MEMOIR. 



I WAS born in Charles town, South Carolina, 

 in May, 1757, being the second son, but 

 fourth child, of Robert and Mary Wells, 

 both natives of Scotland. My mother bore 

 many children afterwards, none of whom 

 lived more than a few years, except one, 

 a daughter, who now resides in London ; 

 my brother died about twenty years ago; 

 my two eldest sisters survive. 



My father and mother came to Carolina 

 in 1753 ; but a mercantile scheme which 

 he was then pursuing having failed, he 

 took to the business of a bookseller and 

 bookbinder, to which he had been bred 

 when a youth in Dumfries. He soon after- 

 wards added to these occupations, that of 



