Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

James Wells

Male 1752 - 1781  (29 years)


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  • Name James Wells 
    Born 14 Apr 1752  Hebron, Tolland, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 23 Sep 1781  Croton-on-Hudson, Westchester, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Crompond, Westchester, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I4465  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Father Edmund Wells,   b. 8 or 9 Feb 1720/1721, Old Saybrook, Middlesex, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Jun 1805, Cambridge, Washington, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 84 years) 
    Mother Mary Howell,   b. 14 Feb 1718, Southampton, Suffolk, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Jan 1776, Hebron, Tolland, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 57 years) 
    Married 12 May 1743  Southampton, Suffolk, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F1745  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. The book "History of Washington County, New York," reprinted 1979 by Heart of the Lakes Publishing, Interlaken, NY, copy in public library of Cambridge Village, Washington Co., NY, pp. 252-253:
      "Edmund Wells was descended from an English stock. His father, Thomas Wells, was born in Dudley, Worcestershire, England, in 1694, and came to America in 1712, and settled in Saybrook, Conn. where he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Merrill, in May, 1720. Edmund Wells, one of the original propietors of the Cambridge patent, was born in Saybrook, 19 Feb 1721. In 1773 he removed with his family from Hebron, Conn., and settled in what is now the town of Cambridge, on the farm now owned and occupied by Thomas Cornell. He is the only one of the patentees who came to live upon the patent. His children were John Howell Wells, lived and died in Connecticut, Edmund Wells, Jr., born in 1746; graduated at Yale College, Sept. 14, 1768; came with the family in 1773. He was a prominent man in the town. He died on the homestead, 26 Sep 1826, aged 80 years. Mary Wells, married Walter Raleigh, and lived and died in Cambridge. Henry Wells, died young. James Wells, was a lieutenant of dragoons in the Continental service. he died at Croton River, Sept. 23, 1701 [date looks wrong - porb. 1781], aged 30 years. Sarah, married Joseph Peters, and lived and died in Cambridge. Austin, lived and died on his farm in White Creek, Dec. 8, 1849.
      Captain Daniel Wells was born in Hebron, Conn., in 1754; in April, 1776, enlisted and joined the army then stationed on Long Island under the immediate command of General Washington. He held the rank of orderly-sergeant, and was selected as the bearer of a dispatch from General Washington to General Sullivan, containing sealed orders apprising him of the intended retreat. The duties were discharged with promptness amidst darkness and storm. Sergeant Wells' term of enlistment having expired while in the army was at White Plains, he received his discharge, and returned to Hebron, Conn., where he stood as a minute man. In 1779 he removed with his family to Cambridge and settled on the farm now owned by William Curtis. Here he lived with the companion of his youth for more than half a century, and was blessed with a family of sixteen children. He died May 6, 1840, aged 86 years. He was a man of stong mind. Respected by his fellow-citizens, he had been honored with various posts of office, both civil and miltary, which he filled with fidelity.
      Descendants of the Wells family are yet living in this and the adjoining towns."

      2. FHL book 929.273 W462c "History and Genealogy of the Wells Family. Some Ancestors and Descendants of Thomas Wells of Saybrook and Hebron, Connecticut, who had come from Dudley, Worcestershire, England in 1712. Supplementing: "The History and Genealogy of the Wells Family" by Philip L. Cobb, 1897"; compiled by John. L. Cobb, 1999, pp. 9-12:
      "...Edmund Wells had nine children all born in Hebron, CT:
      i John Howell, b. 12 Feb. 1744/5
      ii Edmund, b. 30 Aug. 1746
      iii Mary Howell, b. 16 May 1748, Hebron, CT vi. rec.: 1: 149; m. Sept. 1776 to Esq. James Walter RALEIGH, ROWLEY?, ROLLO?, s. of John and Mary (Phelps) R. of Hebron, CT, his 1st wife.
      iv Henry, b. 25 Mar. 1750; d. 30 Mar. 1763 age 12 yrs., Hebron, CT
      v James, b. 14 Apr. 1752; was a lieut. of dragoons, Continental service in the Revolutionary War; died 23 Sept. 1781 age 30 yrs., at the Croton River, Westchester Co., NY, buried at Crompond (Crump Pond) (Mohansic Park), Westchester Co., NY; the inventory for administration by John H. Wells, of Lieut. James Wells's estate was made 3 Feb. 1784 by Samuel Gilbert, Jorden POST, and Bateman Wells (E. Haddam, CT pro. dist. court rec'd: vol. 5;170; it was exhibited and distributors were appointed (those above), 7 Dec. 1784: vol. 5:151.
      vi Daniel, b. 7 Nov. 1754
      vii David
      viii Sarah, b. 28 Feb. 1757, Hebron, CT vi. rec.:2: 256; m. Oct. 1718, Hebron, Tolland Co., CT, to Joseph PeterS, s. of ?Joseph and Deborah (BIRCHARD) P. of Chatham and Hebron, CT, tavernkeeper; he d. 1796 age 40 yrs. at ?Cambridge, NY; she d. 3 Aug. 1793 at Cambridge, Washington Co., NY; children PeterS: Joseph, blacksmith; Sarah, m. Matthew GIBSON; James, m. Lydia BEEBE, dau.; Ruel B.; tavern; rem..; Erie Co., NY.
      ix Austin b. 14 Feb 1759.
      References: "Abstracts of Wills/of/Washington Co NY 1788-1825," by G. A. Barber, 1937, 1993:23 Edmund Wells of Cambridge, dated Jan. 7, 1800; probated July 1, 1805 mentions sons: John Edmund, Daniel, children of my daughter Molly wife of Walter Raleigh, children of my daughter Sarah wife of Joseph Peters dec'd. Executors: sons: Edmund, Daniel, Austin, brother Joseph. Witnesses; Lauchlin Wright, James Niles, Gerrit Wendell signed "X". Codicil to the above will: 18 Apr. 1804: James Wells son of the Edmund (Jr.) to receive his father's bequest, and to become an executor of Edmund (Sr.) in his place (from George W. Roger's typed copy of the Edmund Wells (Sr.) probate, 24 Mar. 1995); "Descendants of Edward Howell, 1584-1655," by E.H. Rose, 2nd ed. rev, and prep. by David Paris, 1985:90: concerns g.s. of Mary wf. of Ezekiel Howell shared with grandson Henry Wells, in Gilead cem. Hebron, CT; Concerning PeterS fam.: correspondence with Mr. George W. Rogers, PO Box 111, Fairview Village, PA 19409-0111, May. 24, 1995."