Anne (Wells) Greenwood (1744 - 1808)

Born 6 Sep 1744 in Wallingford, Berkshire, England

Ancestors

Died 22 Jun 1808 at age 63 in Wallingford, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Anne was born in 1744. She appears to be the eldest of at least six children of Edward Wells and Amy Unknown. She was baptised on 6 September 1744 at St Mary le More's church, Wallingford, Berkshire.^[1][2]

In 1750 Anne was mentioned as a beneficiary in the will of her grandfather Edward Wells (1679-1749) .. I give and bequeathe to my granddaughters ANNE and SARAH, the daughters of my said son EDWARD WELLS, the legacy or sum of £50 a piece and to ...... of lawful money. All the said legacies to be paid to my grandchildren when they attain the age of 21 years. ^[3]

On 26 September 1765 Anne Wells married Charles Greenwood at Wallingford.^[4]

It is thought there were at least 9 children of the marriage.

The will of her husband, Charles Greenwood, "of Wallingford, gentleman", signed on 15 March 1787, and proved on 31 January 1788, refers to his wife Ann (no "e" in this Ann), and to 8 children - Charles, Edward, Sarah, Mary, Ann, Phyllis, Elizabeth and Priscilla. It is understood that another child, Thomas, died before the will was written.

The will of Ann Greenwood, "of Wallingford, widow", was signed on 21 February 1788, and administration granted on 30 July 1808. In this Ann refers to a settlement only in respect of her "six daughters" - Sarah, Mary, Ann, Phillis, Elizabeth and Priscilla, all of them with surname Greenwood and hence unmarried at that time. The timing of the signing of this will is within three weeks of her husband's will, as above, being proved - suggesting she was rectifying some perceived failing in her husband's settlement for his daughters. Her two surviving sons are not mentioned in her will. This will also establishes her brother John Wells as sole executor. Also of note is that on administration being granted (10 years after signing) this was to "Mary Sheen, formerly Greenwood (wife of John Sheen), the daughter of the said deceased"... "John Wells the sole executor named in the said will dying in the lifetime of the testatrix."

Anne Greenwood died on 22 June 1808 at Wallingford.^[5] This date ties in with the aforementioned will for Ann Greenwood approved on 30 July 1808.

Sources

• England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 for Charles Greenwood, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1785-1788, Piece 1161: Calvert, Quire Numbers 1-51, (1788)

• England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 for Ann Greenwood, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1808-1810, Piece 1482: Ely, Quire Numbers 533-589 (1808)

Footnotes

1. ↑ Withers http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/genealogy/wells/wells.html
2. ↑ Pedigree of Wells of Wallingford by Major H R E Rudkin, 1935
3. ↑ England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 for Edward Wells, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1750-1756, Piece 784: Greenly, Quire Numbers 366-411 (1750) (Ancestry.com)
4. ↑ Withers http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/genealogy/wells/wells.html
5. ↑ Withers http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/genealogy/wells/wells.html

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Gilly Wood for creating Wells-5505 on 25 Sep 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Gilly and others.