Amelia Marian Wells (1872 - 1968)

Born 17 Sep 1872 in Newbury, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 2 Jun 1968 at age 95 in Winchester, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Amelia was born on 17 September 1872 at Newbury, Berkshire. She is the first of at least nine children to Edward Wells and Ada Giffard. Her birth was registered at Newbury in the fourth quarter of the year. Her parents had married in 1871.

She came to be known as Amy.^[1]

At the 1881 census when Amelia is 8 she is recorded as visiting Ann Haskins (abt.1809-) (70, born Newbury) at Grove Road, Ventnor, Hampshire. Ann Haskins is Amelia's first cousin twice removed.

The parental home in the meantime at the 1881 census is at West Mead, Newton Road, Newbury. Here are Amelia's father Edward Wells (33, wine merchant), mother Ada E Wells (36), brother Henry D Wells (6), sister Gertrude A Wells (4), brother Arnold H Wells (3), and brother John D Wells (1). Employed by the family are a governess and four servants - cook/domestic, housemaid and two nurses (one aged only 14). Amelia's brother Edward (7) is also away from home at the census date. All children were born in Newbury.

The 1891 census shows the family still at "Westmead" in Newbury. Present are Amelia's father Edward (43, wine merchant), mother Ada E Wells (46), Amelia M Wells (18), brother Henry D Wells (16), sister Gertrude A Wells (14), brother Arnold H Wells (13), brother John D Wells (11), brother Walter A Wells (9), brother Maurice O Wells (8) and sister Margaret G Wells (5). Eldest brother Edward Wells (17) is again absent. There are three resident servants - general domestic, nurse, and housemaid.

At the 1901 census the family have moved to 3 Castle Houses, Newbury. Present are father Edward Wells (53, wine merchant), mother Ada Wells (56), Amelia (28, single), sister Gertrude (24), brother Arnold (23, university student), brother Maurice (18, wine merchant's son) and sister Margaret (15). Also present are an 18 year old visitor (born in Costa Rica) and four servants - housemaid, cook, parlour maid and general servant.

The 1911 census shows Amelia's parents have moved to 2 Belvidere Drive, Newbury. On the census date the household consists of her father Edward Wells (63, wine merchant), mother Ada Wells (66), Amelia (38, single) and sister Margaret (25, single). There is a boarder, aged 25, who is Swedish. There are also two servants - housemaid/domestic and cook. This census confirms her parents have been married for 39 years, and had had nine children all of whom were still living.

Amelia's mother died in 1925 and her father in 1927.

In the 1930 Berkshire Electoral Register Amelia is listed at "Darington", Benham Hill, Thatcham, near Newbury, sharing the home with her two sisters Gertrude and Margaret, and her brother Maurice.

In the 1935 Berkshire Electoral Register Amelia is listed at Stockcross, Sheen, Newbury, sharing the home with her sister Gertrude. Her other sister Margaret had died in 1933.

The 1939 England and Wales Register lists Amelia (single) and her sister Gertrude (single) living at 2 Meadow Road, Newbury, Berkshire. Both are described as of private means. The Register gives Amelia's full date of birth.

In the 1950 Berkshire Electoral Register Amelia is listed at Stockcross, Sheen, Newbury, sharing the home with her sister Gertrude.

In the 1955 Berkshire Electoral Register Amelia is listed at 2 Pleasant View, Stockcross, Sheen, Newbury, sharing the home with her sister Gertrude.

Amelia Marian Wells "of Park House, Park Road, Winchester, died 2 June 1968" (National Probate Calendar). She was aged 95. Her latter years were spent at Park House Nursing Home, Winchester, Hampshire. She was cremated and her ashes interred at Newtown Road, Newbury, Berkshire ,[1] on 19 October 1968, sharing a memorial stone with sisters Margaret and Gertrude.

Sources

1. ↑ First hand information from her nephew Rev George Reginald Wells George Reginald Wells (1911-2007)

• England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 for Amelia Marian Wells, 1872, Q4-Oct-Nov-Dec

• 1881 England Census for Amelia M. Wells, Hampshire, Ventnor, District 4

• 1891 England Census for Amelia M Wells, Berkshire, Newbury, District 10

• 1901 England Census for Amelia M Wells, Berkshire, Newbury, District 12

• 1911 England Census for Amelia Mariam Wells, Berkshire, Newbury, 09

• Berkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1965 for Amelia Marian Wells, Newbury, 1930

• Berkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1965 for Amelia M Wells, Newbury, 1935, 1950 and 1955

• 1939 England and Wales Register for Amelia M Wells, Berkshire, Newbury MB, DTDM

• England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 for Amelia Marian Wells, 1968

• Friends of Newtown Road Cemetery, http://www.fnrcnewbury.org.uk/persondetails.asp?PersonID=1898