Ann Wells (1840 - 1912)

Born 8 May 1840 in Newbury, Berkshire, England

Ancestors

Died 2 Mar 1912 at age 71 in Kilburn, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Ann was born on 8 May 1840 at Newbury, Berkshire. Exact date from Rudkin^[1]. She is the first of eight children of Job Wells and Amelia Clack. Her parents married in 1839. Her birth was registered in Newbury in the second quarter of 1840.

At the 1841 census Ann's parents are recorded as resident at the Market Place, Newbury, Berkshire, where her father is a wine merchant. Present are father Job Wells, mother Amelia Wells and Ann Wells (1, born Berkshire). Also present are James Shorter (14, in subsequent census determined as a cousin) and two of undefined status, possibly servants - aged 20 and 11.

In the 1851 census the family are still at Market Place, Newbury - where the wine merchant business is. Present are father Job Wells (38), mother Amelia Wells (38), Ann Wells (10, born Newbury), brother Job Haskins Wells (7), sister Amelia E Wells (5), brother Edwards Wells (3) and brother Thomas Wells (1). All siblings born in Newbury. Also present are cousin Rhoda Purnell (16), cousin James Shorter (24, merchant's clerk) and two servants - house maid and house servant.

At the 1861 census Ann Wells (20, unmarried) is at the household of John Haskins (50, unmarried, landed proprietor, born Newbury) at Grove Road, Newchurch, Hampshire. Present are a number of relatives from John Haskins side. In the census John Haskins is described as uncle to Ann. It is considered the relationship is more accurately described as first cousin once removed.

The 1871 census records at least 30 years for the Wells family in Market Place, Newbury, and business is good, with Ann's father employing 5 people in his wine merchant business. Recorded are father Job Wells (58), mother Amelia Wells (58), Ann Wells (30, unmarried, wine merchant's daughter), and brother Edward Wells (23, wine merchant's son). There are two resident general servants.

Ann's mother died in 1872 and her father died in 1874.

At the 1881 census Ann Wells (40, gentlewoman, born Newbury) is listed as a visitor to the household of George B Keyworth (59, married, farmer) at Marr Grange, Marr, Yorkshire. She is accompanied by her nephew Edward Wells (7), son of her brother Edward.

In the 1891 census Ann Wells (50, single, born Newbury) is a again listed as a visitor, this time to the household of George Jones (70, retired barrister) and his wife Mary (66) at Penington Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

At the 1901 census Ann Wells (60, living on own means, born Newbury) is with her cousin (from her mother's side?) at Holland Road, East Hoathly, Sussex. Her cousin is Charles H Matthews (61, married, flower farmer and Calvinist minister, born Newbury), married to Annie Matthews (64). This census return appears to record Ann as a widow. This is incorrect. Later records all describe Ann as single/spinster.

In 1911 the census has Ann Wells (70, single, private means, born Newbury) as a "patient" staying in the household of Lydia Backett (41, single) and Alice Alexander (40, single), both listed as head of the household. Lydia Backett is a trained nurse. The address is 114 Salusbury Road, Brondesbury Park (Willesden Green), London. There are five other's resident at the census, inclusive of a servant and a "Lady Help".

"Ann Wells of 114 Salusbury Road, Kilburn, Middlesex, spinster, died 2 March 1912. Probate ... to Charles Henry Matthews, florist." (National Probate Calendar). Same date of death as in Rudkin^[2].

Her death was registered at Willesden, Middlesex, in the first quarter of 1912. She was aged 71.

Sources

1. ↑ Pedigree of Wells of Wallingford, Major H. R. E. Rudkin, January 1933
2. ↑ Pedigree of Wells of Wallingford, Major H. R. E. Rudkin, January 1933

• England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 for Ann Wells, 1840, Q2-Apr-May-Jun

• 1841 England Census for Ann Wells, Berkshire, St Nicholas, Newbury, District 7

• 1851 England Census for Ann Wells, Berkshire, Newbury, 1c

• 1861 England Census for Ann Wells, Hampshire, Newchurch, Godshill, District 5

• 1871 England Census for Ann Wells, Berkshire, Newbury, 6

• 1881 England Census for Ann Wells, Yorkshire, Marr, District 9

• 1891 England Census for Ann Wells, Kent, Tunbridge, Tunbridge Wells, District 30

• 1901 England Census for Ann Wells, Sussex, East Hoathly, District 6

• 1911 England Census for Ann Wells, Middlesex, Willesden, 20

• England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 for Ann Wells, 1912

• England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915 for Ann Wells, 1912, Q1-Jan-Feb-Mar