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flag photo of George Washington WELLS   Photo of George Washington WELLS George Washington  WELLS

Born
15 April 1846 Woodstock, Connecticut, USA
Died
30 September 1912 Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA

Parents & Family of George Washington WELLS

Explore parents, grandparents, spouses, children, and the family connections surrounding George Washington WELLS.

Grandparents
Spouse & Children


Born: 15 April 1846 in Woodstock, Connecticut, USA

Father: John Ward WELLS
Mother: Maria CHENEY
Maternal grandparents: Joel CHENEY , Naomi BATCHELLER


Spouse(s)/Partner(s) and Child(ren):

George Washington  married  Mary Eliza MCGREGORY 25 September 1869 in Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA .  The couple had (at least) 4 children.
Mary Eliza MCGREGORY  was born 27 September 1848 in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, USA .  Mary Eliza died 19 June 1924 in Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA .  Mary Eliza was the child of John MCGREGORY and Emily Esther MASON.

George Washington WELLS died 30 September 1912 in Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA .



photo (above) from villagecraftsmen

Details of the family tree of George appear below.

Spouse & Children of George Washington WELLS

George Washington WELLS married flag female ancestor Mary Eliza MCGREGORY
Marriage date: 25 September 1869
Marriage place: Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA
Source: familysearch.org (Mormon Genealogy Records)
Unofficial Guide to FamilySearch.org: How to Find Your Family History on the World's Largest Free Genealogy Website


Mary Eliza MCGREGORY was the child of John MCGREGORY and Emily Esther MASON

Marriage notes:
Name: George W. Wells
Birth Date: 1846
Birthplace:
Age: 23
Spouse's Name: Mary E. Mcgregory
Spouse's Birth Date: 1847
Spouse's Birthplace:
Spouse's Age: 22
Event Date: 25 Sep 1869
Event Place: Southbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts
Father's Name: John W. Wells
Mother's Name: Maria
Spouse's Father's Name: Dr. John Mcgregory
Spouse's Mother's Name: Emily
Race:
Marital Status:
Previous Wife's Name:
Spouse's Race:
Spouse's Marital Status:
Spouse's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I01160-9
System Origin: Massachusetts-EASy
GS Film number: 2047599
Reference ID: 47
"Massachusetts, Marriages, 1695-1910," index, FamilySearch.org : accessed 23 Dec 2013), George W. Wells and Mary E. Mcgregory, 25 Sep 1869.

Children of George Washington WELLS and Mary Eliza MCGREGORY



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Life & Records

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BirthBirth — 1846
15 April 1846
Woodstock, Connecticut, USA
1860 Woodstock, Windham, Connecticut
Name: George W Wells
Event Type:
Event Year:
Event Place:
Minor Civil Division: The Town Of Woodstock
Age (Expanded): 14 years
Birth Year (Estimated):
Birth
Place:
Gender:
P
Age: 147
Household ID:
Affiliate Publication Number: M653
GS
Film Number: 803093
Digital Folder Number: 4211352
Image Number: 00223
News1863 - November 19 – American Civil War: U. S. President Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address at the military cemetery dedication ceremony in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
1865 Southbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts
Name: George W Wells
Age (Expanded): 19 years
Birth Year (Estimated): 1846
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth
Place: Connecticut
Marital Status: Single
Event Place: Southbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts
Family Number: 203
Line Number: 38
GS
Film Number: 0954383
Digital Folder Number: 4286766
Image Number: 00086
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Hiram C Wells M 34y Connecticut
Ellen P Wells F 31y Massachusetts
Edwin P Wells M 6y Massachusetts
George W Wells M 19y Connecticut
marriage1869 Marriage / Partner
George Washington WELLS and Mary Eliza MCGREGORY 25 September 1869, Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA (Globe) (Lensdale) (Saundersdale) (Shuttleville)

He was 23 years old.
1870 Southbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts
Name: George W Wells
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1870
Event Place: Massachusetts, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Race: White
Race (Original): W
Birth Year (Estimated): 1846-1847
Birth
Place: Connecticut
Page Number: 8
Household ID: 64
Line Number: 22
Affiliate
Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: M593
GS
Film Number: 000552154
Digital Folder Number: 004271396
Image Number: 00617
Household Gender Age Birthplace
George W Wells M 23 Connecticut
Mary E Wells F 22 Massachusetts
1870 Birth of Child
Channing Mcgregory WELLS was born 13 April 1870, Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA (Globe) (Lensdale) (Saundersdale) (Shuttleville)

George Washington was 24 years old.
News1870 - June 26 - Christmas becomes a Federal holiday in the United States. It was still illegal in some states.
1872 Birth of Child
Albert Bacheller WELLS was born 19 November 1872, Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA (Globe) (Lensdale) (Saundersdale) (Shuttleville)

George Washington was 26 years old.
1874 Birth of Child
Joel Cheney WELLS was born 11 November 1874, Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA (Globe) (Lensdale) (Saundersdale) (Shuttleville)

George Washington was 28 years old.
1878 Birth of Child
Mary Elizabeth WELLS was born 5 May 1878, Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA (Globe) (Lensdale) (Saundersdale) (Shuttleville)

