Thomas Wells (abt. 1605 - 1666)

Born about 1605 in England

Husband of Abigail (Warner) Wells — married about 1636 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 26 Oct 1666 at about age 61 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Roger Wehr [send private message], Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree [send private message], Audrey Neva [send private message], Bob Fields [send private message], Ellen Blackwell [send private message], and Betsy Bruce [send private message]

Thomas Wells migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 7, p. 294) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Note: This is not the profile for Thomas Welles who came from Tidmington, Worcestershire, in 1635, settled in Cambridge, then removed to Hartford in 1636 and Wethersfield in 1646, and was a magistrate and official in Connecticut, becoming Governor of Connecticut.

Biography

Parentage; Date and Place of Birth; Origin

Thomas Wells' parentage, place of birth and origin (i.e., last residency prior to emigrating to New England) are unknown and his date of birth is uncertain.

Based on the fact that the passenger list for the Susan & Ellen on which Thomas emigrated from England to New England in April 1635, states that he was 30 years old,^[1][2][3] it can be deduced that Thomas was probably born about 1605.

Many online family trees and several secondary sources, including the 1912 Colonial Families of the United States,^[4] the 1913 History of Peter Parker and Sarah Ruggles,^[5] and the Millenium File database,^[6] state that Thomas was born (or baptized) on December 11, 1605 in Colchester, Essex England. The source of that theory seems to be Wells-Cushing's 1903 Genealogy of the Wells Family, which states that the St Botolph, Colchester parish registers contain a entry for the baptism of a Thomas Wells, son of Thomas, on December 11, 1605 and an entry for the marriage of a Thomas Wells and an Abigail Warner on July 23, 1630.^[7] While there were no doubt many Thomas Wells who were baptized in England about 1605, a marriage record for a Thomas Wells and an Abigail Warner in a parish near to where Abigail was baptized would indeed be highly suggestive and would make it reasonably likely that the St Botolph baptismal record also related to this profile's Thomas Wells. Unfortunately, a close examination of the St Botolph parish registers, which are now available online at www.essexarchivesonline.co.uk, does not support those claims. The register's baptismal records from 1600-1610 do not contain an entry for the baptism of a Thomas Wells, and the register's marriage records from 1630-1636 do not contain an entry for the marriage of a Thomas Wells and an Abigail Warner. Anderson was also unable to find the cited marriage record in the St Botolph parish registers.^[8] The fact that Wells-Cushing quotes exact language and correct page numbers in the St Botolph registers, and yet the quoted records are not there, suggests she may have been the victim of a fraud by a paid English researcher. No other reliable evidence has been found that supports Thomas's December 11, 1605 date of birth or baptism.

Even apart Wells-Cushing's claimed St Botolph parish register records, some genealogists have claimed that Thomas came from Colchester, Essex. The 1876 History of the Welles Family states that he was born there in 1605.^[9] While no sources or explanation for his Colchester origins were given, it was most likely based on Thomas's will, which contains a bequest to "my cousin Mary Baker (alias Lowe) of Colchester."^[10] However, the association with the Baker family (and thus Colchester) may be solely through Thomas's marriage to Abigail Warner, as records suggest that Abigail's father married a Baker or was otherwise related to the Bakers.^[11]

According to Anderson, the origins of Thomas Wells of Ipswich are currently unknown.^[3]

Because Thomas's parents are unknown, the WikiTree profiles for Thomas Welles and Elizabeth Hunt as his father and mother have been disconnected.

Immigration

As mentioned above, Thomas emigrated from England to New England aboard the Susan & Ellen in 1635.^[1][2][3] He settled in Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and received a grant of land there in 1635.^[12][3]

Marriage

Thomas married Abigail Warner, daughter of William Warner.^[13] The assertion that William Warner's daughter Abigail was Thomas's wife is supported by, among other evidence, the fact that Thomas's will (transcribed below) refers to his wife Abigail and "my Bro: Warners" and "my Bro: Danll Warner."

