1. THOMAS-
b. Colchester, Essex
m. 23 July 1630 Colchester, Essex, ABIGAIL (2) WARNER (bpt. 2 June 1614 Boxted, Essex, d. 22 July 1671 Ipswich, MA)
d. 26 Oct. 1666 Ipswich, MA
will 3 July 1666
Thomas was perhaps a physician who came from London on
the Susan and Ellen with Capt. Paine and Richard
Saltonstall in 1635 and settled in Ipswich. He received a
house lot there on the south side of the river and in 1638 he
received land near Heart break Hill. Thomas was made a
freeman 17 May 1637 at Boston.
He wrote a letter to the court 11 Apr. 1654 relating to:
"a complaint of Uncus as to an outrage committed by Quinebaug
Indians on the Nipmucks".(1)
Thomas bought 200 acres of land, 15 acres of meadow and
a house at Wells from Mr. William Symonds 29 June 1657, but
he was not a resident there.(2) He also had an allotment of
land on the Little River.
"Know all Men By These PrSents, that I, Thomas Wells, of
Ipswich, in the county of Essex, being weake of body, yet of
pfect memory... make this my last will and testament in
maner follwing...
Itm. I give and bequeath unto Abigaill my wife eight
pounds yearly, to be payd unto her out of my Lands... and
this is to be payd yearly in wheat, malt, porke and Indian
corne... Also I give unto her to have one of the best roomes
in the house, viz: either the hall or the parlour (at her
choice)... and to have free liberty to bake, brew and wash
etc. in the kitchen, and free liberty to lay her corne,
meale, and mault etc in the hall chamber, and free use of
garden ground where she liketh best and to have it well
fenced in and to have land duly tilled to sow flax seed on...
and freedom in both cellars as shee needeth and shall have
suficiency of firewood pvided and seasonably layd in... and
free liberty to keepe three or four hens and a pigg or hogg
in ye ground and yards; and shall have the sixt part of the
fruite that shall yearly grow in the orchyard...
Ite I give unto my said wife the old bay mare (she uses
to ride on) and the bridle, pillion seate, and pannell, and
two cowes (att her choice) and to have the keepeing of a
horse or mare and two cowes for her use both sumer and winter
and good houseroome for them in winter... allsoe I give unto
her the bible she uses and the booke called the Soule's
prparation for Christ and that of Perkings upon the Creed and
the bedsted we lye on, and the beding, curtaines and valens
thereunto belonging (exsepting the blue rugg) and to have the
best green rugg in leiw thereof; and I give unto her the best
chest and the inlayd box with TW upon the lidd and to have
one halfe of the lynen and lynen cloth and the third of the
woolen cloth yt is in the house or in yarne or cloth at the
weavers... and one halfe of the pewter that was her own
fathers and the pewter pint pott and a brase or iron pott at
her choice; and I give unto her the iron skillet and some of
the best spoones and a good poringer and a coopell of saucers
at hir choice and the best low chaire and hir little chaire
and a good cushen and one of the great wheeles and a little
spinning wheele and the warming pan...
Ite My will is that my said wife shall have the free use
of my kettle... or milke vessells &c. shee needeth and of any
other small things in the house... and to have freedome at
the well for water and liberty for hir clothes or anything
elce to be spred &c. where she pleaseth...
Ite Whereas John Wells (my second sonn) hath received of
me a deed of gifts of all the lands I had at the town of
Wells in the province of Maine being the quantity of thre
hundred and fiftye acres (more or less) arrable meddow and
pasture together with two cowes and ten pounds fifteene
shillings yt I have payd (at his request) unto Stephen Kent
of Haverill, in cattle upon a bill due from Francis
Littlefield (his father-in-law) with several other things all
wch he hath received of me in liew of his portion...
Ite I give unto my sonn John Wells ten pounds to be payd
unto him or his assigns within three years next after my
decease five pounds thereof in cattle, neate and in good
condition and the other five pounds in wheat, malt and Indian
corne in equall p'portion... and I give unto him my cloke,
and one of the great pewter candlesticks wth the top thereof
and two great saucers and two little saucers more and I give
unto Sarah his wife (my daughter-in-law) one five shilling
piece of gould...
