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Thomas Wells |
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Abigail Warner |
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Thomas Wells ★ married Abigail Warner WE8, TH27, BO10. John William Linzee, citing the Parish Register of St. Botolph in Colchester, Essex, England, stated that Thomas Wells married Abygall Warner on July 23, 1630 LI3, but according to that Parish Register, there were only ten marriages which were recorded in 1630, and although there was a marriage license issued on July 23, this was between Thomas Rainer and Abygall Harke “of this p[ar]ish” ES10. Theirs was the sixth marriage record of the year 1630 and was located on page 53 of the St. Botolph Parish Register ES10. His will referenced “our vnkle Lumkins”, “our Cussen Marye Baker (alis Loue) of Colchester”, and “our Aunt Lumkin (alis stone, late deceased)” TH27. These were relatives of his wife, Abigail, whose maternal aunt, Sarah Baker, married Richard Lumkyne in 1616 in Boxted, Essex, England LI3, and after his death, Sarah married Simon Stone of Watertown, Massachusetts in about 1654 LI3, WA9.
Thomas sailed from England in the Susan and Ellen under the command of Master Paine in 1635, at the age of thirty HO16, LI3, BO10. Three lists of passengers who sailed on the Suzan & Ellin in 1635 were made HO16. The first was dated on April 13 (“xiij° Aprilis 1635”), and stated “In the Suzan & Ellin Edward Payne Mr for New-England Theis p[ar]ties herevnder expressed have brought Certificate from the Minister & Justices of their Conformitie & that they are no Subsedy Men”, which meant that they conformed to the rules of the Church of England, and they did not owe a subsidy to the king HO16. “Tho: Wells” was listed among these fifty-five individuals, and further down the list was a woman of the age of twenty, named Ann Wells HO16. Five days later, on April 18, another list for the Suzan & Ellin included thirty-four names, and the final list on May 9, 1635 included six individuals HO16. It seems reasonable to assume that the ship departed England after May 9, with ninety-five passengers.
He settled in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts DO14, BO10. In 1635, he was granted a house lot of one and a half acres on “the further side of the River, near the foot bridge”, bounded by house lots owned by John Proctor on the north, Samuel Younglove on the south, and the river on the east and west sides SC4. In 1850, A. Hammatt stated that Thomas Wells’ house lot was on the south side of the river, near Stone Bridge HA6. Stone Bridge is probably the same bridge which is now called Choate Bridge, a bridge of stone with two arches which supports South Main Street, and spans the Ipswich River where it bends. The river’s bend has caused the land to form a small peninsula on the southern bank, and perhaps his home was located on this peninsula. In the same year, he was also granted a planting lot of six acres on the eastern part of “Hartbreak Hill”, twenty-four acres of upland, and a meadow of eight acres which was at the West Meadows, which shared boundaries on the northwest with William Warner’s meadow, and on the northeast by “the great Pine swamp” SC4. Later, he was granted ten acres of marsh because some of his land had been repossessed for “the country highway at the Bridge, and for a drift way through his farm” SC4.
Two land grants for Thomas Wells from the town of Ipswich have been located in both “Ipswich Grants Town Meeting 1634-1660” IP2 and “Town Records 1634-1857” IP3. Both of those sources are images of the crumbling record books, and both were required to piece together a more complete record of these two grants. Where one record had missing words, the other record was used to fill in the gaps, and vice versa. In the following records which have been transcribed by me, words which have been italicized were taken from “Ipswich Grants Town Meeting 1634-1660” IP2, but the bulk of the transcribed text was taken from “Town Records 1634-1857” IP3:
Granted unto Thoms welles anno 1635 as in the ould booke apeareth as followeth viz one howse Lott one acre a halfe of ground more or less lying on the further syde the river… [the word following “river” has been smudged and is now illegible] foot bridge having a howse Lott of John Procters on the north on the sowth a howse lot of Samuel youngloves at the east and west endes compassed in by the towne river
also a planting lott six acres more or less lying on the east end of the great hill called heart breake hill bownded on the east by a planting lott of Mr. Samuell Dudly on the west by a planting lott of John Proctors
also twenty four acres of upland having on the northeast a p[ar]cell of land granted to John Proctor on the sowthwest a p[a]rcell of land granted unto John wiatt at the northwest end butting upon the towne river at the east end upon the way leading to Mr Saltonstals farme:
also a prcell of medow at the west medow et being eight acres more or less having on the northwest medow granted to william warner on the sowth syde Captain Turners hill on the northeast the great pine swamp to inioy all the saide lands to him his heires and assignes for ever entered the first day of June 1638
Thomas wells is possesed of ten acres of marsh granted him in full sattisfaction of the land taken from him for the Conttry high way at the Bridge & for a drift way through his farme (part of wch was granted him in ye yeare fifty one) the propriety of the drift way to remaine his the said Thomas wells… bounded by his owne land wch he bought of Francis Jordan (25 Rod long… (wch was halfe the Length) toward the north east haveing marsh of wades wch was sometimes willm Goodhues toward the southwest… rod long & from that Corner straight to a cove by a line run[n]ing North… InJoy all the said marsh be it more or less to him & his heirs for ever
On March 1, 1637, Thomas traded his six acres of planting land which was on the “East end of the Great Hill commonly called Heartbreake Hill”, in addition to money and goods which had a value of fifty shillings, for a six-acre planting lot owned by John Seaborne, which was bounded by the river on its western side, the highway which led to the bay on its eastern side, and other planting lots on its northern and southern edges SC4, IP3. This record was located in “Town Records 1634-1857” and has been transcribed below IP3.
22th of march 1637
Memorand[um] that Thomas welles hath bought by exchange John Seabornes six acres of planting grownd bownded at [t]he west end by the towne river and at the east end by the high way that leadeth toward the bay having on the north a planting lott of Anthony Colebyes and three acres of planting grownd of Symon [the previous name is uncertain] Tomsones on the sowth for which he hath given him in Exchange six acres of planting grownd lying on the East end of th… [the next word or words have been rubbed away] commonly called heartbreake hill bownded on the East by a pla [probably planting lot, but the words have been rubbed away] of mr Samuell Dudley on the west by a planting lott of John Procters also the sayde Thomas welles hath given to the sayd John Sebernes over and above the sayde lott in mony & goodes… there covenant in wryting doth apeare, to the value of fifty shilling or there about theyr agreement in writing concerning the premis[es] bereth date the first day of march 1637
Thomas was made a freeman in Boston on May 17, 1637 PA23, LI3, HA6. The land of Thomas Wells was mentioned in a land grant from the town of Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts to John Wyate which was recorded on July 5, 1639; John Wyate’s meadow and upland at the West Meadows was bounded on the south and southeast of the parcel of meadow owned by Thomas Wells and William Warner SA21. The name “Thomas wells” was included in a list of “The Names of Such as are Com[m]oners in Ipswich viz: that have right to Com[m]onage there: the last day of the last month 1641” IP2.
