Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. 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 1st 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 (tavern keeper 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."
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: Sarah Wells, d. 3 may 1844, Sec. C, row 13, in her 76th y, wife of Austin.
|