The Wells Family

Arthur Wells and Jane Flatt were married in Woodbridge in 1877 and had six children; five sons and a daughter. In 1881, the couple were living on The Street, Melton, with their two eldest children, Henry and Alice, along with the newly-born Andrew. At that time, Arthur was employed as a domestic groom. Ten years later, however, he was describing himself as a horse dealer and the family were living at Pinkney’s Cottage, Melton; the family had grown, with the addition of a son, Caleb, and Jane was expecting their last child, Frederick. Sadly, their daughter Alice died at three years-old and a son, William, at six months. In 1901, the family were back living on The Street, near to the school, and Arthur was now the groom to a horse dealer and farmer. In 1911, the family were living at 27 The Street and Arthur worked as a jobbing groom. Arthur died in 1913 and his wife Jane in 1917.

Two of Arthur and Jane’s sons, Caleb and Frederick, served in the Great War but by then both had moved away from the village; Caleb was living in Ufford and Frederick in Woodbridge. Their cousin Percy, who lived on Woods Lane, also served during the war with the Army Service Corps.

Caleb Wells

Frederick Wells