My troublesome ggg grandfather was Asahel Wells, b. 1772, who I believe was born in Franklin Co. (Deerfield?), moved to Guilford, Windham Co., VT with his parents around 1784 (land record), married Catharine Weld there on 13 Nov 1791 (town record), abandoned her in 1805 to run away with Nancy Holden, was picked up by constable in Deerfield in October 1805 (VT archives of constable asking to be reimbursed by VT legislature). The family Bible he kept never mentions the first marriage, gives the second marriage date of 19 Apr 1805 but I can't find the marriage in Windham Co. or Franklin Co. (maybe they just married in their minds). Nor can I find a divorce. Catharine, b. 1759, lived to 1840 and it states on her tombstone in Athens, Windham Co., that she was wife of Asahel Wells. That sounds like she never gave him a divorce. Asahel was in Athens, VT in 1800 census with two women age 26-45, two boys under 10, and two girls under 10. There are no records of children born to Asahel and Catharine in Athens or Guilford during 1790s. This must be a sister with her 4 children living with them. I cannot locate Asahel and Nancy in 1810 census unless they are down in Canaan, Litchfield, CT with one son and two daughters (which matches information about children's births stated in Bible). They are near Rochester, NY in 1820 census, listed in the city directory there in 1827, and then Asahel dies in January 1829. No record of his death other than the Bible. His widow lived in Southport, Tioga (now Chemung), NY in 1830 census. Nancy died in 1855 somewhere, according to the Bible, but I can't locate her in censuses past 1830. There are no probate records for Asahel or Asahel's parents, Thomas and Olive Newton Wells, that I can discover, but I did find the probates for his two fathers-in-law in Windham County and both mentioned Asahel. Does anyone have any other ideas about other sources I should look for regarding early info on Asahel and Nancy? I don't know for sure where their first child was born in 1806, but the others were born in NY per censuses and other sources. I have looked in many Holden, Wells, and Weld genealogies but all just end with the births of Nancy, Asahel, or Catharine, nothing about their marriages. I forgot to mention that I believe Asahel was born in Deerfield area because his parents were married there in 1761. I have no idea who Olive Newton's parents were, but Thomas' were Jonathan and Abigail (Dickinson) Wells. Thanks for any help, Margie

Margie Does yahoo accept attachments? Bonnie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marjorie Bridges" <margiebr2002@yahoo.com> To: <MAFrankl-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 4:11 AM Subject: [MAFRANKL] Asahel Wells > My troublesome ggg grandfather was Asahel Wells, b. > 1772, who I believe was born in Franklin Co. > (Deerfield?), moved to Guilford, Windham Co., VT with > his parents around 1784 (land record), married > Catharine Weld there on 13 Nov 1791 (town record), > abandoned her in 1805 to run away with Nancy Holden, > was picked up by constable in Deerfield in October > 1805 (VT archives of constable asking to be reimbursed > by VT legislature). The family Bible he kept never > mentions the first marriage, gives the second marriage > date of 19 Apr 1805 but I can't find the marriage in > Windham Co. or Franklin Co. (maybe they just married > in their minds). Nor can I find a divorce. Catharine, > b. 1759, lived to 1840 and it states on her tombstone > in Athens, Windham Co., that she was wife of Asahel > Wells. That sounds like > she never gave him a divorce. Asahel was in Athens, > VT in 1800 census with two women age 26-45, two boys > under 10, and two girls under 10. There are no records > of children born to Asahel and Catharine in Athens or > Guilford during 1790s. This must be a sister with her > 4 children living with them. I cannot locate Asahel > and Nancy in 1810 census unless they are down in > Canaan, Litchfield, CT with one son and two daughters > (which matches information about children's births > stated in Bible). They are near Rochester, NY in 1820 > census, listed in the city directory there in 1827, > and then Asahel dies in January 1829. No record of his > death other than the Bible. His widow lived in > Southport, Tioga (now Chemung), NY in 1830 census. > Nancy died in 1855 somewhere, according to the Bible, > but I can't locate her in censuses past 1830. There > are no probate records for Asahel or Asahel's parents, > Thomas and Olive Newton Wells, that I can discover, > but I did find the probates for his two fathers-in-law > in Windham County and both mentioned Asahel. > > Does anyone have any other ideas about other sources I > should look for regarding early info on Asahel and > Nancy? I don't know for sure where their first child > was born in 1806, but the others were born in NY per > censuses and other sources. I have looked in many > Holden, Wells, and Weld genealogies but all just end > with the births of Nancy, Asahel, or Catharine, > nothing about their marriages. > > I forgot to mention that I believe Asahel was born in > Deerfield area because his parents were married there > in 1761. I have no idea who Olive Newton's parents > were, but Thomas' were Jonathan and Abigail > (Dickinson) Wells. > > Thanks for any help, Margie > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > MAFRANKL-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message