Searching for information on James Bell, born Fermanagh, married Elizabeth Johnston, date of birth 26 Feb 1773. My ancestor was their son Walter Bell, dob 1 April 1828 in Fermamnagh. Would like any information available.
Hi Stephanie
Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!
Do you know what religion James was? There are quite a few RC parishes in Co. Fermanagh where records begin in the 1700s which is good in terms of your research. Many other parishes do not have any early parish records. Have you already checked familysearch or rootsireland for other children of the couple?
Best wishes
Clare Doyle
Genealogy Support
Clare, thanks for responding! I don't know what religon James was, but his son Walter belonged to the Church of England as did his wife Elizabeth Johnston Bell. She was widowed and living in Ontario, Canada by 1861 and died and was buried there in 1867. I have checked familysearch for other children but didn't find any.
Stephanie
It would be no harm to check out rootsireland.ie. It is a subscription site but is easier to use than familsearch I think. If you can't see any records it could mean there are none and/or that Bell was baptised in another county. It would be an idea to extend the search to Co. Monaghan too just to be sure.
PRONI has a list of freeholders that might also be useful to you. You can find out more here: http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/freeholders_records.h…
There are a couple of Bell entries on the Flax Growers List of 1796 but it would not be possible to show which, if any, are related to your Bell family: http://www.failteromhat.com/post1796.php
You may have to undergo an information gathering exercise in the hope that further information becomes available later. This blog is very good for keeping up to date on things genealogy:
http://www.irishgenealogynews.com/
Best wishes
Clare
Genealogy Support