General Notes

Elizabeth was the sister of John Deeming, who was one of the firstsettle
rs of Wethersfield Conn. in the year of 1630. John Deeming was for many ye
ars one of the magistrates of the " Colony of the Connecticut " and o
ne of the patentees named in it's charter.
Nathaniel Foote was one of those named in the charter of patentees of Weth
ersfield. The Foote family became one of the leading families of the litt
le Connecticut Colony. He became a magistrate, a leading land owner, event
ually owning more than 500 acres of land in Wethersfield, some of the gre
at meadow, and his home on the south end of the green, next to the prese
nt Broad Street.
The family was saddened by Nathaniel's death at age 61. Elizabeth was so r
espected that she was allowed to be executor of his estate. Elizabeth w
as left a wealthy widow, but did not remain in that status for long. In 16
46 she married Thomas Wells who was a widower with several children from h
is first marriage. Thomas Wells served as Governor of Connecticut Colony f
or two terms, 1655-1658. When he was not serving as governor he was a Depu
ty Governor. He died during his last years of being deputy governor, 14 Ja
nuary 1659/1660.
Elizabeth was again a widow, having two families instead of one. She w
as in control of a large estate from both husbands.
Elizabeth Welles was a tenacious and feisty old woman. She had not only su
rvived a perilous voyage from England but while tending to six exuberant c
hildren and a husband, she had made a new life for herself and her fami
ly in a world they knew nothing about. This world was inhabited by India
ns who were not always friendly with those pale face people. The rigo
rs of life and managing a household did not daunt her.
Things went quite well through the intervening years since arriving on sho
res of the newly discovered continent, until she reached old age. In 16
76 as she approched the age of 80 years, she ran into trouble with o
ne of her step-grand children.
This was Robert Welles, a favorite of grandfather, Governor Thomas Well
es when the governor was alive. Robert had arrived at the Governor's hom
e, there to be taken care of and educated.
But now his grandfather was dead and Robert and his step-grandmother disag
reed. Maybee she did not think him old enough to be married at age 24. Nev
er-the-less it was 1676 when Elizabeth brought Robert Welles to court, bec
ause he "...hath dammyfield her Barne by Parting with the other part of t
he Barne that did adjoin to it."
Exactly what he did to her barn is not clear. The court's decision was cle
ar. He was ordered to repair the barn and also to pay his step-grandmoth
er rent for it. Elizabeth made sure the barn incedent was not here last wo
rd.
Two years later, in 1678, she made sure all of the Welles were taken ca
re of when she made her will. She left them nothing. She stated someone ou
tside the family would be executor of her will. Everything she had she le
ft to her own family. That is the family she and Nathaniel has raised a
nd nurtured. The Welles family got nothing.
Elizabeth died in 1683, at the age of 88. The estate was devided among t
he Footes. One of the documents in the Probates Court was that of the fin
al disposition, that during that same year Robert Welles won a lawsuit aga
inst his step-grandmother's will that he would have to be paid by those w
ho had been named in the will. (Source - Article in Footeprints - Spring 1
999 Issue - The Foote Family Association)
WILL OF MRS. ELIZABETH WELLES:
Invt. 328 pounds 12 shillings 06 pence, taken 3d September 1683, by Samu
el Talcott, James Treat, Samuel Butler. Will dated 28 March, 1678.
My estate I dispose of as followeth; I will that all those debts I ow in r
ight or conscience to any man or men be well & Truly contented & payd o
ut of my Estate in the first place. My fourteen acres of Land in the gre
at meadow & Thirty acres in the West field I give unto my son Robert Foo