| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. Mentioned in the book "Abstracts of Wills of Washington County, New York: 1788-1825," by Gertrude A. Barber: "Edmund Wells of Cambridge, dated 7 Jan 1800, probated 1 Jul 1805. Mentions:
Sons: John, Edmund, Daniel
Children of my daughter Molly, wife of Walter Raleigh.
Children of my daughter Sarah, wife of Joseph Peters, decd.
Executors: sons Edmund, Daniel, Austin, brother Joseph.
Witnesses: Lamhlin Wright, James Niles, Gerrit Wendell, signed 'X'."
2. 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,
A. 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."
B. P. 256-257: Principal town officers since 1774:
a. Walter Raleigh, 1785, collector.
b. Daniel Wells, 1801, supervisor.
c. Sidney Wells, 1809, collector.
d. Sidney Wells, 1816, town clerk.
e. Sidney Wells, 1830, supervisor.
C. P. 458: Daniel Well's barnyard declared as a holding pound for stray animals.
3. The book "Old Cambridge (1788-1988) - A collection of historical essays and family histories commemorating the 200th anniversary of the forming of the Old Cambridge District, 1788," copy in the Village of Cambridge public library:
A. "Edmund Welles, d. 1805, b. Mary Howel of South Hampton, L.E. Eight ch. including Daniel. Edmund was captain in the old French War and was one of the original propietors of Cambridge Township. Moved from Hebron, Conn. in 1780 to Cambridge. Edmund was the only patentee out of more than fifty who became a settler."
B "Daniel Welles, b. 1754 in Hebron, Conn., m. Hannah Lathrope 2/15/1776. In 1779 he removed with his family to Cambridge and settled on the farm owned by Mr. Bovee. Here they lived for more than half a century and were blessed with a family of sixteen children."
4. 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:
"Daniel Wells. Son of Edmund and Mary (HOWELL) W. of Hebron, CT and Cambridge, NY, b. 7 Nov. 1754, Hebron (Tolland Co.), vi. rec.: 2:255, CT. He married at Hebron, 15 Feb. 1776, to Hannah LOTHROP, dau.. of the Rev. Elijah and Silence (LEONARD) L. of Hebron, CT. The ceremony was performed by the bride's father. She was then not quite 17 years old having been born at Hebron 1 May 1759. Very soon after his marriage, Daniel enlisted in the Connecticut troops, and was sent to join the army under Gen. Washington then at New York. The records of the Pension Bureau (S6354 now in National Archives custody) at Washington D.C. show that he served 1 month and 18 days as a private and 6 months and 15 days as sergeant; a part of the time he served under Capt. Isham and Col Chester. For this service he made application for a pension 28 Aug 1832 and received this pension during the remainder of his life. The following obituary notice was published in the "Washington County Post," and afterwards reprinted in the "Cleveland Herald" (OH) of 27 May 1840 and probably written by his son Hamilton:
"Died in Cambridge on the 6th instant Captain Daniel Wells, aged 86, a soldier of the American Revolution and a pensioner by Act of Congress of June 7th 1832. He was a native of Hebron, CT and in March 1776 was married to Miss Hannah Lothrop, daughter of the Rev. Elijah Lothrop, pastor of the Congregational church in that place. In April following, being within a month of this eventful period, such was the ardor of that youthful patriotism which burned in the noble spirits of that age, that he enlisted as a soldier, left his young companion, and joined the army then stationed on Long Island, and under the immediate command of Gen. Washington. He held the rank of orderly sergeant, and on that memorable night that Lord Howe landed, he was selected as the bearer of a dispatch from Gen. Washington to Gen. Sullivan, containing sealed orders, apprizing him of the intended retreat. The duties of this important trust, were discharged with promptness, amidst darkness, thunder, lightning and storm, and the severe embarrassment of a wrong counter-sign in passing sentinels at their posts.
"The famed retreat of Gen. Washington to New York was effected with surprising adroitness, from whence retired with his army to White Plains where Sergeant Wells completed the period of his enlistment of a nine-months campaign, and having received his discharge returned to the circle of his friends, and the bosom of his companion, in Hebron, CT.
"From this to the close of the war, he stood as a minuteman, and was once called out to the vicinity of Boston, and at other times on short tours of duty, on the spur of the occasion.
"In the year 1775, he first came to Cambridge, NY with his father, and in 1779, he removed his family and settled where he lived with the companion of his youth of more than half a century, and was blessed with a family of sixteen children. He had lived to witness the most important periods in the history of our country, in its changes, revolutions, enterprises and improvements, from before the Old French War to the present month.
"He was a man of strong mind, and one on whom the power of habit never possessed a firmer hold. Respected by his fellow citizens, he has been honored with various posts, both civil and military, which he has filled with fidelity. After a protracted illness, he has gone down to his grave in a good old age, deeply lamented by his numerous descendants, and those who knew his worth."
The military campaign of the summer of 1776 was a most disastrous and discouraging beginning for Gen. Washington and his troops. Driven from Long Island with great loss, he retreated northward to White Plains. Here the army was little better than a half-starved mob, disheartened by defeat, without proper clothes or shelter, and worst of all lacking discipline and military order. At this time, Washington wrote to Congress:
"Our situation is truly distressing. The check our detachment sustained on the twenty-seventh ultimo has dispirited too great a proportion of our troops, and filled their minds with apprehension and despair. The militia, instead of calling forth their utmost efforts to a brave and manly opposition in order to repair their losses, are dismayed, intractable, and impatient to return, - - their want of discipline and refusal of almost every kind of restraint and government has produced a like conduct, but too common, to the whole, and an entire disregard of that order and subordination necessary to the well being of an army, ... and with the deepest concern, I am obliged to confess my want of confidence in the generality of the troops."