Thomas Wells purchased two parcels of land (one parcel was upland and the other was meadow) which totalled thirteen acres for an unstated sum of money on June 14, 1644 from Mathias Button of Ipswich SA21. He was called a yeoman when he purchased a parcel of eighty acres of upland and meadow in Ipswich from Thomas Bishop for the sum of forty pounds on November 24, 1644 SA21. The two deeds below were transcribed by George Freeman Sanborn, Jr. and have been reproduced here under a Creative Commons “Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International” license SA21:
Wittnesseth, that I, Mathias Button of Ipswich, in New England, have sould, assigned & sett over unto Thomas Wells of the said towne of Ipswich aforesaid, one parcell of upland, and an other parcell of meadow, both containinge by estimation thirteene acres, lying & being in two severall places, viz: the upland lying between the line of Widow Lumkin’s farme at Saggamore hill & Mr. Samuel Symonds marsh ground, running from a stake at the heather corner of ye meadow, along the line of Widow Lumkins, to a marked white oake tree, at that end toward Castle hill; and the meadow lying bounded, the east end upon a peece of meadow of the sd Widow Lumkins, parting from hers as the line do devide them, it running streight from marked tree to marked tre, & soe from ye mark’t wallnut tree streight through ye meadow to the corner of the line, the other end butting upon a litle cricke or gutt that comes out of a great creeke, which little cricke is but a little distance from the foot bridge, that is the passage out of Goodman Hovey’s island to Saggamore hill; alsoe this little cricke is a little below or nearer the river as the tide comes in, then the spring well that is in Goodman Hovey’s island, & one side of the meadow doe lye along the great cricke, and the other side doe lie along the southwest side of Saggamore hill, and all the hollows yt runs in & out along the side or skirt of the said hill, doe belong unto ye aforesaid meadow; all which meadow do chiefly consist of salt marsh & bastard marsh &c. together with a liberty of a rodd or two alonge the skirt of a hill or upland belongs to the meadow for carte & carryage, with all the profitts, benefitts & comodities thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining; these parcells being thus bounded as aforesaid, was given by the town to Mathias Button, & soe laid out by the lott layers: nowe the said Thomas Wells to have & to hould the said p’cel of upland, and the said parcell of meadow, containing by estimation thirteen acres, be it more or less, as it lyeth bounded as aforesaid, unto him, his heirs, executors or assignes forever, with all the profitts, benefitts & comodyties thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining as aforesaid without any molestation or interruption of any person or persons whatsoever; and I ye said Matthias Button acknowledge myselfe fully sattisfied & contented for the saide parcells of ground, by the sd Thomas Wells; and moreover I the said Matthias Button doth further promise, for me, mine heires, executors & assignes, to give unto the said Thomas Wells, his heirs & assigns, at any time when it shall be called for, as suer & sufficient assurance of the aforesaid parcells of ground, as the Court or Cuntry of New England doe marke or afforde. In witnesse whereof I the sd Mathyas Button have heareunto sett my hande, 14th, 4th month, 1644.
Matthias Button his mark
Witness,
Richard Saltonstall.
Be it knowne unto all men by these presents, that I, Thomas Bishop of Ipswich, in the countie of Essex, yeoman, in New England, for & in consideration of the full some of forty pounds, to me in hand pd by Thomas Wells, of the same town & county, yeoman, all & every part of the sd forty pound I the said Thomas Bishop do acknowledge to have received: have bargained, sould, enfeofed & confirmed, & by these presents doth bargaine, sell, graunt, enfeofe & confirme unto the above mentioned Thomas Wells & his heirs forever, eighty acres of upland & meadow, be it more or less, as it lieth, the south east end butting upon the middle of the highwaye leading unto Castle hill, the south west side butting upon a parcell of upland & meadow of the said Thomas Bishop aforesaid, the northwest end adjoining upon Thomas Emberson’s farme, the north east side joyning upon a parcell of meadow lately in the possession of Mathyas Button, and upon the end of a parcel of upland & meadow of Sarah Lumpkin, widdow, called Sagamore hill, & in the towne of Ipswich aforesaid. To have & to hould the abovenamed eighty acres of upland and meadow, be it more or less, with all ye profitts & privilidges belonging thereunto unto the above named Thomas Wells, his heirs, executors &c. from the day of the date hereof forever; and the said Thomas Bishop doth hereby warrantize the sale of the aforesaid eighty acres of upland & meadow, be it more or less, against all men whatsoever; and doth covenant & agree with the said Thomas Wells, his heirs, executors &c. to save him the sd Thomas Wells, his heirs, executors &c. harmless & free from all suits for the same; and that the said Thomas Wells, & his heirs, executors & assignes, shall quietly have, hould, use, occupy, possess & enjoy the forenamed eighty acres of upland & meadow, be it more or less, with all the profitts & privilidges thereto belonging, from any claiming in, by or from the above named Thomas Byshop, his heirs, executors or assignes, or any or either of them, their heirs, executors &c. In witness to all which the above mentioned Thomas Byshop hath heereunto sett his hand & seale, dated the fower & twentieth day of the ninth month called November, in the yere one thousand, six hundred, forty & four.
Thomas Bishop.
Signed, sealed & del’d. in the presence of us.
James Chewte.
Daniel Warner.
Thomas Wells and Jeames How and were chosen as constables for Ipswich at a town meeting held probably on February 9, 1646/7 SC4. He and Jeames Howe were sworn as the constables for Ipswich on March 30, 1647 DO12 and they were called constables of Ipswich on April 3, 1647 and again on August 31, 1648 SC4. At an Ipswich town meeting on December 22, 1648, “Goodman Howe, and Goodman Wells” were to be paid twenty shillings “for the loss of corne in the time of their Constableship”, in addition to the “six shillings which was over in their rate” SC4. It appears that Thomas Wells was to be reimbursed twelve pence for his horse and the expense of travelling to the bay SC4. Robert Lord and Thomas Wells conducted an inventory of the estate of the deceased Danyell Wood of Ipswich on March 23, 1648 SA21. An Ipswich record with the year “1652” written in pencil above stated IP3:
Granted to Thomas wells in full satisfaction of part of his lot taken into the highway at the Bridge and for a drift way Through his farme Eight acres of marsh This was granted him about Aprill. 51: the propriety of the land still Remaining his: There was sold to Thomas wells six acres to salt marsh to lye by his other
By an indenture dated February 18, 1653 between William White of Ipswich and Thomas Wells, Thomas paid fifty shillings for a six-acre parcel of salt marsh in “little Chebacko” in Ipswich SA21. The indenture may have been arranged by Widow Lumkins, who was the maternal aunt of Abigail (Warner) Wells, but it is unclear what her role was in the indenture SA21. He was a juror at the Ipswich Quarterly Court on March 28, 1654, and on November 28, 1654 at the Salem Quarterly Court, he was found guilty of striking William Bayly “in his own house”, and he was bound over and fined for this crime DO12. Thomas Wells, John Warner, and John Stone witnessed the deed between Sarah Stone of Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts (the grantor) and Daniell Warner of Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts (the grantee) on January 10, 1654 SA21. He was called a husbandman in an indenture dated February 14, 1654, in which he was granted forty acres of upland and meadow which had salt marsh, “bastard marsh”, and fresh upland and pasture by Symond and Sarah Stone SA21. Simon Stone was a deacon of Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, who married Sarah, the widow of Richard Lumkin SA21. The two deeds below were transcribed by George Freeman Sanborn, Jr. and have been reproduced here under a Creative Commons “Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International” license SA21:
This Indenture made the eighteenth day of the 12th month called February, in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand, six hundred fifty three, witnesseth: that William White of Ipswich, in the county of Essex, yeoman, for & in considderation of the full summ of fiftye shillings, for me & by my apoyntment made to Widow Lumkins, by Thomas Wells of the same towne & countye aforesaid, yeoman, and all & every part of the sd fifty shillings I the sayd William White doe acknowledg to have received full sattisfaction in & for the same: have bargained, sould, assigned & sett over, & by these pr’sents doth bargaine, sell, grant, enfeofe & confirme unto the above named Thomas Wells, to him & his heires forever, six acres of salt marsh ground, lying & being in little Chebacko, having a parcell of land of Francis Gordon’s on the east south east syde, and the marsh of Thomas Knowlton at his island on the west & by north side, & the great creeke that runs betweene Symon Tompson’s iland & the sd Knowlton’s iland on the south south west end, & the marsh of the sayd Thomas Wells on the north north east end, within the bounds of Ipswich as aforesayd. To have & to hould the above mentioned six acres of salt marsh ground, be it more or less, with all the profitts, benefitts and privilidges thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining unto the same, lying and being as aforesayd, unto the sd Thomas Wells, his heirs, executors or assignes forever; and from the day of the date hereof quietly & peaceably to enjoye the same, without any molestation or interruption of any person or persons whatsoever. In witness whereof I the sd William White have heereunto sett my hand & seale, the day & yeare first above written.