Thomas and Abigail's date and place of marriage are uncertain. No record of their marriage has been found.

Both Wells-Cushing's 1903 Genealogy of the Wells Family^[7] and Linzee's 1913 History of Peter Parker and Sarah Ruggles^[5] suggest that Thomas and Abigail's marriage was recorded in the St. Botolph, Colchester parish registers as having occurred there on July 23, 1630. However, as discussed above, no such marriage record has been found in the St Botolph registers. Moreover, since Abigail Warner was baptized in June 1614 (and thus was probably only 16 in 1630) and Thomas and Abigail's eldest known child was born about 1636 (which would mean 6 years between marriage and the birth of their first child), that date of marriage seems too early.

Torrey states that Thomas and Abigail were married sometime in July 23, 1630-1641, with the former date based on Wells-Cushing and Linzee and other secondary sources that followed them and the latter date no doubt based on an actual or estimated date of birth of their youngest child.^[14] As discussed above, however, the former date should probably be thrown out, and, according to Anderson, the latter date is probably about 5 years too late.

In his profile for Abigail's father William Warner, Anderson states that, since there is no evidence that Thomas originated in the Boxted area, the simpler explanation is that Thomas and Abigail met and were married in New England after they had both immigrated.^[15] Based on his estimated date of birth of their first child of about 1636^[13] and the argument that William Warner and his family (including Abigail) probably immigrated in 1635,^[15] Anderson proposed that Thomas and Abigail probably married about 1636.^[13][15] As discussed in William Warner's profile, however, more recent research suggests that it is more likely that William Warner immigrated in 1636 or 1637, rather than in 1635. Therefore, if Thomas and Abigail were married in 1636, it was probably in late 1636, and they may well have been married in 1637 instead. Since both Thomas and William Warner settled in Ipswich upon their arrival in New England, Thomas and Abigail were most probably married there.

Children

Thomas and Abigail had the children listed below, all of whom were mentioned by name in both Thomas's and Abigail's wills. No birth or baptismal records have been found for any of the children.

Apart from the date of birth of son Thomas, which is specified in Thomas Wells' will, the dates of birth of all of Thomas and Abigail's children can only be estimated. Thomas's will gives the birth order of the sons relative to each other and the birth order of the daughters relative to each other but does not establish the birth order of the sons relative to the daughters. Several different birth orders are possible, and different secondary sources have suggested different birth orders. The birth dates below were estimated based on the analyses in the applicable footnotes. The birth dates for the first four children are later than those estimated by Anderson, due to the fact that he assumed that Abigail immigrated in 1635, rather than in 1636 or 1637 as seems more likely based on later research.

Since Thomas and Abigail are believed to have lived in Ipswich their entire married life, all of the children are assumed to have been born there.

1. Nathaniel, b. probably sometime in 1637-1640 (say 1637),^[16] m. October 29, 1661 Lydia Thurlow in Ipswich,^[17][13] d. December 15, 1681 in Ipswich^[18]
2. Sarah, b. probably sometime in 1637-1640 (say 1639),^[16] m. April 27, 1658 John Massey in Salem^[19][13]
3. John, b. probably sometime in 1641-1644 (say 1641),^[16] m. before July 31, 1666 Sarah Littlefield,^[20][13] d. April 11, 1677 in Wells, Maine^[21]
4. Abigail, b. probably sometime in 1641-1644 (say 1643),^[16] m. June 19, 1661 Nathaniel Tredwell in Ipswich,^[22][13] d. June 16, 1677 in Ipswich^[23]
5. Thomas, b. January 11, 1646/7,^[24] m. January 10, 1669/70 Mary Perkins in Ipswich,^[17][13] awarded Masters of Arts degree by Harvard in 1703,^[13] d. July 10, 1734 in Amesbury^[25]
6. Elizabeth, b. say 1649,^[26] m. June 9, 1669 John Burnham in Ipswich, d. before February 6, 1718 (date administration of estate granted) in Ipswich. (See discussion and sources in Elizabeth's profile.)
7. Hannah, b. say 1651,^[26] m. perhaps August 16, 1679 Richard Simonds in Salem^[13]
8. Lydia, b. say 1653,^[26] m. September 25, 1669 John Ropes in Salem^[19][13]

The following persons are included in some online family trees and user-contributed data bases as children of Thomas and Abigail, but no reliable evidence has been offered or found that supports that proposition and the fact that they are not mentioned in Thomas's or Abigail's wills is strong contrary evidence: Massie Wells and Martha Wells.

