JEWEL AND IAN  FAMILY HISTORY

                                                                            WELLS FAMILY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Sarah Wells Crotchie

 

Sarah Wells who married Charles Crotchie was the daughter of Jonathan Wells and Mary Muir, and was born at Inverness on 23/8/1808

Other children of Jonathan and Mary Wells are:

Mary 20/11/1791 born old Monkland (Wales in IGI) living Wells St Inverness married James Winks 1814 

John born 5/1/1794 at Dundee  John Wells 3/20/1841   w Margaret Robertson

Janet  (Jess) Wail)  1/11/1797 Newcastle on Tyne Nuthumberland N C  married Fyfe

Margaret 21/11/1800 at Robinson Lane NC Sunderland  married John Rose dies 25 May 1878

Jonathan 8/9/1803 NC Records Newcastle

James 14/7/1805 Perth                          

Isabel 23/9/1808  Merkinch,Inverness  

Sarah 23/9/1808  "

William 4/4/1811  Inverness  Jonathan Wales Founder & his spouse Mary Muir had a child baptized   by Mr. Thomas Fraser named William          Witnesses W. Brough & John Findlay

 

John’s birth certicate states his father Jonathan was a model maker in Dundee. He was born 30th of December 1793, to Jonathan Wells a  Modelmaker, and Mary Muir daughter of John Muir, Grandfather.  He was christened  the 5th of January 1794, in Dundee, Scotland.  Mary Muir's mother was Janet Smith.  Jonathan born the 8th of Sept. 1803

Jonathan was born in 1769 and was an Iron Founder. He died 28/9/1826.

It is interesting to note from Carron Iron works Jonathan went to Old Monkland where the Cylde Iron works was established in 1791 the year of Mary’s birth then in 1797 he was in Newcastle when the Tyne Iron works was established. What was he making moderls for in Dundee? Was it at the Gourlay’s foundry in Dundee?

 

Jonathan Wells and Mary Muir were married on 20/11/1790, Larbert, Stirlingshire

 

Sacred to Memory of Jonathan Wells late iron founder in Inverness who died 28 Sep 1826 aged 57. Stone erected by his family as a tribute of the esteem and gratitude until they meet in the General Resurrection of the Just to part on more. and his affectionate spouse Mary Muir who died on 24th Sept 1834 65 also Jonathan Wells late iron founder Inverness who died 20 Oct 1872 aged 52. Steam passengers as you pass by. As you are now so once was I . As I am now so must you be. Prepare yourselves to follow me.

 

Mary Muir was the daughter of John Muir and Janet Smith and was born 15/4/1769 at Larbert,Stirling

Other children of John Muir and Janet Smith all born at Larbert are:

Janet                            16/1/1763               John                                  21/10/1764

Mary                            15/4/1769               Margaret                           28/3/1771

James                           13/11/1778

 

The Carron Iron Works, in it's day the largest iron works in Scotland, was close to Larbert. It would appear that Jonathan Wells learnt his trade here, and eventually set up his own iron foundry at Inverness. He obviously worked in Sunderland, probably working on the iron bridge across the River Wear, for a while, later moved to Perth, where he was foreman,and was then employed to manage a foundry in Inverness. Apparently he fell out with the management, and set up his own foundry in opposition. The foundry was sited in Abban Street, Inverness, and among other products he supplied some equipment, including iron rails, for the Inverness end of the Caledonian Canal. The foundry was finally closed around 1870. According to his will when he died he was part owner of two ships.

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Many of the original workers for the Carron ironworks were recruited from England, mainly from Birmingham and Sheffield.

 

Jonathan Wells was born in Holbeach, Lincolnshire on 25/4/1769 son of John Wells and Sarah. Other siblings were Sarah Wells born 21/5/1775 and William Wells 21/5/1775.  Also mentioned in Jonathan’s will , sister Mary .It is probable that Jonathan’s family were blacksmiths. He made his way north via Sheffield to Larbert.
John Wells was born 8/1/1741 at Holbeach son of Jonathan Wells and Sarah Archer. His parents married 18/6/1735 Holbeach. Sarah Archer,born 8/5/1711, was the daughter of John Archer and Sarah Hern married 7/11/1714 both at Long Sutton Lincolnshire.  The Holbeach parish records are almost impossible to read in places hence can't link the two generations. Wells is not that common at Holbeach and on 10/12/1724 there is an apprenticeship cooper for Jona/John decd to William Brewer of Holbeach Cooper 2 pounds.