William White with a seale.
Signed, sealed & d’d. in the presence of us,
Theophilus Wilson.
Elizabeth Wilson. with a marke.
This Indenture made the fourteenth day of the twelfth month called February, in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand, Six hundred, fifty foure, wittnesseth, that Symond Stone of Watertowne, deacon, in the county of Middlesex, and Sarah Stone his wife, the relict, widdow and executrix of Richard Lumkin late of Ipswich, in New England, deceased, for dyvers good causes & considderations them heareunto moving: have given, granted & by these presents doe give & grant unto Thomas Wells of Ipswich, in the county of Essex, husbandman, a parcell of land being upland & meddow, viz: salt marsh and bastard marsh, and fresh upland, meadow & pasture, conteining by estimation forty acres, be it more or less, lying and being neare little Chebacho & Castle hill, within Ipswich bounds, having the land or hill of John Perkins, called Sagamore hill on the northwest syde, & Castle hill creeke on the northeast end, & a parcell of upland of the said Thomas Wells on the southeast syde, the line heading the said upland from the marked little white oke, directly towards the nearest part of the creeke towards the southeast, with a parcell of upland of Mr. Samuel Symonds adjoining upon part of the southeast syde, a matter of 30 rodds or thereabouts, and the farme of Thomas Wells adjoyning on the southwest end; also a parcell of marsh of the said Thomas Wells butting on part of the northwest syde, a matter of 35 rodds or thereabouts, with all the profitts, benefitts & comodyties thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining unto the same. To have & to hould the said parcell of land, being upland & meadow, fresh & sault as aforesayd, conteining by estimation forty acres of ground, be it more or less, with all the profitts, benefitts & comodyties thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining unto the same, lying & being as aforesayd, unto the said Thomas Wells, to him & his heires, executors or assignes forever, quietly & peaceably to enjoye the same, without any interuption or molestation of any person or persons whatsoever. In witness whereof the sayd Symond Stone sen’r. & Sarah Stone his wife have hereunto sett their hands & seales, the day & yeare first above written.
Symond Stone With a marke & a seale.
Sarah Stone with a marke & a seale.
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of these,
Symon Stone Jun’r.
John Stone.
Cambridge, 21: 9 mo: 1660.
This deed with the enterlining between the 2 & 3 line, is acknowledged by Simon Stone & Sarah his wife to be their own free act, by them signed and sealed.
Tho: Danforth.
An Ipswich record dated January 8, 1656 stated that Thomas Wells informed Theophilus Wilson, the constable of Ipswich, that a nearly two-year-old black heifer was found (probably on his property); this heifer was appraised at thirty-three shillings and four pence by George Giddinge and Henry Benit SA21. He purchased a twelve-acre parcel of upland and meadow in Ipswich for the sum of twenty-nine pounds from Thomas Bishop of Ipswich on June 15, 1657 SA21. He purchased a dwelling house, two hundred acres of upland, fifteen acres of meadow, eight acres of meadow or marsh at the little river, and seven acres of marsh land at the bridge for an undisclosed sum from William Symonds of Preston (Wells), York County, Maine on June 29, 1657 SA21. The two deeds below were transcribed by George Freeman Sanborn, Jr. and have been reproduced here under a Creative Commons “Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International” license SA21:
Know all men by these presents, that I, Thomas Bishop of Ipswich, in the county of Essex, yeoman, for & in considderation of the full somme of twenty & nyne pounds to me in hand payd by Thomas Wells of the same towne and county, yeoman, and all & every part of the said twentye nyne pounds, I the sd Thomas Bishop to acknowledge to have received: have bargained, sould, enfeofed and confirmed, and by these presents doth bargaine, sell, grant, enfeofe and confirme unto the abovementioned Thomas Wells, to him & his heires forever, twelve acres of upland & meddow, be it more or less, as it lyeth, the southeast end butting upon a parcell of meddow of Mr. John Rogers, the southwest syde butting upon ye farm of Major Generall Denison, running theec according to a streight from the end of the ditch, by John Emerson’s farm streight to a marked oake tree, neare the cove or creeke by the highwaye syde that leads towards Castle hill, the north west end adjoining upon a parsell of meddow of Anthony Potter’s, the northeast joyneing upon a meddow of the sd Thomas Wells. To have & to hould the abovesaid twelve acres of upland & meddow, be it more or less, as it lyeth bounded, with all the profitts, benefitts & privilidges thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining, unto the same unto the above named Thomas Wells, his heires, executors, administrators or assignes, from the day of the date hereof forever; and the sd Thomas Bishop doth hereby promise to warrantise the sale of the aforesayd twelve acres of upland and meddow, be it more or less, against all men whatsoever; and doth further covenant & agree with Thomas Wells, his heires, executors &c. to save the sayd Thomas Wells, his heires, executors & assignes, harmless & free from all sutes for the same; and that the said Thomas Wells, his heires, executors & assignes shall quietly and peaceably have, hould, use, occupie, possess and enjoye the same, w’th all the profitts & privilidges thereunto belonging, from any claime in, by or from the abovenamed Thomas Bishop, his heirs, executors or assignes, or any or either of them, their heires, executors &c. In witness to all which the abovementioned Thomas Bishop have heareunto set his hand and seale, dated the fifteenth day of the fourth month called June, in the yeare of our Lord God, one thousand, six hundred, fifty and seaven.
Thomas Bishop with a seale.
Signed, sealed & d’d. in the presence of us,
John Cogswell.
John Dilloying. with a marke.
Know all men by these presents, that I, William Symonds of Preston alias Wells, in the county of Yorke, gent: have bargained, sould, assigned and sett over, and by these presents doth for himselfe, his heires, executors and assignes, bargaine, sell, grant, assigne & sett over unto Thomas Wells of Ipswich, in ye county of Essex, yeoman, two hundred acres of upland and fifteene acres of meadow, viz: the one hundred having a dwelling house standing upon the same, the other hundred joyning to John Barrit’s on the north east, & soe next the common; alsoe eight acres of the meddow or marsh at ye little river, lying betweene two parcells of Mr. Goudge’s marsh; alsoe seaven acres (more or less) of marsh, lying at the bridge between the crick and Mr. Goudge’s: note the first hundred acres of upland above specified, is bounded with Mr. Robert Nannyes land on the southwest, and John Barrits’ on the northeast, and the other hundred acres of upland lying northeast of John Barrits’ land; the sayd John Barrit is to have a little parcel from off that end which is next Mr. Goudge’s, not exceeding ten acres. Now to have and to hould the sayd two hundred acres of upland as aforesayd, with all the housing thereupon, and the eight acres of marsh at the little river, lying as aforesaid, and the seaven acres of marsh, (be it more or less) lying as aforesaid, unto the sayd Thomas Wells, his heirs, executors and assignes forever, with all the profitts, privilidges and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining unto the same, and quietly and peaceably to enjoy the same, without any molestation or interruption of any person or persons whatsoever. In witness whereof I the abovesaid William Symonds have hereunto sett my hand and seale, the 29th of the 4th month called June, Anno: Dom: 1657.
William Symonds with a seale.
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us,
John Wadley.
William Hamas.
John Barritt.