Property and Positions

Thomas Wells, husbandman and yeoman, lived beginning in 1635 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. He became a freeman of the Massachusetts Bay Colony on 17 May 1637.^[27][3]

Beginning in 1635, when the town of Ipswich granted Thomas a houselot, a planting lot, 24 acres of upland, and 8 acres of meadow,^[12][3] he began to acquire property. In 1637, 1644, 1653[/4?], 1654[/5?], twice in 1657, 1660, and 1661, Thomas purchased additional properties.^[28]

In 1644, Thomas was admitted to the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company and on 30 March, 1647, Thomas was chosen as Ipswich constable. On 28 March 1654, Thomas was a member of the petit jury, and on 30 September 1662 was a member of the Grand Jury.^[3]

Although some have speculated that Thomas was a physician, as he bequeathed "my three phisicke books"^[29] there is no evidence to support this proposition.^[30]

It is also proposed that he was a Deacon of the church at Ipswich. He is not named in the list of Deacons, and no evidence has been found to show that he was a Deacon.^[30]

Will; Death; Estate

Thomas died on October 26, 1666 at Ipswich.^[18][13]

Thomas left a will written on 31 July 1666 and proved on 15 November 1666 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. In his will, Thomas made bequests to his wife Abigail, eldest son Nathaniel, second son John, youngest son Thomas, eldest daughters Sarah Massie of Salem and Abigaill Tredwell of Ipswich, youngest daughters Elizabeth Wells, Hanah Wells and Lidia Wells, "our cussen Marye Baker (alis Love) of Colchester," and Lidia the wife of son Nathaniel. He appointed his son Nathaniel as executor and Thomas Bishop, Senr and Mr. Thomas Andrews as overseers and as guardian for son Thomas during his minority. Of note, Thomas left land to his married daughters, and he provided for the education of his unmarried daughters until the age of twenty-one or marriage, both very unusual at the time.^[31][32][33] Set forth below is a fairly complete transcription of the will:

Know all men by these presents, that I Thomas Wells of Ipswich in the county of Essex, being weake of body, yet of perfect memory, blesed be god doe make this my last will & testament, in maner followinge....

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...

Ite 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 favoure.

Ite. I give unto our cussen Marye Baker (alis Love) of Colchester,^[34] soe much New England money as equivalent unto fifty shillings old England money, and my will is that my executor doe faithfully endeaveare to conveigh the same unto her it being in reference to an agreement betwene both my Bro: Warners and my self, in ansur: to a request of our Aunt Lumkin (alis Stone) late deceased, and to take advise of my Bro: Danll Warner about the conveighing of the same, also my Executor maye further direct hims: by wt I have set downe in my booke of accounpts to that purpose, as in fol. 57 and by a letter sent unto us from Colchester.

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…
Pr me Thomas Wells Senr
In the presence of
Thomas Bishop Senior
Thomas Burnam Senior
The 15th of novembar 1666 this will was proved… ^[31][32]

Inventory was taken on 12 November 1666, and totaled £1214 3s 3d, of which £780 was real estate. Set forth below is a transcription of the inventory report:

