WARDWELL

The Wardwells were a prominent Bristol, Rhode Island family with roots going back to the first settlers of Bristol. Isabella Wardwell was the last surviving member of her branch of the Wardwell family. They were descendants of Mayflower passengers, most notably Richard Warren. Sophia Lindsay Wardwell, Isabella's older sister, apparently was interested in the Mayflower connection according to information in the book "Lineages of the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Rhode Island" by Ruth Ann Wilder Sherman (1966)available in several Rhode Island libraries

Isabella died July 11, 1940 at the age of 92.

Her grandfather Thomas Lindsay/Lindsey(see LINDSEY FAMILY)
had been married twice - once to her mother's mother Rhoda Luther Lindsey who died at age 35. Their daughter Sarah Luther Lindsey married Henry Wardwell and had three daughters. Click here to see the Rhode Island History Page at RIGENWEB for details on theWARDWELL FAMILY
Thomas had a second marriage to Ann Waldron Lindsey and they had a son Thomas Francis. Thomas had nine children, cousins of the Wardwell girls.

Upon her death, Isabella left money to many relatives, friends and organizations, churches, colleges, charities, etc. Names mentioned in her will are listed at the Rhode Island History Articles Page on RIGENWEB: ISABELLA WARDWELL WILL

After 1895, Isabella lived with her sisters at 509 Hope Street, Bristol which was known as the Bostworth/Fales/Wardwell Home built in 1815 for Benjamin Bosworth by Benjamin Norris and Russell Warren. Isabella bought the home with her sisters Sophie and Harriet in 1895. In 1961, the property became the United States Post Office which is 515 Hope Street now. Across the street is the George DeWolf Mansion. The home was disassembled and sent to the Smithsonian Institute (to be verified). The Wardwells are buried in North Cemetery, Bristol in the Bourne Family Plot on Hope Street next to Colt State Park. Lindseys are also buried there as well as in East Burial Plot on Mt Hope Ave at Wood Street in Bristol.

March 1998