Wells family in Maidstone, Crown jewels & South Africa

[kered]

In 1858 Henry Hunt Wells (B 1823 – d 20 6 1876) of Maidstone, a bootmaker   together with his wife Anne Mills and children (Sarah Elizabeth, Edward Robert,  Heny H,  Frederick George and Tunbridge) left Kent in 1858 on the Indian Queen for Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Later in South Africa two more children, Susanna Ann and Charlotte were born.  His son Frederick George was in 1905 to discover the largest diamond (the Cullinan) ever found – it was to become part of the Crown jewels)
http://www.am-diamonds.com/famous-diamonds.php?id=16

Henry’s brother Edward Robert Wells (b 1833 – d 1878) also of Maidstone, a tailor,  together with his wife Mary Johnson (b 1836 – d1885 married Dec 1852) and children  (Elizabeth Jane, Ada and Frederick) left Kent in 1862 on the Matilda Atherling, also for Port Elizabeth. In 1872 another son Ernest Adlam (my great grandfather) was born in Port Elizabeth.

The parents of Henry Hunt and Edward Robert  was also named Edward Robert, his wife was Elizabeth – she died in Maidstone, Sept 1857.

I am interested in finding out more about Edward Robert, the elder and his wife Elizabeth. Their dates, their parents, did they have other children – anything. Also any information about Mary Johnson and Anne Mills.

[casalguidi]

Hi Kered

The 1861 census shows Edward Robert junior to have been born in Sutton Valence (a village near Maidstone):

1861

Edward R WELLS head mar 27 tailor b.Sutton Valence
Mary wife 26 b.Maidstone
Elizabeth J dau 7 b.Maidstone
Harry B son 4 b.Maidstone
Ada dau 1 b.Maidstone
Frederick son 9m b.Maidstone

RG9/502 folio 82 page 34

The 1861 census shows an Edward WELLS in Sutton Valence but whether it is the father of your Edward Robert or not remains to be discovered - perhaps somebody will be able to look up the 1851 and/or 1841 census of Sutton Valence to see if that shows anything.

1861

Upper Street, Sutton Valence, Kent

Edward WELLS head wid 75 shoemaker b.Kelsale Suffolk
Charlotte Ann dau unm 33 milliner b.Sutton Valence Kent
Hannah grandau unm 17 milliner's apprentice b.Brenchley Kent

RG9/506 folio 7 page 8

Another WELLS born in Sutton Valence who may or may not be connected:

1861

30 High Street, Maidstone, Kent

Thomas WELLS head mar 36 master tailor employing 9 men and ....... apprentices b.Sutt Valence Kent
Mary H wife mar 31 b.Maidstone Kent
Arthur H H son 10 b.Maidstone
Har't M J dau 9 b.Maidstone
Thomas S son 7 b.Maidstone
F Frank son 1 b.Maidstone
.... Matilda dau 2m/w? b.Maidstone
+ an apprentice and 2 servants

RG9/500 folio 106 page 20 and the following page

Casalguidi

[carol_cholsey]

Here's the 1851 entry for the Edward Wells in Sutton Valence:
ref HO107 1618 folio 431: Sutton Valence
Edward Wells head widr age 65 cordwainer born Suffolk Kelsale
Sophia Vickers sis-in-law un age 58 house servant born Headcorn
Hannah Anne Wells grand dau age 7 born Brenchley

As Edward is shown as a widower in 1851, this is probably the wrong one, as you state that his wife Elizabeth died in 1857.
Carol.

[carol_cholsey]

Have found this entry on the 1841 census:
ref HO107 462-11 folio 35: Upper Street, Sutton Valence
Edward Wells age 55 shoemaker
Elizabeth do age 50
Edward Wells age 7
Charlotte do age 13
Elizabeth do age 25 bonner maker
Edward snr is shown as not born in county, the rest are born in county.
Also found:
ref HO107 462-11 folio 17, Upper Street Sutton Valence
Thomas Wells age 15 app born in county, in the employ of George Tassell age 30 tailor.
and also on folio 35:
Thomas Wells shoemaker age 75 not born in county
Ann do age 60 born in county
These could be grandparents to young Edward.
xx Carol

[carol_cholsey]

Here's a relevant entry from the 1851 census for Maidstone:
ref HO107 1617a folio 15: Wharf Lane Maidstone (Trinity Ward)
Henry H Wells head mar age 28 shoemaker born Sutton Valence
Sarah do wife mar age 28 born Sandwich
Sarah E do dau age 7 born Maidstone
Henry H do son age 2 born do

Henry's wife is definitely shown as Sarah, so either she was also known as Ann, or Sarah died, and Henry remarrried, before he sailed to South Africa.

xx Carol

[carol_cholsey]

And here's Thomas:
ref HO107 1617a folio 136: Gabriel Hill, Maidstone
Thomas Wells head mar age 26 tailor employing 2 men and 3 apprentices born Sutton Valence
Mary H do wife mar age 21 born Maidstone
Arthur H H Wells son age 3 months born Maidstone
Arthur Wells visitor mar age 34 cordwainer born Maidstone
+ some visitors and apprentices
Carol

[carol_cholsey]

I've been unable to find Edward junior for you in 1851, when he would have been about 17 years old. Whilst looking through the 1851 Maidstone census I saw four 'Elizabeth Wells'. Maybe the death that you've found in 1857 related to one of these, rather than Edward snrs wife. If so then maybe the entries for Edward in Sutton Valance are correct ? I'm not sure how you'd go about proving it though.
Carol.

[kered]

Hi Carol & Casalguidi

Thanks you very much for your lookups. They have uncovered new relatives and clarified  some existing ones.

Charlotte Ann, a daughter of Edward Wells senior was unknown to us. It certainly looks as though Thomas Wells was Edward’s son although the census does not show them at the same residence at census time, however they are both shown as residing at Upper Street, Sutton Valence at census time so I would put money on it. Will however see if I can find some more evidence. Thomas’s children do  have typical family names though. In the 1841 census an Elizabeth, age 25 is listed  at Edward the elder’s residence  - could she be a daughter?

Elizabeth Wells was noted as having died in 1857. This would be unreliable as I have discovered  its  sole source was a free BMD search for Deaths for Elizabeth Wells so it could have been any Elizabeth. So I am confident that the census results for Edward and Elizabeth are correct.

1851 census lists Edward the elder’s birthplace as Kelsale in Suffolk. The 1841 census lists Thomas and Ann Wells with Thomas as not born in the county you suggest that they could be Edward the elder’s parents. I will chase this up.

In the 1861 census for Edward Wells the younger a son unknown to us is listed: Harry B – I have now found his grave in the Port Elizabeth south end cemetery – we wondered who he was.

Thank you again for your help.
Kered

[carol_cholsey]

Hi Kered,
I'm so glad that we've found all the right people for you, and added a few more as well by the sound of it. It would appear that Elizabeth (wife of Edward snr) died between the 1841 and 1851 census, and as Elizabeth (possible dau of Edward snr) was not shown on the 1851, she either died, married or moved away from home, as she is not shown anywhere in Sutton Valence on the 1851 census. Good luck with the research, which it would appear, may be moving to Sufflok now.
xx Carol.