Thomas Wells of Ipswich, Essex County purchased two hundred acres of upland with a house, fifteen acres of meadow, eight acres of meadow or marsh at the Little River, and seven acres of marsh near the bridge between the creek and Mr. Goudge’s land, in Wells (also called Preston), York County, Maine on June 29, 1657 from William Symonds YO10, WE8, BO10. William Symonds stated that he received the full payment of the bond of Thomas Wells, namely two oxen and seventy bushels of wheat YO10. He was called a yeoman when he purchased an eight-acre parcel of salt marsh at Hog Island from Sergeant Jeremiah Belcher for the sum of four pounds on January 4, 1660 SA21. He purchased a thirty-acre parcel of upland and meadow near “Chebacho” in Ipswich (ten acres of meadow and twenty acres of upland) for the sum of sixty-eight pounds and ten shillings from Thomas Bishop of Ipswich on May 10, 1660 SA21. He purchased an entire island of ten acres of salt marsh and upland in “Little Chebacco” in Ipswich for the sum of thirty pounds from Deacon Thomas Knowlton of Ipswich on April 22, 1661 SA21. The three deeds below were transcribed by George Freeman Sanborn, Jr. and have been reproduced here under a Creative Commons “Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International” license SA21:
Know all men by these presents, that I, Jeremy Belcher of Ipswich, in the county of Essex, serg’t. for & in considderation of the full & just some of three pounds to me in hand payd by Thomas Wells of the same towne & county aforesayd, yeoman, (and all & every part of the sd three pound I the sayd Jereimy Belcher doe acknowledg to have received:) have bargained, sould, enfeofed & confirmed, and by these pr’sents doth bargaine, sell, grant, enfeofe and confirme unto the above named Thomas Wells, to him & to his heires & assignes forever, eight acres of saltmarsh ground, be it more or less, as it lyeth to me laid out in Hog Island marshes, viz: having the marsh ground of Thomas Burnam & Renold Foster sen’r. joyning to the southwest syde or neare that poynt, and the marsh of the Major Generall Denison butting upon the north west end, and the marsh ground that was laid out to Mr. John Appleton, bounding upon the north east syde, and the other end toward the south east butting upon the river (that is betwixt it & Hog Island) scituate & lying in the bounds of Ipswich aforesd. To have & to hould the abovenamed eight acres of salt marsh ground, be it more or less, as it lyeth bounded, with all the profitts, appurtenances and privilidges thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining unto the same, unto the above named Thomas Wells, his heirs, executors, administrators or assignes, from the day of the day of the date hereof forever, quietly and peaceably to enjoye the same, without any interruption or molestation of any person or persons whatsoever. In witness whereof I the sayd Jeremy Belcher have hereunto sett my hand and seale, the 4th daye of the eleventh month called January, in the yeare of our Lord God, one thousand, six hundred and sixty.
Jeremiah Belcher with a seale.
Signed, sealed & d’d. in the presence of these
Nath: Wells.
John Wells with a marke.
Know all men by these presents, that I, Thomas Bishop of Ipswich, in ye county of Essex, yeoman, for & in considderation of the full & just somme of sixtye eight pounds, ten shillings, to me in hand pd by Thomas Wells of the same towne and countye, yeoman, and all & every part of the sayd sixtye eight pounds, I the said Thomas Bishop doe acknowledge to have received; have bargained, sold, enfeofed & confirmed, and by these presents do bargaine, sell, grant, enfeofe and confirme unto the abovenamed Thomas Wells, to him & his heirs & assignes forever, thirty acres of upland & meddow, be it more or less, and as it lyeth, being neare unto Chebacho, viz: the upland is the twenty acres that was granted by the towne unto Thomas Averill sen’r. and the meddow is all the ten acres that was granted by the towne unto Allen Perlye, scituate & lying in the bounds of Ipswich aforesd, being bounded on the west syde partly by the meddow of William Averill, & on the other three sides by the towne common. To have & to hould the abovenamed thirty acres of upland & meddow, be it more or less, as it lyeth bounded with all the appurtenances, proffitts & privilidges thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining unto the same, unto the abovenamed Thomas Wells, his heirs, executors, administrators and assignes, from the daye of the date hereof forever; and he the sayd Thomas Bishop doth further covenant & promise for himselfe, his heires, executors, administrators & assignes, that the sayd Thomas Wells, his heires, executors and assignes, shall quietly & peaceably have, hould, use, occupie, possess and enjoye the same, with all the profitts & privilidges belonging thereunto, from any claime in, by or from the abovenamed Thomas Bishop his heires, executors, administrators and assignes, or any other or either of them, their heires, executors &c. In witness to all which I the abovementioned Thomas Bishop have heerunto set my hand and seale, dated the tenth daye of the third mounth called May, in the yeare of our Lord God, one thousand, six hundred & sixty.
Thomas Bishop with a seale.
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us,
William Fellowes.
Thomas Andrews.
Know all men by these presents, that I, Thomas Knowlton of Ipswich, in ye county of Essex, deacon, for & in considderation of the full summ of thirty pounds to me in hand payd by Thomas Wells of the same towne & county aforesayd, yeoman; have bargayned, sould, assigned and sett over, & by these presents doth bargaine, sell, assigne, grant, enfeofe and confirme unto the above named Thomas Wells, to him & his heires and assignes forever, my whole iland and upland & meadow, viz: tenn acres of saltmarsh, (together with the little parcell of upland that the marsh doth suround) lying & being in Little Chebacco, having a parcel of ground of the sayd Thomas Wells, w’ch he bought of William White, lying upon the south east syde, and another parcell of saltmarsh of the said Thomas Wells, butting upon the northeast end, and the west & by north syde bounding upon the great creeke, and the other end is bounded with the creeke that runs between this marsh and iland, and the iland & marsh of Goodman Tompson’s, & within the bounds of Ipswich aforesayd. To have and to hould the above mentioned ten acres of salt marsh, be it more or less, together with the little iland within the same, with all the profitts, benefitts & privilidges thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining unto the same, lying & being as aforesayd, unto the sd Thomas Wells, his heires, executors and assignes forever, and from the day of the date hereof, quietly & peaceably to enjoy the same, without the molestation or interuption of any person or persons whatsoever. In witness whereof I the aforesd Thomas Knowlton have hereunto sett my hand & seale, dated this 22th of the second mounth called Aprill, in the yeare of our Lord one thousand, six hundred, sixty one
Thomas Knowlton sen’r. with a seale.
Signed, sealed & d’d. in the presence of
Abraham Redington.
Thomas Knowlton Jun’r.
Thomas was a member of the Grand Jury for the Ipswich Court on September 30, 1662 DO13, and he was granted two shares of the common land division of Plum Island, Hog Island, and Castle Neck when it was divided on April 10, 1665 WA20.
