As promised, here is a copy of Elder John Crandall of Westerly, RI christening records from Westerleigh Parish in Westerleigh, Gloucestershire, England. Elder John was born in 1617 in England and died 29 November 1676 in Newport, RI. I remember seeing this document on-line years ago but the scan was so low resolution that it was unreadable. This scan is pretty good. I also have a copy here where I circled the information as you have to hunt for it on this old document from 1617!
A nice person on www.findgrave.com went out and took some pictures for me of the graves of the Wells family in the Wyreka Cemetery located in Putnam County, MO. Head of this family was the Rev. George Wells. Here’s a picture of George:
George is the son of Stephen Wells Jr. and Lois Hubbard (Stephen Jr and Lois’ burial place is unknown to me). Stephen Wells Jr was the son of Ensign Stephen Wells Sr. and Love Ford. I’m unsure of where Stephen Sr. is buried but I do know that Love is buried at Church on the Hill Cemetery in Lenox, MA. Stephen Sr. was born in Hopkinton, RI in 1754, the son of Capt. Edward Wells Jr. and Elizabeth Sheffield.
Back to Rev. George Wells. He was born in New York State 25 April 1810 and died in Lucerne, Mercer County, MO on 4 October 1896. Here is his gravestone in Wyreka Cemetery:
Here’s some data I’ve collected on George and his family:
Connecticut Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection)
Name: George Welles … Residence Location: Richford, New York
Marriage Date: 10 Jun 1833 … Marriage Location: Colchester
Spouse: Lucy E Stark … Spouse Residence Location: Colchester
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1856 Iowa State Census: Deep Creek, Clinton Co., IA (not dated)
George Wells, age 46, number of years residing in the state: 1, Farmer,born in NY
Lucy Wells, age 48, born in CT … Henry Wells, age 20, born in NY, Farmer .. Stephen Wells, age 18, born in NY, Farmer .. George Wells, age 14, born in NY … Lucy Wells, age 11, born in NY … Charles Wells, age 5, born in NY
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1870 Federal Census: York, Putnam Co., MO August 11, 1870 Next household down on the Census is that of his son Henry
George Wells, age 60, Farmer, Value of Real Estate: 1200, Value of Personal Estate: 900, born in NY
Lucy F Wells, age 62, Keeps House, born in CT … Charles Wells, age 19, At Home, born in NY
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1880 Federal Census: York, Putnam Co., MO June 14, 1880 Next houses down on the census are his sons Henry and then Stephen.
George Wells(head) age 70, Minister, born in NY, father born in MA,mother born in CT
Lucy E. Wells(wife) age 72, Keeping House, born in CT, both parents born in CT
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Here’s Lucy, his wife
Henry Stark Wells, son of George and Lucy
Death Certificate of Henry Stark Wells
1870 Federal Census: York, Putnam Co., MO August 11, 1870 (Previous house on Census was his father George Wells)
Henry Wells, age 34, Farmer, , Value of Real Estate: 1200, Value of Personal Estate: 1300, born in NY … Nancy J Wells, age 19, keeps House, born in MO … Owen Wells, age 1, at home, born in MO
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1880 Federal Census: York, Putnam Co., MO June 14, 1880 (His father George was the previous house on the census and his brother Stephen was the next house.)
Henry S. Wells (head) age 44, Farmer, born in NY, father in NY, mother in CT
Nancy J. Wells (wife) age 29, Keeping House, born in MO, parents born in IN.
James O Wells (son) age 11, going to school, born in MO … George E Wells (son) age 9, born in MO … Lucy M. Wells (daughter) age 7, born in MO … Susan May Wells (daughter) age 5, born in MO … Henry Harvey Wells (son) age 2, born in MO … Fannie I Wells (daughter) age 3/12, born in MO
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1900 Federal Census: York, Putnam Co., MO June 12, 1900
Henry T Wells (head) age 64, born 1836, married 32 years, born in NY,Farmer
Lancy Wells (wife) age 60, Birth month/year unreadable, had 11children-10 still living, born in MO
James O Wells (son) age 31, born 1869 in MO, Farm Laborer … Lucy M Wells (daughter) age 25, born May 1875 in MO … Fannie R Wells (daughter) age 20, born 1880 in MO, at school … Esther E Wells (daughter) age 17, born Nov 1882, in MO … Steven C. Wells (son) age 14, born Dec 1888 in MO, farm laborer … ?__? E. Wells (son) age 10, born 1890 in MO … Asa Wells (son) age 7, born 1893 in MO
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1910 Federal Census: York, Putnam Co., MO April 25, 1910
Henry S Wells (head) age 74, Widowed, born in NY, Farmer
Stephen C. Wells (son) age 22, Married, born in MO, Farmer … Maggi Wells (daughter in law) age 20, married, born in MO … Nathan C Wells (son) age 20, single, born in MO
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George E Wells son of George and Lucy
Lucy Mariah Wells daughter of George and Lucy
James Owen Wells and wife Bertha Farmer. James is the son of Henry Stark Wells and Nancy Jane Owens
The Wells’ stones in Wyreka Cemetery.
