Thomas Wellman was born in about 1615 in

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

and died at Lynn,

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...

on 10 October 1672. He was among the early settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and progenitor of the Wellman family of

New England New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the Can ...

. At age 21 he traveled from

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

Barbados Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. It occupies an area of and has a population of about 287,000 (2019 estimate) ...

in 1634 or 1635 aboard ''Hopewell'' as part of a mass exodus of

Puritans The Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to purify the Church of England of Roman Catholic practices, maintaining that the Church of England had not been fully reformed and should become more Protestant. ...

called the Great Migration.Wellman, Joshua Wyman ''Descendants of Thomas Wellman'' (1918) Arthur Holbrook Wellman, Boston

New life in America

Thomas sailed from Barbados to Massachusetts and settled in Lynn about 1640, where he married Elizabeth (whose family surname has not been discovered) about 1642. At the time of his death, he owned 180 acres of land in Lynn. Their home on the east side of Summer Street in Lynn was occupied by several generations of Wellmans before being demolished in the 1830s.

Second generation of Thomas Wellman's family

Thomas Wellman and his wife Elizabeth had five children: Abraham (born about 1643-died about 1717), Isaac (born about 1647-died after 1724), Elizabeth (born about 1660-died 1740), Sarah (born about 1662), and Mary (born about 1664). * Abraham married Elizabeth Cogswell (born about 1648-died 1736) about 1668. She was the daughter of John Cogswell of Ipswich, Massachusetts. Abraham inherited half of his father's land and the family home. Abraham and his wife Elizabeth made grand jury depositions concerning Sarah Cole of Lynn during the

Salem witch trials The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. More than 200 people were accused. Thirty people were found guilty, 19 of whom w ...

. Abraham and his wife Elizabeth had eight children: ** Thomas (11 October 1669-died about 1735) six children. ** Elizabeth (16 February 1671 – 24 April 1673) ** Abraham (25 November 1673-died at sea after 26 October 1745) seven children. ** John (3 May 1676-died young) ** Elizabeth (born 25 July 1678) married three times. ** Abigail (died 1737 or 1738) ** Mary (died 1737) married Caleb Coye. 2 children. ** Martha became the 2nd wife of her 1st cousin Ebeneezer. * Isaac married Hannah Adams (born January 1662 or 1663-died after May 1711) 13 March 1678 or 1679. She was the youngest daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Adams of Malden, Massachusetts. Issac inherited half of his father's land. Isaac was a soldier in

King Philip's War King Philip's War (sometimes called the First Indian War, Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, Pometacomet's Rebellion, or Metacom's Rebellion) was an armed conflict in 1675–1676 between indigenous inhabitants of New England and New England coloni ...

and participated in the capture of Fort Narraganset on 19 December 1675. His heirs were among the grantees of Narraganset No. 2 (Westminster) in 1733. Isaac made a grand jury deposition concerning Sarah Cole during the Salem witch trials. Isaac and his wife Hannah had eleven children: ** Isaac (7 February 1679 – 19 September 1681) ** Stephen (6 September 1681 – 21 January 1767) six children. ** Hannah (born about 1683) the last record of Hannah was dated 1706. ** Sarah (born about 1685) married John Hall 7 March 1726 or 1727. ** Isaac (born about 1687-1740) five children. ** Ebeneezer (born about 1690) seven children. ** Joseph (born about 1693-died after 10 July 1770) twelve children. ** Timothy (born about 1696-5 February 1787) six children. ** Samuel (born about 1699-died before 20 July 1770) five children. ** Benjamin (born about 1702-died 1782) never married. ** Adam (born about 1705-1766) no children. * Elizabeth married George Hull (born about 1650-died about April 1742) of Beverly, Massachusetts. * The last record of Sarah was dated 22 October 1684. * No record of Mary has been found after the death of her father.

American revolution

At least thirty-four descendants of Thomas Wellman participated in the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

: * great-grandson Joseph Wellman (1737-1783/4) of Wrentham marched on Lexington in Captain Samuel Cowell's company and served until 1779. * great-great-grandson Thomas Wellman (1742–1818) of Lynnfield marched on Lexington in Captain Nathaniel Bancroft's company and served until 1777. * great-great-grandson Jonathan Wellman (1747–1822) of Lynnfield marched on Lexington in Captain Nathaniel Bancroft's company. * great-great-grandson Stephen Wellman (1746-after 1805) marched on Lexington in Captain Abraham Pierce's company of Waltham

militia A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...

and was a

corporal Corporal is a military rank in use in some form by many militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. The word is derived from the medieval Italian phrase ("head of a body"). The rank is usually the lowest ranking non- ...