His will was written on July 31, 1666, and was proved by the witnesses, Thomas Bishop, Sr. and Thomas Burnam, Sr. on November 15 or 16, 1666 TH27, DO14. He may have died on October 26, 1666 in Ipswich LI3. A transcript has been reproduced below TH27:
Know all men by these presents, that I Thomas Wells, of Ipswich in the County of Essex, being weake of body, yet of perfect memorye blessed be god, doe make this my last will & testament, in manner followeinge, viz: I comend my soule into the hands of my blessed Redeemer, in hope of a Joyefull resurrection, vnto Eternall life, att the last daye; and my body to be decently buryed. Item. I giue and bequeath vnto Abigaile my wife, eight pounds, yearely to be paide vnto her, out of my lands where now I dwell, dureing her life, in lewe of her Dowrye; and this is to be paide yearely, in wheate, malte, porke, & Indian corne, in equall proportion, and to be good and marchentable, and paided att ye current marchentable price, as such is then paide at here in Ipswich: Alsoe I giue vnto her to haue one of the best roumes in my house, viz: eyther the Hall, or the Parloure, (att her choyce,) and to enjoye the same dureing her widdowhoode, And to haue free liberty, to bake, brewe, & washe, &c., in the kitchen, & free liberty to laye her corne, meale, & mault, &c., in the Hall chamber, and free vse of garden grounde, where she liketh best, & to haue it well fenced in, and to haue lande duely tilled &c to sowe flaxe seed on, and that yearely as she shall see cause; & freedome in both the sellars, as shee needeth, and shall haue suffitiencye, of firewood provided & seasonably lay’d in, & that yearely att the cost of my executor; & free libty to keepe thre, or fower henns, & a pigg or hogg in the grounde & yards, and shall haue the sixte parte of the fruite, that shall yearely growe in the orchard, & shall haue the free vse and libty of all these dureing her widdowehoode. Ite. I giue vnto my saide wife the olde baye mare (she uses to ride on) and the bridle, pillion seate, and pannell, and two cowes, (att her choyce), and to haue the keeping of a horse or mare and of two cowes for her vse, both sumer and winter, & good house roume for them in winters, & these to be well kept, att the cost of my executor, dureing her widdowehoode. Also, I give vnto her the bible she uses, & the booke called the Soule’s preparation for christ, & that of Perkins upon the Creede, and the bedsteed we lye on, & the bedinge, curtans & vallans, therevnto belongeing, (excepting the blewe rugg) and to haue the best greene rugge in lewe thereof And I giue vnto her the ||best chest and the|| inlayd boxe wth T: W: vpon the lidd; and to haue one halfe of the lynen & lynen clothe, & the thirds of the wollan clothe that is in the house, or in yarne or clothe at the weavers, and the thirds of the woole in the house, at my disease, and one halfe of the putter [pewter] that was her owne fathers, and the putter pinte pott (or tanker), and a brass, or iron pott (att her choyce) saue onely the great Iron pott and I giue vnto her the iron skellet, & foure of the best spounes, & a good porrenger, & a couple of sauscers (att her choyce) and the best lowe chaire, & her litle chaire, & a good Cushen, & one of the greate wheeles, & a litle spinninge wheele, and the warmeing pan, as legacies. Ite. my will is that my saide wife, shall haue the free vse of any kettle (of mine now in the house) or milke vessells, &c., she needeth, & of anye other smale things in the house (that’s mine) as though they were her owne, and that wthout controule, & to haue freedome att the well for watter, and libty for her cloths, or anye thinge els to be spreade, &c., where she pleaseth, and these dureing her widdowhoode Ite. Whereas John Wells, (my second son) hath receiued of mee, a deed of gifte, of all the lands I had att the Towne of Wells, in the province of Maine, beinge the quantity of three hundred & fifty acres (more or less) arrable, meadowe, & pasture, togeather wth two cowes, and ten pounds, fifteene shillings, yt I haue paide (att his request) vnto Stephen Kent of Haverrill in cattle, vpon a bill due from ffrancis Littlefielde, Senr. (his father in law) wth severall other things, all wch he hath receiued of mee, in lewe of his portion, & accordingly my will is, that the same shall soe stande.
Ite. I giue vnto my son John Wells, ten pounds, to be paide vnto him, or to his assignes, wthin three yeares next after my decease, five pounds thereof in cattle neate, & in good condition, & the other five pounds, in wheate, malte, & Indian corne, in equall proportion, & all good & mrchantable, & att the currante marchantable price, as it then goes here in Ipswich, & to be deliurd att my now dwellinge house provided that my son John Wells be then liueinge. And I giue vnto him my cloke, & one of the greate putter candlesticks wth the topp thereof, & two great sauscers and two little sauscers more. And I giue vnto Sarah Wells, his wife, (my Daughter in lawe) one five shillings peece of gould, as legacies. Ite. whereas my two Eldest Daughters, viz: Sarah Massie of Salem, and Abigaile Tredwell of this Towne, hath each of them had thirty pounds in lewe of theire portions, my will is that the said Sarah Massie, or her assignes, shall haue a good cowe, or to the value of foure pounds ten shillings, in other cattle neate, & in good condition, (bulls onely excepted) & not to exceede eight yeares of age, & to haue the same deliuered here, where now I dwell, wthin one yeare, & a halfe, next after my decease, and also, to haue the benifitt of the grase of a litle parcell of salte marshe grounde, adjoyneing, to the north: west end of Mr. Wades, neare vnto hogge Iland, and my Daughter Sarah to enjoye the vse of this, vntill the decease of my Bro: Massie, her father in lawe, & then to returne vnto my executor. Alsoe I giue vnto Abigaile Tredwell my Daughter, my sixe acre lott of salte marsh, &c., that lyes in Plum Ilande, to her, & her heires of male, or a good cowe, to be deliuered vnto her in good condition wthin one yeare, & a halfe, next after my decease. Ite. I giue and bequeath vnto Thomas Wells my youngest son, two hundred and fifty pounds sterl. in lewe of his portion, to be paide vnto him, his heires or assignes, out of my houssen, and lands where now I dwell, wthin seauen yeares, foure months, & nine; or ten dayes, next after the saide Thomas Wells my son, doe come to the full age of one & twenty yeares, viz: one hundred pounds, to be paide at, or before, the twenteth or one and twenteth day, of the third month, commonly called may, next come twelue months, after that the saide Thomas Wells my son, doe come to the age of one & twenteth yeares. (whose birth day was vpon the eleventh day of the eleventh mo: Anno Dom: one thousand sixe hundred forty sixe) Fortye pounds thereof to be paid in cattle neate, & in good condition, (bulls onely excepted,) and in horss kinde, viz, in geldings, & the horss kinde not to exceede, the sume of eight pounds, and for age, not to exceede, aboue sixe yeares olde. And allwayes provided that the leane cattle, & the horss kinde be paide, & deliuered in the third mo. called may. And thirty-sixe pounds thereof, to be paide in wheate, and barly malte, in equall proportion, and all to be good & marchantable, both sweete, drye, & well dressed. And twenty foure pounds thereof to be paide in Indian corne, pease, porke and sheepe, & all to be good & marchantable, as aforesaid, the Indian corne, not to exceede the sume of twelue pounds, nor the sheepe not to exceede ye sume of foure pounds: And the other hundred pounds, to be duely and faithfully paide vnto the saide Thomas Wells, my youngest son, his heires or assignes, wthin three yeares, next after, the time, & daye, or dayes of payemt of the foremer hundred pounds, & all to be payeable, & well and faithfully paide vnto the said Thomas Wells my son, his heires, or assignes, aceordeinge vnto the foremr hundred pounds, both for Kinde, quallity & quantity. And the remaineinge fifty pounds, to be duely, & faithfully paide, vnto the saide Thomas Wells my youngest son, his heires, or assignes, wthin (the premenconed) seaven yeares, foure month’s & nine, or ten dayes, next after, that the saide Thomas, my son, doe come to the age of one and twenty yeares: twenty pounds thereof, to be paide in wheate, and barly malte, both good & mrchantable, being sweete, drye & well dressed, & in equall proportion. And fifteene pounds thereof, to be paide in cattle neate, & in good condition, (bulls & bull saggs onely excepted) And fifteene pounds thereof, to be paide in Indian corne, porke, & pease, & all to be good & mrchantable, the Indian corne, not to exceede the sume of seaven pounds ten shillings; and all the cattle, horss kinde & sheepe to be duely paide, & dld. [probably “delivered”] att my now dwellinge house, here in Ipswich, & all the rest, to be likewise delivered here, att my house, where now I dwell, or att anye other house, malte-kilne & wharfe, in Ipswich where the saide Thomas, the son, or his assignes shall appointe the same.
Ite. My will is, that if my executor (whom I shall name & appointe) doe not duely, & faithfully paye & dischardge, this two hundred, & fifty pounds as before mentioned, accordeinge to my true intente, (as before expressed) eyther in whole, or in parte. Then, the saide Thomas Wells, my youngest son, his executors, or assignes, shall enter upon and take possesion of the houssen, and lands, where now I dwell, both of arrable, meadowe and pasture, & quietly, to possese, & enjoye the same, vntill the whole be dischardged, anye thinge herein contained to the contrarye notwthstandinge. Ite. my will is, that if the saide Thomas, my youngest son, shall dye & cease this life, before he come to the full age of one & twenty yeares, then the executor, of this my last will, shall paye vnto the rest of my children, the full sume of one hundred, and forty pounds, viz. vnto John Wells, or ||to|| his surviueers, the full sume of forty pounds, & the other hundred pounds, to be equally proportioned, & devided amongst my owne five Daughters, or to theire surviuers, viz: to Sarah massie of Salem, to Abigaile Tredwell of this Towne, to Elezabeth Wells, Hanah Wells, & Lydia Wells my Daughters, each and euerye of them, to haue twenty pounds apeece, & all to be paide vnto them, out of my houssen, & lands, where now I dwell and that noe horss kinde be paide in anye parte thereof; The forty pounds to my son John Wells, & the twenty pounds apeece to Sarah Massie, and to Abigaile Tredwell, & Elezabeth Wells (my three Elder Daughters) to be paid vnto them, accordeingly, as is engaged vnto theire Bro. Thomas Wells, both for kinde, quallity, (excepte, before excepted) nor shall the cattle neate, & in sheepe, exceede halfe, in anye one perticular proportion, in this hundred, & forty pounds, & all to be paide vnto them, as aforesde, att, or before, the twenteth, or one & twenteth day, of the thirde mo. called may wch shall be in the yeare of or Lord, one thousande sixe hundred, sixty eight: And the other twenty pounds apeece to Hanah Wells, & Lydia Wells, my owne Daughters, shall be paid vnto each of them, or to theire assignes, in wheate, barly-malte, porke, pease, & Indian come, the Indian corne, in each twenty pounds, not to exceed the sume of foure pounds ten shillings, & all to be good & mrchantable, & att the currant mrchantable price, as such is then paid att here in Ipswich, and these twenty pounds apeece, to my youngest Daughters, to be duely paide att or before eight & twenteth day of march, Anno Dom one thousand sixe hundred, & seaventy, & all to be delivrd here att my nowe dwellinge house, or att any other house, or wharfe, in Ipswich, where the sd Hanah, & Lydia, or theire assignes, shall appointe the same. Ite my will is that Thomas Wells, my youngest son, shall quietly possese, & enjoye, for his vse, the parloure chamber of this house where now I dwell, & haue free libty for fire woode, vntill he marrye. And that he shall haue, his dyate [diet], & washinge, whiles he keeps here, att the cost of my Executor. vntill he come to the age of two and twenty yeares, foure months, & ten dayes
I giue vnto my son Thomas Wells, all the bookes, that I bought for his vse, and my three phisicke bookes & the booke called the orthodox evangelist, the great sermon booke, & Hyelings Geogripha and the litle chist, & table (he made) that stands in the Hall chamber, & my white boxe, and the chist planks, to make him a chist on, and the litle iron candlestick my white rule, my read pensheare, & my pen knife and my sworde & scabitt, and my fire locke musket, wth a square barrell; & the moulds, worme, & skourer, &c. Alsoe I giue vnto him, the litle bede steed yt is in the Hall chamber and the little featherbed, thereto belonging, & a paire of good sheetes, & the reade blanket, and the blew rugg, & a good pillow, & pillowbeare. Also I giue vnto my son Thomas my silver Boule, and one two & twenty shillings peece of gould. And I giue vnto him, all my right, and Interrest, of the bonde, that is due vnto me, from goodman John Andrews of this Towne, carpenter. (save onely sixe pounds ten shillings thereof, to my son Nath. Wells, & wch makes the rest that he hath allready had thereof twenty pounds, and this I giue vnto my son Thomas, toward his chardges, of his goeinge to the Colledge, & for bookes and apparrell, &c. or to putt him to mr Allcocke, or the like; and I giue, the new pictures, viz. of the Kinge and Queene & of the five senccees, these I giue vnto him as legacies, as alsoe my stuffe clothes, & a paire of my best stockings. Ite I giue vnto, Elezabeth Wells, Hanah Wells, and Lydia Wells, my younger Daughters, each, & every of them, thirty five pounds, a peece, to be paide vnto them, in lewe of theire portions, wthin one yeare next after they marrye, or when they come to the age of one & twenty yeares, twenty pounds thereof, to be paide in cattle neate, & in good condition, (bulls onely excepted) and in sheepe in good condition. And the remaineinge fifteene pounds, in each & every porcon to be paide ||in|| wheate, barly malte, porke, & Indian corne, these in equall proportion, and all to be good & mrchantable and to be paid att the currant mrchantable price, as such is then paide att in Ipswich aforesd and to be delivrd att my now dwelling house, saue onely the corne & malte to be delivered here, or att any other house, malte kilne, or wharfe, where my Daughters or anye of them or theire assi. shall appointe the same. Also, my will is, that every of these my Daughters, shall haue, each of them a bible, & every of them a good chist, & to haue these delivered vnto each of them, wthin one yeare next after my decease.
Ite. I giue & bequeath vnto Sarah Massye, of Salem, and to Abigaile Tredwell of this Towne, & to Elezabeth Wells, and Lydia Wells, my owne Daughters, each & every of them, two halfe Crowne peecces of English money, to be delivered vnto them, wthin one month next after my decease, and I giue vnto Hanah Wells my Daughter, one ten shillings peece of goulde to be delivered vnto her, wthin one mo: next after my decease; all wch money, and the silver boule, that is giuen vnto my son Thomas, and to his three younger Sisters, viz. to Elezabeth Wells, Hanah, & Lydia Wells I haue all readye giuen them into the hands & custodye, of Thomas Wells my youngest son, whom I trust, and confide in, to giue the same, as I haue bequeathed, vnto his three younger sisters, and to keep the rest, vnto himself besid matter of legacies, and they not att age as yet. Ite I giue unto Abigaile my wife, the thirde parte of the English money, wch shall remaine, & be left, and not paide, vnto the legatyes, that’s deceased in England, & kindred of our vnkle Lumkins. And my will is, that my saide wife, shall haue the tuishion, of my Daughter, Elezabeth Wells, and of my Daughter Lydia wells, vntill they marrye, or come to the age of one & twenty yeares, but, if the saide Lydia, doe not keepe wth her mother, then she to be wth her sister Sarah Massie, if all parties be willing.
Ite my will is, that Misteris Marye Roggers of Rowley, shall haue the tuishion, & education, of my Daughter Hanah Wells, vntill she marrye, or come to the age of one and twenty yeares, hopeing the said misteris Roggers, will please to doe mee that favoure. Ite I giue vnto our Cussen Marye Baker (alis Loue) of Colchester, soe much new England money, as is Equivalent, vnto fifty shillings of old England money, and my will is that my Executor, doe faithfully endeavoure to couveigh the same vnto her, (it being in refferrence to an agreemt betwene, both my Bro: Warners, and my self in answ: to a request of our Aunt Lumkin (alis stone, late deceased), and to take advise of my Bro: Danll Warner, about the conveighing of the same, alsoe my Executor maye further direct hims: by wt I haue sett downe in my booke of accompts, to that purpose, as in fol. 57 and by a letter sent vnto vs from Collchester.
Ite I giue & bequeath all the rest of my wholl Estate, both moueable, & unmoueable, personall and reall, houssen & lands, vnto Nath: Wells, my eldest son provided he doth fully accept herein, to be my executor whom I make & ordaine, to be the sole executor of this my last will & testament, Allwaies provided that if the said Nath: wells shal dye, & cease this life wthout anye issue of male (lawfully begotten) my will is, that then, the saide houssen & lands here in Ipswich bounds, shall returne vnto the sd Thomas wells my youngest son, & to his heires of male, and the sd Thomas my son, then to paye vnto Lydia, Nathaniells wife (my Daughter in lawe) the sume of fortye pounds, wthin one yeare, & a halfe next after the deceas of Nath: her husband, (this premised, yt ye sd Thomas my youngest son, doe then fully possese & enjoye, the aforesd houssen & lands) and this forty pounds, to be paide in cattle neate, and in corne, malte & porke, twenty pounds thereof, to be paide in cattle neate; & in good condition (bulls onely excepted) and the other twenty pounds, to be paide in wheate, malte, porke & Indian Corne, the Indian corne, not to exceed the sume of eight pounds, & all to be good & mrchantable, & paide att the currant mrchantable price, as such, then goes att, here in Ipswich, & all to be delivrd here at my now dwellinge house, onely the malte att some malte kilne in Ipswich where the sd Thomas shall then haue his malte. And the sd Thomas my youngest son, shall paye vnto the saide Nathaniells children, the sume of one hundred, & forty pounds, the one halfe in cattle neate, & in good condition, (bulls onely excepted) and in horss kinde, and the horss kinde not to exceed the sume of fifteene pounds; and the other halfe of the hundred & forty pounds, to be paide in wheate, malte, porke, pease, & Indian Corne, the Indian Corne (in all) not to exceed the summe of twenty pounds, and this hundred & forty pounds, & the paye thereof, to be equally devided, & proportioned amongst, & paide vnto them, wthin one yeare & a halfe, next after they marrye, or when they come to the full age of one & twenty yeares, and all to be mrchantable, & paide here att my now dwelling house, onely the malte at some malte kilne in Ipswich, where the sd Thomas wells my son shall haue his malte, (this allwaies premised yt the sd Thomas my son, haue the possesion of the houssen and lands). Also my will is, & it is my reall intent, that my son Nathaniells children, shall haue the sume of eight pounds yearely paid by my son Thomas Wells, or his assignes, towards theire bringeinge vp whilest they come to ye age of fifteene yeares, & the paye yrof, for kind & quallity as to theire mother aforesaide, yet when anye of them doe come to the age of fifteene yeares then their proportion of yt eight pounds p annum, to be abated. And for the yearely payemt. thereof vnto my Grand children, my will is, that the sd Thomas Wells my son, or his assignes, shall paye the same into ||the hands of|| the honered Courte, held in Ipswich aforesd, or to whom they shall please, yearely to appointe, for the childrens good, & then my son Thomas, to be dischardged. Ite my will is, that if the sd Nath: my Eldest son shall dye, & cease this life, wthout anye issue of male (as aforesd then the sd Thomas Wells, my son he being possest of the houssen & lands, as aforesd,) shall paye vnto my son John Wells, his bro: or to his assignes, the sume of forty pounds, wthin foure yeares next after the decease, of theire Bro: Nath: Wells, and for the portions, that I haue giuen & bequeathed vnto my three youngest Daughters, as is not then due, and hence unpaide, viz. att the death of their Bro: Nath: my Eldest son, my will is, that my son Thomas Wells, or his assignes shall then paye these portions, provided that my son Nath: Wells his executors, or assignes, doe leave soe much stock vpon this farme, vnto my son Thomas, as shall amounte to the one halfe of these portions, & that this stocke soe left be in such as theire portions is to be paide in, or in such, as shall satisfie the sd Thomas, my youngest son. Ite my will is, that if anye thinge fall out, amongst my wife & children (or anye of them) otherwise then well, that then, my loueing & faithfull friends, whom I shall chuse, & appointe ouerseers of this my last will, will please to examine, consider, & advise, to mutuall agrement, who (by theire wise discression) maye settle matters amongst them, soe as maye tend most & best to peace and brotherly loue, wch Christ Commands. Finally, I desire, my loueing and faithful friends, Thomas Bishope, Senr, and Mr Thomas Andrewes, to be the overseers of this my last will, and testament. And to be the gardians of my son Thomas Wells, dureing the time of his minority, & non-age, to whom I giue as a token of my respecte & loue, ten shillings a peece: In witness whereof, and to all wch, I the aboue named Thomas Wells Senr. haue herevnto sette my hande & seale, Dated the 31st, of the fifth month, Commonly Called July. In the Eighteenth yeare, of the reigne of our Sovereigne Lord Charles (the second) by the grace of god, king of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, in the yeare of our lord god, one thousand, sixe hundred, sixty sixe.
The inventory of the estate of Thomas Wells, conducted by Thomas Bishop and Robert Lord, included assets of over one thousand pounds TH27:
the house, barne and farme… 49 acres of low marshes neare hog Iland… 18 acres at hog Iland… 6 acres at Plumbe Iland… two mares, one foale… two 2 yearling horses… 4 oxen & hay to winter them… 10 cowes & the hay… 5 two yearlings & the hay… 1 bull and the hay… 3 yearlings & hay… 7 calfes & hay… 19 sheepe and lambes & hay… 7 swine… two paire of sheetes… 8 paire of ould sheetes… 2 table cloths… 11 napkins… 7 pillowbeeres… 5 yards of cotten & lennen cloth… 10 course towels… a small fetherbed, boulster, 2 pillows, flock bed, green Rugg, blankett, bedsted curtaines and valens… trundle bed, small bed boulster & 2 blanketts… warming pan, 2 basketts… Trunke, 3 chests, 2 boxes… two tables, 3 chaires… a citterne… armes… 2 paire old sheeres & pressing Iron… smothing Iron, cloke bag & some other small things… 2 paire of tongs, a slice & paire andirons… 20li. corse yarne… 40li. of Towing yarne… 2 brishes & some small things… bookes… cheny dishes, howre glass & other small things… nayles… bushell of salt… croscut saw… ads, cannooe & ladders… his weareing apparel… in sheeps woole… a bed pt feathers & most flocks… cheeses… fether bed, boulster, 2 pillows, blew rugg, 2 blanketts, & bedsted… hatchell, two planes… flockbed & other beding and a case… 10 sacks ould ones & hops… sadle, ould pillion and other furniture… chest, little table… spitt, greediron, tramell, lampe, bellows… tubs, beer vessells, cheese press… beefe, butter, apples & hyde & tallow… 2 brasse kettells, brasse potts, candlestick, frying pan… 3 Iron potts, Iron skillett & pot hookes… pewter… Remnants of cloth, maps & papar pictures & small things… a halfe bushell, wheeles & cards… pailes, sives, churne and other things… siths & tackling… bettle & 3 wedges, spades & other small Iron things… axes, hows, shave, mattock & other tooles… cart wheeles, tumbrill, plows & Irons… yoakes & chaines and a brake… forkes, rakes, sled, sickles & other things… flax & hemp unbroke & some broke flax seed & hemp seed & whit leather… Inglish corne… Indian corne… English money, 171i. 10s.; in other money, 1li. 13s. 7d.; debts due unto the estate, 124li. 3s. 9d.; bookes in Thomas wells hands… total, 1214li. 3s. 3d. Debts due from the estate that appeare about 200li.; cleare estate, 1014li. 3s. 3d.
