Set in medieval, Tudor and Stuart England, we discover how the family became involved with the secretive Knights Templar and then spread around the country. There were great landowners associated with Kings and Queens. Some were persecuted, arrested, imprisoned, tortured and suffered horrific executions. One followed the Mayflower to New England only to fall victim to native Indians. We find wonderful cases of jury fixing, insurrection, Lollardry, murder and false imprisonment. There were clandestine meetings, hidden treasures, forfeiture of lands, and piracy against the Spanish. There was a murderous monk who became personal servant to the King; a Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen, who was also the King's mistress; a designer of Warships and co-founder of the Royal Society. We have Lords of the Manor, Elizabethan Actors who knew Shakespeare and even a martyred Saint. These extraordinary tales of our ancestors' lives make this book compelling reading.

Set in medieval, Tudor and Stuart England, we discover how the family became involved with the secretive Knights Templar and then spread around the country. There were great landowners associated with Kings and Queens. Some were persecuted, arrested, imprisoned, tortured and suffered horrific executions. One followed the Mayflower to New England only to fall victim to native Indians. We find wonderful cases of jury fixing, insurrection, Lollardry, murder and false imprisonment. There were clandestine meetings, hidden treasures, forfeiture of lands, and piracy against the Spanish. There was a murderous monk who became personal servant to the King; a Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen, who was also the King's mistress; a designer of Warships and co-founder of the Royal Society. We have Lords of the Manor, Elizabethan Actors who knew Shakespeare and even a martyred Saint. These extraordinary tales of our ancestors' lives make this book compelling reading.

Thomas Welles (1598-1660) immigrated from Essex County, England to Hartford, Connecticut in 1636, and served as secretary of state, deputy governor, and governor of the colony. Descendants and rela- tives lived in New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee, Iowa and elsewhere. Includes ancestry to about 794 A.D. in England and France.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1876.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1876 edition. Excerpt: ...second child of Dr. Thomas Welles, of Ipswich, Mass., was born at Ipswich about 1638, whence he removed in 1657 to "Wells in Maine, and settled upon the land given him by his father, which place was named after his family, having previously been named Preston." "His father transferred to him, by deed of gift, all his lands in that place, being about:150 acres." He died April 11, 1667, and his widow married Wm. Sawyer. He married in Wells about 1660 to Sarah daughter of Francis Littlefield, of Wells, Maine. CHILDREN. Sarah, born about 1660. Nehemiah, born about 1667. Nathaniel," " 1662. John, ' in year 1670. Patience," " 166d. Thomus, " "1672 "Thomas, his brother, (who was minister of Amesbury, Mass., ) and with his widow Sarah, and Nehemiah his son, were made administrators. And there were other children, as Nathaniel, from whom is derived a long and honorable line. The town was called Wells after their brother."--Savage's Die. Rev. Thomas Weli.es, sixth child of Dr. Thomas Welles, of Ipswich, Mass, was born in Ipswich, Mass., January 11, 1647, and died in Amesbury, Mass., July 11, 17H4. According to the inscription on his tombstone he was then in his 87th year. "To Thomas, the youngest son, the father, by his will, dated July 3, 1666, bequeathes 250 sterling, to be paid to him when he come to the age of '22 years, 4 months and 10 days. He also provides for his son's going to college, and bequeaths to him "all the books I bought for his use, and my physsic books, and the books called 'Orthodox Evangelist, '"--New England Gen. Reg., vol. 4, p. 12. Thomas Welles graduated at Harvard College in 1669. He was the first minister of Amesbury, Mass., and ordained in...

Welles Family

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Thomas Wells is thought to have come to New England from Essex County, England in about 1630-1635.