wellford

Fredericksburg - March 10, 1832
My dear Brother,

Week after week have I waited for a reply to two letters which were written you by me and one by Beverley but either the irregularity of the ? or your business have deprived us of that pleasure. There is nothing new with us we have had a winter of great severity which has tended to make the roads intolerably bad and thereby business ? I received a letter from New York this morning stating the pressure in the money market is almost unprecedented and a decline of 15 to 20 percent in prices of goods has taken place particularly in French and India descriptions?, I hope you have made successful sales with the purchases made for you by me as I was totally unacquainted with the styles for the Florida market. It is my intention to leave here on the northern tour shortly ? as soon as the ? can be collected together ? . Mary Gray is to be married on the 12th of April to Dr. Wm. Brokenbrough of Tapp.? he is said to be a deserving young man and their union meets with the entire approbation of our sister. My good woman presented me with a daughter on the 1st February and we have determined to name her Lucy Gray. M. Dickinson informed me you and yours were well and that Richard is your head man in the store - say to him I hope he will ? his avocation and soon become a complete judge of good ?. Say to Louisa she might find leisure occasionally to ? matters move on. It would give me great pleasure to ? in upon you but the chains of business bind me faster and faster every year. How is Sophia and the boys, intelligence from you all would be very gratifying. Mr. Willis requests me to say you will receive by the swift a bag of Rib Wort in care of Cotterall - he is in fine spirits from his late success but says the Comet or cholera must be at hand. The Comet is dreaded by him because it will dry up the water and he says he shall continue to eat and drink until the cholera makes its appearance and then he shall fill up with charcoal as a sure prevention.

Let me hear from you - offer my best love to all dear to you and believe? me as ever.

Devoted Brother,
Charles C. Wellford
Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg - March 10, 1832
My dear Robert

Don't believe a word of it we have not forgotten you nor yours. ? you have said so a dozen times there is no man out of my own family that would be half as good to us? We are wondering of your silence. Call. told me something of you or you might have been dead, my ? never ? and must have imparted to you the same ? pen, ink and paper " ? up for shame" put on your specs, flourish your pen and let us have it. But I forgot to tell you No. 1340 with Wm. Roberts and Byrd Weller on the back of it drew $5000 i the Germanna lottery the other day, my past will cover the tops of my packet book and the bad bargain I made in the ? of that boy can?, same luck you ? after 40 years.

Spotswood has gone down to Laneville with Storrow to settle up his ? with Corbin. Charles and Beverley say they have both written to you without hearing from you - this place is as dull ? as ? as nobody has religious? people except myself I go everywhere ? of the best, and such ducks such oysters and such rock?! ? and yet ? nothing to tell you your relations? are all well and I think ? my wife ordered me today not to show my face at home unless I ? to you to tell you how much she loves you, your wife and family in ? I had been threatening to write for the last six months but put it off. Procrastination is the thief to time says the Good Book and never was any ? truer ? "Have sent to Baltimore a bag of bib wort seed to be forewarded to you to be distributed among my children and friends. I think it will resist your hot and dry weather better than any other grass. When young cattled sheep are very fond of it, besides it will give you a ? appearance about your ? I always thought that the lawn and ?? were tenderer than anywhere else and they grazed upon a standing pasture where this grass was kept down and consequently young. It has a short top ? which enables it to resist the sun?? I am satisifed can not live in Florida thorughout the summer. There are among the seeds som locust and catalpa twas not known by the ? that made the bag that such trees were to be found in Florida. However, you may as well plant them. If ? I beg you to send a half bushel to Capt. Chase at Pensacola ? including locust and catulpa seeds. I have it ? very much the propogation of this grass in the territory tho I am certain to incur the ? of some ? harder thing to keep ? in the corn fields. Be sure ? were by ? in the yard at Llyona.
now God help you my dear fellow tis hard to tell when a ? (an offer ?) can come home.

Yours truly,
B. ? Willis

County Agency Series Listing at the Maryland State Archives, BALTIMORE COUNTY COURT, (Chancery Papers), MSA C295 (http://archive1.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/refserv/coagser/ba/html/ba0295.html)
Dates: 1818/11/03 - C521: John Lynch, John Owings, and Levin S. Tarr vs. William Gwynn . . . Robert Y. Wellford . . . Contract with Linen Manufacturing Co. to purchase Edward and Wills Vallies and Hills. Accession No.: 40,200-99-1/4, MSA No.: C 295-99 Location: 2/15/11/33

More About ROBERT YATES WELLFORD:
Occupation: Attorney/Merchant
Residence: Abt. 1830, Tallahassee, FL

Notes for LOUISA GITTINGS:
In 1841 Louisa, her husband, and their three sons, died in Tallahasse, Florida of yellow fever.

Mary Richard Wellford writes: "My grandfather married Louisa Gittings, of one of the first families of Maryland and at the time of marriage belle of Baltimore. My grandmother's mother was Mary Sterrett, daughter of John & Deborah Sterrett, and Deborah Sterret was Miss Ridgely daughter of Charles Ridgley, who at one time owned almost all of Baltimore." See August 28, 1908, letter under Mary Richard Wellford.

Children of ROBERT WELLFORD and LOUISA GITTINGS are:

7.	i.		RICHARD GITTINGS⁴ WELLFORD, b. 1816, Baltimore, MD; d. October 06, 1841, Tallahassee, FL.
	ii.		ROBERT WELLFORD, b. 1821; d. 1836, Tallahassee, FL ¹⁴.

Notes for ROBERT WELLFORD:
Virginia Herald, August 10, 1836 reported:

Died, at Tallahassee, Florida, on the 9th ultimo, Robert Wellforde, in the 18th year of his age, son of R. Y. Wellford, Esqr., formerly of Baltimore. He was attacked about the 1st of June, with Billious Fever and recovering, when pulmonary consumption, -- a disease which had long been lurking in his system, like a concealed foe, ready to strike when its victim should become prostrate from any cause, -- suddenly developed itself, and terminated his existence.

iii.

EDWARD RANDOLPH WELLFORD, b. 1819; d. September 25, 1841, Tallahassee, FL ¹⁵.

Notes for EDWARD RANDOLPH WELLFORD:
The following is an excerpt from a 1908 document written by Beverley Randolph Wellford, Jr. to Mary R. Wellford Wilson (original held by Susan Schueler of Akron, Ohio):

"Your father's next brother, the first victim of the family tragedy, was named by his father in loving memory of his lamented brother Edward Randolph. He and his younger brother, James Gittings, were my schoolmates in Fredericksburg."

iv.

JAMES GITTINGS WELLFORD, b. 1822; d. October 03, 1841, Tallahassee, FL¹⁵.

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