Alfred Joseph Wells (1841 - 1932)

Born 22 May 1841 in Bridport, Dorset, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Mahala (Walden) Wells — married 25 May 1865 in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia

Descendants

Died 24 Jun 1932 at age 91 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia

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Biography

Alfred Joseph Wells was born in 1841 in Bridport, Dorset. He was the third son born to Joseph Wells, a labourer, and Ann Elliott, with older brothers William and John. ^[1] Soon after Alfred was born, John died. Another brother, George John was born in 1842, who was always referred to as John. Alfred’s father Joseph also died around this time.

In about 1845, when Alfred would have been about four, Ann met Henry Faulkner, a sawyer from Bedfordshire, with whom she made a new life. She and Henry had two sons and two daughters between 1846 and 1855, the year the family emigrated to Australia.

Alfred arrived in Australia in 1855 on the "Donald McKay". Ship's documents record him entering Tasmania from Liverpool as “Alfred Faulkner” aged 14, with Henry Faulkner (his step-father) aged 47; Ann Faulkner (Ann Wells, nee Elliott, his mother) aged 38; William Faulkner 17; John Faulkner 10; Henry Faulkner 6; Edward Faulkner 4; Susan Faulkner 2; and Elizabeth Faulkner aged 6 months.

Although Ann was yet to marry Henry Faulkner - she did so in Tasmania in 1856 - the Wellses and the Faulkners were ostensibly already a family. Presumably Ann, William, Alfred, and John took Henry Faulkner’s surname for expediency to make the long journey. They all reverted to the surname Wells soon after.

After spending a few years on the Huon river in Tasmania, the Faulkner family eventually settled in Castlemaine on Lyttelton street.

Alfred married 18 year old Mahala Walden in Castlemaine in 1865. (Note: Marriage records state 1866; however, their first child, Alfred, was born in 1865; and they celebrated their diamond anniversary in 1925.) ^[2]

They too settled in Castlemaine, and had twelve children: Alfred Henry (1865); Susan Mary Annie (1867); Clare Elliott (1871); Albertina (1872); William Robert (1875); John Elliott (1877); Anne Rose (1880); Charles Ernest (1882); Alfreda Josephine (1883); Beatrice Jane (1885); Launceston Algernon (1887); and Clare Elliott (1890).

Most of their children were born in Castlemaine, although a few were born in The Loddon, and others in similarly far flung places. Of their twelve children, nine survived to adulthood.

According to family history, Alfred was originally a sawyer, then established himself as an umbrella maker, living in a shop above his business in Castlemaine, then moving to Perth In 1896, where he had a shop in Hay St. ^[3]

Alfred and Mahala celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in 1925, when this photo was taken to commemorate the occasion. The event was reported in the newspaper:

The diamond wedding of a fine old couple was celebrated recently at the Bayswater Town Hall when Mr. Alfred Joseph Wells and his wife completed their sixty years of married happiness. The total of their ages is 162 years, Mr. Wells being 84. Present at the function as guests were: Alfred Henry Wells, son of the old couple (59), with his family; Alfred James Wells, grandson (34), and Alfred Frederick Wells, great grandson (2). The function was a brilliant success, the hall being practically full with the relations and descendants of the fine old pioneers. A chat with the old couple is a refreshing peep into the past, while the stories of Mr. Wells of the goldfields both in Victoria and New Zealand, are thrilling and informative. In his time he met many of the bushrangers of that time and saw hundreds of cases, where swift justice was dealt out to men who had been found guilty of crimes. Mrs. Wells is a gentle, kindly-souled old lady who, throughout her life, has been noticeable for the help and advice she has given to the sick and needy, her home always having been a gathering place for those in search of comfort and cheer. The function, which seems to have been a record for the State, was ended by the old couple leaving amid a shower of rice and confetti in a motor-car to resume their honeymoon as an ideal Darby and Joan. ^[4]

Mahala passed away in three years after this event, in 1929, aged 82. ^[5]

Alfred passed away three years later, in 1932, aged 92, at the home of his daughter Annie in Elizabeth Street, South Perth. ^{[6] [7]}

Alfred is buried at the Karrakatta Cemetery, near Perth with Mahala. ^[8] Note that this source cites different (incorrect) parents for Alfred.

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQYQ-NBP : 24 May 2019), Joseph Wells in household of Joseph Wells, Allington, Dorset, England, United Kingdom; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
2. ↑ VIC BDM Event: marriages Registration number 2031 / 1866 Family name: WALDEN Given name(s) Mahala Spouse's family name: WELLS Spouse's given name(s) Alfred
3. ↑ A Trust estate for Alfred Wells, Umbrella Maker, in Castlemaine is recorded in The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wednesday 21 June 1882 - Page 3; however, dates and info don’t fit with family story. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11544317?searchTerm=Alfred%20wells%20Castlemaine An Alfred Wells attended the industrial exhibition in Perth in 1899 as an umbrella maker. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/33170620?searchTerm=Alfred%20wells LIST OF EXHIBITORS. Detailed Lists, Results, Guides - Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954)Saturday 7 October 1899 - Page 20
4. ↑ Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 - 1954) Sunday 5 July 1925 - Page 14
5. ↑ WELLS. — On March 14, 1929, at South Perth, Mahala, the dearly beloved wife of Alfred Joseph Wells, senior, of Beechboro-road, Bayswater, and loved mother of Alfred, Abertina, John, Annie, Beatrice, Lancelot and Clare; aged 82 years. Castlemaine (Victoria) papers please copy. The West Australian, 15 March 1929, p.1.
6. ↑ WELLS. — On June 24, at South Perth, Alfred Joseph, dearly loved father of Alf and Sis, grandfather of Alf and Dais, Myrtle and Herb, Vi and Jim, Trix and Eric, and Bill, great grandfather of Trevor, Alfred, Bob, Leslie, Delma, Betty and Alfred, Jim and Beverley, and Darrell; aged 92 years. Late of Castlemaine and Bayswater. WELLS. — On June 24, at 28 Elizabeth-street, South Perth, Alfred Joseph, the dearly loved father of Lance and Doll, grandfather of Bill, Rennie, Dorothy, Dawn and Bobby. WELLS. — At the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Fred Cook, 38 Elizabeth-street, South Perth, Alfred Joseph, loving father of Annie and Fred, grandfather of Ida and Eddy, and Margaret, Mona, Percy, and Edna, Bert, George, Clare and May. Rest at last. WELLS. — On June 24, at 88 Elizabeth-street, South Perth, Alfred Joseph, dearly loved father of Beatrice and Herbert King, 75 Kenny-street, Bassendean, loving grandpa of Cliffe; aged 92 years. Peacefully sleeping. The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Monday 27 June 1932 - Page 1
7. ↑ WELLS. — On June 24, at South Perth, Alfred Joseph, dearly, beloved father of Clare and Arthur Nielsen, grandfather of Warren, John, Dick and Lois, of 101 Third-avenue, Mount Lawley. At rest. The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954)Saturday 25 June 1932 - Page 1
8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/139825426/alfred-joseph-wells : accessed 17 December 2021), memorial page for Alfred Joseph Wells Sr. (22 May 1841–24 Jun 1932), Find a Grave Memorial ID 139825426, citing Karrakatta Cemetery and Crematorium, Karrakatta, Nedlands City, Western Australia, Australia ; Maintained by Aussiegenie (contributor 47224840) .