The origins of William Wells are unknown. He may very well have come from the same part of England the Youngs family was from. The family also seems well connected with the Tuthill family and there may have been a common geographical origin between these families.

The Ancestral File places his birth on Feb 10, 1603/4 in Norwich, Norfolk, England. This is NOT correct. His date of birth is not known. This date of birth is likely the William Wells, son of the rector of St. Peter Mancroft. But, that William Wells died in England in 1680 and is not our ancestor. (See letter from Norfolk Record Office reproduced in "William Wells of Southold", Walter M. Wells, Jr. 1986.)
 

Born:   Torrey shows he died in 1671, aged 63, would be 1608. (Feb 10, 1603/4 in Norwich, Norfolk, England, per Ancestral File). There was a William Wells on the Truelove in 1635, age 17 years. This would mean born in 1618. This wouldn't be entirely out of the realm of possibility, but it is generally thought that William Wells had legal training, possibly at the university level (he had a law book collection in his estate when he died), so migrating at age 17 seems a bit young. At any rate, there is no evidence, of which I am aware, that ties this 17 year old lad to be our ancestor.

Migration:   Details of his migration are unknown to me. (See notes under date born above, possibly the 17 year old lad on the Truelove in 1635, but just as likely not.)

Residence:   Possibly in Lynn, in 1641, tradition has him among the founders of Southold, Long Island, in 1640. He lived there the rest of his life and many generations of descendants lived in that area.

Spouses:
 

William Wells apparently married late in life, or at least the marriage which produced identifiable descendants was late in life. His only child, of eight, that I have seen a specified date for is William (Jr.) on May 5, 1660. Most authorities estimate the births of the other children in that time range.

1) Bridget, widow of Henry Tuthill (note that Henry Tuthill and William Wells may have known each other from England), in Southold, Long Island. Henry Tuthill died 1644-1650 (Torrey) and the marriage to Bridget probably occurred in that time span. William would have been 36-42 in 1644, indicating he married late in life. She died fairly soon after the marriage. I have seen some show her surname as Burton. I don't know where that name comes from. Walter Wells, in "William Wells of Southold", states that the first two children are from the first wife.

2) Mary [Youngs?] Between 1644-1650 in Southold, Long Island. Some identify this lady as the daughter of the Rev John Youngs, or otherwise with a Young surname. This seems doubtful, as Selah Youngs appears to have that Mary Youngs well established as married to Edward Petty during this time. Torrey shows this name, as well, with a question mark, but doesn't show who her father might be. Reverend John Youngs had a sister, Mary, but she would have been too old to have William Wells children in the 1650's and 1660's. I don't know the evidence for why she might be a Youngs. She was the mother of all the children, except that the first two may possibly be from the first wife, per Walter Wells "William Wells of Southold." He had eight children from the approximate age of 48 to age 64. Mary survived William, who died in 1671, and she married, second, Thomas Mapes, a cousin of ours through our Purrier line (per Torrey). There is an interesting agreement in the Southold Town Records between William Wells, Jr. and Thomas Mapes, after William Wells attained his majority, concerning his distribution from this father's estate.
 
 

Death:  Nov 13, 1671 in Southold, Long Island, New York. Aged from 63, per Torry.

Estate / Will:
 

Following is the will of William Wells. The records indicate this will was written the same day he died:

Southold Town Records, Vol 1, p.310-Will Of William Wells
November ye 13, Anno 1671.

These presents Witness, that I, William Wells of Southold in the east Rideing of York
Sheere in Long Island doe for good and serious consideracon me here-unto moveing, give
and grant all my rite, title and interest of in and unto all my houses, Lands, teniments or
lottments and meadows within the bounds of Southold, with all my goods and chattels
unto my well beloved wife Mary Wells, for her comfortable subsistance, and education of
my children:- but not to dispose of any part or parcell thereof otherways:- but for portions
to the children as shee doth see cause, haveing respect to my eldest sonne.

As Witness my hand and seall the daye and yeare ffirst above written.
 

Signed sealed and delivered [Not signed]
in p'sts of us,
Barnabas Winds
Richard Terry
Enttred uppon Record
ye 17 of September Ano, 1672
by me Richard Terry Recorder

Notable Wells Kin include:
 
Benjamin Harrison - President of the US (the second Harrison president, not the first)

Benjamin Harrison's line of descent from William Wells is:

Direct Descendants of William Wells

 1   William Wells 1608 - 1671 b in England
..  +Bridget 1612 - 1655 b in England
  *2nd Wife of William Wells:
..  +Mary [Youngs?] 1637 - 1709 b in England or Long Island
. 2   Bethia Wells 1655 - 1733 b in Prob Southold, Long Island, New York
.....  +Jonathan Horton 1648 - 1707 b in Southold, Long Island, New York
.... 3   Bethia Horton 1674 - 1744 b in Southold, Long Island, New York
........  +Henry Tuthill 1665 - 1750 b in Southold, Long Island, New York
........ 4   Henry Tuthill, Jr. 1690 - 1775 b in Southold, Long Island, New York
............  +Hannah Crouch, ? 1693 - 1715
........... 5   Henry Tuthill III 1715 - 1793 b in Southold, Long Island, New York
...............  +Phoebe Horton 1722 - 1793 b in Southold, Long Island, New York
.............. 6   Anna Tuthill 1741 - 1776 b in Maybe Long Island, New York
..................  +John Cleves Symmes 1742 - 1814 b in Southold, Long Island, New York
.................. 7   Anna Tuthill Symmes 1775 - 1864 b in Flatbrook, New Jersey
......................  +William Henry Harrison, President 1773 - 1841 b in Berkeley Plantation, Charles City Co, Virginia
..................... 8   John Scott Harrison 1804 - 1878 b in Vincennes, Indiana
.........................  +Elizabeth Ramsey Irwin 1810 - 1850 b in Mercersburg, Penn
........................ 9   Benjamin Harrison, President 1833 - 1901 b in North Bend, Ohio
 