I thought I’d talk about some of the different symbolism that I’ve been seeing on a lot of gravestones here in Orlando tha past year.
Below is one from Woodlawn Cemetery in Gotha, FL. It is a Masonic Symbol. According to www.masonic-lodge-of-education.com/masonic-eye.html ” The All Seeing Eye, like many other Masonic symbols, has been borrowed from the past from the nations of antiquity. Hebrews and Egyptians: Both the Hebrews and Egyptians appear to have derived the use of the Masonic Eye from the natural inclination of figurative minds to select a human organ as the symbol of its closest matching function…much as the foot denotes swiftness, the arm, strength and the hand, fidelity
Sword, Crescent and Sphinx is the symbol of the Shriners (The Imperial Council of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine). This group, founded in 1872, can be joined once the member has become a Master Mason.
From: www.masonic-lodge-of-education.com/square-and-compasses.html … “The Square and Compasses(or, more definitively,…a Square and a set of Compasses which are joined together…each leg of the compass pointing in opposite directions) is the single most universally identifiable symbol of Freemasonry. Due to slight Masonic jurisdictional differences around the world, this symbol does not always look exactly the same to all Freemasons. Some jurisdictions call this symbol the Square and Compass, (non-plural) and a few jurisdictions omit the “G” at its center. But, no matter its slightly different look, all Freemasons are in unison as to what this symbol means to them within the fraternity. The Letter G stands for “Geometry”, which is the mathematical science upon which Architecture and Masonry were founded.
B.P.O.E with an Elk stands for the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, a Fraternal Organization. Here is their website: http://www.elks.org/
F.A.T.A.L. (With a five pointed star) is the symbol of the Order of the Eastern Star. The letters stand for their motto of “Fairest Among Thousands, Altogether Lovely” Their Website: http://www.easternstar.org/ This is what their website says about them: “What It Is: The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world to which both women and men may belong. Worldwide, there are approximately 1 million members under the General Grand Chapter. Eastern Star is a social order comprised of persons with spiritual values, but it is not a religion. Its appeal rests in the true beauty of the refreshing and character-building lessons that are so sincerely portrayed in its ritualistic work. A deep fraternal bond exists between its members. It is the wholesome relationship of sisterly and brotherly love brought about through high principles exemplified in our lives which makes us near and dear to each other.
This is a knights Templar symbol. “IN HOC SIGNO VINCES”. On the Grand Standard of a Commandery of Knights Templar these words are inscribed over “a blood-red Passion Cross,” and they constitute in part the motto of the American branch of the Order. Their meaning, “By this sign thou shalt conquer,” is a substantial, but not literal, translation of the original Greek. (http://www.masonicdictionary.com/inhoc.html)
Double-Headed Eagle – Scottish Rite Freemasonry. The double-headed eagle symbol is for the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. The number 32 inside the triangle represents the 32nd degree of the Scottish Rite. The Latin motto, “Spes mea in Deo est,” means “My hope is in God.”
Here’s some information on this branch of Freemasonry from: www.scottishritecalifornia.org/scottish_rite_degrees.htm
“The local Scottish Rite organization, called a “Valley,” confers the 4th through 32nd degrees in degree-conferring meetings. The Scottish Rite is sometimes called the “college of Freemasonry,” because it uses extensive allegory and drama to emphasize the message of its degrees. The degree work may, but not necessarily, be completed at one time. The Scottish Rite shares the belief of all Masonic organizations that there is no higher degree than that of Master Mason. The degrees are in addition to, and in no way “higher” than, those of Blue Lodge, or Craft Lodge, Masonry. Scottish Rite degrees simply amplify and elaborate on the lessons of the craft, providing further knowledge of Masonry, the building of the Temple, and ancient religions, with memorable lessons ranging from the days of chivalry to modern times.
