The 'Bell's' of Wolsingham

[Nigel Noake]

I am researching the Bell family I am related to. I have traced back to Thomas Bell born in 1811 in Wolsingham. He married Mary Hodgson born 1820 in Stanhope Durham. They had several children including Jonathan Bell born about 1857. Jonathan Bell married Mary Ann Elliott born in 1851 in Warboys. They in turn had several children one of which was Jonathan Ralph Bell (my Grandfather) born in 1891 in Edmonton Hertfordshire.
I am trying to put together a clearer picture of their lives in Wolsingham including dates of death and where they are buried. Can anyone out there help me please?

[diddymiller]

Hi Nigel & Welcome to RC!
do you have the census for Thomas /mary?

1851; Wolsingham
Thomas   40   Blacksmith
Mary        29
Ann          5
Mary         9
Jane         3
William     1
jane Hodgson  72 m inlaw b, stanhope

1861:wolsingham
Thomas   50  whitesmith
Mary        42
Ann           15
William      11
Jonathon    4

1881:Wolsingham
Thomas  F.H. Bell  70   whitesmith
Mary       61

1891:Wolsingham
Thomas    80
Mary         71

can't see after that so looking for Death of Thomas:

given the extra initials in the 1891 this must be him:

Thomas Frederick H bell  dec 1891  weardale 10a /186  age 81
(source freebmd)
Diddy

[diddymiller]

Just found the 1871:wolsingham

Thomas F.H.Bell   62  blacksmith
Mary  51
William   21
Jonathon   14
William   61   brother  ag lab b. wolsingham

Diddy

[diddymiller]

Nigel, there are lots of bell records on DRO:

www.durhamrecordsonline.com

pay to view but good value. found:

marrriage 1/12/1841 wolsingham
Thomas Bell, bachelor, whitesmith full age, son of William Bell, butcher to
Mary Hodgeson, spinster, full age of wolsingham, daughter of Jonathon Hodgson, miner

so thats where the name Jonathon comes from!

Diddy

[diddymiller]

found his baptism:

Thomas Heaton frederick Bell  born 16/4/1811  bap 7/6/1811 wolsingham
2nd son of William Bell, innkeeper by his wife Elizabeth  nee heaton dau of Thomas (source DRO)

Def yours then -seems the F.H was prob H.F origianlly unless curate slipped up!!

will leave you now to digest all that!!

Diddy 

[Adamand]

Hello Nigel. Before you pay for anything go to my Wolsingham m inscriptions thread.
Put your request on that thread and I will post the inscriptions.
It cost only a "thank you"
I can tell you that there are 19 gravestones for Bell. Some are old and those I will post, most of the others are of a  later date and probably no good for your research.

Adam

[Nigel Noake]

Thanks to all for such rapid and friendly responses. I will check everything out and try to put together the pieces so far. 
To be continued.......

[mikecurran]

hi. I can trace my family thru the Bells to Wolsingham. robert b 1778 had a brother george and both had children christened in halton. their father was william b1732. perhaps one of george's children is your connection or another brother  to robert?

[iwbell]

mikecurran ... hello.

I'm interested in Robert Bell b 1778 and William b. 1732 and would appreciate any info you have or point me in the direction of where to find this Robert and William.

I believe a Robert Bell was born Wolsingham in 1807, married 21 Feb 1831 to Mary Collingwood. Your Robert could have been his father.
Robert b.1807 (don't know how many sons he had) named a son George b.1831 and who in turn named his sons (oldest first) Robert, Christopher, George, William, Joseph; three names mentioned in your post. Fairly common names, but perhaps there's a connection.
tks