About Us:

In our nation's eastern most Pine Tree State of Maine and its southern most county of York, is the town of Wells, named for the cathedral city of Wells, in Somerset, England. Wells is a seacoast town. From Drakes Island to Moody the majestic marine shoreline sweeps in a crescent, bordering the mighty Atlantic Ocean with sandy beaches and rocky promontories. Behind the dunes a tidal river flows through the green and gold marshes and is met by many smaller streams, which originate inland among the forests and distant hills. Everywhere is found evidence of the last glacial age; in the stone walls of the pastures, the great boulders in the fields and forests, the bare scoured ledges and in the rocks along the shore. Here, in layer upon layer of rock, twisted out of the natural position by the great glacial force, is a record of the ages for all to see.

Wells is located in the section of Maine awarded to Sir Ferdinando Gorges on August 10, 1622 by the Plymouth Company in England. Gorges was named the Lord Proprietor of Maine with almost regal powers over the province. Unable to come here himself, he sent his young cousin, Thomas, to act as his deputy and agent. Thus it was Thomas Gorges who granted the lands from Northeast of the Ogunquit River to the Southwest of the Kennebunk River to agents from Exeter, New Hampshire on September 27, 1641 for the purpose of settling the plantation of Wells. The original settlers of Wells paid annual fees to lease the land. After the death of Sir Ferdinando Gorges and with the political upheaval in England, the Massachusetts Bay Colony took advantage of the situation and laid claim to all of Maine. On July 4th & 5th in 1653 Wells submitted to the control of the MBC with their laws and Puritan beliefs. Although Wells residents were reluctant to submit, the town was now incorporated and as free men each was now the owner of his own lands.

The original land grants to the first settlers in Wells stretched two and a half miles inland from the upper edge of the marsh. The farmsteads and gardens were followed by orchards, pasture land, hay fields and inland wood lots. The inland boundaries were where the Ridge and Branch Roads are today. On early deeds this was called the Upper Post Road and was parallel to Lower Post Road (Route One).