The following is taken from "A Gazetteer of the State of New-York Ebracing an ample Survey and Description of its Counties, Towns, Cities, Villages, Canals, Mountains, Lakes, Rivers, Creeks, and Natural Topography," by Horatio Gates Spafford, LL.D., 1824.  Transcribed by Lisa Slaski.

WELLS, a Township of Hamilton County, 30 to 70 miles NNE. of Johnstown, bounded N. by Franklin County, E. by Essex and Warren Counties, S. by Hope, W. by Lake Pleasant.  It is about 8 miles wide, E. and W., and 45 miles in length, a wild waste of mountain and swamp lands, abounding with small lakes, from which issue sources alike of some of the head branches of the Saranac, of Lake Champlain, of the Sacandaga, and the Hudson.  The Sacandaga becomes a considerable stream in the S. part, through which it runs southerly into Hope.  The population is very inconsiderable, and there is nothing to demand detail.  See Hamilton County.  Population, 331: 58 farmers, 5 mechanics: taxable property, $86807: 3 schools, 5 months in 12; $58.42; 100; 89:57 electors; 1259 acres of improved land; 276 cattle, 61 horses, 447 sheep: 2285 yards of cloth: 2 grist mills, 3 saw mills, 1 ashery.  Pezeeko Lake, bears the name of a singular and venerable old Indian, who lived alone, for a long time, on its shores, a sort of hermit, from the ranks of savage life, for some cause unknown to the few white people who knew him.  In 1818, since the publication of the 1st edition of this Work, the town of Hope was erected from the S. end of Wells, taking off the principal part of its very scanty population.  The settlements are confined to the valley of the Sacandaga river.

The following is taken from "Historical Collections of the State of New York," by John W. Barber and Henry Howe New York: Published for the Authors by S. Tuttle, 194 Chatham Square, 1841. Transcribed by Martha Magill.
 

WELLS, the easternmost town of the county, is about 40 miles long, N. and S., with an average breadth, E. and W., of about 5 miles. Wells post-office is in the S. part. Pop. 365.

The following is taken from the "Gazetteer of the State of New York; Embracing a Comprehensive View of the Geography, Geology, and General History of the State, and a complete History and Description of Every County, City, Town, Village, and Locality with Full Tables of Statistics," by J. H. French, Syracuse, N.Y.: Published by R. Pearsall Smith, 1860.  Transcribed by Marcia Buffett.
 

Wells¹ was formed from Mayfield and Northampton, Fulton County, May 28, 1805. Hope was taken off in 1818, a part of Long Lake in 1837, and Gilman in 1830. A part of Mayfield was annexed June 19, 1812; parts of Mayfield and Northampton in 1816; and parts of Gilman and Lake Pleasant in 1858. It lies along the east border of the county and forms a part of the hunting grounds of Northern New York. Its south part is inhabited by a few families on Indian Lake. It is intersected by mountain ranges separated by deep, narrow valleys. The highest peaks are 2,000 to 2,500 feet high and are covered by masses of naked rock. The three branches of the Sacandaga unite in the southern part, forming a large stream. Jessup and Cedar Rivers, in the north, are large streams. Indian Lake is a sheet of water about 6 miles long; and further north is a cluster of small lakes flowing into the Hudson. There are numerous other small lakes in other parts, known only to hunters. The soil is light and sandy. Calciferous sandstone appears in situ above Wells Village. Wells (p.v) contains a large tannery, gristmill, sawmill, and 15 dwellings; Pickleville, one-half miles above, contains 2 churches and 15 dwellings. Settlement began in 1798.²
 

FOOTNOTES

1. Named from Joshua Wells, the first settler.

2. Joshua Wells, a native of Long Island, who came on as agent for the proprietors of Palmer’s Puchase, in 1798, built the first mills. Isaac and Joshua Brown came with Wells and kept “bachelors hall” several summers before any families came in. Amasa Gage, Giles Vanderhoof, Nicholas Bradt, John Francisco, Elnathan Lacy, Michael Overacken, Isaiah Whitman, ---Rose, and others were early settlers. ---VanZandt kept the first store; and Platt Whitman built the first tannery in 1825.

The following is taken from the "Gazetteer of the State of New York; Embracing a Comprehensive Account of the History and Statistics of the State with Geological and Topographical Descriptions," by Franklin B. Hough, Albany, N.Y.: Andrew Boyd, 394 and 196 Broadway, 1872.  Transcribed by Martha Magill.
 

WELLS - named from Joshua Wells, first settler - was formed from Mayfield and Northampton, Fulton co., May 28, 1805. Hope was taken off in 1818, a part of Long Lake in 1837, and Gilman in 1839. A part of Mayfield was annexed June 19, 1812; parts of Mayfield and Northampton in 1816; and parts of Gilman and Lake Pleasant in 1858. It lies along the e. border of the co., and is intersected by mountain ranges. The highest peaks are 2,000 to 2,500 feet high and are covered by masses of naked rock. The three brances of the Sacondaga unite in the s. part, forming a large stream. There are numerous small lakes. Wells, (p.o.) contains a large tannery, gristmill, sawmill, and about 20 dwellings.⁷ Pickleville, one-half mi. above, contains 2 churches and 15 dwellings. Gilman, is a p.o. on the w. border. Settlement began in 1798.

Footnote 7: A newspaper is dated as from this town, viz.: Hamilton County Journal, (Rep.) weekly; Geo. M. Thompson, ed. and publisher; size 28 by 44; terms $1.50. Establishment in 1870. Printed at the office of the Gloversville Intelligencer.

Footnote 8: Joshua Wells, a native of Long Island, who came on as agent for the proprietors of Palmer's Purchase, in 1798, built the first mills. Isaac and Joshua Brown came with Wells, and kept "bachelors hall" several summers before any families came in. Amasa Gage, Giles Vanderhoof, Nicholas Bradt, John Francisco, Elnathan Lacy, Michael Overacken, Isaiah Whitman, ___ Rose, and others were early settlers. ___Van Zandt kept the first store; and Platt Whitman built the first tannery, in 1825.