I excitedly look forward to each new issue of The Register and The American Genealogist because of the probability that a new article will appear that contains new proven research pertaining to one of my colonial lines.

The Summer 2023 issue (Volume 177: 197-224) of NEHGS’ journal, The Register, contains an article titled The Wheeler and the Spokes: The Wells-Tapp-Tuttle Kinship: Discussing the Immigrants Anne (Wells) Wheeler, Edmund Tapp, Elizabeth (Herbert) Corwin, John Herbert, Richard Tuttle, John Tuttle and William Tuttle by Travis Dodge Miscia documented newly discovered records clarifying the relationship between several colonial immigrants, including Richard Tuttle, from whom I descend.

The mother of the three Tuttles covered in this article was Isabel Wells, who married Simon Tuttle, c 1590, and who died on 15 June 1630 in Ringstead, Northamptonshire, England.

Isabel was already in her senior years when she immigrated to Massachusetts with her three sons. She died after 1634, probably in Massachusetts.

Current findings have identified Isabel’s parents and paternal grandparents, although neither her mother’s nor her grandmother’s maiden name has been learned.

The Wells family was relatively small, so although there aren’t tons of new names in the family tree, it is exciting to learn more about ancestors who lived during the time of Henry VIII in the 1500s.

Hugh Wells was the paternal grandfather of Isabel Wells. He married Agnes (MNU), c1540. Hugh and Agnes were likely born c1520 or slightly before, possibly in Hemington, Northhamptonshire, England, where the family lived.

They were the parents of eight children, identified through wills and other documents:

1. Adlin, born c1542; buried 20 February 1573, Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire, England; married Richard Osborne, c1564
2. John, born c1543; buried 18 March 1617/18, Ringstead, Northamptonshire, England; married Helen (MNU). She was buried on 22 May 1612, Ringstead, Northamptonshire, England. She was the wife of John, but it is not certain that she was the mother of his children.
3. Anne (possibly), born c1545; married William Ashton
4. Robert, born c1547; buried 24 May 1589, Folksworth, Northamptonshire, England; married Susanna (MNU)
5. Thomas, born c1551; married Ethelreda (MNU)
6. Nicholas, born c1553; buried 5 November 1582, Hemington, Northamptonshire, England; unmarried
7. Raffe, born c1555; buried 14 April 1589, Hemington, Northamptonshire, England; unmarried
8. Edward, born c1557; living in 1589

Much of the information about this family comes from Raffe’s will, which named a number of relatives.

John Wells, son of Hugh and Agnes (MNU) Wells, was born c1543; buried 18 March 1617/18, Ringstead, Northamptonshire, England and married Helen, who appears to have been about 3 years old than her husband. Although she is clearly identified as his wife, she left no records that prove she was the mother of his three children. She might have been, but there is no documentary evidence.

John Wells was the father of three children, about whom little is known:

1. Isabel, born c1565, probably Ringstead, Northamptonshire, England; died after 1634, probably in Massachusetts; married Simon Tuttle, c1590
2. Daughter, born c1567; married Euseby Barwick, c1583
3. Ethelred, born c1572; married William Morton, 13 July 1595, Ringstead, Northamptonshire, England

My Wells line:

1. Hugh Wells = Agnes (MNU)
2. John Wells = possibly Helen (MNU)
3. Simon Tuttle = Isabel Wells
4. Richard Tuttle = Anne Taylor
5. John Tuttle = Mary Holyoke
6. Edward Tuttle = Abigail (Baker?)
7. Joses Bucknam = Phebe Tuttle
8. James Bucknam = Mary Goddard
9. Joses Bucknam = Abigail Hay
10. Oliver Scripture = Mary Goddard Bucknam
11. George Rogers Tarbox = Mary Elizabeth Scripture
12. Calvin Segee Adams = Nellie F. Tarbox
13. Charles Edwin Adams = Annie Maude Stewart
14. Vernon Tarbox Adams = Hazel Ethel Coleman
15. George Michael Sabo = Doris Priscilla Adams
16. Me!

For further information about the Wells family, the article can be accessed on AmericanAncestors.org by subscription.