Saturday, September 4, 2010

Surname Saturday - Welles/Wells

My husband's family includes the surname Welles/Wells.

This line I can trace to Thomas Welles born about 1626 in Colchester, Essex, England.  He came to this country with his parents about 1629.  On February 22, 1655 he married Naomi Marshall in Boston, Massachusetts.  They bought 180 acres in what is now Westerly, Rhode Island. Thomas and Naomi had children Thomas, Joseph, John, Nathaniel, Mary, Ruth and Sarah. He died February 12, 1700 in Westerly.

Son Thomas Welles was born December 4, 1661 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts.  He married Sarah Rogers in 1691 in Hopkinton, Washington, Rhode Island.  They had children Thomas, Edward and Sarah.  Thomas died June 10, 1716 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island.

My husband descends from both Thomas and Edward.  First I will trace Thomas.

Thomas Wells was born about 1692 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island.  He married Phebe Greene on September 22, 1717 in Stonington, Connecticut.  They had children Thomas, Phebe, Lois, Benjamin, Caleb, Joshua and Nathan.  Thomas died about 1770 in Westerly, Rhode Island.

Thomas Wells was born April 5, 1723 in Hopkinton,  Rhode Island.  He married Sarah Thompson on April 3, 1745 in Westerly.  Thomas served in the Revolutionary War as a Captain in Col. Richmond's Regiment, 4th Company.  He also served in the State Assembly and State Senate.  He was a member of the Council of War and Justice of the State Supreme Court.  He died August 31, 1796 in Hopkinton.

Thomas Wells was born  April 22, 1755 in Hopkinton.  He married Mary "Polly" Robinson on February 21, 1782.  He was a lawyer like his father.  He died April 20, 1829 in Hopkinton.

Thomas Robinson Wells was born about 1784.  He was a banker.  He married first Maria Potter on March 15, 1808 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island.  They had children Thomas, John, Mary, Hannah, Sarah and Elizabeth.  He married 2nd Emma Palmer.  Thomas died August 21, 1853 in South Kingstown. 

Thomas Potter Wells was born April 28, 1809 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island.  He married first Sarah Clarke and had children Thomas and Frances.  He married 2nd Clarissa Sherman and had children George and Theodore.  He married 3rd Julia Esther Johnson and had children Helen and Herbert.  He died August 21, 1884 in South Kingstown.

Daughter Helen May Wells is my husband's great-grandmother.

Back to Thomas Welles and Sarah Rogers Welles.  My husband also descends from son Edward Wells.  Edward Wells was born about 1694 in Westerly, Rhode Island.  He married Elizabeth Randall on January 12, 1726 in Westerly, Rhode Island.  He died December 1765 in Hopkinton.

Elizabeth Wells was born October 13, 1733 in Westerly, Rhode Island.  She married John Robinson on November 12, 1762 in Hopkinton.  She died June 12, 1819.  Elizabeth and John's daughter Mary "Polly" Robinson is the same woman who married Thomas Wells, see above.

1 comment:

  1. Hi. I'm also of the Wells family of Hopkinton, RI. My line being: Me- My Mother - Elliot Wells- Williams Rogers Wells - Jonathan Russell Wells - Russell Wells - Randall Wells Sr. - Edward Wells - Thomas Wells Jr.
    It's nice to see someone else talking about the family. You can see a lot of my family info on my blog: www.wellsgenealogy.wordpress.com
    -Jennifer ( www.FamilyHistoryDetectives.net )

    ReplyDelete