John Wells (1772 - 1801)

Born 28 Dec 1772 in Wallingford, Berkshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Ann (Toovey) Wells — married about 1796 in Newnham Murren, Oxfordshire, England

Descendants

Died 27 Sep 1801 at age 28 in near Wallingford, Berkshire, England

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Biography

John was born on 28 December 1772. He is the second son of Edward Wells and Mary Prowse. He was most likely born in Wallingford, Berkshire, England. He was baptised on 21 January 1773 at St Mary's, Wallingford ^[1].

His Wells ancestors had occupied Slade End House, on the Slade End Farm Estate, Brightwell, by Wallingford, Berkshire, from 1714, and the house was owned by them from 1783. ^[2][3]

John's mother died in 1793, when he was 20 years old.

His father re-married in 1794, marrying Charlotte Cozens.

It is understood John Wells married Ann Toovey in 1796 at Newnham Murren, Oxfordshire, just over the River Thames from Wallingford. ^[4]. Their first child was born in June 1797 and the last will and testament of Ann (Toovey) Wells refers to the settlement in relation to land and property at Garford, in the parish of Marcham, Berkshire, that was concluded in December 1795 "being the settlement executed previous to and in contemplation of the marriage that afterwards took effect between me and my late husband John Wells Gentleman deceased".

The couple appear to have had three children, born at Slade End, Brightwell, before John's early demise. The eldest child was only four years old when John died.

The last will and testament of John Wells was made in August 1801. In this he described himself as "of Slade End".

John Wells died on 27 September 1801. He "was interred in the Chapel ground" of the Baptist Church, Thames Street, Wallingford, where it is understood there is a memorial. This ties in with each of his three children being baptised at Wallingford Baptist Non-Conformist Chapel, and in line with his "...desire that the Meeting House at Slade End may be connected with the Baptist Church at Wallingford and be preached in as usual after my decease without any rent being paid for the same..." ^[5].

The will of John Wells was proved on 27 February 1802.

Sources

1. ↑ http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/genealogy/wells/wells.html
2. ↑ Wells of Slade End, first published in 1991, sixth corrected limited edition Andrew Wells copyright 2014
3. ↑ British History Online, Parishes:Brightwell https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/berks/vol3/pp464-471#highlight-first
4. ↑ http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/genealogy/wells/wells.html
5. ↑ England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 for John Wells, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1802-1804, Piece 1370: Kenyon, Quire Numbers 113-166 (1802)

• http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/genealogy/wells/wells.html

• England & Wales, Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Registers, 1567-1970 for J Wells, RG4: Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Berkshire, Baptist, Piece 0237: Wallingford, Thames Street (Baptist), 1794-1816

• England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 for John Wells, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1802-1804, Piece 1370: Kenyon, Quire Numbers 113-166 (1802)

• England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 for Ann Wells, PROB 11:, Will Registers, 1842-1844, Piece 1960: Vol. 5, Quire Numbers 201-250 (1842)

Footnotes

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Gilly Wood for creating Wells-5525 on 26 Sep 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Gilly and others.