CAN-ORANGE-L Archives

Archiver > CAN-ORANGE > 1999-04 > 0924130947


From: "Brian McConnell" <>
Subject: Re: Roll Call
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 20:02:27 -0300


Hi Betty:

Here are a few ideas I had. As you probably know the surnames Bell
and Johnson are most commonly found in the north of Ireland, Ulster
(That is supported by "The Book of Ulster Surnames" by Robert Bell. I
just checked my copy and about half of all Bells live in County Antrim
where it is among the ten most popular names. Johns(t)on is the second
most popular surname in Antrim). They are also so-called Ulster-Scots
names, meaning that they originated in Scotland and at some time the
people moved to Ireland.

Do you have any clues at all as to their whereabouts in Ireland? Any
first names? The Directory of Irish Family History Research prepared
by the Ulster Historical Foundation lists people who are searching for
names in Ireland. You might get lucky if we had some first names.

However, I have found in trying to trace my own family roots back in
Ireland it becomes difficult much before the early 1800s. One
problem can be that there were not many complete or detailed records
kept that have survived. Unless you know a particular place to look
and even then that can depend on the condition of the cemetaries,
church records, etc. Don't mean to sound discouraging though; I have
found that the search itself can be interesting in terms of learning
more about the circumstances and lifestyles.

Brian

-----Original Message-----
From: Betty Crowe <>
To: Brian McConnell <>
Date: April 14, 1999 5:07 PM
Subject: Re: Roll Call

>Hi Brian:
>My gggrandfather Edward BELL was born ca. 1798 in Ireland he married
Olivia
>JOHNSON born ca. 1806 in Ireland. They immigrated to Canada, and
their
>oldest son Richard BELL was born 1834 in Upper Canada, their second
son
>William BELL was born in Tecumseth Township, Simcoe County, Ontario.
(I do
>not know where they lived in Ireland)
>On my mother's side her paternal ggrandfather was Edward BELL born in
>Ireland, and paternal grandfather was William BELL born 7 Sep 1837
in
>Tecumseth Township, Simcoe County, Ontario, married 4 Mar. 1867 to
Sarah
>BAYCROFT born 25 July 1848 Tecumseth Township, Simcoe County,
Ontario.
>William BELL's sons Edward, George, Britton, Henry, Thomas, Colonel,
and
>John Wesley, were all Orangemen.
>I have a picture of William BELL (not with a sash) with his seven
sons all
>with the Orangeman sash across there left shoulder to right side.
>William and Sarah BELL moved to Flos Township, Simcoe County, Ontario
before
>1891 so I think the picture was taken about 1888-9. I believe they
lived
>near Allenwood, Ontario.
>The Orange Lodge they would belong to would be in Elmvale, Ontario.
The
>Elmvale Orange Lodge building is still there, and in use for card
games. I
>do not know if it is used by Orangemen now.
>I was wondering if you would have any information on this family, I
would
>also like to find out where they lived in Ireland
>Thanking you,
>Lewis Crowe, Ontario, Canada.
>
>
>
>

This thread: