Wells- Travellers Somerset/Dorset/Hampshire

[Tracker1]

Can anyone help with the WELLS family? My ancestor HENRY WELLS was a cutler/knife grinder, born at BLANDFORD DORSET abt. 1828, but lived in TIMSBURY NR. BATH as a young man.Members of his family lived at Ringwood, Fordingbridge, and later Wimborne.
M.

[devonblue]

I also have Wells who were cutlers.

I have Matilda Wells bapt 1822 in Wootton Fitzpaine Dorset dau of James and Rebecca Wells.  James was a cutler and razor grinder.  They had several children betwen 1809 and 1824 all in the Dorset area. 

Any idea who Henry's parents were?

[Tracker1]

No I have no more information on Henry Wells. There is a possibility that his father was George Wells, but this is uncertain.
M.

[ROMANYGENES]

There are a few Henrys abt that time ?
Do you have any details of him in census or his wife ?
I have a Henry born 1834, 23-Jul, Henry son of, Emanuel & Mary, WELLS
he is in Blandford in the 1851

Emmanuel Wells 40 visitor b Turnworth, Dorset ag/lab
Henry Wells15
James Wells15
Joseph Wells13
Mary Wells41 visitor b Winterbourne, Dorset

[Tracker1]

Henry Wells turns up in Frome Somerset on 1861 census. His common law wife is Keziah Powell of Timsbury who comes from a mining family. She is the mother of his 3 children, Henry( my gr.gfr.)Priscilla and Emily.The family moves to Fordingbridge, Ringwood and finally Wimborne.Henry snr. has become Henry Smith ' a general dealer',although I suspect Henry Wells/Smith are the same man.His son Henry is also a cutler/knife grinder before settling down as a 'general dealer'in Wimborne.Its a complicated tale I'm afraid!

[cathayb]

i have a william wells born 1832 chalfort wiltshire? and a lot of later wells in the hampshire/dorset area.

[bedfordshire boy]

I have Wells from Ringwood, but a bit earlier - 1750-1800 - some of whom emigrated to Newfoundland. I have a Henry who married Hannah Wiseman on 19 June 1784 at Ringwood. In the marriage Licence Allegation Henry was of the Isle of Wight, a sojourner.

Ring any bells?

David

[tiggi]

I am not sure how far or what records you have regarding Henry Wells
These  census records all have wife as Ann
Also some people's trees have parents as
John Wells b 1797 Warminster
Ann Glass b 1805 Frome

Did he have 2 wives? Or is it same person I cannot find a marriage for a Keziah Powell & Henry Wells either


1841 Census Paulton Somerset
Henry Wells  .12 b 1829 Dorset .. servant
Martha Wells.. 9 b  1832 not given place/servant

Are they siblings?

These children are among several Servants of it looks like for 2 ladies of wealth
Elizabeth & Julia Hell/Hill both born 1796 ..sisters

This Henry  his age and place of birth is very close to the one you are looking for

Julia Hill bapt 7th June 1796 Paulton - Joseph & Elizabeth
In 1871 Census both sisters are living in Weston super mare ,when Julia dies in 1886 she left a vast amount of estate £ 18.000 which was left to her niece Surname Cox

In 1846 Frome Somerset marriage
 Henry Wells - Anna Maria Morgan Jul/Aug/Sept 10 605


1851 Frome Somerset
Henry Wells 24 b 1827 Frome - Ag labour
Ann..............23 b 1828 Nunney - Millner
Tom..............4 b 1847 Frome
Emma...11mths b 1850 Frome


1861 Census Frome Somerset
Henry Wells 31 b 1830 Blandford Dorset - Cutler/Grinder
Ann.............32 b 1829 Timsbury
Henry..........12 b 1849 Penzance Cornwall
Presilla.........9 b 1852 Paulton
Emily.............7 b 1854 Timsbury

I do not know if correct family you are looking for but if not then its another Henry Wells maybe
Although again I have seen birth certificate that states Presilla Wells is daughter of Keziah Powell  & Henry Wells b 1852 ? very strange



My own line of Wells were Rom and also from Dorset   :
Benjamin & Mary Wells - daughters Lucy - Amelia - Unity

[Tracker1]

Thankyou Tiggi for that. You have identified the correct family on the 1861 census. I think the census taker might have 'taken drink' that night. Henry Wells jnr. was not born in Penzance, but near Bath.We found his army record later which gave his place of birth as Walkate-which might be Walcot.He has sisters, Priscilla and Emily,mother Keziah,not Ann.
I have visited Dorset recently, but still cant find any record for Henry snr. born in Blandford. I think he was probably the son of George Wells and Elizabeth Smith, but alas I can't prove it. I also looked for a Martha Wells but drew a blank there too.
M