Cyrus Wells - From Canada to New Mexico by way of Vermont, New Hampshire and Kansas

One of my Vermont ancestors was Cyrus Wells, the son of  William Wells (1794 - 1855) and Martha Myrick (1798 - ?). They were from New Hampshire, but settled in Canada by the time Cyrus was born. He had at least four sisters ( Sarah, Mary A., Caroline Calista, and Helen Naomi) and one brother (C.J.Stuart Wells) I know he was born December 22, 1817 in Hatley, Canada, when his dad was 23 and his mother only 19. His Great-grandfather Ezra Merrick was in the American Revolution, and died at Fort Ticonderoga in 1777.

When Cyrus Wells was 22, he married Susan Garvin in Charlotte, Chittenden County, VT on March 3 1839.  They would eventually have 10 children, perhaps more. 

Marion Missouri Wells their first child was my ancestor, born July 17, 1840 in Plattsburgh, Clinton County, NY. They must have lived there for a while as their first son, Marshall William Wells was born there as well on May 7 1843. In 1847, their son Eugene Charles Wells was born March 24 in St Armand, Canada East. Caroline Melissa Wells was also born in St Armand, Canada East on June 16, 1848.

Their next child, Paulina Mary Wells, was born Sept 16, 1850 in Essex, Chittenden County, VT. This is the town where Susan's parents lived, and Cyrus and Susan show up in the 1850 census there.  The US census lists another child, Helen Wells, age 3. I am not sure where or when she was born as I have no other birth information on her. Cyrus is listed as a Cloth Manufacturer. In the 1900 Census Cyrus states he did not  immigrate to the United States until 1859, perhaps in 1850 they weren't living permanently in Vermont yet. In the 1851 Canadian Census there is a Cyrus Wells listed in St Armand Quebec, which could indeed be our Cyrus.

The next  three children are recorded as being born in St Armand, Canada East. Byron Edwards Wells was born on Oct 24, 1853; Genieveve Wells on April 13 1855; and Susie Wells on 10 Dec 1856.  Their last child I know of is Harriet Abigail Wells, born September 17 1860 in Waterville, Lamoille County, Vermont. They are also found in the 1860 Federal Census living there. By this time, Marion had married William B Smith, and they were living with her parents at that time.

Lamoille, Newsdealer, Hyde Park, VT 18 May 1869

Another newspaper clipping from July 27, 1869 that gives a glimpse of Cyrus's life  - The railroad was apparently coming to Waterville, and Cyrus was renovating an large factory which furnished water power for the town. He intended to start manufacturing flannels as soon as the times allowed it. - So apparently Cyrus was still involved in cloth manufacturing 20 years later. In 1870 Census the family is still living in Waterville although Marion and William are not listed as living with Cyrus and Susan anymore.

Burlington Weekly Free Press 22 March 1878

In the 1880 Census records we find Cyrus & Susan are living in Kinsley, Edwards, Kansas with their son Byron and his wife Sarah.  Cyrus' occupation is listed as Coal Mining. He must have been on the move, as he was also listed in the 1880 census as a Mine Broker, living by himself in Los Cerillos, Santa Fe, New Mexico. (Remember at this time New Mexico is a territory, not a state.)  August 24, 1888 Cyrus Wells was elected postmaster in Turquesa, New Mexico until May 12 1899. 

 

Cyrus is mentioned in the St. Johnsbury Vt, Caledonian paper, even though he has moved away. 3 April 1890.

His wife Susan Garvin Wells, daughter of Thomas Garvin and Abigail Warren, dies July 15th, 1891 after a long illness. Their daughter Helen Wells Wilson nursed her mother through that illness and continued to live there after her mother passed away. 

Helen and her father Cyrus are in the 1900 census living in Cerrillos, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Cyrus is listed once again as a manufacturer, widowed, born December of 1817, and says he immigrated in 1859. Cyrus died shortly thereafter on Oct 30th, 1901. Cyrus & Susan are buried in  unmarked graves in Los Cerrilos.

Albuquerque Citizen, New Mexico, 9 Nov 1901.

I am the great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Cyrus Wells. If you are a relative or have more to add to his story, please feel free to contact me. I am always looking to learn more about the life of my ancestors.

