Thomas Wells and Susannah Elsey
Thomas Wells grave at St Mary's, South Somercotes, Lincolnshire
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Thomas Wells
bapt. 03/12/1730 South Somercotes, Lincolnshire d. 06/05/1788 South Somercotes | m[1]. 06/11/1760 Conisholme, Lincolnshire | Frances Riggell m[2]. 13/09/1771 South Somercotes, Lincolnshire | Susannah Elsey Children of Thomas and Susannah | Thomas Wells bapt. 21/6/1772 South Somercotes John Wells bapt. 04/02/1776 South Somercotes, bur. 12/06/1780 |
Like other generations of the Wells family, Thomas was a grazier (cattle / sheep farmer). The South Somercotes parish register shows that he was churchwarden for the year 1759-60. Thomas and Susannah were married by licence. Unfortunately, the bond is badly damaged with parts of the document missing. However, it does show that Thomas was a widower and Susannah a spinster, both of the parish of South Somercotes. So far I have not been able to find anything more about Susannah. Thomas' previous marriage has now been found as listed above.
In his Will Thomas appointed the Reverend Francis Burton of Great Carlton and Robert Standaloft of South Somercotes to be Trustees for his surviving son, and his son's estate, until he came of age. Amongst the items left to Susannah were 'all her Tea Equipment'. In the 18th century tea was still a luxury due to its high cost and tea caddies were kept locked.
Thomas' gravestone gives his date of death and age, confirming him as the child of John Wells and Mary Low baptised in 1730. The inscription reads:
Now free’d from all the busy scenes below
Where grief and sare like weeds spontaneous grow
Here he’s retired to rest his weary head
Till Rocks shall rent and Graves give up their dead
In his Will Thomas appointed the Reverend Francis Burton of Great Carlton and Robert Standaloft of South Somercotes to be Trustees for his surviving son, and his son's estate, until he came of age. Amongst the items left to Susannah were 'all her Tea Equipment'. In the 18th century tea was still a luxury due to its high cost and tea caddies were kept locked.
Thomas' gravestone gives his date of death and age, confirming him as the child of John Wells and Mary Low baptised in 1730. The inscription reads:
Now free’d from all the busy scenes below
Where grief and sare like weeds spontaneous grow
Here he’s retired to rest his weary head
Till Rocks shall rent and Graves give up their dead