Ite. Whereas my two eldest daughters viz: Sarah Massie
of Salem and Abigaill Tredwell of this towne hath eache of
them had thirtye pounds in leiw of there portions my will is
that Sarah Massie or her assignes shall have a good cow or to
the value of four pounds ten shillngs in other cattle... and
alsoe to have the benefitt of the grase of a little peace of
salt marsh ground adjoyneing to the northwest end of Mr.
Wades neare unto Hogg Iland and my daughter Sarah to enjoy
the use of this until the decease of my brother Massie her
father-in-law and then to returne unto my executor. Allsoe I
give unto Abigail Tredwell my daughter my six acre lott of
salt marsh &c that lyes in Plumb Iland... or a good cow...
Ite. I give and bequeath unto Thomas Wells my youngest
sonn two hundred and fiftie pounds sterl. in leiw of hir
portion to be payd unto him... out of my housen and lands
where I now I dwell within seven years, foure month and nyne
or ten days next after the sayd Thomas Wells my sonn doe come
to the full age of one and twenty yeares Viz: one hundred
pounds to be payd at or before the twentieth or one and
twentieth day of the third month comonly called May next com
twelvemonth after the sayd Thomas Wells my sonn doe come to
the age of one and twenty years (whose birth day was upon the
eleaventh day of the eleaventh mo. Anno Dom: one thousand six
hundred forty-six); forty pounds thereof to be paid in
cattle... and in horse-kynd viz: in geldings and the horse-
kynd not exced the sum of eight pounds... and thirty-six
pounds thereof to be payd in wheate and barley malt... and
twenty-foure pounds thereof to be payd in Indian corne,
pease, porke and sheepe... and the other hundred pounds to
be... payde... wth in three yeares next after the...day... of
payment of the former hundred pounds... and the remaining
fiftye pounds to be... payd... within the prementioned seaven
years, foure months and nyne or ten dayes...
Ite. My will is that if my executor... doe not duly and
faithfully pay and discharge this two hundred and fiftye
pounds... the sayd Thomas Wells... shall... take possession
of the housen and lands where I now dwell... until the whole
be discharged...
Ite. My will is that if the said Thomas... shall dye and
decease this life before he come to... full age... yn ye
executor of this my last will shall pay unto the rest of my
children the full sum of one hundred and forty pounds viz:
unto John Wells or his survivers the full sum of forty pounds
and the other hundred pounds to be equally porportionned and
divided among my other five daughters... Viz: to Sarah
Massie of Salem, to Abigail Tredwell of this towne, to
Elizabeth Wells, Hannah Wells and Lidia Wells my daughters...
the forty pounds to my son John Wells and the twenty pounds
apeece to Sarah Massie and to Abigaill Tredwell and Elizabeth
Wells (my three eldest daughters) to be payd unto them
accordingly as is engaged unto their Bro: Thomas Wells, both
for kind and quality... and the other twenty pounds apeece to
Hannah Wells and Lidia Wells my own daughters shall be payd
unto each of them... in wheat, barly, malt, porke, pease and
Indian corne...
Item. My will is that Thomas Wells my youngest son,
shall quietly posses and enjoy for his use the parlour
chamber of this house where now I dwell and have free liberty
for fire wood until he marry and yt he shall have his diate
and washing while he keeps here at the cost of my executor
untill he come to the age of 22 years, 4 months and ten days.
It. I give unto my son Thomas Wells all the bookes I
bought for his use and my three phisicke bookes and the booke
called the Orthodox Evangelist, the greate sermon booke, and
Hyeling's Geogripha, and the little chest and table (he made)
that stand in the hall chamber and my white box, and the
chist plankes to make him a chist on, and the little iron
canlestick, my white rule, my red pensheare, and my penknife
and my sword and scabbitt and my firelock muskett wth a
square barrell, and the mould, worme and scourer &c. Alsoe I
give unto him the little bedstead in the hall chamber, and
the little fetherbed therto belonging, and a paire of good
sheets, and the red blankett and the blue rugg, and a good
pillow and pillow beere. Allsoe I give unto my son Thomas my
silver bowle, and one two-and-twenty shilling peece of gould,
and I give unto him all my right and interest of the bond
that is due unto me from goodman John Andrews of this towne,
carpenter save only six pound ten shillings therof to my son
Nath. Wells and wch makes the rest that he hath already had
yr of twentye pounds, and this I give unto my son Thomas,
towards his charges of his goeing to the colledge and for
bookes and apparrell &c. or to put him to Mr. Allcocke or
the like, and I give the new picktures viz: of the King and
Queene and of the Five Sences... Allsoe my stufe clothes and
a paire of my best stockings.