Sources for the above include:
US Federal Census Records 
 Canadian Census Records 
Vermont, Michigan, and Quebec Vital records
Anglican Church Records of Frelighsburg, Quebec
The descendants of James Garvin
NH Forests and Clearings
Roster of Vermont Volunteers during the War of the Rebellion
The records of Clifford Ryea Jr, Linda Mayberry, and Nancy Garvin

Osbornes at Fort Ticonderoga

 September 10 1927

The Pawling newspaper included a small article in the social news section concerning a trip made by family.

Imagine my surprise to find the pictures from the trip amongst the family things.

Revolutionary War Ancestors

Being a Genealogist and a 18th Century Reenactor, my ancestors from the 18th century hold a special interest for me. I have looked in records and pension files and found many ancestors that fought in the Revolutionary War. I suspect there are more, but the below folks all fought in the American War of Independance.

 

Obadiah Chase, born 1743 in Boston, Suffolk Co, MA; died 04 Jul 1799 in Carmel, Putnam Co, NY.  He was the son of Isaac Chase and Thankful Maker.  He married Susannah Knapp Bet. 1765 - 1766.

Joseph Dikeman, born Abt. 1737 in Fairfield Co, CT; died 1822 in Southeast, Putnam Co, NY.  He was the son of Frederick Dyckman and  Ann   He married Eunice Darling 25 May 1757 in Redding, Fairfield Co, CT.

Hezekiah Dykeman, born Abt. 26 Aug 1759 in Redding, Fairfield Co, CT; died 17 Jan 1839.  He was the son of Joseph Dikeman and Eunice Darling.  He married  Constance Doane 12 Oct 1785 in Wilton, Fairfield Co, CT.

Benjamin Dikeman, born Abt. 24 May 1761 in Redding,Fairfield Co, CT; died 18 Apr 1845 in Patterson, Putnam Co, NY.  He was the son of \ Joseph Dikeman and \ Eunice Darling.  He married  Huldah Kelley.

William Hooker, born 15 Sep 1756 in Kensington, Hartford Co, CT; died 04 Feb 1826 in Kensington, Hartford Co, CT.  He was the son of Seth Hooker and Sarah Burnham.  He married  Hannah Jones 03 Feb 1779.

Gershom Hubbell, born 17 Jul 1729; died 14 Apr 1802.  He was the son of  Nathan Hubbell and Martha Finch.  He married  Sarah St John 30 Nov 1769.

Jonathan Silliman, born 31 Aug 1742 in Fairfield Co, CT; died 30 Jun 1777.  He was the son of Ebenezer Silliman and Abigail Selleck.  He married Anna Morehouse 27 Jun 1762

Moody Howes, born 18 Jul 1724 in Dennis, Barnstable Co, MA; died 09 Apr 1806 in Southeast, Putnam Co, NY.  He was the son of  Thomas Howes and Deborah Seares.  He married Sarah Ellis 21 Apr 1759 in Southeast, Putnam Co, NY.

 Jacob Reed, born 01 Apr 1749 in New Canaan, Fairfield Co, CT; died 11 Jun 1812 in Southeast, Putnam Co, NY.  He was the son of William Reed and Rachel Kellogg.  He married  Rhuhamah Benedict 07 Mar 1769.

Henderick Van Blarcom, born Abt. 18 May 1740 in Passic, Bergen Co, NJ.  He was the son of  John Van Blarcom and Vroutje Kip.  He married Annatje Van Winkle 20 Nov 1763 in Passaic, Bergen Co, NJ.

Ezra Merrick, born 26 Aug 1744 in Bradford, Essex Co, MA; died 28 Sep 1777 in Fort Ticonderoga, Essex Co, NY.  He was the son of  Ezra Mireck and. Mehitebel Green.  He married  Sarah Marsh 23 Sep 1776 in Goffstown, Hillsbourgh Co,  NH.

Zenas Warren, born 22 Mar 1758.  He was the son of Benjamin Warren and Jedidah Tupper.  He married  Susannah Unknown

William Rhinevault* born Abt. 1760; died 16 Jun 1840.  He married  Mary Spencer 11 Apr 1782 in Fredericks, Dutchess co, NY.

John Knox, born 01 Oct 1752 in North Salem, Westchester Co, NY; died 22 Aug 1817 in North Salem, Westchester Co, NY.  He was the son of Robert Knox.  He married  Mary Polly Raymond 29 Oct 1775 in Salem, Westchester Co, NY.

Jonathan Reynolds, born Abt. 1757; died 24 Aug 1809 in Southeast, Putnam Co, NY.  He married  Mary Brown 03 Apr 1776 in Greenwich, Fairfield Co, CT.