Searching for William WELLS
William WELLS is my g/g grandfather, and family folklore has it that he may have come from New Zealand. As I have been unsuccessful in finding any records of his birth in Oz or the UK, I'm thinking NZ might be the place. William at some time emigrated to NSW Australia and married Bridget KEYS, in 1875. Not much to go on, but it's worth a try.
Hoping someone out there may have a William to match mine,
Regards
Kay
Comments
Dear Kaysie49, Welcome to FamilyTreeCircles. It's all too easy to go off on a wild goose chase regarding genealogy, work with what you know and then go backwards.
Ok, I found their marriage:-
NSW REGISTRAR OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES
Reg.No.2602/1875 Groom WELLS, WILLIAM Bride KEYS, BRIDGET at GOULBURN
Click here to purchase their Marriage Certificate online
If you purchase their marriage cert (highly recommended) it may reveal witnesses names, parents of the bride and groom even if you are lucky, and/or how long in Colony, all clues to aid you in finding out more info.
Make sure you ask your rellies if anyone has additional information so you are not doubling up on research already done.
With a common and popular surname like WELLS, one would have to be very careful with research so that you don't end up researching the wrong line.
BIRTHS - I have found only 1 Bridget KEYS born in the whole entire period searched between the years 1788 to 1906 in NSW so you could possibly entertain the hope that this is her:-
Reg.No.V18501972 67/1850 KEYS, BRIDGET parents: PATRICK & ELLEN
Purchase her Birth Certificate
CHILDREN
This couple may possibly have had 11 children as this is what comes up when I search for all children born with surname WELLS, parents WILLIAM and BRIDGET:-
V1836711 126/1836 WELLS, MARY A parents: WILLIAM & BRIDGET
V1836711 128/1836 WELLS, MARY A parents: WILLIAM & BRIDGET
V18451915 62/1845 WELLS, MICHAEL parents: WILLIAM & BRIDGET
V18461703 63/1846 WELLS, ELIZABETH parents: WILLIAM & BRIDGET
V18463031 64/1846 WELLS, MARY parents: WILLIAM & BRIDGET
V1848552 66/1848 WELLS, ROBERT parents: WILLIAM & BRIDGET
V18502116 67/1850 WELLS, WILLIAM parents: WILLIAM & BRIDGET
V1833120 126/1833 WELLS, ELLEN parents: WILLIAM & BRIDGET
V1834510 129/1834 WELLS, JOHN parents: WILLIAM & BRIDGET
11533/1876 WELLS, WILLIAM ARTHUR parents: WILLIAM & BRIDGET at GOULBURN
13603/1879 WELLS, LUCY ELLEN parents: WILLIAM & BRIDGET at GOULBURN
and if you search the deaths up to 1976, there were 4 children that died, possibly belonging to the same family.
Also have a look here...
Search the State Records Office of NSW online
Alison
(EDITOR) from QLD.
Thank you so much, Alison. I'm new to this site, and not sure how it works. But it is very rare to have someone who is willing/able to provide such a service, for FREE!
I am aware that Bridget's parents are Patrick and Ellen, and also that William and Bridget had a daughter, Lucy Ellen. I have only just received a copy of their marriage certificate, and was extremely disappointed that there was no info re. DOB, place of birth, or parents.
What was curious about the other children born to William and Bridget WELLS, was that the first nine were born in the 1830's, and the last two were born 1876 and 1879. Given that William and Bridget were married in 1875, I'm wondering if it's an amazing coincidence, or are they the same family. Where did you find the birth records for the older children? I noticed they have a different numerical sequence. Thanks again, Kay.
our William wells died in 1823,was murdered at elderslie nsw,maybe related to yours
Not our William Wells
I am a direct decendent of a william well from Kent and Tasmania, but i am looking for the marriage date and place of my grand mother Lillian May Dungan born Melbourne 1879 died melbourne 1954 as lillian lobb married david lobb born ballarat 1866 died new south wales1927
i am willingto exchange wells information