Stranica 94 [94]
OCR
1746; (8) Samuel, born August 24th, 1749; (9) Peter, born July 26th, 1752—died in infancy; (10) Ebenezer, born May 3rd, 1754; (11) Phebe, born October 14th, 1757; (12) Peter, born January 2zoth, 1762; (13) Timothy, born May 2oth, 1765. Captain Thomas Wells served in the expedition composed of New England troops, under the command of Sir William Pepperell, which resulted in the conquest of Louisbourg, in Cape Breton, in 1745. He died about the year 1769, as his will was dated December 27th, 1768, and proved May 8th, 1769. Thomas Wells, fourth son of Captain Thomas, was born January 19th, 1741; married, in 1767, follows: (1) William (of whom hereafter) ; (2) Mary, married Wait Stephens, of New Chester, New Hampshire ; (3) Hannah, married Thorndike Proctor, of Salisbury, New Hampshire; (4) Elizabeth, married James Murray, of New Chester ; (5) Philip, married Mary Ingles, of New Chester; (6) Ruth, married Dr. Forbes, of New Chester. Thomas Wells held the rank of Lieutenant in the Militia. He served in the old French war, and was with General Amherst’s expedition which conquered Canada in 1760. He also served in the Continental army in the Revolutionary War. He died July 29th, 1831, at Chester, New Hampshire, at the age of go years, retaining his strength and faculties unimpaired to within a few days of his decease. William Wells, eldest son of Thomas, born June 30th, 1768, at Sandown, New Hampshire (then a British Province), settled in Upper Canada in 1787, being then 19 years of age. Being born a British subject, he resolved never to abandon his birthright, and, although his father had espoused the side of the American revolutionists, and served in the Continental army, he, the eldest son, determined that as he was born, so would he live and die—a faithful subject of the Crown of Great Britain. Conseto Upper Canada, there, as a member of that loyal band, the United Empire Loyalists, to live under the glorious old flag of England. Upon his arrival in Upper Canada, he drew land from the Crown in the neighborhood of Mallorytown, in the County of Leeds, and at once engaged in clearing his land. After some time, in consequence of the death ofa friend and near neighbor, to whom he was much attached, he became discontented with his location, and sold his land. He then purchased a large farm on the bank of the River St. Lawrence, in the Township of Augusta and County of Grenville, about midway between the present Towns of Brockville and Prescott, and there settled permanently for the remainder of his life. OE ry eee ae eee hel e et visit to New Hampshire, and there married Sarah Clough, only daughter of Benjamin Clough, of Salem, Massachusetts. Returning immediately to Canada, he commenced active operations in the lumber business, and in a few years became one of the leading lumbermen inthe country. Fora few years he confined his business operations to the banks of the St. Lawrence, the Bay of Quinte, and the Thousand Isles, Wells Island, one of the largest being called after him. He also leased Grindstone Island for a term of 99 years, with the right of renewal from the St. Regis Indians. He had it surveyed and laid out in farms, cleared the land, built houses, and settled tenants on the farms, at valuable, it was ceded to the United States, and consequently all of his outlay and improvements were lost, and for which he never received any remuneration. Lumber becoming scarce on the St. Lawrence, he removed his business to the Rideau River, and from thence to the Bonnechere, one of the tributaries of the Ottawa. Being the first lumberman upon the latter river, he was obliged to go to great expense in building dams and removing obstructions, in order to get his lumber to market. He continued in business until 1832, when he finally retired, confining his attention to his farm until his death. Mr. Wells served in the Militia of Grenville for many years, his first commission as ensign, bearing date November 24th, 1804, was signed by Peter Drummond, Esquire, Lieutenant of the County of Grenville. (It thus appears that the old English custom of the Crown appointing Lieutenants of Counties who had charge of the Militia, prevailed for some time in Canada.) His second commission of Lieutenant was signed by Sir Isaac Brock, and bears date February 21st, 1812. His third, as captain, by Francis Gore, Esquire, Lieut.-Governor, is dated October zoth, 1815. He was in active service in the war with the United States of 1812; in February 1813, was taken prisoner in his own house, at which a military post was established, by a strong party of the enemy, consisting of Forsyth’s Riflemen and Dragoons, who crossed upon the ice in the night and took them by surprise. There are several shot holes still remaining in the ceiling of the old house, which have never be repaired. Mr. Wells was carried as a prisoner to Ogdensburg, N.Y., and shortly after released upon parole not to serve until exchanged, which was not effected until May 13th, 1814. In a few years after the close of the war, he resigned his commission, retiring with the rank of captain. He was for many years in the Commission of the Peace for.the old District of