An Inventory of goods Lands cattell and estate of Thomas wells late deceased taken the 12th of November 1666.
Imprimus the house barne and farme........650-00-00
It 49 acres of low marshes neare hog Iland.100-00-00
It 18 acres at hog Iland..................................018-00-00
It 6 acres at Plumb Iland...............................012-00-00
It two mares and one foale...........................011-00-00
It two 2 yearling horses.................................002-10-00
It 4 oxen & hay to winter them....................023-00-00
It 10 cowes & the hay....................................040-00-00
It 5 two yearlings & the hay..........................015-00-00
It 1 bull and the hay.......................................004-00-00
It 3 yearlings & hay........................................006-00-00
It 7 calfes & hay..............................................007-00-00
It 19 sheepe and lambes & hay........................11-00-0
It 7 swine...........................................................009-00-0
It two paire of sheetes.....................................001-10-0
It 8 paire of ould sheetes at 8s a paire............03-04-0
It 2 table cloths...................................................00-12-0
It 11napkins........................................................00-14-0
It 7 pillow beers..................................................00-14-0
It 5 yards of cotton & lennen cloth...................00-15-0
It 10 coarse towalls............................................00-10-0
It a small fether bed boulster & a flock? Bed green rug
& blanket bedsted curtaines and valans.........07-10-0
It a trundle bed small bed boulster & 2
blanketts..............................................................01-10-0
It a warming pan and 2 basketts......................00-16-0
It a trunke 3 chests & 2 boxes..........................02-00-0
It two tables & 3 chaires....................................01-00-0
It a citterne..........................................................00-10-0
It In armes...........................................................02-10-0
It 2 paire old sheeres & pressing Iron.............00-05-0
It 5 smotheing Iron clokebag & some other
small things.........................................................00-06-0
It 2 paire of tongs a slice & paire andirons.....01-02-0
It 20lb corse yarne..............................................02-00-0
It 40lb of towing? yarne.....................................03-00-0
It 2 brishes & some small things......................00-04-0
It In bookes.........................................................03-00-0
It cheny dishes house glase & other small
things...................................................................00-10-0
It nayles...............................................................00-15-0
It a bushel of salt................................................00-05-0
It a crosent [ ].....................................................00-05-0
It an ads, cannooe & ladders.........................003-00-0
...........................................................................952-17^[31][32]

^{[29] [32] [31] [27] [2] [25] [23] [18] [17] [22] [19] [20] [24] [26] [16] [21] [34] [33] [30] [28] [3] [13] [15] [12] [9] [10] [11] [8] [14] [4] [6] [1] [7] [5]}

