John Wells (1670-1748), gained considerable wealth and enslaved "a Negro man." leaving him in his estate to his son, "John Jun'r."

"John, the eldest son of John and grandson of Thomas of Ipswich, became a 'mariner.' He went to Boston and was there in 1702 and 1707. He returned to Wells, was there in 1723, and is described in a deed of that date as an 'innholder,' and in 1740 and thereafter as a 'yeoman.' He married, probably while a resident of Boston, Mary (perhaps Mary Peck, February 18, 1697). He made his will May 10, 1748, and died in that year. His estate inventoried £2000, a large sum for that time, including one negro, inventoried at £100. He left three children: John, Jr., Mary and Hannah. - Charles K. Wells, p. 13

His 1748 will had no specific mention of "servants." It states "I give and bequeath unto my said son John Wells and my said daughter Hannah Goodwin ... every part and parcel of my estate, real and personal, of what name, nature or kind soever it be, not otherwise disposed of, to be equally divided between them." However, the subsequent 1749 estate inventory includes "a Negro man, at £100."

Note that there were at least four successive generations with a John Wells. The first John Wells married Sarah Littlefield, and died in Wells in 1677. His son, the second John Wells in this line, lived from 1670-1748. His son, the third John Wells, was a blacksmith who married Deborah Stover and died in 1776. He was referred to as John Junior in his father's will. His son, the fourth John Wells, was born 1736, and is referred to, also in the will of the second John Wells, as "my grandson John Wells a minor." The source of this information is "Genealogy of the Wells Family of Wells, Maine."

Bibliography:

Genealogy of the Wells Family of Wells, Maine - Charles K. Wells (1874)

York County Registry of Probate

Maine Probate Abstracts Vol I 1687-1775 - John Eldridge Frost (1991)