PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF MARK ROGERS.

	THE EAST INDIAMAN ‘YORK’ ON WHICH JAMES BELL WAS TRANSPORTED.
	JAMES BELL TICKET OF LEAVE.
	NORMAN BELL SON OF JAMES BELL AND WILHELLMINA MCLEOD.
	CHRISTINA AND ELIZABETH BELL ON THE TWEED RIVER.
	CHRISTINA AND HER HUSBAND JOHN QUIRK.
	GRANNY BELL – MARY ANN MCNEILL.
	NORMAN BELL, BROTHER OF JOHN AND BROTHER-IN-LAW TO MARY ANN (GRANNY).
	WILHELLMINA BELL LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION.

MY THANKS ALSO TO THOSE GENEROUS CONTRIBUTORS WHO PREFER NOT TO BE NAMED ONLINE.

Wilhelmina McLEOD : COMPILED BY MARK ROGERS.

Wilhelmina McLEOD

born: about 1819 in County Sutherland, Scotland

Parents: William McLeod, a farmer, and Jannet (Jessie) McKay

christened:

married to: James BELL at the Scots Church Paterson NSW on 29 Sep 1840

died: at the home of her son-in-law, Joseph Walker, 2 Unwin St Sydney (Milsons Pt)

on 28 Feb 1903

buried at: Rookwood Cemetary, Presbyterian Section

Children: Mary (Laurie) b. circa 1842 (at Bandon Grove) (not recorded)

Wilhelmena (Dinsey) b. circa 1843 (not recorded)

Norman b. 1845 Entry 513, Vol 162

John b. circa 1846, (not recorded)

Margaret (McEachran) b. 1848, Entry 536 (or 586?) Vol 162

Elizabeth (Walker) b. 22/7/1850, Entry 1441, Vol 50

Christina (Quirk) b. 27/7/1852, Entry 636, Vol 52

Wilhelmina arrived in Sydney with her mother, sisters and brother from Keanlochbervie (Kinlochbervie) in Sutherland, NW Scotland on the "James Moran" on 11 Feb 1839. She was 16 at the time of her departure from Scotland. She spoke both Gaelic and English.

On arrival in Sydney, the family seems to have been separated and she and her sisters were allocated to servants positions with employers in Sydney while her brother was assigned as a shepherd to Patricks Plains. Sometime after her arrival, the family moved to the Hunter River and she met and married James Bell, a ticket of leave man from Glasgow. They married at the Scots Church in Paterson on 29 Sep 1840. Donald McLeod (her brother) and Mary McMaster were the witnesses. This was shortly before the Presbyterian Church was built at Paterson.

Shortly after this the family was working on land at Barties Swamp near East Maitland (1840-41).

There is no record in the NSW BDM Index of her marriage or the baptism of 3 of her 7 children. At this time Presbyterian ministers carried their registers with them from appointment to appointment, and it is probable that the register was never handed in after civil registration began.

By 1842, she and James worked on a farm at Bandon Grove near Dungog, probably with her brother and mother close by (or on the same property). It appears that they were employed as tennant farmers by the landowners. According to tradition they grew maize and arrowroot for a mill nearby. Mary was apparently born at Bandon Grove about 1842.

Both Elizabeth and Christina were christened in Dungog NSW in the Presbyterian Church, and were born at Mt Pleasant, near the current township of Salisbury, further up the Williams River. James died after a severe ilness on Friday 6 Feb 1852 and was buried at Anley’s Flat (Dungog) on 13 Feb 1852. There was an accident on the way to the funeral, which rated a mention in the Maitland Mercury of Saturday 14 Feb 1852. Christina wa baptised on 24 May 1853.

In 1863, her son Norman was definitely still in the Bandon Grove area at "Mulconda". His name, the date and place are in his uncle Donald McLeod’s gaelic bible, now in the possession of Rita Phillips (nee Quirk). John and Norman and their uncle Donald McLeod are listed in a directory of 1867-68 as being at Malconda.

Later, by the late-1860s, she may have been farming around Copeland, near Gloucester. One of her sisters, Anne, married a Laurie from Rawdon Vale. Wilhelmina’s son, Norman died at Barrington in 1924 after farming there for many years, although he is known to have farmed for a time in the Tweed.

Wilhelmina’s mother Jannet, died in Dungog in 1872, aged apparently 87, and was buried at Anley’s Flat. Her daughter, Ann was the informant.

From oral tradition, Wilhelmina did not follow her children or her brother to the Tweed in the late 1860s, so she may have stayed in the Copeland area.