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Hotten, John Camden (editor). The Original Lists of Persons of Quality: Emigrants, Religious Exiles, Political Rebels, Serving Men Sold for a Term of Years, Apprentices, Children Stolen, Maidens Pressed, and Others, who Went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600-1700. (London: John Camden Hotten, 1874.) p. 59. Link to page at archive.org.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Winthrop Society website transcript of Susan & Ellin enrollment
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7} Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VII, T-Y. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011. Profile for Thomas Wells. p. 294. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Mackenzie, George Norbury, and Nelson Osgood Rhoades, editors. Colonial Families of the United States of America: in Which is Given the History, Genealogy and Armorial Bearings of Colonial Families Who Settled in the American Colonies From the Time of the Settlement of Jamestown, 13th May, 1607, to the Battle of Lexington, 19th April, 1775. 7 volumes. 1912. Reprinted, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1966, 1995. Vol III, p 577. Link to page at ancestry.com.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Linzee, John William. The History of Peter Parker and Sarah Ruggles of Roxbury, Mass. and Their Ancestors and Descendants. p. 434. Link to page at archive.org.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Heritage Consulting. Millennium File (database on-line). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Wells-Cushing, Gertrude W. Genealogy of the Wells Family and Families Related. 1903. pp. 8-9. Link to page at archive.org.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Anderson, Robert Charles Anderson. The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VII, T-Y. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011. Profile for William Warner. p. 243. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Welles, Albert. History of the Welles Family in England and Normandy, with the Derivation from Their Progenitors of Some of the Descendants in the United States. 1876. p. 152. Link to page at archive.org.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} See "Will; Death; Estate" in this profile.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Anderson, Robert Charles Anderson. The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VII, T-Y. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011. Profile for William Warner. pp. 244-245. Link to pages at americanancestors.org.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2} Schofield, George A. (ed). The Ancient Records of the Town of Ipswich, Vol. I.-From 1634 to 1650. 1899. 9th and 10th pages after the page with the heading "April 20th 1635." Link to pages at archive.org.
13. ↑ ^{13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 13.11 13.12} Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VII, T-Y. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011. Profile for Thomas Wells. p. 299. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} Torrey, Clarence Almon. New England Marriages to 1700. Vol. III. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. p. 1627. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3} Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VII, T-Y. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011. Profile for William Warner. p. 246. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4} Based on an earliest date of mother Abigail's immigration of April 1636, the earliest the eldest child would have been born is 1637, which, with a typical 2-year gap between births, results in birth dates for the four eldest children of 1637, 1639, 1641 and 1643. Thomas Wells' will indicates that Elizabeth was older than her sisters Hannah and Lydia. Since Elizabeth's last child was born in 1691, she was probably born no earlier than 1648. That would mean that Elizabeth, Hannah and Lydia were all born after their brother Thomas, who was born in January 1646/7. That leaves Nathaniel, John, Sarah and Abigail as the only children who could have filled the first four birth slots in 1637, 1639, 1641 and 1643. Thomas Wells' will indicates that Nathaniel was born before John and Sarah was born before Abigail, but does not indicate the order of birth of the sons relative to the daughters. Nathaniel was married in 1661, Sarah in 1658, Abigail in 1661 and John before 1666. These constraints result in the following possible birth orders and dates of marriage:
    1. Nathaniel (24), John (by 27), Sarah (17), Abigail (18)
    2. Nathaniel (24), Sarah (19), John (by 25), Abigail (18)
    3. Nathaniel (24), Sarah (19), Abigail (20), John (by 23)
    4. Sarah (21), Nathaniel (22), John (by 25), Abigail (18)
    5. Sarah (21), Nathaniel (22), Abigail (20), John (by 23)
    6. Sarah (21), Abigail (22), Nathaniel (20), John (by 23)
    While all of these permutations are possible, the first seems less likely because it would mean Sarah had gotten married at the unusually young age of 17, while the last seems very unlikely because it would mean that Nathaniel had gotten married at the unusually young age of 20. All of the other permutations are reasonably plausible. All of the reasonably plausible permutations have Nathaniel and Sara as the first two children born and John and Abigail as the next two children born. Based on most customary dates of marriage, it seems slightly more likely that Nathaniel was born before Sarah and John before Abigail, but the reverse ordering of the pairs is quite plausible. The foregoing analysis results in the following estimated birth ranges/best guesses: Nathaniel, probably sometime in 1637-1640 (say 1637); Sarah, probably sometime in 1637-1640 (say 1639), John, probably sometime in 1641-1644 (say 1641); Abigail, probably sometime in 1641-1644 (say 1643).
