Ursula Hilda Mary Wells (1890 - 1943)

Born 20 May 1890 in Dean Rectory, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 23 Nov 1943 at age 53 in Bournemouth, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Ursula was born on 20 May 1890^[1] at West Dean, Hampshire. She is the fith child and second daughter of Edward Wells and Anna Glossop who married in 1876. Her birth was registered at Alderbury Wiltshire in the third quarter of 1890. Her father was the Rector of West Dean at the time. West Dean sat on the border of Hampshire and Wiltshire.

She was baptised and christened Ursula Hilda Mary Wells on 1 June 1890 (record confirms birth date as 20 May 1890) at West Dean. Her father carried out the ceremony.

At the 1891 census, Ursula is with the family are at The Rectory, West Dean, Hampshire. This parish was in the enumeration district including West Tytherley, Hampshire. Details recorded - father Edward Wells (37, Rector West Dean East Grimstead, born Wallingford, Berkshire), mother Anna M Wells (39, born Isleworth, Middlesex), brother Edward G Wells (12, born Hastings, Sussex), brother Wilfred W Wells (9, born Flamstead, Hertfordshire), brother Leonard St Alban Wells (7, born Flamstead, Hertfordshire) and Ursula H M Wells (11 months, born West Dean, Hampshire). Six servants are also recorded - governess, nurse, maid, housemaid, page and cook.

At the 1901 census the family continues at West Dean, West Tytherly, Hampshire. Details recorded - father Edward Wells (47, clergyman - Church of England), mother Anna M Wells (49), sister Annie I Wells (single, 23, born Hastings, Sussex), brother Wifred W Wells (19, medical student), Ursula H Wells (10, born Dean rectory, Hampshire), and brother Herman T Wells (6, born Dean rectory, Hampshire). There are four servants listed on this occasion - cook, housemaid x 2, and nurse.

At the 1911 census Ursula Hilda Mary Wells (20, born Dean Rectory, Salisbury) is recorded as a student and a boarder at St Marys Hostel, 30-36 Warrington Crescent West, Paddington, London.

Ursula did not marry. She was a supporter of missionary work^[2] and wrote a number of books focussing on aspects of the old testament. Thank you to Andrew Wells for collating the following. Ursula was Scripture Mistress at the Abbey School, Reading. She wrote instructive books on the bible including – "Pioneer Prophets – Moses to Hosea" (1929) written for ‘The Old Girls of the Abbey School, Reading’, its sequel "Prophets of Judah – Isaiah to Jonah" (1931) written for ‘The Members of the St Michael’s Church Tutorial Class, Bournemouth 1928-31’, both published by the SPCK; "Job Finds God" (publisher and date unknown) and "Daniel: A Modern Prophet" (1939) published by Thomas Murby & Co.^[3]

Ursula's father died in 1930, living at Bournemouth. Hampshire, at the time.

The 1939 England and Wales Register lists Ursula H M Wells (born 20 May 1890, single) living with her mother Anna M Wells (born 2 February 1852, widow, private means), at 22 Studland Road, Bournemouth. Ursula is recorded as being an honorary church worker and author. Two houseworkers are also listed.

Ursula Hilda Mary Wells of 22 Studland Road, Bournemouth, spinster, died 23 November 1943. Probate ...... to the reverend Edward Glossop Wells (1878-1952), clerk, and Edgar Hugh Hudson, secretary. (National Probate Calendar - 1944) Her death was registered at Bournemouth in the fourth quarter of the year, aged 53.

Ursula is remembered on her parents' grave stone at West Dean churchyard, Wiltshire.^[4]

Sources

• England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index for Ursula Hilda M Wells, 1837-1915, 1890, Q3-Jul-Aug-Sep

• Wiltshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1916 for Ursula Hilda Mary Wells, West Dean, 1886-1916

• 1891 England Census for Ursula N M Wells, Hampshire, West Tytherley, District 6

• 1901 England Census for Ursula H Wells, Hampshire, West Tytherley, District 3

• 1911 England Census for Ursula Hilda Mary Wells, London, Paddington, Paddington North, 35

• 1939 England and Wales Register for Ursula H M Wells, Hampshire, Bournemouth Cb, Eano (Ancestry.com)

• England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 for Ursula H M Wells, 1943, Q4-Oct-Nov-Dec

• England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 for Ursula Hilda Mary Wells, 1944

Footnotes

1. ↑ Full date of birth from 1939 England and Wales Register, and from Baptism Register
2. ↑ West Dean - Sale for Foreign Missions - Salisbury Times - Friday 11 August 1905
3. ↑ Andrew Wells (first cousin twice removed), 2022
4. ↑ Find a Grave - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93348345/ursula-hilda_mary-wells

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Gilly Wood for creating Wells-5545 on 26 Sep 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Gilly and others.