Joseph Leonard Wells

• References:
  • Notes of Dora Gibbon, from notes of Joseph Leonard Wells written in Ruffles family bible.

  • Abbenett family research by Karen Mullan.

mar 1stly, 8th Nov 1865, to Eliza Jane Ruffles [born 27th Oct 1843],
they lived Tannington Lodge, Tannington, Suffolk,
probably at Tannington Lodge 1865 on (definitely in Tannington),
listed as farmer, Tannington, at children's births 1866 to 1867,
farmer, definitely at Tannington Lodge as at 1868-78,
[UK census, 1871] lists them at "The Lodge", Tannington par, living with one nursemaid and one other servant, he is listed as landowner and farmer of 192 acres, employing a number of workers on the farm,
he is listed as "farmer" at wife's death 1878,
Eliza Jane died 11th Mar 1878 (2 months after child), Tannington Lodge, age 34 yrs, of "phthisis pulmonalis" [GRO.UK],
bur Tannington graveyard,
leaving 9 children under the age of 12 motherless,
had issue:

1. Leonard Wells,
   Joseph Leonard Wells, NOT Joseph L.W. Wells,
   born 12th Aug 1866, Tannington [GRO.UK],
   mar 1905, Dartford, Kent, to Minnie Naylor [Minnie Jane Naylor],
   he died 12th Nov 1934, Ipswich, age 68 yrs,
   had issue:
   1. Duncan Wells, born 1907, Greenwich,
      died as infant, 1907, Greenwich.

   2. Joyce Wells,
      Mary Joyce Wells, born 31 Oct 1908, Hendon, Middlesex [GRO.UK],
      NOT born 1910, NOT born Medway, Kent,
      mar 6 Aug 1932, Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire [GRO.UK],
      to Sidney Burrage [Sidney Edward Burrage, NOT Burrows],
      he died,
      she died 14 Jan 2001, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, age 92 yrs,
      had issue:
      1. Dr. Geoffrey Burrage, mar Mary Wilson and had issue:
         1. Peter Burrage, mar Catherine Windle and had issue:
            1. Clayton Douglas Burrage.
         2. Barbara Burrage, mar David Mlynarowich and had issue:
            1. Annika Grace Mlynarowich.
            2. William Alexander Mlynarowich.
      2. Pauline Burrage, mar Noel Henderson.

      3. Douglas Burrage,
         mar 1stly to Jill Bowers and had issue:
         1. Martin Burrage.
         mar 2ndly to Caroline ---- and had issue:
         1. Katherine Burrage.

   
   

2. Roland Wells,
   Roland John Wells, NOT Rowland,
   born 26th Aug 1867, Tannington [GRO.UK],
   he is listed in [UK census, 1891] as a draper's assistant, living with many other young draper's assistants at drapers, 14 High Street, Clapham, London (see map),
   mar 1903, West Derby, nr Liverpool, to Nellie Jackson,
   he died 20th Dec 1920, Lambeth, age 53 yrs,
   had issue:
   1. Eileen Wells,
      born 1905, West Derby,
      mar 1932, West Derby, to Jack Ellison,
      they lived Parrock Cross, house on Lake Windermere, Lake District,
      she died 1984, Lancaster, age 79 yrs,
      had issue:
      1. Richard Ellison, mar Janet ----.
      2. Fiona Ellison.

   
   

3. Alice Wells,
   Alice Jane Wells, born 13th Nov 1868, Tannington Lodge, Tannington, Suffolk [GRO.UK],
   listed in [UK census, 1891] as "House Keeper" (apparently for her widowed father),
   died 24th Dec 1933, Ipswich, age 65 yrs.

   
   

4. Ethel Wells,
   Ethel Mary, born 27th Dec 1869, "The Lodge", Tannington [GRO.UK],
   listed in [UK census, 1891] as "Draper Assistant",
   died unmarried, 11th Apr 1951, "Surrey SW", age 81 yrs.

   
   

5. Herbert James Wells,
   born 14th Jan 1871, Tannington Lodge [GRO.UK].

   
   

6. Marian Wells,
   Marian Beatrice, pron. "Mary-an",
   born 30th Jan 1872, "The Lodge", Tannington [GRO.UK],
   died unmarried, 20th Sept 1952, "Surrey NE", age 80 yrs.

