Colonial Governor. He obtained a place in United States History by being the only person in the history of Connecticut to hold the offices of governor, deputy governor, treasurer, and secretary. He was elected first to the office of treasurer of the Colony of Connecticut in 1639, from 1640 to 1648 to the office of secretary, in 1655 held the office of governor, and in the years of 1654, 1656, and 1657 was deputy governor. As secretary, he transcribed into the official colony records on January 14, 1638 the Fundamental Orders, which is considered Connecticut's first constitution. As the Magistrate, he sat on the panel over the witchcraft trials of Mary Johnson, John Carrington and his wife Joan, and Lydia Gilbert. Born in England, the main reason for coming to America was freedom of worship. In England, he married Alice Tome, and the couple had three sons and several daughters. After his first wife died, he married a widow, Elizabeth Deming Foote. Elizabeth had seven children by her first husband and none by Welles. Although his grave site was originally located at Wetherfield, Connecticut, some sources state his remains were removed to the Hartford's Ancient Burying Ground. Whichever, the grave is now unmarked, but his name is on the Founders of Hartford Monument in the Ancient Burying Ground as a cenotaph.
Colonial Governor. He obtained a place in United States History by being the only person in the history of Connecticut to hold the offices of governor, deputy governor, treasurer, and secretary. He was elected first to the office of treasurer of the Colony of Connecticut in 1639, from 1640 to 1648 to the office of secretary, in 1655 held the office of governor, and in the years of 1654, 1656, and 1657 was deputy governor. As secretary, he transcribed into the official colony records on January 14, 1638 the Fundamental Orders, which is considered Connecticut's first constitution. As the Magistrate, he sat on the panel over the witchcraft trials of Mary Johnson, John Carrington and his wife Joan, and Lydia Gilbert. Born in England, the main reason for coming to America was freedom of worship. In England, he married Alice Tome, and the couple had three sons and several daughters. After his first wife died, he married a widow, Elizabeth Deming Foote. Elizabeth had seven children by her first husband and none by Welles. Although his grave site was originally located at Wetherfield, Connecticut, some sources state his remains were removed to the Hartford's Ancient Burying Ground. Whichever, the grave is now unmarked, but his name is on the Founders of Hartford Monument in the Ancient Burying Ground as a cenotaph.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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