Ite. I give unto Elizabeth Wells, Hanah Wells and Lidia
Wells my three youngest daughters each and every of them
thirty-five pounds a peece to be payd... within one year next
after they marry or when they come to the age of one and
twenty years; twenty pounds thereof to be payd in cattle...
and in sheepe... and the remaineing fifteene pounds in each
and every portion to be payd in wheate, barly, malt, porke
and Indian corne, in equall p'portion... allsoe my will is
that every of these my daughters shall have each of them a
bible and every of them a good chest...
Ite. I give and bequeath unto Sarah Massie of Salem and
to Abigaill Tredwell of this towne and to Elizabeth Wells and
Lidia Wells my owne daughters, each and every of them two
halfe crowne peeces of English money... and I give unto
Hannah Wells my daughter one ten shilling peece of gould...
all wch money... I have already given them into the hands and
custody of Thomas Wells my youngest son whom I trust and
confide in, to give the same as I have bequeathed unto his
three younger sisters...
Ite. I give unto Abigaill my wife the third part of the
English money wch shall remaine and be left and not payd unto
the legatees yt is deceased in England and kindred of our
Uncle Lumpkins; and my will is that my sayd wife shall have
the tuission of my daughter Elizabeth Wells and my daughter
Lidia Wells untill they marry or come to the age of one and
twenty years...
Item. My will is that Mrs Mary Rogers of Rowley shall
have th tuission and education of my daughter Hannah Wells
untill she marry or come to the age of one and twenty years,
the sayd Mrs Rogers will please to doe me that favour
Ite. I give unto my cousin Mary Baker (alias Lowe) of
Colchester, soe much New England money as equivalent to
fiftye shillings Old England money and my will is that my
executor doe faithfully endeavor to convey the same unto her
it being in reference to an agreement between both my brother
Warners and myselfe in answer to a request of our Aunt Lumkin
(alias Stone) late deceased, and to take the advice of my
Bro: Daniell Warner about the conveighing of the same...
Ite. I give and bequeath all the rest of my whole
estate both moveable and unmoveable, p'sonal and reall,
houses and lands, unto Nath: Wells my eldest son pvided he
doth fully acept heerin to be my executor... Allwayes
p'vided that if the sd Nath: Wells dye and cease this life
wth out any issue of male... my will is that then... the sd
housen and lands heire in Ipswich bounds shall returne unto
the sd Thomas Wells my youngest son... and the sd Thomas my
son then to pay unto Lidia, Nath: wife (my daughter in law)
the sum of forty pound wth in one yeare and halfe next after
the decease of Nath: her husband... And the sd Thomas...
shall pay unto the sd Nathaniells children the sum of one
hundred and forty pounds the one halfe in cattle... and in
horse kind... and the other half... to be payd in wheate,
malte, porke, pease and Indian corne... Alsoe my will is...
that my son Nathaniells children shall have the sum of eight
pounds yearly payd by my son Thomas Wells... towards there
bringing up whilest they come to the age of fifteene years...
Ite. My will is that if the sd Nath... dy and cease
this life without isue of male... then the sayd Thomas
Wells... shall pay unto my son John Wells his Bro:... the sum
of 40£...
Fynally I desire my liveing and faithfull friends Thomas
Bishop, Senr and Mr. Thomas Andrews to be the overseers of
this my last will and testament and to be the gardians of my
sonn Thomas Wells dureing the time of his mynority and nonage
to whom I give as a token of my respect and love ten
shillings apeece.