at the Battle of Dorchester Heights. * great-great-grandson Timothy Wellman (1757–1842) of Mansfield was a private in Captain Isaac Hodge's company at the Battle of Dorchester Heights and the battle of Rhode Island. * great-great-grandson Jacob Wellman (1746–1834) of Lyndeborough was wounded at the Battle of Bunker Hill as a private in Captain Levi Spaulding's company. * great-great-grandson Joseph Wellman (1747–1831) was a private in Captain Abiel Clapp's Mansfield minutemen. * great-great-grandson Peter Wellman (1750–1791) was a private in Captain Clapp's Mansfield minutemen and fought in the battle of Rhode Island. * great-great-grandson Samuel Wellman (1751–1835) was a private in Captain Clapp's Mansfield minutemen. * great-great-grandson Ebenezer Wellman (1752–1831) was a private in Captain Clapp's Mansfield minutemen and fought in the battle of Rhode Island. * great-great-grandson Silas Wellman (1757-after 1818) was a private in Captain Clapp's Mansfield minutemen and served until 1782 at

West Point, New York West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military post in the United States. Located on the Hudson River in New York, West Point was identified by General George Washington as the most important strategic position in America during the Ame ...

. * great-great-grandson Samuel Wellman (1760–1829) was a private in Captain Clapp's Mansfield minutemen served until 1780 including the Battle of Trenton. * great-great-grandson Isaac Wellman (1757–1840) of Cornish was a private in Captain Jonathan Chase's company at the

Siege of Fort Ticonderoga (1777) For the disambiguation of all battles of Fort Ticonderoga, Click HereThe 1777 Siege of Fort Ticonderoga occurred between the 2nd and 6 July 1777 at Fort Ticonderoga, near the southern end of Lake Champlain in the state of New York. Lieutenant Ge ...

. * great-great-grandson James Wellman (1754–1841) of Cornish was a ranger in Captain Josiah Russell's company at the siege of Fort Ticonderoga and the Saratoga campaign. * great-great-grandson John Wellman (1758–1826) of Lyndeborough was a private in Colonel John Mellin's regiment at the siege of Fort Ticonderoga and in 1778 a corporal in Captain Samuel Dearborn's company in the battle of Rhode Island. * great-grandson Reuben Wellman (1730–1798) was a private in the New Hampshire Regiment reinforcing the Continental Army at New York during the winter of 1776/7. * great-great-grandson Solomon Wellman (1758–1841) of Cornish joined the Continental Army under

General A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED ...

Horatio Gates Horatio Lloyd Gates (July 26, 1727April 10, 1806) was a British-born American army officer who served as a general in the Continental Army during the early years of the Revolutionary War. He took credit for the American victory in the Battl ...

for the Saratoga campaign. * great-great-grandson Jacob Wellman (1761–1829) of Mansfield enlisted in 1776 and served through 1783 as a corporal at the battles of Saratoga, Monmouth, and Yorktown. * great-great-grandson Abraham Wellman (1762–1829) of Lynn was a Continental Army drummer wounded at the battle of Monmouth. * great-grandson Adam Wellman (1744/5-1802) of Wrentham was a gunner in Captain Perez Cushing's

artillery Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...

company from 1776 and a corporal in Captain Samuel Cowell's company in 1778. * great-grandson Elijah Wellman (1733–1790) of Attleborough was a private in Captain Stephen Richardson's company in 1777 and in Captain Samuel Robinson's company in 1780. * great-great-grandson David Wellman (~1733-~1802) was a member of the Stoughtonham militia. * great-grandson Jedediah Wellman (1748–1826) was a member of the Keene militia in 1776. * great-great-grandson John Wellman (1755–1831) was a private in Captain Moses Knapp's company from 1775 to 1776. * great-great-grandson Caleb Wellman (1761–1822) was a private in Captain Zadok Buffington's company in 1777 and in Captain Addison Richardson's company of Essex County militia in 1780. * great-great-grandson Oliver Wellman (1761–1848) of Mansfield enlisted in the First Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army from 1779 through 1781. * great-great-grandson Benoni Wellman (1765–1840) enlisted in 1782 as a private in

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

Jackson's

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscript ...

