James Wells (Centenarian)[edit]

James Wells (3 Aug 1787- 20 Mar 1891) was an English Centenarian, Napoleonic War Volunteer and gardener.

Life[edit]

Born in Britford, Wiltshire to Thomas Wells, a Carpenter, and his wife Sarah Lye, daughter of Richard Lye and Anne Reeves. Richard's mother, Jane Batt was the granddaughter of Samuel Batt, Rector of Coulston by his first wife and the great granddaughter of Christopher Batt, of Massachusetts who came from a family of successful tanners in Wiltshire.

James was bapitsed on 11 Sep 1789 in Upavon, Wiltshire. He had one known brother called Richard.

When James was very young, he joined the Volunteer force raised to repel the threatened invasion by "Boney" a British nickname for Napoleon Bonaparte.

At the age of 22-23, he participated in the festivies of George III.'s jubilee and at the age of 100 he shared in the rejoicings at the jubilee of Queen Victoria's reign.

He was also the gardener at Salisbury Palace during the episcopate of John Fisher (bishop of Salisbury) and afterwards, was similarly engaged at Whitehayer, Christchurch.

In the 1840s, James moved with some of his close family to Bramshaw which is where he resided for the rest of his life. He became the gardener for Thomas Deane Shute and his son Sir Charles Cameron Shute K.C.B of whom he recieved a pension from and worked under for many years at Bramshaw. He never missed Church on a Sunday. Up until his late 90s he walked upwards of a mile to the Parish Church twice a day. The Rev. Arthur CB Dobie wrote that James stated "The wonderful mercy of God which had prolonged his life upwards of a century, had fed him all through with bread, and given him a blessed freedom from pain". He was a pensioner of the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution from 1860 to close to his death. He recieved praise from Sir Harry Veitch in 1890 "Long may he live to enjoy his well-merited pension".

Family and Descendants[edit]

James married Sarah West on 22 June 1815 in Salisbury, Wiltshire. They had 9 children:

William Wells (1815-1829?) who died young, childless and unmarried
Charles Wells (1817-1910) who married Harriet Brown and had 5 children.
James Wells (1819- Unknown) who married Eliza Foot and had two children
George Wells (1822-1913) who married Jane Vardy and had 11 children
Henry Wells (1825-1825) who died aged 2 months
John Wells (1826-1858) died unmarried and childless
Isaac Wells (1828- Unknown) Unknown if married or had issue.
Unknown Baby Wells
Sarah Ann Wells (1831-1920) who married Robert Fielder, Post master and Parish Constable of Bramshaw and had 8 children including:

Charles Robert Fielder (1857-1946) who became head gardener at North Mymms estate. Married Alice Mary Crouch but had no issue

Alfred James Fielder (1858-1887) who died childless and unmarried

Rosina Mary Fielder (1860-1931) who died unmarried and childless, becamse Post Mistress at Bramshaw

John William Fielder (1863-1932) who became Post master and Agent/Parish Constable of Bramshaw. Married Rose Jane Hillier and had 1 daughter and two sons: Ella, Leslie and Edwin

Edith Jane Fielder (1867-1959) who died unmarried and childless

Kate Elizabeth Fielder (1870-1954) unsure if married

Walter George Fielder (1873-1873) who died aged 7 months

Mabel Sarah Fielder (1876-1958) who married John Percival Reed and had a son and a daughter: Vivian, and Patricia

100th Birthday (1887)[edit]

News of James' 100th birthday had spread rapidly throughout the country and globally. He was honoured and respected by all families around. Telegrams and congratulatory letters were recieved from all over the country and he was personally congratulated by many of his friends and relatives. A large party assembled to honour the occasion, among those present were his two sons, his daughter and some 25 grandchildren and great grandchildren. He resided in a rustic cottage on the estate of Mr. George Edward Eyre, Esq., JP.

Death[edit]

In March 1891, James died after a short period of illness aged 103 in his 104th year on the 20 Mar 1891. News of his death spread throughout the UK and many newspapers throughout England, Scotland and Wales honoured his incredible life. The news reached as far as Auckland, New Zealand. Until the end, his daughter, Sarah had cared and looked after him along with his grandchildren, Sarah Wells, Alice Wells and John William Fielder who visited and stayed with him regularly. His memory had remained until the end as he could recall all of his family member's names but his eyesight had become somewhat dimmed. He was of most abstemious habits, and although a smoker, abandoned that habit during his last few years. Furthermore, he could recollect and sing nine long verses of a Christmas Carol which he learnt as a boy. He was buried in St Peter's Church in Bramshaw on 26 Mar 1891. He was the oldest person in Hampshire at the time.

Reference section[edit]

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/auckland-star/1891/06/27/12

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