In wittness wherof and to wch I the above named Thomas
Wells Senr have heer unto set my hand and seal dated the 31
of the fifth mo: comonly called July in the eighteenth yeare
of the raigne of or Soveraigne Lord, Charles the Second by
the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and
Ireland in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred
sixty-six.
Prme Thomas Wells Senr"(3)
"Be it known to all men by these presents, that I,
Abigaill Wells of Ipswich in New England being very weake of
body but of good memory... do dispose of my goods in maner as
followeth: I haveing bestowed some gifts upon my other
daughters wch are marryed. I now give my daughter Hanah
Wells my new paragon gowne and my new Holland handkerchief.
Item. The flax wch is now growing my son Nath: Wells is
to have halfe to breake and cleane the other halfe, wch I
give to my daughter Elizabeth Burnam.
It. I give tenn pounds of tow yarne to my daughter
Lidia Ropps.
It. I give to my daughter Hanah Wells one paire of
sheetes, one pillow beere, one napkin, one table-cloth, and
two shifts; and the rest of my weareing lennen to be devided
equally betweene my youngest three daughters.
It. I give to my daughter Abigaill Tredwell my best new
dressing.
It. I give to my daughter Elizabeth halfe my tow yarne
provided she pay for the weaveing of the other halfe which I
give to my daughter Hannah and I give my daughter Elizabeth
what tow I have in the house.
It. I give my sonn Thomas Wells ten shillings in such goods as shall be left.
It. I give to Mary Greley my sons maydservant six
shillings; and ye rest of my goods and cattle I desire...
should be divided equally betweene my son John Wells and my
owne five daughters. Also I desire my eldest son Nathaniell
Wells to be the executor of this my last will and testament.
And this is my last will this twenty-second of July one
thousand six hundred and seaventy-one."(4)
Issue-
I. Nathaniel- m. 29 Oct. 1661 Lydia Thurlley, d. 15 Dec.
1681
2II. JOHN- m. before 31 July 1666 SARAH (4) LITTLEFIELD
(will 1734), killed by Indians 11 Apr. 1677
III. Thomas- b. 11 Jan. 1646/7, m. 10 Jan. 1664 Mary
Perkins, d. 10 July 1734
IV. Lydia- m. 25 Mar. 1669 John Ropes of Salem
V. Sarah- m. John Massie of Salem
VI. Abigail- m. 19 June 1661 Nathaniel Tredwell of Salem
VII. Elizabeth- m. 9 June 1669 John Burnam
VIII. Hannah- m. 16 Aug. 1679 Richard Simonds
Ref:
(1) Mass. Archives- Vol.30, p.57
(2) York Deeds- Vol.10, pp.91-2
(3) Genealogy of the Wells Family- appendix pp.3-12
(4) Ibid- pp.13-4
The History of Wells and Kennebunk- Edward E. Bourne LLD
Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire-p.736
The Old Families of Salisbury & Amesbury, MA- Vol.I,
p.348; Vol.II, p.808
Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New
England- Savage, Vol.IV, p.478
NEHGR- Vol.IV, pp.11-2, Jan. 1850
2II. JOHN (THOMAS 1)
m. before 31 July 1666 SARAH (4) LITTLEFIELD (m.2. William
Sawyer, will 1734)
killed by Indians 11 Apr. 1677
division of estate 3 April 1702
John signed a Wells petition 30 April 1668 for
Massachusetts to resume control of the province.(1) He had a
gift of his father's land in Wells of about 350 acres which
was previously called Preston. He was on the grand jury in
1670 and in 1671. He had a ferry license in 1671 and was
indebted to John Manning's estate in 1674. In 1675 John
received a land grant. He was on the jury in 1676.
The inventory of his estate totaled £352/8/6 however the division of his estate was not performed until 1702.
"To all people to whom these presents shall come-
Greeting: Know ye that I Sarah Sayer of Wells... relique of
William Sayer late of Wells aforesd deceased... dispose of
the temmporal estate... in the manner following viz:...
I give and bequeath unto my son John Wells eight
pounds... I will also that a bond of thirteen pounds given by
him to me shall be freely surrendered up unto him by my
executor...