George Washington was 32 years old.
1880 Southbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts
Name: George W. Wells
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1880
Event Place: Southbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 34
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Manf. Spectacles
Race (Original): W
Ethnicity: American
Relationship to Head of Household: Self
Birth
Place: Connecticut, United States
Birth Date: 1846
Spouse's
Name: Mary E. Wells
Spouse's Birth
Place: Massachusetts, United States
Father's
Name:
Father's Birth
Place: Rhode Island, United States
Mother's
Name:
Mother's Birth
Place: Massachusetts, United States
P
Age: 171
Page Letter: C
Entry Number: 385
Affiliate
Film Number: T9-0566
GS
Film Number: 1254566
Digital Folder Number: 004241648
Image Number: 00160
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Self George W. Wells M 34 Connecticut, United States
Wife Mary E. Wells F 32 Massachusetts, United States
Son Chancey M. Wells M 9 Massachusetts, United States
Son Albert B. Wells M 7 Massachusetts, United
marriage1898 Marriage of Child
Channing Mcgregory WELLS married 9 November 1898, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA to Irene Burt KELLEY
1900 Southbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts
Name: George W Wells
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1900
Event Place: Southbridge Southbridge town (south of river but north of South St. & Main St.), Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
District: 1678
Gender: Male
Age: 53
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race (Original): W
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head
Number of Living Children:
Years
Married: 30
Birth Date: Apr 1847
Birth
Place: Connecticut
Marriage Year (Estimated): 1870
Immigration Year:
Father's Birth
Place: Rhode Island
Mother's Birth
Place: Massachusetts
Mother of how many children:
Sheet Number and Letter: 43A
Household ID: 809
Line Number: 8
Affiliate
Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: T623
GS
Film Number: 1240694
Digital Folder Number: 004114468
Image Number: 00321
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head George W Wells M 53
marriage1900 Marriage of Child
Albert Bacheller WELLS married 18 April 1900, Evanston, Illinois, USA to Ethel BURNHAM
1901 - Nearly $600,000. Amount Paid in Wages Annually By Southbridge Firms. Importance and Vastness of the Business of Optical Goods Manufactures.
George W. Wells, Head of the American Optical Company, Says the Proposed French Reciprocity Treaty Would be a Menace to the Industry.

Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, in his much-talked-of reciprocity speech before the Middlesex club, recently, said that in the opinon of those interested in the manufacture of optical goods at Southbridge, the adoption of the new French reciprocity treaty would be a great danger to this industry.

Comparatively few people in Massachusetts know that in the town of Southbridge there is located the largest optical goods manufactury in the United States, if not the largest in the world.

Nearly 1500 hands are employed in this industry in Southbridge, producing over 3,000,000 pairs of specatacles and eyeglasses yearly and 3,500,000 spectacle and eyeglass lenses in the same period.

Nearly $600,000 in wages is paid annually.

About $700,000 worth of gold and silver is used every year in the manufacture of these goods, and something in excess of 110 tons
Source / record details

The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts
Thu, November 21, 1901
Invention In 1906, Reginald Fessenden made the first AM radio broadcast on December 24th. This event marked a significant advancement in radio technology, paving the way for the modern broadcasting industry.
1910 Southbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts

Name: Geo W Wells
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1910
Event Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
District: 1810
Gender: Male
Age: 65
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race (Original): White
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head
Birth Year (Estimated): 1845
Birth
Place: Connecticut
Immigration Year:
Father's Birth
Place: Connecticut
Mother's Birth
Place: Connecticut
Sheet Number and Letter: 19B
Household ID:
Line Number:
Affiliate
Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: M1283
GS
Film Number: 1374643
Digital Folder Number: 004330111
Image Number: 00051
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Geo W Wells M 65 Connecticut
Wife Mary C Wells F 58 Massachusetts
Death
Name: George Washington Wells
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 30 Sep 1912
Event Place: Southbridge,,Massachusetts
Residence
Place:
Address:
Gender: Male
Age: 66
Marital Status: Married
Occupation:
Birth Date: 15 Apr 1846
Birth
Place: Woodstock, Connecticut
Birth Year (Estimated):
Burial Date:
Burial
Place:
Cemetery:
Father's
Name: John W
Father's
Titles and Terms:
Father's Birth
Place:
Mother's
Name: Maria Cheney
Mother's
Titles and Terms:
Mother's Birth
Place:
Additional Relatives:
Spouse's
Name:
Reference ID: 276
GS
Film Number: 2399154
Frame Number:
Digital Folder Number: 4284120
Image Number: 01314

'Massachusetts, Deaths, 1841-1915,' index and images, FamilySearch (familysearch.org/ pal:/ MM9.1.1/ N476-M5B : accessed 23 Dec 2013), George Washington Wells, 1912.
1912 - Death Takes George W. Wells - Head of Amercian Optical Company
Man of Wide Business and Social Interests.

End Comes at His Home in Southbridge.

SOUTHBRIDGE, Sept 30 - George W. Wells, president of the American Optical Company, died of neuritis at his home here today.

Mr Wells had been a sufferer from neuritis since February, 1911. The effots of physicians and specialists at Hot Springs, New York and Mt Clemens failed to give substantial relief, and this infliction, together with complications that later developed as a result, have been fatal.

As president of the American Optical Company and as a active officer and director in many Massachusetts banks and corporations, Mr Wells formed a very wide circle of business acquaintances.

George W Wells was born at Woodstock, Conn., April 15, 1846. He was descended from English stock, his ancestors on both sides having come from England less than a score of years after the landing of the Mayflower.

The boyhood days of Mr Wells were spent on the farm at the family homestead in Woodstock.
Source / record details

The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts
Monday September 30, 1912

Postcards and Memories of Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA (Globe) (Lensdale) (Saundersdale) (Shuttleville)

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Added 12/23/2013 3:04:14 PM
Last updated 7/11/2025 6:24:53 PM
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