RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Poodlz on Monday 17 October 16 01:29 BST (UK)
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Hi
Hope someone can help. I have found my Great-Grandfather Edward Bell who came to New Zealand from Carlislie and married Mary Amelia Hull.
It is known in the family that he was a 'remittance' person and we don't seem to have a definite definition of what this meant. He had an allowance that was sent to him apparently from the UK.
His father was a Tanner, & I believe this was quite a prosperous position. Some in the family say he got into trouble and was sent away. Another person has suggested that as he was the third son it could have been he couldn't/wouldn't join the family business and was therefore sent away with an allowance.
Would be grateful if anyone could find more details for me. From my research:
He was born in 1842
His father was John Bell who married Elizabeth Furniss
We can't find any information on passenger lists of him arriving in NZ.
Other siblings were:
Sarah Ann 1836
John F. 1840
William 1841
Mary Jane 1844
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remittance_man
Based on this definition, it looks like he may have been paid an allowance by his family to stay away.
Either of your scenarios is possible along with a myriad of others; a law breaker sent out of the country prior to arrest, gambling debts, a duel, lover(s) in trouble etc
But my initial thought would be to start looking through court reports and newspapers for minor offences.
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Do you by any chance know of a site that has copies of past newspapers in Carlisle that I could look at?
We have a site in NZ called paperspast that has copies of papers for all areas in NZ - I could then look to see if I can find something.
Thanks for your help.
Cheers
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The Findmypast.co.uk and britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk websites are both good but are subscription or pay per view sites.
Perhaps your local or national library has a Gale British Newspaper public subscription that you can access through a membership with them.