A British officer writes to a friend in London:
"The rebel army are in so wretched a condition as to clothing and accoutrements that I believe no nation ever saw such a set of tatterdemalions. There are few coats among them, but what are out at elbows, and in a whole regiment, there is a scarce a pair of breeches.
"Judge then, how they must be pinched by a winter's campaign. We who are warmly clothed and well equipped, already feel it severely, for it is even now much colder than I ever felt in England. As to provisions, they have been pretty well supplied, – more care has been taken care of their bellies than their backs."
At no time during the war was Washington so downcast and discouraged. The short terms of enlistment barely afforded time to drill the raw recruits, so that when they were just becoming of some value as soldiers, their time would expire, and they would be discharged to their homes.
Daniel Wells was a man of most methodical habits, quiet and orderly in his ways, probably with little liking for the rough and boisterous company of the regiments. [Book includes image with the caption "Promotion of Daniel Wells to Sergeant."]
In 1779 he moved his family, then consisting of his wife and two children: one and two years old, to Cambridge, NY where his father had a share of a thousand acres in the patent granted by King George. Here his wife Hannah died 8 Oct. 1829. From 1793 to 1796 and from 1801 to 1804, he was town supervisor. Shortly before he died, his grandson (Caius Cassius COBB), a boy of thirteen, who was soon to leave for the west to make his living, went to see him and bid him goodbye. Grandfather Wells was then an old man who loved to have his chair in just the same place by the fireside. Placing his hand on the boy's head he said "is it possible that the little Major is going to the Ohio?" It seemed a great journey to go to Cleveland (Ohio) then. He died at Cambridge 6 May 1840, much respected as a just and honest man (in the 86th year of his age, buried in the cemetery on the turnpike south of Cambridge Village, NY). Children of Daniel and Hannah (LOTHROP) Wells: [Book lists 16 children b. 1777-1785.]"
Refer: "Hist and Gen.: Wells Fam.," by Philip L. Cobb, Cleveland, OH 1897: 4-7, included in which is a Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages of the Daniel and Hannah (Lothrop) Wells family; Notes for Hist.: Wash. Co., NY coll, by A. Fitch, as of Sept. 19, 1848 and Jan 30, 1850: 254:6; 841; "Cemetery Inscription Cambridge, NY," comp. P.L. and LB. Cobb 1913; photocopy of gen. data: Rev. War pens. applic.: Daniel Wells, CT, NY, S-6354, sergeant; "NY Gen. and Biogr. Rec.": 119:3:167 July 1988; U.S.G.S.: 15" and 7 1/2" quads.: Cambridge, NY area topo. maps; "Hist.: Wash Co., NY," Everts and Ensign 1878: Cambridge: 253, 256, 140; "Heads: Fams. 1790 NY State": Albany Co.: 18:1, 5, 3, -, -, "Introd. Hist. Resources: Wash Co.. NY," 1976, 1984: 24-5, 28-9, 113-4, 116-7; Wash Co., NY land records: liber H: 176-7: 13 Mar. 1799 Edmund Wells of Cambridge Esqr., to Daniel Wells of Cambridge, yeoman; consideration: 8 shillings: land in Cambridge: NW pt. of lot 6 of 2nd div., of Patent granted to Isaac Sawyer et. al.; est.: 110 acres; wit.: Samuel Pay, Joseph Gilbert, before Judge John Younglove: Court: Comm. Pleas, rec.: 3 Apr. 1806, 10 am.: liber H.: 178-9: 20 Sept. 1780, Sam'l Clark of Cambridge, yeoman: consideration 500 pounds sterling, land in Cambridge: so. pt. of2 lots: 4 and 9 of 1st div.; Dan'l Wells in possession, must pay quit rent; containing 100 acres; witnesses: Edmund Wells, John McClung, before Judge John Younglove; recorded 3 Apr. 1806; "Cambridge. NY Church Records.: Protestant Presbyterian and 1st United Presbyterian Congregational," comp. R.W. Vosburgh. Mrs. James Edson (Mary Elizabeth Houghton) Wells wrote me: there is a tradition that (orderly sergeant) Daniel Wells was the last man getting into the boat during Gen. George Washington's strategic crossings of the Delaware River at the Christmas holiday season 1776-7."
5. TAG 46:180-183: "The Wells (Welles) Family of Hebron, CT. and Cambridge, N.Y.," by John G. Hunt:
"...The descendants of Daniel3Wells (Edmund2) are well listed in "Some Descendants of Thomas Wells," type-written in 1897 by Philip L. Cobb, Cleveland, Ohio, and now in the Library of the Western Reserve Historical Society of that city.
This Daniel's elder brother was Edmund3 Wells, born 1746 at Hebron, Conn., who married there in February 1770, Miss Wealthy Ann Goodrich (named at p. 400 of Hall's "The Bradford Genealogy"). He died at Cambridge, N.Y., in 1826, of which town his father had been an original patentee in 1760..."
BURIAL:
1. The book "Cemetery Records, the Town of Cambridge, Washington Co., NY," 2003, comp. by Historical Data Services, 14 Clark St., Glen Falls, NY, 12804, www. hdsgenealogy.com, copy available in the Cambridge public library. For Old Turnpike Cemetery, with over 50 Wells including: Capt. Daniel Wells, b. 5 Nov 1754, d. 6 May 1840, Sec. B., row 9, ae 86y, m. Hannah Lathrop, Vet. Rev. War.
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1754 - 1840 (85 years)