Re: Thomas Wellman of Lyon and the "Boat" he came on.
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In reply to:
Thomas Wellman of Lyon and the "Boat" he came on.
Anne Browning 4/08/06
This passage is taken from the 1908 book by William Richard Cutter, page 1242, called, "Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Middlesex County. Massachusetts"
"Thomas Wellman, the immigrant ancestor, was born in England, about 1620. He came over in the ship "Hopewell," when he was twenty-one years old. He was an inhabitant of Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1640. The family, according to some traditions, is said to be Welsh, but the name is English. He married Elizabeth . Children: i. Abraham, born about 1643; father of Thomas, born 1669, who settled in Reading. 2. Isaac, born about 1650; mentioned below. 3. Elizabeth. 4. Sarah. 5. Mary. 6. Stephen ( ?), killed by the Indians, September 18, 1675, at Deerfield. ( II ) Isaac Wellman, son of Thomas Wellman (1), was born about 1655, in Lynn, or vicinity, Massachusetts. He married, March 13, 1679, Hannah Adams, who died after 171i. He married second (intentions dated August 23, 1717), Mary Slafter. who survived him. Some of this family settled in Killingworth, Connecticut. Children, born at Lynn; i. Isaac, born February 7, 1679-80; died September 18, 1682. 2. Stephen, born September 6, 1681 ; mentioned below. 3. Isaac, born about 1684; his widow died about 171i. (IIl) Stephen Wellman, son of Isaac Wellman (2), was born in Lynn, September 6, 1681 ; died, 1767. He married (intentions dated April 27, 1706), Abigail Boston, of Wells, Maine. Children: i. Stephen Jr., born at Lynn, August 19, 1712 (recorded at Lynn). According to the family historian, he "fell down stairs and broke his silver cord," dying in consequence, July 1, 1768. He married at Salem. January 9. 1740, Susanna Pedrick, who died June 24, 1768, of consumption. Children, born at Lynn: i. Thomas, born May 13. 1742; married Martha Follet, of Attleborough, born 1737, died April 19, 1/92. 2. Jesse, born December 27, 1743. 3. Stephen, born June 21, 1746. 4. Susannah, born September 20, 1749. 5. Ezekiel. born February 6, 1/51-52 : mentioned below.' 6. Bartholomew, born May 25, 1754- 7. Ann, born May 5, 1759. 8. Caleb, born May 3, 1761 ; married Susanna Williams. (V) Ezekiel Wellman, son of Stephen Wellman (4), was born February 6, 1751-52, at Lynn ; died there December 7. 1816. He resided at Salem."
Seems to be pretty specific and studied. But, there were other Thomas Wellman's from the same period, one very famous vicar of Luppit who was born in Ilchester in Somerset around 1606 and had seven children (this location would have been very close to Wales, being right across the Bristol channel). This date, however, would move up the moving to America at least 15 years or so (he seems to have married in 1635), but it would be assumed with the naming practices at the time, that if he had a son, he would also be named Thomas, and this also provides a reason for leaving England, since this Thomas Wellman was a nonconformist.I only mention this because some newer sources can't seem to find a real reference to a Thomas Wellman in the colonies until after 1650 or so.
Oddly, THIS Thomas Wellman had a father also named Thomas Wellman, and he is always listed as being born in Somersetshire, *Wales*, about 1570. HIS father was Edward Wellman, born same place, 1540
All information seems to point to Somerset, regardless of which Thomas Wellman, since most ancestry charts I've seen place 'our' Thomas in or around Ilminster (and there are still a lot of Wellman's living in Ilminster).
So, regardless if we have the right Thomas, the one from Ilminster, or Thomas the vicar... from Isaac onward, it seems sound.
My ancenstry is Isaac-Steven-John(Job)-Bennett-John-David-Wayne-Charles-Charles (my dad)-me.
Would be nice if some kind soul in Somerset could do a bit of research for us :-)
Tim