| 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. 255-256: Listed in various offices as follows:
a. May 1774: Edward [Edmund?] Wells, one of three road supervisors of the middle division.
b. May 1776: Joseph Wells, poundmaster; Phineas Whiteside, committee man.
c. Apr 1777: Edmund Wells, Jr., treasurer and town clerk; Joseph Wells, overseer of poor and road commissioner; Edmund Wells, overseer of roads; William Cooper, road commissioner.
d. 1783: "A pound was directed to be located on the east side of the road by Captain Edmnd Wells' house, Captain Joseph Wells to build it, and Captain Edmund Wells to be poundmaster. Stocks [for confining people?] were also voted. They were to be built by Joseph Wells near the pound.
e. Mar. 14, 1791: Edmund Wells, moderator of special meeting. Phineas Whiteside, appointed part of special committee dealing with Cambridge being annexed by Washington county.
g. 13 Feb 1813: "Austin Wells manumits his slave woman named Hannah."
h. Apr 1816: Austin Wells to be paid $1 per day for services as a fence-viewer.
C. P. 252: "Cambridge embraces a part of the Hoosick patent, which was granted on both sides of that stream in 1688, the principal portion being in Renssalaer county. About 4,000 acres are included in Cambridge. The remainder of the town was a part of the Cambridge patent, granted in 1761 to Isaac Sawyer, Edmund Wells, Jacob Lansing, Wm. Smith, Alexander Colden, Goldsboro Bangor, and others, on condition that immediate settlements be made. The tract included 31,500 acres, north of the Hoosick patent and extending up the valley, which took the name of the patent. To induce settlements on this land, the patentees gave 100 acres to each of the first 30 families who would become actual settlers. The names which are now known of the first settlers are... These came on the lands in 1761-63. Other early settlers in the vicinity were... Austin Wells, Edwin Wells... The names of other early settlers are given in the record of those who were disturbed in possession of their lands by reason of the Revolution, and which for a time were exempted from quitrents on that account. They were ... Wm. Cooper... Many who had taken up lots previous to the Revolution left them during that period some from fear of disturbance by Tories and Indians, who were prowling about the country for plunder..."
D. P. 256: Austin Wells listed as one of the incorporators of the Washington Library formed in the town of Cambridge12 Jan 1802.
E. P. 266: Austin Wells listed in 1814 as a subscriber for $25 for an Academy to be built in Cambridge.
F. Pp. 457-458: "Austin Wells, a son of Edmund Wells, the latter a pioneer of Cambridge, came with his father when fourteen years old, returned to Connecticut for a time, but was here in 1776. In 1777 he went to assist an older brother in Cambridge to remove his family to a place of safety, information having been received that a detachment of Burgoyne's army might be expected through the Cambridge valley. Having taken the family to Williamstown, the brothers hastened back, and reached Bennington in time to join in the closing scenes of the battle. Not long after he went into the service as a substitute for an older brother. He remained two years in the army, was stationed at the different forts on the Hudson, north of Albany, after which he went into the army as a volunteer, and was at Fort Stanwix and Albany. After the war, he settled in White Creek, upon the farm now occupied by Uriah Pratt. He passed a long life in the midst of his people, dying at the age of 91, Dec. 8, 1849. He was very highly esteemed. At his funeral psalms were read from the Bible he carried with him into camp, said to have been the only one in the company to which he belonged."
3. 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:
"Austin Wells, "Esquier" youngest son of Edmund and Mary (HOWELL) W. of Hebron, CT and Cambridge, NY, b. 14 Feb. 1759, Gilead parish, Hebron vi. rec: 2:256, Tolland (then Windham) Co., CT; in his Revolutionary War military service, as 1 st sergeant, Austin Wells participated in the battle of Bennington (VT) August 16, 1777; in his pension application papers, he claimed actual military service: 1776-1778. Austin Wells married 7 Dec. 1784 at ____, to Sarah COWAN, dau. of James (tavernkeeper of Cambridge, NY, b. Pelham, MA) and Elizabeth (HUNTER) (m. 20 Dec. 1757) C., born 20 Oct. 1768 at Cambridge, NY and died 3 May 1844, "in 76th year of age", bur.: Cambridge, NY; he died 8 Dec. 1849 (WCJ: 20 Dec. (1849)) probably at White Creek, Washington Co., NY, and buried age 90 years and 10 mo. in the cemetery on the Turnpike south of the village of Cambridge, NY.
