GreenerPasture.com

Sign In



FREE ancestry since 1999 - History belongs to all of us!

Add YOUR Family To This Page

flag  History of Wells, Maine, USA

Journey back in time to Wells, Maine, USA

Visit Wells, Maine, USA. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and ancestry.

Follow us on Instagram      Subscribe to our Youtube channel      Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com Visit Our Old Newspaper Blog Visit Our Life Blog

Do You Have Wells Roots? Share Your Ancestral Story!

Wells, Maine, USA - Main Street, 1907

Wells, York, ME

Wells was established in 1641; it was the third town created in Maine. It was incorporated on July 5, 1653, and included Kennebunk and Ogunquit.

vbts.com

There is MUCH more to discover about Wells, Maine, USA. Read on!

Wells Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards


Wells, Maine, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Main Street, 1907

Wells, Maine, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Rocky Shore at Well's Beach, Me., 1908

Wells, Maine, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Bellevue House

Wells, Maine, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Island Ledge Casino

Wells, Maine, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
The Rockledge

Wells, Maine, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Scene at Wells Beach, Me.

Wells, Maine, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Wells Beach, Maine

Wells, Maine, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Somerset Modern Cabins

Wells, Maine, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Town Hall

Wells, Maine, USA

Postcard
Pinterest
Cozy Corner Restaurant

Discover Wells: History, News, Travel, and Stories

Add informationAdd History/News/Story
  • 1703 - French Canadians attack Wells
    In August 1703, the town of Wells, Maine, suffered a surprise attack by French Canadians and Abernaki. Nearly 300 people were captured.
    History of Quebec for Dummies by Eric Bedard, published by John Wiley & Sons, Canada, Ltd.
  • 1839 - Wells
    Wells, Maine
    York county. Wells lies on the sea coast between York and Kennebunk, and is 85 miles S.W. by S. from Augusta, and 30 S.W. by S. from Portland. The first settlers came from Exeter, N.H., about the year 1640. A noted Indian chief, Wawwaw, lived here about one hundred years ago, pretending to claim this and some adjoining towns. There is no evidence of any purchase of Indian title to the soil. The town charter from Thomas Gorges is dated Sept. 27, 1643.

    There are a number of small streams or brooks running through the town in various directions, on which are 1 fulling, 16 saw, and 10 grist mills. The principal river is near the middle of the town, and was called by the Indians Webhannet, but is now generally called the "Town river." A sand bar at the entrance renders the navigation somewhat difficult. Ogunquit river, in the southerly part of the town, forms a harbor for small coasting and fishing vessels.

    The town contains about 35,000 acres, of which one fifth may be ... Read MORE...

  • 1854 - Wells
    Wells, a post-township of York co., Maine, bordering on the Atlantic and intersected by the Portland, Saco, and Portsmouth railroad. Population, 2945.
    A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.
  • 1886 - Wells
    Wells, situated upon the sea-coast, in York County, was first settled by persons from Exeter, N.H., about the year 1640. Its name is supposed to have come from Wells in England. In regard to land titles, Folsom says that an Indian named Thomas Chabinoke, devised all his title and interest to Namps-cas-coke (being the greatest part of Wells) to John Wadlow or Wadleigh, upon condition that he should allow one bushel of Indian corn annually to “Old Webb,” his mother.

    This title proved valid. In 1641, Sir Ferdinando Gorges presented 5,000 acres of it to Thomas Gorges, deputy-governor of his Province of Maine and mayor of Gorgeana, for a manory. He chose a tract near Ogunquit River in the south-west part of the town.

    About 400 or 500 acres of this was conveyed by deputy Gorges, in 1643, to Rev. John Wheelwright (brother-in-law of the noted Ann Hutchinson), who had been banished from Massachusetts for his Antinomian principles.

    Another grant was made by Gorges, July 14, 1643, to... Read MORE...

  • 1895 - Wells
    Wells, a post-village in Wells township, York co., Me., 1 mile from Wells Beach Station, which is on the Boston & Maine Railroad, 30 miles S.W. of Portland, and nearly 1 mile from the ocean. It has a free high school, several churches, and saw-mills. The township is intersected by the Portsmouth, Saco & Portsmouth Railroad. It contains a village named Wells Depot. Pop. of the township, 2773.
    Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott
  • 1947 - Wells devastated by the Great Fires of 1947
    After a wet spring, in which the months of April, May and June were inundated with rainy weather, the climate turned to drought condition in mid July 1947. By the end of September, the ground was extremely dry...

