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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: elsie ellen on Tuesday 13 August 13 09:47 BST (UK)

Title: Grace Smith BELL
Post by: elsie ellen on Tuesday 13 August 13 09:47 BST (UK)
Hello everyone!

A request for help with a birth registration number: Grace Smith BELL was born , I believe, about 1860 in Heathcote, Victoria. I would like to purchase a copy of her birth certificate, so would appreciate help to find the appropriate registration number please.

I have the registration number for her death, and am led to believe she never married.

Cheers

Elsie
Title: Re: Grace Smith BELL
Post by: sparrett on Tuesday 13 August 13 09:57 BST (UK)
Here you are!

BELL Grace Smith
Father Wm
Mother Ann SHARPE
Birth Place HCOTE
Year  1859
Reg   14924

Sue
Title: Re: Grace Smith BELL
Post by: elsie ellen on Tuesday 13 August 13 13:15 BST (UK)
Thanks Sue. Appreciate your help.

Now to order that certificate and see what information is revealed.

Elsie
Title: Re: Grace Smith BELL
Post by: BonnieDownUnder on Friday 16 August 13 03:20 BST (UK)
Hello,
This might be Grace Smith BELL's death Notice - died 17 Feb 1937

Trove - The Argus newspaper, dated 20 Feb 1937, page 7

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/11971238?searchTerm=%22Grace%20Smith%20Bell%22&searchLimits=
Title: Re: Grace Smith BELL
Post by: elsie ellen on Friday 16 August 13 04:04 BST (UK)
Thank you Bonnie for directing me to this death notice. Yes, this is my Grace.

Thanks to you, from this notice I have learnt that she resided in NZ for some years. My challenges now are to see if I can find any details of her travelling between Australia and NZ, and to locate where she was residing in NZ. Here's hoping ...

I appreciate your posting in response to my query.

Elsie

Title: Re: Grace Smith BELL
Post by: BonnieDownUnder on Friday 16 August 13 04:18 BST (UK)
Hi Elsie ...
I see that Grace is buried in the Leongatha Cemetery, sharing a grave with other Bell's.

There is a family tree named 'GRANT' on Ancestry that shows Grace's mother was an Ann Sharpe and died 17 Jul 1895 Wellington New Zealand - buried Karori Cemetery in Wellington.

By the way, just wondering what information you are seeking with the purchase of Grace's birth certificate.  Bonnie
Title: Re: Grace Smith BELL
Post by: sparrett on Friday 16 August 13 06:48 BST (UK)
Grace Smith BELL is on the Electoral Rolls in NZ from 1896 to 1911


I can type up the addresses for you.

Sue
Title: Re: Grace Smith BELL
Post by: sparrett on Friday 16 August 13 07:07 BST (UK)
NZ  Electoral Roll
1896
BELL, Grace Smith
Address- residential. Dunedin. Household duties.

Also 1896
BELL, Grace Smith
Address- Constable Street. Housemaid. Residential

1905-1906
BELL, Grace Smith
Address- Pacific Street, Roslyn. Spinster.

1911
BELL, Grace Smith
Address-109 High Street, Roslyn. Spinster

Sue
Title: Re: Grace Smith BELL
Post by: elsie ellen on Friday 16 August 13 08:30 BST (UK)
Oh .... I'm stunned, in a very, very nice way!

Thank you. Thank you. Sue and Bonnie, I really appreciate your help this afternoon.

Bonnie ... I have looked at the Leongatha Cemetery records and I acknowledge that there are some other Bell's buried there as well. Not sure yet about any link, but I will definitely try to find out one way or the other. (I thought the birth certificate might make precise mention of her father's birthplace, rather than just acknowledging Scotland.) I am in contact with the owner of the Grant family tree Bonnie. Thanks for directing me to this tree.

Sue ... what can I say? I have spent time this afternoon searching Papers Past in NZ for a possible mention of her and so far have found nothing. I was beginning to think that I would never find her whereabouts in NZ, and then you posted this wonderful electoral information. I am so grateful for your help.

Elsie

Title: Re: Grace Smith BELL
Post by: sparrett on Friday 16 August 13 08:34 BST (UK)
You're welcome, Elsie. ;D

When is your first sighting of her in Australia after 1911?

Just in case her return shipping from NZ could be found.

Sue
Title: Re: Grace Smith BELL
Post by: elsie ellen on Friday 16 August 13 14:55 BST (UK)
Sue ... I have found mention of Grace in the 1924, 31 and 36 Australian Electoral Rolls. In 1924 she is in Kooweerup, and 31 and 36 in Leongatha.

On her death certificate that I bought this afternoon, she is said to have lived in Victoria for about 25 years. (An authorised agent was the informant so that would possibly account for the guesstimate.) Would her early years at Heathcote be included in that number of years?

My guesstimate then would be that the earliest she returned to Victoria would be about 1912.

Hope that makes sense Sue.

Elsie