William Wells

  General Notes:

1851 William age 16 is working as a grocers apprentice in St John Maddermarket, Norwich. It appears William had a sister called Charlotte Eliza b.1839-1925 buried North Cemetery plot K/5, who married Thomas Reuben Harman b.1839-1901 buried same grave, both from Wells Norfolk.
At the time of their marriage William was listed as a Shop Keeper.

1861 Grocer William and wife Susannah a dressmaker, are living in Hall Road Lakenham with children Donald Galbraith 1 and Robert 10 months.
He was a clerk at the iron works in Hartlepool in 1871, and lived at 17 Alexander Street, Stranton near to her brother William at number 10. Living with them at the time of the census was Nephews, 22 year old Frank a
bricklayer and 20 year old painter Charles Large.

In 1871 William and his family were living with Williams brother in law, Jos Curran a joiner b1848 in South Repps, Norfolk. And his wife Selina b1846 in Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk and their 4 month old son Robert born in West Hartlepool, in 10 Alexander Street, Stranton. Williams family were Robert 11, Beatrice 9, James Beacon 7, William 5, and Georgianna 3.

By 1881 William is listed as the head of the household a Grocer and there is no mention of the Currans.

By the time of the 1891 census William and family have moved to 5 Stansfield Terrace, Stranton. Living with them were their remaining children Eliza, Richard and Gerald. Also Williams nieces Gertrude and Florence
Large aged 9 and 11, and Nephew Frank Large age 6.

It is thought that William had at least one sister Charlotte. William was Buried in an unpurchased and unconsecrated plot, 01/N/15 of the North Cemetery. At the time of his death he was living in Stansfield Terrace, Belle Vue, Hartlepool.

Most of the Wells family became fishermen simply because it was all they knew. William was lucky to get away. My 2x gt grandfather was 27 and my 3 x gt grandfather was 33 when they died, both as a result of boats over-turning whilst fishing. Margaret Goffin.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census, 30 Mar 1851, St John Maddermarket, Norwich, Norfolk. Age 16. Occupation - Grocers Apprentice.

• Census, 8 Apr 1861, Hall Road, Lakenham, Norwich, Norfolk.

William married Susannah Groom, daughter of Robert Groom and Susanna Leech, on 23 Dec 1856 in Happisburgh Parish Church, Norfolk. (Susannah Groom was born on 25 Jan 1831 in Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, christened on 28 Jan 1831 in Parish Church, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, died on 22 May 1900 in Tankerville Street, West Hartlepool and was buried on 24 May 1900 in North Cemetery, Raby Road, West Hartlepool.)