Biography

11/07/1781 - 12/22/1833

General Henry Welles (D10) Bradford, Centre, Clearfield, Lycoming, McKean, Potter and Tioga Counties, 1815-1819 

Early Life:

General Henry Welles, born November 7, 1781, Glastonbury, Hartford County, Connecticut; son of George and Prudence Talcott Welles; family moved, Tioga Point, Pennsylvania, 1799; engaged, farming; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1809-1810; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives,1812-1813; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1815-1819; unsuccessful campaign, United States House of Representatives, 1822; appointed Aid, Governor Simon Snyder, receiving the rank of General; married, Sarah Spalding Welles, 1812, children, Susan Perkins; Henry Spalding Welles; Frances Maria Stuart; George Henry Welles; Emma L Welles; James H. Welles; died, December, 22, 1833, (aged 52), Athens, Bradford County, Pennsylvania; interment, Tioga Point Cemetery, Athens, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Appointed Aid, Governor Simon Snyder, receiving the rank of General.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1809-1810. 

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1812-1813; wrote the Academy Bill, 1813.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 10th district, Bradford, Centre, Clearfield, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga Counties, 1815-1819.

Unsuccessful campaign, United States House of Representatives, District 9 Pennsylvania 1822.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Not available currently

Legacy:

Married, Sarah Spalding 1812, a daughter of Colonel John Spalding of Sheshequin, Pennsylvania.

Purchased the “Welles Farm” at Tioga Point, 1810. Through the purchase process, gained knowledge of the complex nature of attempting to secure land titles for properties entangled in the “Connecticut claim,” and became one of the principals in changing the procedure to the benefit of the Commonwealth.    

The Connecticut Western Reserve was a portion of land claimed by the Colony of Connecticut and later by the state of Connecticut in what is now mostly the northeastern region of Ohio. The Reserve had been granted to the Colony under the terms of its charter by King Charles II. 

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members W". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

A New Nation Votes (tufts.edu)

Gen Henry Welles (1781-1833) - Find a Grave Memorial