Scottish Rite Degrees: The Degrees of the Scottish Rite are one-act plays often staged with costume, scenery, special effects, and the full rigging of any production. Their purpose is to examine different philosophies, ancient religions, and systems of ethics. Through all of these, people have tried to answer certain universal questions. The Degrees of the Rite do not tell a person what he should think about these questions. Instead, they tell him about what great thinkers and civilizations of the past have thought, and they try to create a situation in which the candidate or Brother can gain insight. Agreeing with Socrates that the unexamined life is not worth living, the Rite helps with this self-examination by providing reference points.
Here’s an interesting on denoting a member of the Florida Peace Officers Association.
Above and below are examples of the symbols of the Woodmen of the World, a fraternal organization. www.woodmen.org/ .
” Dum Tacet Clamat” “Though silent, he speaks” In cemeteries throughout the west, Dum Tacet Clamat is written on hand-carved gravestones paid for by an insurance company called the Woodmen of the World. In an era where people had no other form of insurance, they made sure that their ultimate resting place would have an appropriate marker.” (http://hughgrahamcreative.com/2007/04/03/dum-tacet-clamat/)
Loyal Order of Moose (LOOM) is a fraternal organization. P.A.P stands for their motto: Purity, Aid and Progress.
Yesterday I made my first visit to my local Family History Center. I went there to order some microfilms of info I’d found on FamilySearch.org so that I could see the original document of items I wanted that were text only on the website. I ordered 6 films. They cost $5.50 per reel to order as they come from the library in Salt Lake. They should take about 3 weeks to get here. I’m super excited to get them. 4 of them were records from Germany for the Kranz and Erbig families. 1 was a NYC marriage record for my great grandparents. The last one was a birth record for Elder John Crandall, my 8th great-grandfather for his birth in Westerleigh, England. It is suspected that Westerly, RI gets it name from his home town in England. I’ll be posting the images I get from all this when I get them so check back after the 4th of July as they should arrive some time after that.
The Family History Center also had access to a bunch of different genealogy websites for free. You could access ancestry.com, footnote, world vital records and more at no charge. To find a center near you, check www.familysearch.org’s home page. I think there was a link to find a center near you at the top of the homepage.
Before I begin, an FYI if you received my post from yesterday via email. For some reason all the pictures and some text got cut out of it and I had to re-do it and so you didn’t get the whole thing.
So yesterday I found on findagrave.com some grandparents of mine!! YEAH. My 4th Great Grandparents to be exact. They are Capt. Davis Newbury and his wife Lydia Williams. Also buried with them was two of their daughters, Eunice and Betsey.
Eunice and Betsey died at the same time. I found this note a while back about them:
Connecticut Gazette: August 14, 1822…At Montville, of the Typhus Fever. August 9, Eunice Newbury, aged 18; and on the 11th Betsey, her sister, aged 25; daughter of Capt Davis Newbury.
So it was Davis and Lydia’s Daughter Sally Newbury that married Daniel Rogers. Sally and Daniel had Martha Ann Rogers who married Jonathan Wells of Ashaway, RI. Davis and Lydia (and Eunice and Betsey) are in Comstock Cemetery in Uncasville, CT. Here are their headstones:
You may have noticed that I haven’t been posting as often as I was there for a while. After I moved into my new place, I got sidetracked with a ton of projects and haven’t really been working on my own family for some time now. I’ve been doing a lot of work on findagrave.com. For many years now, I’ve lived in the attractions area of Orlando. This past move put me with in a stones throw of Woodlawn Cemetery in Gotha, FL. Although just up the road from the attractions area, this part of town has lots of cemeteries! Just this past week, I entered in two new cemeteries on findagrave.com. They are Vineland Cemetery in Lake Buena Vista, FL and Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery in Gotha, FL. I’m covered in bug bites from Zion. No one has been buried there since 1982 and the place is something of a wreck.
I’ve been filling photo requests at Woodlawn Cemetery. Woodlawn is very large! and very well maintained. Here are a few nice pictures I’ve taken there:
I’m begining to call Woodlawn the -Harry Potter Cemetery- as I keep finding stones that have the names of the Harry Potter characters:
I’ve also found a large amount of Rogers’ stones in Woodlawn as well as Wells’ ones. I’ve been taking pictures and entering them all on findagrave.com. I’ve also found Hubbards, Webers, Handys and many more family names.
You can check them all out on www.findagrave.com by searching by cemetery: Florida, Orange County, Gotha, Woodlawn
Wells Family Genealogy 
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