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View Tree for Eugenia WellsEugenia Wells (b. 1820, d. 1903)

Eugenia Wells (daughter of John Wells Jr. and Hannah Mayo) was born 1820 in Washington, D.C.184, and died 1903 in Bunker Hill, Macoupin County, Illinois184.

 Includes NotesNotes for Eugenia Wells:
Aunt Eugenia Wells Memories

My Grandfather Wells came from Wales and settled in Annapolis; I think before the Revolution, and I believe he was in the Army. He died before I was born and when my father was a young man. There were three sons and a daughter. My father, the oldest, was married and went to Hagerstown where he lived until the war of 1812, when he moved to Washington and was in the Army. I know he was at the Battle of Bladinsburg, but that is all I know about his Army life. Soon after the war he was appointed bookkeeper and pay clerk in the War Department, which place he held at the time of his death. His brother Daniel, a young man nineteen years old was one of the young men who fired at Ross and saved Baltimore. The young man who fired at the same time was a friend of his. They were both killed - filled with bullets.

I remember my Grandmother Wells. She was over seventy and I must have been a very little girl. I know she was a distinguished looking woman, tall and straight with very dark eyes - I always heard that she came of good family. Father used to laugh and call her the duchess. They are all dead now. Olivia's mother, sister, was the first child. A very handsome, and attractive woman. How she came to have such a child as Olivia is one of the mysteries.

Then there were four sons. The oldest James Mayo, named for my mothers father, was appointed a cadet at West Point, graduated a Lieutenant in the Army. He was in Florida during the Seminole War. Then his regiment was ordered to Texas, where he met the girl he married. She had a great deal of Texas land and he seemed to think he would go there and make a fortune. So he resigned his commission and was poor ever after. But the pride of the family was Hanson. He was so handsome, so bright, and so popular. Everyone liked him. I think he was not fifteen when he was appointed midshipman. His first voyage was to China. Then he went around the world in the Potomac. He went ashore at Bassa Cove in Africa, the boat was upset in the surf. It seems the natives swim in the surf. He held on to the boat until all were saved. No doubt he was exhausted and had to sink. It did seem so cruel. Sister grieved so much it was that it hastened her death. My father was never the same man after that. My brother James was very tall. A splendid looking man. We were so proud of both of them.

My mother's family belonged to the nobility of England. Her grandfather came to this country and settled on South River near Annapolis. He bought a large tract of land on the river and bay and built a large fine house. The bricks were brought from England. He is said to have lived like a lord, with every comfort and elegance. He also built a church and maintained a pastor. The house was burned years before I went to South River, but I often attended the Church. Commodore Mayo kept the place inherited from his father, all the rest has gone out of the family years and years ago. He thought he was living in the same house his father lived in, but it had been so altered and improved that but little of the original remained. I stayed there in my young days. They were very kind to me. He married a daughter of Chancellor Brand. She was a very peculiar woman. Very high tempered, but always kind and liberal to me. She died long ago. Commandore Mayo often met Lord Mayo. He had opportunities as he was so much abroad.

Cousin Isaac was in Europe when he was ordered to Florida during the Seminole War and Lord Mayo came with him and arriving on the coast they went to Tallahassee where Lord Mayo bought some land and gave Commandore Mayo a deed for it. It was done mainly as a compliment and no attention was paid to it. It may have become valuable. He also gave him one dozen fine linen chambray shirts. I had many a pocket handkerchief made of those shirts. Cousin Isaac resigned at the beginning of the war and died soon after. Mrs. Neer Liede's husband knew his place, had been there and could tell you all about it.

My mother's home was on the bay. Her mother was left a widow with three children, two boys. She married a Methodist preacher. He was made guardian for the children and treated them most unkindly. They had no education, no advantages. When my mother was thirteen she told him she was going away and he said he would never give her anything and he never did. Her mother had died and the man married again. My mother lived with an Aunt until she married, when the property was sold but there was nothing left but the base land. There was other property but I heard the lawyer got most of the money. Still I know she had quite a nice little sum if it only had been taken care of. In those days a woman owned nothing. Everything belonged to the husband. My father was luxuriant - fond of good living - so when he died he left nothing.

Mother was considered a beauty in her young days. When I can first remember her she was handsome. After she grew large she lost her good looks.

Eugenia Wells
June 13, 1902


More About Eugenia Wells:
Burial: 1903, Bunker Hill Cemetery, Macoupin County, Illinois.
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