. * great-great-grandson Darius Wellman (~1761- ) was a corporal in the Athens, Vermont militia in 1782. * great-grandson Adam Wellman (~1744-1786) of Salem was a

privateer A privateer is a private person or ship that engages in maritime warfare under a commission of war. Since robbery under arms was a common aspect of seaborne trade, until the early 19th century all merchant ships carried arms. A sovereign or deleg ...

serving as

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...

aboard the schooner ''Success'' in 1776, and commanding the brigantine ''Rover'' in 1780 and the schooner ''Jackal'' in 1782. * great-grandson John Wellman (1748–1812) of Dedham was

ship's doctor A naval surgeon, or less commonly ship's doctor, is the person responsible for the health of the ship's company aboard a warship. The term appears often in reference to Royal Navy's medical personnel during the Age of Sail. Ancient uses Speciali ...

aboard the brigantine ''Hawke'' in

Commodore Commodore may refer to: Ranks * Commodore (rank), a naval rank ** Commodore (Royal Navy), in the United Kingdom ** Commodore (United States) ** Commodore (Canada) ** Commodore (Finland) ** Commodore (Germany) or ''Kommodore'' * Air commodore ...

John Manley's squadron. * great-great-grandson Jedediah Wellman (1762–1858) of Danvers shipped aboard a privateer in 1776 and was taken prisoner at

Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council. Portsmouth is the most dens ...

* great-grandson Samuel Wellman (1727-before 1787) of Salem was captured by the British aboard the privateer sloop ''Gates'' in 1779. * Samuel's son Oliver Kempton Wellman (1763-before 1790) served aboard the privateer ''Junius Brutus'' in 1780. * Samuel's son Timothy Wellman (1768–1834) shipped aboard the sloop ''Tyrannicide'' in 1776 at the age of 8.

Descendants

Two American towns have been named for the family: *

Wellman, Iowa Wellman is a city in Washington County, Iowa Iowa () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River t ...

named for Joseph Edward Wellman *

Wellman, Texas Wellman is a city in Terry County, Texas, United States. The city was formed in 1918 as a shipping point on the Santa Fe Railroad and named after Augustus Ogden Wellman, who had been an assistant to the railroad's secretary and treasurer. Its pop ...

Some notable members of the Wellman family in America: *

Lemuel Wellman Wright Lemuel Wellman Wright was an inventor who was active in the early 19th century. He was born in Plainfield, New Hampshire, and educated at Haverhill, New Hampshire. He then took a raft down the Connecticut River to Middletown, Connecticut, where ...

(1790-1886), inventor who lived in England from 1816 to 1857 * Bela Wellman (1819–1887),

San Francisco Committee of Vigilance The San Francisco Committee of Vigilance was a vigilante group formed in 1851. The catalyst for its formation was the criminality of the Sydney Ducks gang. It was revived in 1856 in response to rampant crime and corruption in the municipal govern ...

merchant during the California Gold Rush * Abijah J. Wellman (1836–1889), New York state senator of the

Wellman House Wellman House is a historic home located at Friendship in Allegany County, New York. It is a -story, clapboard dwelling constructed in 1835 and remembered as the residence of Col. Abijah Wellman. A Mansard roof was added later to the original ...

* Samuel T. Wellman (1847–1919), inventor * Augustus Ogden Wellman (1850-1916),

Santa Fe Railroad The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often referred to as the Santa Fe or AT&SF, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The railroad was chartered in February 1859 to serve the cities of Atchison and Topeka, Kansas, and ...

official for whom

was named * Arthur Holbrook Wellman (1855–1948),

state senator *

Walter Wellman Walter E. Wellman (November 3, 1858 – January 31, 1934) was an American journalist, explorer, and aëronaut. Biographical background Walter Wellman was born in Mentor, Ohio, in 1858. He was the sixth son of Alonzo Wellman and the fourth by ...

(1858–1934),

journalist A journalist is an individual that collects/gathers information in form of text, audio, or pictures, processes them into a news-worthy form, and disseminates it to the public. The act or process mainly done by the journalist is called journalis ...

and

explorer Exploration refers to the historical practice of discovering remote lands. It is studied by geographers and historians. Two major eras of exploration occurred in human history: one of convergence, and one of divergence. The first, covering most ...

Jack London John Griffith Chaney (January 12, 1876 – November 22, 1916), better known as Jack London, was an American novelist, journalist and activist. A pioneer of commercial fiction and American magazines, he was one of the first American authors to ...

(1876–1916),

author An author is the writer of a book, article, play, mostly written work. A broader definition of the word "author" states: "''An author is "the person who originated or gave existence to anything" and whose authorship determines responsibility f ...

* William A. Wellman (1896–1975), film director * Harry R. Wellman (1899–1997), president of the

University of California The University of California (UC) is a public land-grant research university system in the U.S. state of California. The system is composed of the campuses at Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Franci ...

* James Milo Wellman (1922–1971), founder of Wellman-Lord Engineering

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wellman, Thomas 1610s births 1672 deaths People of colonial Massachusetts New England Puritanism