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Some Special Interests => Travelling People => Topic started by: Tracker1 on Saturday 18 September 10 20:11 BST (UK)
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Can anyone help with the WELLS family? My ancestor HENRY WELLS was a cutler/knife grinder, born at BLANDFORD DORSET abt. 1828, but lived in TIMSBURY NR. BATH as a young man.Members of his family lived at Ringwood, Fordingbridge, and later Wimborne.
M.
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I also have Wells who were cutlers.
I have Matilda Wells bapt 1822 in Wootton Fitzpaine Dorset dau of James and Rebecca Wells. James was a cutler and razor grinder. They had several children betwen 1809 and 1824 all in the Dorset area.
Any idea who Henry's parents were?
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No I have no more information on Henry Wells. There is a possibility that his father was George Wells, but this is uncertain.
M.
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There are a few Henrys abt that time ?
Do you have any details of him in census or his wife ?
I have a Henry born 1834, 23-Jul, Henry son of, Emanuel & Mary, WELLS
he is in Blandford in the 1851
Emmanuel Wells 40 visitor b Turnworth, Dorset ag/lab
Henry Wells15
James Wells15
Joseph Wells13
Mary Wells41 visitor b Winterbourne, Dorset
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Henry Wells turns up in Frome Somerset on 1861 census. His common law wife is Keziah Powell of Timsbury who comes from a mining family. She is the mother of his 3 children, Henry( my gr.gfr.)Priscilla and Emily.The family moves to Fordingbridge, Ringwood and finally Wimborne.Henry snr. has become Henry Smith ' a general dealer',although I suspect Henry Wells/Smith are the same man.His son Henry is also a cutler/knife grinder before settling down as a 'general dealer'in Wimborne.Its a complicated tale I'm afraid!
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i have a william wells born 1832 chalfort wiltshire? and a lot of later wells in the hampshire/dorset area.
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I have Wells from Ringwood, but a bit earlier - 1750-1800 - some of whom emigrated to Newfoundland. I have a Henry who married Hannah Wiseman on 19 June 1784 at Ringwood. In the marriage Licence Allegation Henry was of the Isle of Wight, a sojourner.
Ring any bells?
David
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I am not sure how far or what records you have regarding Henry Wells
These census records all have wife as Ann
Also some people's trees have parents as
John Wells b 1797 Warminster
Ann Glass b 1805 Frome
Did he have 2 wives? Or is it same person I cannot find a marriage for a Keziah Powell & Henry Wells either
1841 Census Paulton Somerset
Henry Wells .12 b 1829 Dorset .. servant
Martha Wells.. 9 b 1832 not given place/servant
Are they siblings?
These children are among several Servants of it looks like for 2 ladies of wealth
Elizabeth & Julia Hell/Hill both born 1796 ..sisters
This Henry his age and place of birth is very close to the one you are looking for
Julia Hill bapt 7th June 1796 Paulton - Joseph & Elizabeth
In 1871 Census both sisters are living in Weston super mare ,when Julia dies in 1886 she left a vast amount of estate £ 18.000 which was left to her niece Surname Cox
In 1846 Frome Somerset marriage
Henry Wells - Anna Maria Morgan Jul/Aug/Sept 10 605
1851 Frome Somerset
Henry Wells 24 b 1827 Frome - Ag labour
Ann..............23 b 1828 Nunney - Millner
Tom..............4 b 1847 Frome
Emma...11mths b 1850 Frome
1861 Census Frome Somerset
Henry Wells 31 b 1830 Blandford Dorset - Cutler/Grinder
Ann.............32 b 1829 Timsbury
Henry..........12 b 1849 Penzance Cornwall
Presilla.........9 b 1852 Paulton
Emily.............7 b 1854 Timsbury
I do not know if correct family you are looking for but if not then its another Henry Wells maybe
Although again I have seen birth certificate that states Presilla Wells is daughter of Keziah Powell & Henry Wells b 1852 ? very strange
My own line of Wells were Rom and also from Dorset :
Benjamin & Mary Wells - daughters Lucy - Amelia - Unity
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Thankyou Tiggi for that. You have identified the correct family on the 1861 census. I think the census taker might have 'taken drink' that night. Henry Wells jnr. was not born in Penzance, but near Bath.We found his army record later which gave his place of birth as Walkate-which might be Walcot.He has sisters, Priscilla and Emily,mother Keziah,not Ann.
I have visited Dorset recently, but still cant find any record for Henry snr. born in Blandford. I think he was probably the son of George Wells and Elizabeth Smith, but alas I can't prove it. I also looked for a Martha Wells but drew a blank there too.
M
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hmm yes its hard when things don't add up or you cannot find documents ,but keep going something will turn up
I do know Wells surname can be found as Wills Welles sometimes
Yes I did look in Cornwall records no Henry found there so if he was born there not bapt there for sure, but don't discount he might have been in Cornwall my own family
Wells although from Dorset were in Cornwall 1851 that being Ganey* Jane * Wells with husband Thomas Jefferies, you never know could a link ?
As you know when any census was taken they did not always write correct info it was dependant of who told them and how it sounded and birth dates vary so much
so its possible Ann could be Keziah maybe she preferred that name or who ever did census could not spell its a possiblitlity
Would be interesting to know about the Frome marriage though could it be them I wonder?
Just realise if you think Henry is child of George Wells & Elizabeth Smith that is part of my family line , will check my notes see if I can figure anything
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Hi Tiggi,
Thanks again for your help. We have a family Jefferis,based in Fordingbridge. Jesse James Jefferis married Emily Wells.Is there any connection here?
M
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Hi
Only Jesse James Jefferis I can find is this :
Jesse James Jefferis b 1845 Jan/Feb/Mar Hampshire/Wiltshire 8 183
Marriage: 13th Feb 1870 Fordingbridge Hampshire
Jesse James Jefferis - father William Jefferis
Priscilla Smith aged 19 - father Henry Smith
They had a son William Jefferis bapt 4th Sept 1870 Fordingbridge Hampshire
I am wondering here is Priscilla Smith the one in this census which would make her your Henry 's sister?
1861 Census Frome Somerset
Henry Wells 31 b 1830 Blandford Dorset - Cutler/Grinder
Ann.............32 b 1829 Timsbury
Henry..........12 b 1849 Penzance Cornwall
Presilla.........9 b 1852 Paulton
Emily.............7 b 1854 Timsbury