I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Wells eight
pounds to procure a funerall coat after my decease... I will
also that a bond of thirteen pounds given from him to me
shall be freely surrendered up to him after my decease.
I give unto my daughter Patience Clark five pounds
(besides five pounds I have already given her) to be paid
unto her by my executor...
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Sayer of
Newbury two pounds and four pounds apiece to each of her two
sons viz: Jonathan Sibley and Saml Sibley...
I give and bequeath unto my son Francis Sayer thirty
pounds...
I give and bequeath unto my grandson William, son of my son Daniel Sayer decsd thirty pounds...
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Hannah Chesley
thirty pounds...
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ruth Sampson thirty
pounds...
I give and bequeath unto my great-granddaughter Mary
Clark, daughter of my grandson Nathaniel Clark a certain
featherbed that has an homespone tick...
I give and bequeath unto my four daughters my wearing
clothes as follows viz: I give to my daughter Patience Clark
a black calaminco suit and my black-blew searge pettycoat. I
give to my daughter Sarah Sayer my silk crape suit and my red
and yellow under pettycoat. I give unto my daughter Hannah
Chesley my silk suit. I give to my daughter Ruth Sampson my
striped calaminco suit and a striped calaminco gown and a
black silk pettycoat...
I will that four pounds shall be paid... unto the Church
of Christ in Wells... to be distributed by them among some of
the poor members of sd church.
I will all my estate... not already disposed of... unto
my two grandsons and my two daughters hereafter mentioned
viz: Joseph Sayer, William Sayer, Hannah Chesley and Ruth
Sampson...
Finally I do hereby ordain, constitute and appoint my
son Francis Sayer and my grandsons Joseph Sayer and William
Sayer to be the sole executors... As witness my hand and
seal the twenty-seventh day of April Anno Domini 1734..."(2)
Issue-
3I. JOHN- b.c.1670, m.1. 18 Feb. 1696/7 MARY PECK, 2. 20
May 1725 Mary Stover, will 10 May-22 July 1748
II. Thomas- b.c.1672, m.1. 14 May 1696 Newbury, MA, Sarah
Brown, 2. 12 Oct. 1704 Lydia (Ropes) Gale, d.
26 Aug. 1737
III. Sarah- m.1. 13 Sept. 1695 Samuel Sibley of Salem, 2.
int. 25 Nov. 1710 John Sawyer of Newbury
IV. Patience- m. Nathaniel Clark
Ref:
(1) Mass. Archives- Vol.3, p.276
(2) Genealogy of the Wells Family- appendix pp.17-9
The History of Wells and Kennebunk- Edward E. Bourne LLD
Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire-p.735
The Old Families of Salisbury & Amesbury, MA- Vol.I,
p.349; Vol.II, p.808
Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New
England- Savage, Vol.IV, p.475
3I. JOHN (THOMAS 1, JOHN 2)
b.c.1670
m.1. 18 Feb. 1696/7 MARY PECK of Boston
2. 20 May 1725 Mary Stover
will 10 May-22 July 1748
John was of Boston until about 1707 and was likely the
Capt. Wells at Black Point with his sloop when Capt.
Hunnewell was killed in 1703.(1)
On 20 March 1716 John was one of those at the Wells town
meeting voting that "the right and property of all the common
and undivided lands within the said township, doth belong to,
and forever, in proportion according to their interest in the
town, to be disposed of and improved according to the
directions of the law in that case made and provided... Mr.
John Wells".(2) John was living in Wells by 1719 and was an
Innholder.
John was master of the sloop Adventure 2 June 1698,
Union 15 June 1708 and of the Endeavor 5 May 1719, all
registered in Boston.(3)
At a town meeting in 1723 John Wells and Samuel Stewart
were elected to be a committee to collect the delinquent
charges due the town from the mill privileges and to sue all
who could not be induced otherwise to pay. John and his son
John Jr. were listed as inhabitants of Wells in 1726.(4)
In 1731 a road was laid out "between John Wells' and
William Symonds', beginning at the Great Swamp, commonly
called Gooche's Swamp, and running northwest to Mousam Path"
thence "to the head of John Wells' lot".(5)
John Wells of Wells, Husbandman and Mary his wife sold 4
acres of meadow in Wells to John Webber of Wells, Marinor for
£35 19 Jan. 1732, signed by John and Mary Wells.(6)
"In the Name of God, Amen... I John Wells of Wells...
yeoman... dipose of the temporal estate... in the following
manner viz:...