   
   

7. Ernest Wells,
   Ernest George Wells, born 17th May 1873, "The Lodge", Tannington [GRO.UK],
   his mother died 1878,
   he is listed in [UK census, 1881] as living with grandparents in Ipswich town, his father and some of the children are in London,
   listed in [UK census, 1891] as "Upholsters Assistant",
   mar 1903, Lambeth, to Florence ---- [born 1874],
   he died 6th Mar 1927, Ipswich, age 53 yrs,
   she died 1956, age 82 yrs.

   
   

8. May Wells,
   May Gertrude Wells,
   born 25th June 1874, Tannington Lodge, Tannington, Suffolk [GRO.UK].

   
   

9. Wilfrid Wells,
   Wilfrid Arthur Wells, born 28th Dec 1875, Tannington Lodge [GRO.UK],
   think he is listed as boarder, age 5, with his sister May in Dennington in [UK census, 4 Apr 1881], (todo) see original entry,
   listed in [UK census, 1891] as "Grocer's Apprentice",
   mar 1904, Dartford, Kent, to Lily Belcher [born 1866, Islington, perhaps sister of Florence],
   he died 2nd Dec 1962, Bridge, Kent, age 86 yrs.

   
   

10. Kathleen Margaret Wells,
    born 29th Mar 1877, "The Lodge", Tannington [GRO.UK], or poss. 28th,
    died 18th Jan 1878 (2 months before mother), Tannington, of hydrocephalus, age 10 months [GRO.UK],
    bur Tannington graveyard.

after wife's death he moved to London,
he is described as "Licensed victualler" at 2nd mar, living parish of St.James, Paddington, London,
mar 2ndly, 11th Apr 1880, parish church, Paddington, London [GRO.UK],
to Marion Abbenett [born 11th Jan 1850, Chertsey, Surrey; bapt Mary Ann Abbenett in Chertsey; dau of Richard Abbenett, florist, by his wife Alice; NOT Abbenette, NOT Marian],
she is living parish of St.James, Paddington, at mar,
in [UK census, 3 Apr 1881] Joseph Leonard is listed as a Licensed Victualler, running the Devonshire Arms, 21a Devonshire Street, Marylebone, London (see map), and living there with his family,
[UK census, 3 Apr 1881] also lists him as a Licensed victualler of 314 Commercial Road, London (see map),
listed as "Licensed Victualler" at dau's birth 1881 and wife's death 1881,
Marion died at 21a Devonshire Street, of sudden heart failure, 4 days after giving birth, 30th Oct 1881, age 31 yrs [GRO.UK],
even after 2nd wife died, his eldest child was only 15,
in [Post Office Directory, 1882] he is running Devonshire Arms,
he is gone from Devonshire Arms in [Post Office Directory, 1884],
at father's death 1887 he is living 27 Northampton Rd, Central London (see map),
he is listed in [UK census, 1891] as living Appleby Villa, 4 Venner Road, Sydenham, Beckenham par, Kent (see map), he is listed as "commercial traveller",
listed as "commercial traveller" at dau May's marriage 1898,
he lived as a widower to a vast old age,
nearly lived to see great-grandchildren,
died 14th Aug 1930, age 91 yrs, Woodbridge, Suffolk,
had issue by 2nd wife:

1. Abbie Wells,
   Abbie Constance, born 26th Oct 1881, 21a Devonshire Street, Marylebone [GRO.UK],
   wit her half-sister May's mar 1898,
   died unmarried, 1st Jan 1965, Bromley, age 83 yrs.

Grave of Eliza Jane Ruffles, Tannington graveyard.
See full size.
See close-up (light adjusted digitally).

Tannington church.
See satellite view.
Photo by Simon Knott of The Suffolk Churches Site. See terms of use.

May Wells (left) and her half-sister Abbie Wells, 1962.
Scan 1999. Original photo has been destroyed.

• The Devonshire Arms, Devonshire Street, London, still exists, still called Devonshire Arms.

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