This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: BarbaraMunson60 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.wells/5531/mb.ashx Message Board Post: This is lengthy, but this brick wall has been driving me crazy for years. If you connect to this family, please contact me. If you don't connect, but have suggestions or tips on where I should turn next, please contact me. My grandfather was Howard Rufus Wells, born June 25, 1886 in Cannons Crossing, Sussex County, Delaware. His marriage license lists his father as Charles Wells and his mother as Mary A. Lippincott - she was the daughter of Elwood Lippincott and Lydia Austin. Charles and Mary had at least 3 children besides my grandfather: Elwood L. Wells - Born c. 1878 in New Jersey. He appears in the 1880 census with his mother in her parents' home. Edward P. Wells - Born 1884 in New Jersey. Married Sarah Elizabeth Borden (per his son's obituary); died August 1912 in Medford, NJ. His only child, Edward John Wells, died 1988 in Salem, NJ. Harvey M. Wells - Born March 28, 1890 in Georgetown, Sussex Co., Delaware. He married Iva Buckson, had children Helen Beatrice (died as a baby) and Mary Iva Wells (married Frank Tomlin, died 1982). He died in Millville, Cumberland Co., NJ in 1956, after having been lame for much of his adult life. In the 1880 census, Mary Lippincott Wells is in her parents' house in Burlington Co., NJ with her son, Elwood; she's listed as married, but her husband isn't in the household. Also in the household are children Anna Maud Smith, age 5, and Fanny Hewitt, age 1. Looking at the actual image, it seems like next to Anna Maude Smith it says HER DAUGHTER, which would mean Mary's since she's listed just below Mary. In the 1895 NJ census, I found the 4 Wells brothers in Mount Laurel, Burlington County. Also in the household are Mary Bates, age 20-60; Mary Gill, age 20-60; Harry Gill, age 20-60; Warren Gill, age 5-20; Lizzie Gill, age 5-20; John Smith, age 20-60; William Smith, age 20-60; Maud Smith, age 5-20. By the 1900 census, Mary's a widow, and she states that she is the mother of 10 children, 8 still living. Other than the 4 Wells boys listed, the only other sibling name I've ever heard was Maud. For years I worked on the assumption that these children were all Wells, but now I'm thinking that Mary had been married to a Smith before Charles Wells, that the Anna Maud Smith in the 1880 census is Mary's daughter, and that the Smith children in the 1895 census were the missing siblings. I've searched the census records for the people in the 1895 census, but the only ones I've found were the Gills. By 1900 Harry's a widow and listed as the father of Warren and Lizzie. Because Mary Gill is dead by 1900, she could be one of the Smith/Wells siblings (and one of Mary Lippincott Wells' 2 dead children.) My great-grandfather, Charles Wells, has not been found anywhere in the records - census, obituaries, marriage, birth or death records, etc. I also haven't been able to find evidence that Mary Lippincott was married before she married Charles. In a weird side note, Millville's city directory listed Mary as the widow of Thomas Wells, but he died before the family ever moved to Millville so I'm discounting it. I figure my grandfather listed his dad as Charles, and he should know better than the Millville directory. ANY help on this would be greatly appreciated. My dad did participate in the Wells DNA project, and it seems as though we're not related to anyone within the past 23 generations. Barbara Wells Munson St. Rose, LA munsonfly@yahoo.com Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.