Abigail Warner ★ (William) was probably the “Abigall” whose baptism was recorded on June 2, 1614 at St. Peter’s Church in Boxted, Essex, England, which stated “Abigall the daughter of willm warner was baptized the second day of Jun 1614” ES16. Her brothers were Daniel Warner TH27, HA6 and John Warner HA6. A record in nearby Dedham (five miles east of Boxted) was located for Abigalle Warner, the daughter of William Warner, who baptism on January 10, 1613 occurred at St. Mary the Virgin Church in Dedham ES21. She was the mother of Sarah, Abigaill, Elizabeth, Hannah, Nathaniel, John, and Thomas TH27, WE8, BO10. Her name, and the names of her children, were not listed in the passenger record of the Susan and Ellen, which may denote that they traveled either before or more likely after Thomas, on a different voyage.
Sarah Wells was probably the first daughter born to Abigail and Thomas Wells, as Sarah and Abigail were named as their father’s two eldest daughters in his will: “my two Eldest Daughters, viz: Sarah Massie of Salem, and Abigaile Tredwell of this Towne” TH27. Sara Wells married John Massy on April 27, 1658 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts VI33.
Abigaill Wells was probably the second daughter born to Abigail and Thomas Wells, as Abigaile Tredwell was referred to second in her father’s will TH27. Abigaill Wells married Nathaniell Tredwell on June 19, 1661 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24. Abigaill Tredwell, the wife of Nathaniell, died on June 16, 1677 in Ipswich VI24.
The next three daughters were Elizabeth, Hannah, and Lidea, who were probably born after 1645, because their father’s will dated July 31, 1666 stated “Elezabeth Wells, Hanah Wells, and Lydia Wells, my younger Daughters… when they come to the age of one & twenty years” TH27.
Elizabeth Wells was probably the third daughter born to Abigail and Thomas Wells, according to her father’s will which stated “to Sarah Massie, and to Abigaile Tredwell, & Elezabeth Wells (my three Elder Daughters)” TH27. Elizabeth Wells married John Burnam on June 9, 1669 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24.
Hannah Wells was probably the fourth daughter born to Abigail and Thomas Wells, according to her father’s will which stated “my owne five Daughters, or to theire surviuers, viz: to Sarah massie of Salem, to Abigaile Tredwell of this Towne, to Elezabeth Wells, Hanah Wells, & Lydia Wells” TH27. Hannah Wells married Richard Simonds on August 16, 1679 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts VI33. Richard Simonds, the husband of Hanna (Wells) Simonds, died on March 19, 1681/2 in Salem VI35.
Lidea Wells was probably the fifth daughter born to Abigail and Thomas Wells, according to her father’s will which stated “my owne five Daughters, or to theire surviuers, viz: to Sarah massie of Salem, to Abigaile Tredwell of this Towne, to Elezabeth Wells, Hanah Wells, & Lydia Wells” TH27. Lidea Wells married John Ropes on September 25, 1669 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts VI33.
Nathaniell Wells was the eldest son of Abigail and Thomas Wells, according to his father’s will which stated “Nath: Wells, my eldest son” and mentioned “Lydia, Nathaniells wife (my Daughter in lawe)” TH27. Nathaniell Wells married Liadia Thurlley on October 29, 1661 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24. Nathaniell Wells of Ipswich was appointed as a joint administrator on the estate of his deceased brother, John Wells, on November 6, 1677, but he renounced his administration of the estate on July 2, 1678 that he renounced the administration, which the York County Court accepted LI1. Nathaniell Wells died on December 15, 1681 in Ipswich VI24.
John Wells was born in approximately 1640 DO17. The will of his father, Thomas Wells, named him as “John Wells, (my second son)” and his wife was referred to as “Sarah Wells, his wife, (my Daughter in lawe)” TH27.
Thomas Wells was the youngest son born to Abigail and Thomas Wells, according to his father’s will: “Thomas Wells my youngest son” TH27. He was born on January 11, 1646/7, according to his father’s will, which stated “after that the saide Thomas Wells my son, doe come to the age of one & twenteth yeares. (whose birth day was vpon the eleventh day of the eleventh mo: Anno Dom: one thousand sixe hundred forty sixe)” TH27. Thomas Wells married Mary Perkins on January 10, 1669 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24. Reverend Thomas Wells was the first pastor of the First Church of Amesbury; he died at age eighty-seven on July 10, 1734 VI18.
The will of Abigail Wells was written on July 22, 1671, and was proved by the witnesses, Mary Fouler (Fowler) and Faith Warner, on September 26, 1671 TH27, DO15. The inventory of her estate, taken on September 16, 1671 by Robert Lord and William Fellows, totaled sixty-three pounds, eighteen shillings, and five pence TH27, DO15. A transcription of her will and the inventory of her estate follow TH27:
Be it known to all men by these presents that I Abigaill wells of Ipswich in New England being uery weak of body yet of good memory doe comend my Soule into the hands of my blesed Redeemer in hope of a joyfull resurectiou to eternal life at the last day: and my body to be decently buried: and doe dispose of my goods in maner as foloweth having bestowed formerliy some gifts upon my other daughters which are maried: I now giue mey daughter Hanah wells my new paragon gowne & my new holland handchercheif:
It The flax which is now growing my son Nath. wells is to haue halfe to breake out and cleare the other halfe which I giue to my daughter Elezebeth Burnam:
Itt I giue tenn pound of teere yarn to my daughter Lidia Ropps
It I giue to my daughter hanah wells the fiue and twenty of flax teere which I haue in the house: & fiue more to my daughter Sarah massey also fiue pound more to my daughter Lidia Ropps
It I giue to my daughter hanah one paire of sheets one pillow ||Beere|| one napkine on table cloth & two shifts: and the rest of my waring linnen to be diuided equaly Betwene my youngest three daughters
It I giue to my daughter Abigaill tredwell my best New dressing
It I giue to my daughter Elizabeth half my tow yarn prouided she pay for the weauing the other half: which I giue to my daughter hanah & I giue my daughter Elezebeth what tow I haue in the house
It I giue my Son Thomas wells tenn shillings in such goods as shal be left
It I giue to mary greyley my sons maid Seruent: Six shillings
It and rest of my goods and cattaill I desire (when my charges and reckonings are cleared) should be deuided equaly betwene my son John wells and my own fiue daughters
Itt also I desire my eldest Son Nath wells to be the executor of this my last will and testament: and this is my last will this twent second of July one thousand Six hundred and seauenty one.
a bedsted & cord being old… small fetherbed ould… flockbed… feather boulster… three small pillows… Rug & blankett… paire of ould curtaines & vallants… warmeing pan… 2 large sassers… one pewter dish… one smaller pewter dish & sasser… poringer, spoone, old salt & pint pott… one Iron skillet… two blew aprins… 3 other old aprins… one paire of sheets, one pillowbeere, one napkin, one table cloth, two ould shifts… 7 yards of paragon at 4s. 6d., & silke… 2 paire old sheets… old linnen & old pr. stockings… a peece tow cloth… paire of shoes… 3 aprins… one new neck handcherchiefe… five neck handkerchiefs… her weareing lennen & muff in a box… a new dressing… a box yt the linnen & muff is in & 12d. in mony, 10s.; woollen yarne & old things in a box… bookes & an old bible… 2 old chaires & cushon… a little table… lennen wheele… an old panell, pillion & bridle… 2 hatts… a paire of gloves… a phillip and cheny coat… a searg safgard & 2 hoods… a red petticoat… 4 old peticoats & 6s. in Henry bennets hands… 4 old wastcoats… a gowne… a greene aprin… a paire of stockins… a chest… a few trifles in it… 4li. of woole… 10li. of lennen yarne… 201i. of tow yarne… 35li. of teere flax… Tow… flax in the stalke… the old mare & halfe hir foale… halfe of two 2 yeare old colts… in Nathaniell Wells hand 8li.; in cattle, 8li.; total, 63li. 18s. 5d. Debts due from the estate & funerall charges, 81i. 18s.