Genealogies by the Library of Congress since 1986 Section I
 
Wells, Walter M. (Walter Melvin), 1915-William Wells of Southold : co-founder of South-old, Long Island, N.Y., in 1640, 1605-1671 : his descendants, male and female, and their spouses if born prior to 1771 / by Walter M. Wells, Jr. -- 1st ed. -- Santa Rosa, CA (P.O. Box 4713, Santa Rosa 95402) : Roots at a Glance, c1986. viii, 143 p. ; 28 cm. 1. Wells family.  2. Wells, William, 1605-1671--Family. I. Title. CS71.W455 1986,  86-60334 929'.2'0973--dc19
Genealogies by the Library of Congress since 1986 Section III
 
CS71.W455 1878 Hayes, Charles Wells, 1828-1908. William Wells of Southold and his descendants, A.D. 1638 to 1878 [microform] / by Charles Wells Hayes. -- Buffalo, N.Y. : Baker, Jones & Co., 1878. 300 p. : ill. ; 23 cm. Call number of original: CS71.W455 1878. Master microform held by: DLC. Microfilm.  Washington, D.C. : Library of Congress Photoduplication Service, 1977.  1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm. I. Title. Microfilm 61343 (C)             DLC           84-211174

Daughter Elizabeth - NOT

Ancestral File shows a daughter of the immigrant to be Elizabeth Wells, married John Goldsmith. This is surely his daughter-in-law, the first wife of son William, Jr, Elizabeth Tuthill, who, as the widow Elizabeth (Tuthill) Wells, married John Goldsmith, per Torrey. This same John Goldsmith had married first Anne Wells, sister of William, Jr.
 

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Descendant Register Report of William Wells.

The Wells line of descent of the Kansas Pioneers is:

Direct Descendants of William Wells

 1   William Wells 1608 - 1671 b in England
....  +Bridget 1612 - 1655 b in England
  *2nd Wife of William Wells:
....  +Mary [Youngs?] 1637 - 1709 b in England or Long Island
.... 2   Bethia Wells 1655 - 1733 b in Prob Southold, Long Island, New York
..........  +Jonathan Horton 1648 - 1707 b in Southold, Long Island, New York
........... 3   Mehitable Horton 1682 - b in Southold, Long Island, New York
.................  +Daniel Tuthill 1679 - 1762 b in Southold, Long Island, New York
.................. 4   [2] Mary Tuthill 1721 - b in Southold, Long Island, New York
........................  +[1] Nathan Tuthill 1715 - 1769 b in Oyster Ponds, Long Island, New York
........................ 5   [3] Mehitable Tuthill 1760 - 1830 b in Prob Long Island, New York
..............................  +[4] Rufus Youngs 1748 - 1828 b in Aquebogue, Long Island, New York
............................... 6   [5] Polly Youngs 1791 - b in Riverhead, Long Island, New York
.....................................  +[6] John Aldrich 1790 - b in Prob Long Island, New York
...................................... 7   [7] Mary Jane Aldrich 1836 - 1862 b in Long Island, New York
............................................  +[8] John Kasar Hallock 1831 - 1875 b in West Mattituck, Long Island, New York
............................................ 8   [9] Morris Wells Hallock 1858 - 1941 b in West Mattituck, Long Island
..................................................  +[10] Harriet Loetta Pollock 1865 - 1936 b in Richland Co, Ohio
................................................... 9   [11] Inez Evangeline Hallock 1886 - 1976 b in Near Milo, Lincoln Co, Kansas
.........................................................  +[12] Arthur Willis Baldwin 1876 - 1961 b in Near Ada, Fountain Twp, Ottawa Co, Kans
 

Nathan and Mary (Tuthill) Tuthill were fourth cousins, by their common Wells ancestral couple: the immigrant
 

.... 2   Mehitable Wells 1666 - 1742 b in Prob Long Island, New York
..........  +John Tuthill 1658 - 1754 b in Southold, Long Island, New York
........... 3   John Tuthill 1685 - 1743 b in Oyster Ponds, Long Island, New York
.................  +Elizabeth Browne 1688 - 1750 b in Oyster Ponds, Long Island, New York
.................. 4   [1] Nathan Tuthill 1715 - 1769 b in Oyster Ponds, Long Island, New York
........................  +[2] Mary Tuthill 1721 - b in Southold, Long Island, New York
........................ 5   [3] Mehitable Tuthill 1760 - 1830 b in Prob Long Island, New York
..............................  +[4] Rufus Youngs 1748 - 1828 b in Aquebogue, Long Island, New York
............................... 6   [5] Polly Youngs 1791 - b in Riverhead, Long Island, New York
.....................................  +[6] John Aldrich 1790 - b in Prob Long Island, New York
...................................... 7   [7] Mary Jane Aldrich 1836 - 1862 b in Long Island, New York
............................................  +[8] John Kasar Hallock 1831 - 1875 b in West Mattituck, Long Island, New York
............................................ 8   [9] Morris Wells Hallock 1858 - 1941 b in West Mattituck, Long Island
..................................................  +[10] Harriet Loetta Pollock 1865 - 1936 b in Richland Co, Ohio
................................................... 9   [11] Inez Evangeline Hallock 1886 - 1976 b in Near Milo, Lincoln Co, Kansas
.........................................................  +[12] Arthur Willis Baldwin 1876 - 1961 b in Near Ada, Fountain Twp, Ottawa Co, Kans
 

Related Links:

William Wells was a Deputy of the Hempstead Convention in 1665.

Wells Forum at familyhistory.com

John T. Wells Home Page
 
 

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