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1 17.2} Vital Records of Ipswich, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849. Volume II. Marriages and Deaths. The Essex Institute, 1910. p. 450. Link to page at archive.org.
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1 18.2} Vital Records of Ipswich, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849. Volume II. Marriages and Deaths. The Essex Institute, 1910. p. 708. Link to page at archive.org.
19. ↑ ^{19.0 19.1 19.2} Vital Records of Salem, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849. Volume IV. Marriages. The Essex Institute, 1924. p. 451. Link to page at archive.org.
20. ↑ ^{20.0 20.1} The assertion that John was married to Sarah Littlefield before July 31, 1666 is based on the fact that Thomas's will dated that date refers to Francis Littlefield as John's father-in-law.
21. ↑ ^{21.0 21.1} Welles, Albert. History of the Welles Family in England and Normandy, with the Derivation from Their Progenitors of Some of the Descendants in the United States. 1876. p. 154. Link to page at archive.org.
22. ↑ ^{22.0 22.1} Vital Records of Ipswich, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849. Volume II. Marriages and Deaths. The Essex Institute, 1910. p. 449. Link to page at archive.org.
23. ↑ ^{23.0 23.1} Vital Records of Ipswich, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849. Volume II. Marriages and Deaths. The Essex Institute, 1910. p. 697. Link to page at archive.org.
24. ↑ ^{24.0 24.1} A bequest in Thomas Wells' will states that his son Thomas was born on "the eleaventh day of the eleaventh mo. Anno Dom: one thousand six hundred and forty-six," which is January 11, 1647 in the New Style calendar. The profile for Thomas Wells in Great Migration: Vol. VII T-Y" shows the date "January 11, 1646[/7?]." However, there seems to be no reason for the "/7" to be in brackets or have a question mark.
25. ↑ ^{25.0 25.1} Vital Records of Amesbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849. The Topsfield Historical Society, 1913. p. 596. Link to page at archive.org.
26. ↑ ^{26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3} Thomas Wells' will indicates that his youngest three daughters were, in order, Elizabeth, Hannah and Lydia. Since Elizabeth's last child was born in 1691, she was probably born no earlier than 1648. That would mean that Elizabeth, Hannah and Lydia were all born after their brother Thomas, who was born in January 1646/7. Based on a typical 2-year interval between births, that suggests dates of birth for Elizabeth, Hannah and Lydia of 1649, 1651 and 1653, respectively. These dates are the same as those estimated by Anderson in his profile for their father Thomas Wells. The 1653 estimated birth date for Lydia is troubling, however, as she was married in September 1669, which would mean that she would have been only 15 or 16. That is theoretically possible, but it is also possible that (1) sister Hannah was born after Lydia, (2) sister Elizabeth was born before brother Thomas (say in 1645) and either had daughter Mary at age 46, Mary's actual date of birth was earlier than 1691, or Elizabeth was not Mary's mother, (3) Lydia did not marry John Ropes or their date of marriage was later than 1669, or (4) the spacing between the births of children Thomas, Elizabeth, Hannah and Lydia was, on average, significantly less than 2 years (perhaps because two of them were twins).
27. ↑ ^{27.0 27.1} Shurtleff, Nathaniel B. (ed.). Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England. Vol. I. 1628-1641. 1853. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
28. ↑ ^{28.0 28.1} Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VII, T-Y. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011. Profile for Thomas Wells. pp. 294-296. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
29. ↑ ^{29.0 29.1} Hammatt, A. "Physicians of Ipswich." The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, For the Year 1850, Volume IV. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Mass., 1850. pp.11-12. Link to pages at archive.org.
30. ↑ ^{30.0 30.1 30.2} Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VII, T-Y. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011. Profile for Thomas Wells. p. 300. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
31. ↑ ^{31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3} Essex County Registry of Probate- Docket No. 29317. See images attached to this profile.
32. ↑ ^{32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3} The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume II 1665-1674. The Essex Institute, 1918. pp. 66-73. Link to pages at hathitrust.org.
33. ↑ ^{33.0 33.1} Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VII, T-Y. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011. Profile for Thomas Wells. pp. 296-298. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
34. ↑ ^{34.0 34.1} Cousin Mary Baker may have been Mary Baker, the daughter of John Baker of Boxted, who may have been a brother of Sarah (Baker) (Lumpkin) Stone and William Warner's wife.

See also:

• Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook) Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988
• Essex, Massachusetts Probate Records, 1638-1840 (Ancestry.com: The Generations Network, Inc.; Provo, UT, USA; 1997)
• "The Wells Family" Compilers : D. W. Norris & H. A. Feldmann. Milwaukee, Wis, The Cramer-Krasselt co. 1942
• Hoyt, David W. "A Brief Sketch of the Family of Rev. Thomas Wells, First Minister of Amesbury, Mass." The New England Historical and Genealogical Register volume XII (1858).