Josiah Wells

  Noted events in his life were:

• Birth: From Family Search org, 9 Mar 1720, Wethersfield, Hartford Connecticut. Name: Josiah Wells
Sex: Male
Birth Date: 9 Mar 1720
Birthplace: Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, British Colonial America
Birthplace (Original): Wethersfield Twp, Hartford, Conneticut
Father's Name: Robert Wells
Mother's Name: Sarah

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
Robert Wells Father M
Sarah Mother F

Microfilm Number: 2961
Originating System: ODM
Indexing Batch: 7450375

Citing this Record
"Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F74Z-LHL : 7 January 2020), Josiah Wells, 1720.

• Family History: From The Descendants of Governor Thomas Welles Of Connecticut And his Wife Alice Tomes, Volume 1, Third Edition, Page 506. 635. JOSIAH WELLS ^21 (Capt. Robert ^4, Capt. Robert ^3, John ^2, Gov. Thomas ^1), born 9 March 1720/21 in Wethersfield, Connecticut (Barbour citing VR 1:79); and died 24 August 1783 in Wethersfield (VR 2:21, FPIL 1315118) at age 62, buried in the Village Cemetery, Wethersfield (Hale 47). Josiah's gravestone bears a classic warning: “As I am now/So you must be/ Prepare for Death/ And follow me” (Tillotson 133). He married first on 1 January 1776 in Wethersfield, the Rev. John Marsh officiating (Barbour citing VR 2:118), REBECCA DEMING, daughter of Ebenezer Deming and Rebecca Treat, born 10 June 1745 in Wethersfield (Barbour citing VR 2:100); and buried 9 August 1777, at age 32 (Wethersfield First Congregational Church Records, slip index citing 2:289, “wife of Josiah”; Barbour citing Wethersfield VR 1:21, which leaves blank her date of death, but places it between the entry for her son's birth and that for her husband's remarriage). He married second 13 April 1780 in Middletown, witnessed by Hezekiah Wells and Moses Deming (Middletown First Church Records, slip index citing 28-1226, Josiah a widower from Wethersfield and Ruth a widow from Middletown; also Wethersfield VR 2:21, FHL 1315118), RUTH (PRIOR) RITCH, daughter of Daniel Prior and Sarah Gilbert and widow of Thomas Ritch, born 20 August 1743 in Middletown (Barbour citing VR 1:19), baptized 21 August 1743 (Middletown Congregational Church Records, slip index citing 1:74).
Ruth had married first on 29 May 1766 in Middletown, Connecticut (Barbour citing VR 2:229), Thomas Ritch. They had four children, the first three registered in Middletown (Barbour citing VR 2:229): (i.) Peter, b. 10 March 1769; Elizabeth, b. 10 November 1770, m. 9 December 1790 (Barbour citing VR 2:172) Daniel Cone [sic - Elizabeth married Nathan Beckwith. Ruth married Daniel Cone]; Ruth, b. 13 March 1772; and (iv.) Thomas, b. c. 1774. Ruth Wells of Wethersfield signed a bond on 6 October 1789 as guardian of Thomas Rich, at age 15, son of Thomas Rich, late of Middletown (Hartford Probate District, Connecticut Estate Files, docket no. 4468).

An administrator's bond was filed on 28 October 1783 on the estate of Josiah Wells by john Francis and Ruth Wells, with Hezekiah Wells as surety. The inventory by Solomon Wells, Moses Deming, and Hezekiah Wells, came to £653:17:04. The distribution provides the home lot with buildings to Josiah Wells, the eldest son; and “Not Lot” to Appleton Wells, the youngest son, while setting aside the widow's thirds on each piece of property. On 18 May 1784 the widow Ruth received “necessaries” from household goods amounting to £16:02:0O. As administrator, she later billed the estate for 3 shillings “to half a Day attending the arbitration Between john Deming and said Estate.” In a later account dated 9 January 1787 Ruth billed £9:19:O4 “To supporting one Child under 4 years old” (Hartford Probate District, Connecticut Estate Files, docket no. 5836). In 1790 Ruth headed a household in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, comprised of one male under 16 and one female (NARA microfilm series M637, reel 1, handwritten page number 487).

Child, by first wife, surnamed WELLS, born in Wethersfield, Connecticut: JOSIAH DEMING

Children, by second wife, surnamed WELLS, born in Wethersfleld, Connecticut: APPLETON and REBECCA.

• Death: From Family Search org, 24 Aug 1783, Wethersfield, Hartford Connecticut. Name: Josiah Wells
Sex: Male
Age: 62
Burial Place: Connecticut
Death Date: 24 Aug 1783
Death Place: Connecticut, United States
Birth Year (Estimated): 1721
Page: v 56 p 47

Digital Folder Number: 007592452
Microfilm Number: 3372
Image Number: 00260
Indexing Batch: B05200-4

Citing this Record
"Connecticut, Deaths, 1640-1955", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7KQ-KZ8 : 11 June 2020), Josiah Wells, 1783.

• Gravestone: From Find a Grave, Aug 1783, Wethersfield, Hartford Connecticut. Josiah Wells
Birth: 9 Mar 1720 Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA
Death: 24 Aug 1783 (aged 63) Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA
Burial: Wethersfield Village Cemetery, Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA
Memorial #: 59230070
Bio: Father: Robert Wells Mother: Sarah Wolcott
Family Members
Parents
Robert Welles 1676-1741
Sarah Wolcott Welles 1686-1738
Siblings
Robert Wells 1710-1786
Hezekiah Wells 1725-1804
Martha Welles Deming 1729-1811
Judith Welles Robbins 1730-1771
Created by: the moo (46834101)
Added: 26 Sep 2010
URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59230070/josiah-wells
Citation: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59230070/josiah-wells : accessed 18 October 2021), memorial page for Josiah Wells (9 Mar 1720–24 Aug 1783), Find a Grave Memorial ID 59230070, citing Wethersfield Village Cemetery, Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA ; Maintained by the moo (contributor 46834101) .

Josiah married Rebecca Deming on 1 Jan 1776 in Hartford, Connecticut.

Josiah next married Ruth Pryor, daughter of Daniel Pryor Jr and Sarah Gilbert, on 13 Apr 1780 in Connecticut. (Ruth Pryor was born on 20 Aug 1743 in Middletown, Connecticut.)