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Chapter 2
James and Elizabeth;The "Wells" Connection ?
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The second James of James and Alice's marriage was far more fortunate than
the first. For a start the second James survived (at least, to the age of 47), and
furthermore, survived also to marry, and raise children.
Just seven days before the Battle of Culloden (at which the Jacobites were
beaten), James, aged 23, married the young, 22 year old Elizabeth Wells, on
9 April 1746; the result of which, through the birth of their children, has proved to
be one of the most illuminating episodes in the history of those descended from
the Wells-next-the-Sea branch of the Powditch family.
The entry on page 118 of the Parish Register gives a simple announcement
Marriages 1746
Aprill 9th James Powditch to Elizabeth Wells
R. Fountain Rector
(here we notice that the first spelling of Powditch as we know it today, has been
entered by the Rector. The year is 1746.)
James and Elizabeth (nee Wells) had ten children:
JAMES, ELIZ, AN, PAUL, ALSE (?), WILLIAM, ANN, ALICE, WELLS, WELLS.
(n.b. The following Baptism details are taken from the 1719-1747 Register.)
(N.B. Here the 1719-1747 Register ends, and the 1748-1754 one begins)
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(n.b. The name "Alse" also looks like "Alre" on the Register. It is quite possible
that it is a badly written "Alice")
(N.B. Here ends the 1748-1754 Register, and the 1754-1801 one begins)
(n. b. It may be that Ann had a prefixed Christian name of Elizabeth, for in the
margin of the Baptism Register, against Ann's name, was the name of "Elizh.")
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Of James and Elizabeth's children, the second Alice (who was baptised on
13 September 1758), at the age of 23, was to marry Miles Wilson, on 12 April
1781, at St. Nicholas Church, Wells-next-the-Sea.
As will have been seen, there were two "Wells" boys amongst the children, the
first dying as an Infant, just 18 months (approx) after his birth. The second
Wells, who was born two years later, appears to have been a late starter in
marrying, and creating a family, as will be revealed in a later chapter.
Besides Alice's marriage to Miles Wilson, James, William and Wells were to
marry girls "of this Parish (of Wells)", but for the moment, here our story must
divide, as we look first at James, before later looking at William, then Wells,
and subsequently, their descendants.
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Acknowledgements