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James bell

TyroneErrigal Keerogue (Tyrone)

researching James Bell who I believe was born in Ballygawly.  I have a child Matilda who was born in Caledon, but the other two children I have birth information for were born in Garvaghy in the mid 1840s.  One was called Hamilton Richardson Bell which may help me trace family.  James married Margaret Neville from co Monaghan and they moved to New Zealand in 1863.

 

kiwikate

4 replies

Hi Kate

Here's a possible record for James from rootsireland:

http://Name: James William Bell Date of Birth: Date of Baptism: 10-Feb-1838 Address: Parish/District: DUNGANNON Gender: Unknown County TYRONE Father: William Bell Mother: Mary McGeery Occupation: Sponsor 1 / Informant 1: Patt Sponsor 2 / Informant 2: Catherine McGeer

Dungannon is 13 miles from Ballygawley.

However the other children from these parents were Eugene & Mary Ann!

There are some Matilda & Hamilton records but they are 1870's so too late?

There are some marriage records of Matilda Bell in Tyrone in the 1850's; 2 have father William and were born in the 1850's:

http://Date of Marriage: 06-Feb-1873 Parish / District: OMAGH County: TYRONE Husband Wife Name: Samuel Patrick Matilda Bell Address: Campsie P. Of Cappagh Drumnakilly Occupation: TAILOR Age: 22 22 Status: Bachelor (Previously unmarried) Spinster (Previously unmarried) Husband's Father Wife's Father Name: James Patrick William Bell Address: Occupation: SHOPKEEPER FARMER

http://Date of Marriage: 09-Jan-1873 Parish / District: COOKSTOWN County: TYRONE Husband Wife Name: William John Rollins Matilda Bell Address: Drumads Elagh Occupation: LABOURER Age: 22 22 Status: Bachelor (Previously unmarried) Spinster (Previously unmarried) Husband's Father Wife's Father Name: William Rollins William Bell Address: Occupation: LABOURER LABOURER

Here's a possible one for Hamilton:

http://Date of Marriage: 24-Apr-1860 Parish / District: DUNGANNON County: TYRONE Husband Wife Name: Hamilton Bell Margaret Johnston Address: Drumconnis Drumard Occupation: FARMER Age: 22 22 Status: Bachelor (Previously unmarried) Widow (Female) Husband's Father Wife's Father Name: Robt. Bell Wm. John Bell Address: Occupation: FARMER FARMER

Col

ColCaffIrelandXO Volunteer

What denomination was James Bell and approximately when was he born?

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

I finally found some hard evidence  re the Bells. Hamilton Richardson was baptized in January 1844 at Errigal keerogue and his father was living at Gavaghy. The family were Church of Ireland.

 

 

 

kiwikate

Griffiths Valuation for 1860 lists James Bell farming in Garvaghy, Errigal Keerogue. He had plot 54 which was a farmhouse, outbuildings and just over 32 acres. I also noticed an Alexander Bell on plot 36, a 46 acres farm, so he might well be related. Plot 54 today is up a dead end lane off the modern Garvaghy Rd which is just off the A5 at Radergan Rd.

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=nameSearch

The valuation revision books show that James Farm changed hands in 1864, suggesting either that he had left or died. A Wm Conroy was the new tenant.

http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/val12b.htm

Death registration only started in 1864 so if he died before that it won’t be in the statutory records. There is a death of a JB regd in Dungannon on 3.5.1868 aged 79 and another on 15.11.1868 aged 78. They could be him.

Errigal Keerogue COI records start in 1812, and there’s a copy in PRONI in Belfast.

There was still a Bell farm in Garvaghy in 1901. Presumably descended from Alexander. (The revaluation records should show). They were Presbyterian (indicative of Scottish origins).

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tyrone/Errigal/Garvagh…

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

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