William Wells (1605 - abt. 1680)

Born 10 Feb 1605 in Norwich, Norfolk, England

Descendants

Died about 16 Oct 1680 at about age 75 in North Elmham, Norfolk, England

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Note: The individual profiled here did not emigrate to America. That person was William Wells of Southold. Please do not merge their profiles or attribute the parents of this individual to that one.

Biography

Rev William Wells was a clergyman of the Church of England.

Minister

William Wells was the eldest son of William Wells, Rector of St Peter Mancroft church in Norwich, Norfolk, and his wife Elizabeth. He was baptised 10 February 1604/5.^[1]

His father, Rev William Wells, wished for his eldest son to follow him into the church, and, in his 1620 Will, ^[2] made him bequests of his books and writings, contingent upon his successfully doing so.

Accordingly, in the year after his father's death, William Wells at age 16 left school in Norwich and entered Cambridge, admitted 12 February 1620/1 to Caius College. He was named Scholar 1621-1625. He took the degree BA in 1624/5, MA in 1628. He was ordained deacon and priest in Norwich on 18 February 1625.^{[3] [4]}

It is not clear what he did during the Civil War, but in 1647 he was appointed Rector of Bawdeswell in Norfolk.^[3] He may have then been appointed as Vicar of the Church of St Mary the Virgin in North Elmham, Norfolk. ^[5] In November 1659, following an Act of Parliament, his appointment was confirmed: "He held this parish by virtue of an act of parliament confirming clerics in their churches."^[6] He held the position for over twenty more years, until it was vacated by his death in 1680.

It is possible that he may have held both positions simultaneously for at least a time. An indenture was recorded on 15 November 1667 in which he leased "a messuage, houses and land in Bawdeswell."^[7]

Rev William Wells was buried at his church at North Elmham on 16 October 1680.^{[8] [9]} Blomefield in his History does not list him among the subjects of memorials in the church.^[5]

Family

William Wells had a wife Mary, described as the widow of WELLS, "Widow of William Wells, vicar", who was buried at the church of St Mary the Virgin on 20 December 1688.^{[10] [11]} Her family name appears to be unknown.

In his Will, dated 1 February 1679, ^[12] William Wells named Mary, "my loving, beloved wife", to retain his house during her lifetime. He also bequeathed property to his son William Wells, whom he named executor. The rest of his property, following the death of his wife, was to go to two of his grandsons - there were three grandsons and four granddaughters. It is not entirely clear from the terms of the Will if all these grandchildren were the children of son William.

Apparently the eldest grandchild was a grandson William, then in "imployment at sea, unto which I have been at great expense to bring him up." Grandfather William was clearly not entirely pleased with the results of this investment and left grandson William only a conditional £40. The other two grandsons, not yet of age, were John and Edward. Granddaughters were Elizabeth, Ursula, Margaret and Mary, all unmarried and not yet of age, who received bequests of money.

It appears that grandson Edward Wells, at least, was the son of Rev. Wells' son William, as an Edward Wells was baptised 26 December 1669 in the church of All Saints, Bawdeswell, Norfolk, where Rev William Wells had then been appointed rector. Edward's parents were listed in the parish register as William and Maria Wells.^[13] Mr Edward Wells was buried in the North Elmham church on 25 August 1717.^[14] He appears to be the same person who baptised three daughters and a son William there between 1694 and 1702. The mother of these children, listed in the parish records, was Mary.

Sources

1. ↑ Norfolk : Norwich : St Peter Mancroft : : "Parish Register" database, FreeREG : viewed 8 Jun 2021 baptism Willm Wells 10 Feb 1604/5
2. ↑ Will of William Wells Senior Wells
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Venn, J A. Alumni Cantabrigienses, vol. 4 p. 364. [1]
4. ↑ Venn, John. Biographical history of Gonville and Caius college, 1349-1897, vol I, p. 252. Wells
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Blomefield, Francis. "Launditch Hundred: Elmham." An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 9. London: W Miller, 1808. 486-495. British History Online. Web. 8 June 2021. [2]
6. ↑ Clergy of the Church of England Database: Person ID# 128747 128747
7. ↑ NRS 24667A, 134X3 Indenture
8. ↑ Norfolk : North Elmham : St Mary the Virgin : : "Parish Register" database, FreeREG (https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/58189896e93790ec755fff73 : viewed 5 Jun 2021) burial William Wells 16 Oct 1680
9. ↑ Norfolk Burials: North Elmham, Norfolk, England. [https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBPRS%2FNORFOLK%2FPD-209-2%2FPD-209-2-088&parentid=GBPRS%2FNORFOLK%2FBUR%2F300347881 Register Image
10. ↑ Norfolk : North Elmham : St Mary the Virgin : Archdeacon's Transcripts : "Parish Register" database, FreeREG : viewed 8 Jun 2021 burial Mary Wells 20 Dec 1688
11. ↑ The Ancient Register of North Elmham, Norfolk. Augustus George Legge, ed. p. 200. Norwich, 1888. Register
12. ↑ Norwich Archdeaconry Court, registered wills v. 63 (1680), fol. 338 verso, will of William WELLES of North Elmham, proved 27 December 1680; images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSND-R9H5-R : accessed 4 November 2021) DGS no. 8077040, image 370 of 573; Norfolk Record Office NRO
13. ↑ Norfolk : Bawdeswell : All Saints : : "Parish Register" database, FreeREG https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5818dbd2e93790ec8b4df5eb : viewed 14 Jun 2021 baptism Edw: Wells 26 Dec 1669]
14. ↑ Norfolk : North Elmham : St Mary the Virgin : Parish Register : "Parish Register" database, FreeREG : viewed 8 Jun 2021 burial Edward Wells 25 Aug 1717