There were two Thomas Wells living in Ipswich,
Massachusetts at about the same time. No
kinship has been proven to the other Thomas Wells who married Naomi
Marshall. No kinship has been proven to
the Dr. Richard Wells, living at the same time nearby in Salem, Massachusetts
(although an early NEHGS Register article Volume 4, pages 11 and 12 name Thomas
Wells of Ipswich as a “physician” because he left a “physicke” book to his son
in his will. This error was repeated in Joseph B. Felt’s book History
of Ipswich, Essex and Hamilton, 1834). There was also a woman named Ann Wells, age
20, who arrived with Thomas Wells on the same ship but according to genealogist
Robert Charles Anderson, there is no kinship connection.
Thomas Wells arrived in the New World aboard the
Susan & Ellen in 1635, aged 30. He
was made a freeman in Ipswich, Massachusetts on 17 May 1637. He appears in many town records, as juror and
constable, and as a land owner. He was a
member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1644. His lengthy will named his wife and all his
children. He owned many books and maps, and he signed his own name. His wife, Abigail, also left a will dated 22
July 1671, which included many goods, but no real estate.
"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...
Item
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)
For more information:
Thomas Wells is not mentioned in Martin Hollick’s
book New Englanders in the 1600s
There is a lengthy sketch of Thomas Wells of Ipswich
in the book The Great Migration, Volume VII, pages 294 – 300.
My WELLS genealogy:
Generation 1: Thomas Wells, about 1605 in England
and died 26 October 1666 in Ipswich, Massachusetts; married by 1636 to Abigail Warner, daughter of William Warner. She died 22 July 1671 in Ipswich. Seven
children, and I descend from two daughters.
Line A:
Generation 2: Elizabeth Wells, born 31 July 1646 in
Ipswich, Massachusetts, died 9 June 1731; married on 6 June 1668 to John
Burnham, son of Thomas Burnham and Mary Lawrence. He was born in 1648 and died
12 January 1704 in the Chebacco Parish of Ipswich, Massachusetts. Nine children,
and I descend from three sons.
Line A1:
Generation 3: John Burnham m. Sarah Choate
Generation 4: John Burnham m. Rachel Smith
Generation 5: Dorothy Burnham m. Abner Poland
Generation 6: Abner Poland m. Sarah Burnham
Generation 7: Sally Poland m. Henry Burnham
Generation 8: Sarah Ann Burnham m. Samuel Mears
Generation 9: Sarah Burnham Mears m. Joseph Gilman
Allen
Generation 10: Joseph Elmer Allen m. Carrie Maud
Batchelder
Generation 11: Stanley Elmer Allen m. Gertrude
Matilda Hitchings (my grandparents)
Line A2:
Generation 3: Thomas Burnham m. Susannah Boardman
Generation 4: Stephen Burnham m. Mary Andrews
Generation 5: Joshua Burnham m. Jemima Wyman
Generation 6: Jemima Burnham m. Romanus Emerson
Generation 7: George Emerson m. Mary Esther Younger
Generation 8: Mary Katharine Emerson m. George E.
Batchelder
Generation 9: Carrie Maude Batchelder m. Joseph
Elmer Allen (see above)
Line A3:
Generation 3:
David Burnham m. Elizabeth Perkins
Line A3a:
Generation 4: David Burnham m. Elizabeth Marshall
Generation 5: Amos Burnham m. Sarah Giddings
Generation 6: Judith Burnham m. Joseph Allen
Generation 7: Joseph Allen m. Orpha Andrews
Generation 8: Joseph Gilman Allen m. Sarah Burnham
Mears (see above)
Line A3b:
Generation 4: Westley Burnham m. Deborah Story
Line A3b1:
Generation 5: Westley Burnham m. Molly Woodbury
Line A3b1A:
Generation 6: Asa Burnham m. Polly Bray
Generation 7: Lydia W. Burnham m. Samuel Mears
Generation 8: Samuel Mears m. Sarah Ann Burnham (see
above)
Line A3b1B:
Generation 6: Henry Burnham m. Sally Poland
Generation 7: Sarah Ann Burnham m. Samuel Mears (see
above)
Line A3b2:
Generation 5: Sarah Burnham m. Abner Poland
Generation 6: Sally Poland m. Henry Burnham (see
above)
Line B:
Generation 2: Abigail Wells, born about 1642, died 16 June
1677; married on 19 June 1661 in Ipswich to Nathaniel Treadwell, son of Thomas
Treadwell. He was born 13 March 1637/8 in Ipswich, died 11 January 1726/7 in
Ipswich, Massachusetts. Seven children.
Generation 3: Nathaniel Treadwell m. Hannah Unknown
Generation 4: Jabez Treadwell m. Lucy Haskell
Generation 5: Nathaniel Treadwell m. Mary Hovey
Generation 6: Jabez Treadwell m. Betsey Jillings
Hovey
Generation 7: Eliza Ann Treadwell m. Abijah
Hitchings
Generation 8: Abijah Franklin Hitchings m. Hannah
Eliza Lewis
Generation 9: Arthur Treadwell Hitchings m. Florence
Etta Hoogerzeil
Generation 10: Gertrude Matilda Hitchings m. Stanley
Elmer Allen (see above)
-----------------------------
The URL for this post is
http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/07/surname-saturday-wells-of-ipswich.html
Copyright © 2014, Heather Wilkinson Rojo