    Reports of small fires in woods began coming into the Forest Service on October 7. These early fires burned in Portland, Bowdoin and Wells. Being 30 miles (48 km) apart from each other, these three fires illustrated the danger. After this, reports of fires poured in, and by October 16, 20 separate fires were burning in the state...

    Fires began in the towns of Shapleigh and Waterboro, destroying both communities, including,with only a few exceptions,most homes. The fires swept through the forests, and moved with the wind toward the ocean. In addition to Waterboro and Shapleigh, the towns of Alfred, Lyman, Newfield, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, North Kennebunkport (now Arundel), Dayton, Wells, and the cities of Biddeford and Saco were devastated by fire. With the exception... Read MORE...


  • 2023 - Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Wells, Maine:
    Wells Beach: Start your visit with a trip to Wells Beach. This pristine sandy beach is perfect for swimming, sunbathing, building sandcastles, and long walks along the shore. It's a fantastic spot for relaxation and enjoying the scenic views of the Atlantic Ocean.

    Footbridge Beach: Just south of Wells Beach is Footbridge Beach, named after the charming footbridge that crosses the Webhannet River. It's a quieter and more serene spot than the main beach, ideal for peaceful walks and beachcombing.

    Moody Beach: Another beautiful beach option in Wells is Moody Beach. It's a bit more secluded and less crowded, making it a great place for a tranquil beach experience.

    Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge: Nature enthusiasts will appreciate a visit to this wildlife refuge named after the famous environmentalist Rachel Carson. You can explore miles of walking trails and observe various bird species and other wildlife in their natural habitat.

    Wells Reserve at Laudholm: This... Read MORE...

Discover Your Roots: Wells Ancestry

Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Wells, Maine, USA

We currently have information about ancestors who were born or died in Wells.

View Them Now (sorted by year of birth)



male ancestorWilliam HAMMOND (1597, Slaithwaite, Yorkshire, England - 1702, Wells, Maine, USA)
male ancestorFrancis LITTLEFIELD (17 June 1617, Titchfield, Hampshire, England - 15 January 1712, Wells, Maine, USA)
female ancestorBenedictus GOUCH (1620, Slaithwaite, Yorkshire, England - 23 March 1681, Wells, Maine, USA)
male ancestorJohn LITTLEFIELD (1 November 1624, Titchfield, Hampshire, England - 2 February 1697, Wells, Maine, USA)
female ancestorRebecca RUST (31 January 1630, Wells, Maine, USA - 29 March 1685, Wells, Maine, USA)
male ancestorSeth FLETCHER (1630, Wells, Maine, USA - 1682, Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA)
male ancestorRoger HILL (1635, , England (United Kingdom) - 26 August 1693, Wells, Maine, USA)
female ancestorMary CROSS (1637, , New Hampshire, USA - 24 June 1696, Wells, Maine, USA)
male ancestorThomas COLE (1642, Wells, Maine, USA - 24 June 1696, Wells, Maine, USA)

Ancestors Who Were Married in Wells, Maine, USA

We currently have information about ancestors who were married in Wells.

View Them Now

male ancestorJeremiah STORER (4 October 1651 - 23 January 1730) and female ancestorRuth MASTERS (1656 - 17 August 1701) married 1680
male ancestorThomas COLE (1642 - 24 June 1696) and female ancestorAbigail WORMWOOD (1664 - 24 June 1696) married May 1685
male ancestorMoses LITTLEFIELD (1657 - ) and female ancestorMartha LORD (1660 - ) married December 1687
male ancestorEdward BEAL (1677 - 1747) and female ancestorElizabeth LITTLEFIELD (1678 - 1747) married 1694
male ancestorJoseph HAMMOND (19 January 1678 - 26 January 1753) and female ancestorHannah STORER (6 May 1680 - 21 May 1765) married 19 September 1699
Not the place you are looking for? Try again!

Search for Your Family by Place

To search for a place, specify place name below. Choose name from the list. Then SEARCH.
*Place Name:

Who Are You Searching For?

Search for Your Family by Name

NOTE: If you don't know your ancestor's whole name or are unsure of the spelling, specify part of the name.

First Name:
*Last Name:
Gender:
Born (+/- 2 years):
Died (+/- 2 years):
Match all terms exactly:

Updated: 9/15/2023 11:39:59 AM

Wells Ancestry Tales: Share Your Unique Story!

If you'd like to be contacted by others who have ancestors from Wells, leave a message here!
The comments you read here belong only to the person who posted them. We reserve the right to remove off-topic and inappropriate comments.