I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary Wells
fifty pounds in old tenor bills of the Province...
I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Mary
Maddock fifty pounds in old tenor bills...
I give and bequeath unto my grandson John Maddock fifty
pounds, old tenor...
I give and bequeath unto my grandson Palsgrove Maddock
fifty pounds old tenor...
I give and bequeath unto my graddaughter Mary Pike fifty
pounds old tenor...
I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter Sarah Maddock
fifty pounds old tenor...
I give and bequeath unto my beloved son John Wells
Junr... all that parcel of land on which he now dwells and
the marsh adjoining thereunto excepting four acres of marsh
lying next to Joshua Wells marsh; the said land and marsh
lying and being in Wells aforesd... as is expressd in a deed
given under my hand and seal... unto my said son John Wells
dated Anno Domini 1740... within which bounds the said four
acres of marsh are included... and since the making thereof
conveyed by me to my beloved son-in-law Thomas Goodwin and my
beloved daughter Hannah the wife of the said Thomas
Goodwin... I do... bequeath... unto my said son John Wells
the same one half of my part of the saw-mill standing over
the lower falls of Little River... and the one half of the
utensils, implemts and appurtenances belonging to my said
part of said mill... together with the buildings, fencing,
trees, timber, wood, underwood, herbage and everything
appertaining to the land where he now dwells and to the marsh
adjoining thereunto; and likewise one fourth part of the
grist mill it being that which he himself has built over the
lower falls at Little River...
I give and bequeath unto my said beloved son-in-law
Thomas Goodwin and my beloved daughter Hannah... fourteen
acres of land, upland, interval or fresh meadow ground and
salt marsh... lying and being in Wells... as is expressed in
a deed to them... dated the twenty-seventh day of January
Anno Domini 1743/4... together with the buildings and
fencings... with ye trees, timber, wood, underwood, herbage
and minerals thereunto belonging: still reserveing the strip
of land lying next to Nathl Clarks' land... I likekwise give
unto my said daughter Hannah Goodwin one quarter part of the
lower saw-mill on Little River lower falls with one quarter
part of the said falls and privilege where the said saw mill
stands and one quarter part of ye utensils, implements and
appurtenances belonging to said mill. I also give and
bequeath unto my said daughter Hannah Goodwin one quarter
part of the grist mill standing on or over said falls at
Little River...
I give and bequeath unto my grandson Thomas Goodwin a
minor twenty acres of land... being in said Wells... as is
expressed in a deed... bearing date the twenty-seventh day of
January Anno Domini 1743/4...
I give and bequeath unto my grandson John Wells a
minor... all the land I now dwell upon on the south side of
Little River in said Wells...
I constitute and appoint my said son John Wells and my
said daughter Hannah Goodwin sole executors...
In witness whereof I hav hereunto affixed my hand and
seal this tenth day of May Anno Domini 1748..."(7)
The inventory of his estate amounted to £2,000 including
one slave valued at £100.
Issue-
I. Mary- b. 22 Nov. 1697 Boston, MA, m. by 1722 Henry
Maddox (See Vol. III)
II. John- m. 11 Oct. 1733 Deborah Stover. John was a
blacksmith.
4III. HANNAH- m.12 Apr. 1729 Newbury, MA, THOMAS (5) GOODWIN
of Newbury
Ref:
(1) Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire-
p.735
(2) The History of Wells and Kennebunk- Edward E. Bourne
(3) Mass. Archives- Vol.7, pp.123,332,464
(4) The History of Wells and Kennebunk- Edward E. Bourne
(5) Ibid
(6) York Deeds- Vol.16, p.12
(7) Genealogy of the Wells Family- appendix pp.20-4
The Old Families of Salisbury & Amesbury, MA- Vol.I,
p.349; Vol.II, pp.808-9
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