Frank C. and Jill (TUCKER) (Norman) COBB now, 14 Jan. 1995, possess, (plaque inside right cupboard): "this sideboard was built by a Scotch journeyman cabinet builder on the order of Austin Wells, uncle of (great-great) grandmother Hannah Wells COBB. He was b. 14 Feb. 1759, lived in Cambridge, NY, and died there 8 Dec. 1849. It passed into possession of his nephew Leonard Wells (b. 14 Sept. 1801) and was sold by Leonard's widow Eliza Allen Wells, to Brutus J. COBB (father of Louise B. COBB wife of Philip L. COBB)."
[Book has photo of a house with the following caption: "Austin Wells House, built 1805 by Austin, son of Edmund Wells (Wheel-House). A sophisticated example of a Federal period house. Interior has beautiful fluted columns and woodwork."]
Residence of Austin Wells: "I came to Cambridge, NY with father on horseback in 1773 to visit brother Edmund who had then settled here, and stayed over the winter, then going back to Hebron, ... I came up here again after my mother's death, in Feb. 1776, and this has been my residence ever since. In April 1776, I enlisted for one year (which was the custom in the army part of the War: in short enlistments, so disastrous to our arms at that time), and was stationed up the Mohawk at Fort Stanwix. After this I was a sergeant in the Cambridge militia - but we had no regular company enrolled - no regular officers, - men turned out when they pleased, and served under whom they pleased." (Notes for Hist.: Wash. Co., NY, coil. A. Fitch (as of Sept. 19, 1848): 254, 255). Children: [Book lists 4 children b. 1786-1810.]
References: Rev. War pens. applic.: Austin Wells CT, S-32054 (priv. sergt.). "Cem. Inscript.: Cambridge. NY," copied by P.L. and L.B. Cobb, 1913. Will of Austin Wells, made 5 Nov. 1845, codicil 24 Aug. 1848, pro. and rec. 8 Jan 1850. "Hist. and Gen.: Wells Fam., by P.L. Cobb 1897:2. "Hist.: Welles Fam.," by Albert Welles 1876: 227. Wash Co., NY land record: deed: M:467-470 (1816). Asa Fitch's Notes for a History of Washington Co.. NY. Wells Family: 254 (photocopy). Early CT settlers in Wash. Co., NY, Abstr. fr. "History of Wash Co.. NY 1737-1878," Everts and Ensign 1878, by D.C. Saunders, in "CT Nutmegger" vol. 23, #4, Mar. 1991 pages 585-590."
4. TAG 46:180-183: "The Wells (Welles) Family of Hebron, CT. and Cambridge, N.Y.," by John G. Hunt:
"Writing in September 1848, Dr. Asa Fitch, tireless biographer of Washington County, New York, recorded the account furnished him by Austin Wells of Cambridge, N.Y., at that time, as follows:
"Grandfather Thomas Wells came from Dudley in Worcestershire, England, to Saybrook, Connecticut, in 1712. He there married a Miss Merrill and had three children."
In 1898, however, there appeared a variant version, titled "A History of the Ancestors and Descendants of John Howell Welles." In that it was said that Thomas Welles, born at Dudley, England, in 1694, came to America in 1712, marrying Elizabeth Merrill at Saybrook, Conn.; died in 1760 at Hebron in the same colony, having had seven sons. See also Wm. H. Cutter, "Genealogical and Family History of the State of Connecticut" (1911), 4:1905..."
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: Austin Wells, d. 8 Dec 1849, Sec. C, row 13, ae 90y, m. Sarah ___, Vet. Rev. War.
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1759 - 1849 (90 years)