Her son, John and his family lived at Laurieton NSW in the early 1900’s. John apparently spent some time in the Tweed, and Margaret Bell (McEachran) married and settled at Tygalgah on the Tweed, so most of the family may have lived in the Tweed for a number of years from the late 1860’s through to the early 1880’s.

LOOKING FOR MARGARET MCLEOD IN SCOTLAND – RESEARCH BY MARK ROGERS.

· Research still in progress

Looking for Margaret McLeod in Scotland.

Information to go by:

Margaret , daughter of Janet McKay & William McLeod was born about 1817 in Scotland, probably in Kinlochbervie, Sutherland Shire.

When Janet & the rest of the family [Donald, Wilhelmina, Ann & Christina] boarded the “James Moran” in Oct. 1838, Margaret did not board with the rest of the family . Oral history was that she stayed to marry her beloved also called McLeod.

The will of Ann McLeod dated 1901 leaves50 pounds “to my sister Margaret McLeod wife of Donald McLeod of Thurso Scotland”.

Search Scotlandspeople for birth of Margaret MacLeod./all areas.

Not found.

Search Scotlandspeople for marriage Margaret McLeod & Donald McLeod

· Marriage 16^th March 1855-Eddrachilis, County of Sutherland , at Kinlochbervie. Marriage [ after banns] was solemnized between us according to the forms of the rites & ceremonies of the free Church of Scotland.

DONALD MACLEOD, 39, 2^nd Marriage [2 children], Fisher, present residence Oldshore, Usual residence Oldshore, Born at Oldshore, not registered, son of:

F. Hugh MacLeod, cottar.

M. Christy MacLeod,m.s. Morrison.

To Margt. MacLeod, 35, spinster, house servant, present residence Oldshore, Usual residence Oldshore, born at Kinlochbervie, not registered, daughter of:

F. William MacLeod, tenant.

M. Janet Macleod,m.s. MacKay.

Signed thomas Fraser, free Church Minister at Kinlochbervie.

Witness Donald McLean [ ? McLeod]

George Corbett.

[Oldshore More is a small village on the N.W. coast of Sutherland District of highland council area. It lies 2K S.E. of Oldshore Beg & 3 K N.W. of Kinlochbervie.]

· BIRTH 19^th March 1861,Stromness, County of Orkney.

At North End, Stromness.

Mary McLeod, daughter of :

F. Donald McLeod, labourer [General], informant.

M.Margaret McLeod,m.s, McLeod.

Parents Marriage 1855 March, Sutherland.

· 1881 census Mary A McLeod born 1861 found in Thurso.

At Rotterdam Street, Thurso.

Mary Ann Mcleod, servant, unmarried ,aged 20, Profession nurse dom. Servant, birth place Orkney, Stromness.

[ In the household of James W. Galloway , Bank Agent.]

Search of Scotlandspeople censuses for Donald McLeod & Margaret McLeod in Thurso.

· 1881 Census at Wilson St Thurso.

Donald McLeod,Head. Married, aged 66,Gen. Labourer, Birthplace, Sutherlandshire, Kinlochbervie.

Margaret McLeod, wife, married, aged 62,House wife, Birthplace, Sutherlandshire, Kinlochbervie.

· 1891 census of Thurso, Scotland

Banks St, Thurso.

Donald McLeod, head of house, married. aged 66, general labourer, born Sutherland, Kinlochbervie, Gaelic & English.

Margaret McLeod, wife, married, aged 72, born Sutherland, Kinlochbervie, Gaelic & English.

· DEATH OF MARGARET McLEOD

1898, Parish of Thurso, in the county of Caithness.

Margaret MacLeod, married to Donald MacLeod, Stonecutter.

December 2^nd 1898 at Bank St Thurso. Female, aged 75 years.

Father William MacLeod, crofter[deceased]

Mother Janet MacLeod [maiden Name CLARK ] deceased.

Dry gangrene of foot, ? failure

MARY DAVIDSON DAUGHTER present.

· Death of Donald McLeod

1901 Parish of Thurso, in the county of Caithness.

Stonecutter, widower of Margaret McLeod

February 25^th 1901, Bank St Thurso, Male aged 82

Father Hugh McLeod, farmer [deceased]

Mother Christina McLeod [maiden name Morrison]

Bronchitis .

Mary A Davidson daughter present.

ALSO NOTE the name given for Margarets mother is Janet MacLeod [MAIDEN NAME CLARK]

In Janets death cert. the name of Janets mother was given as CHRISTIAN CLARK also.

& in the shipping docs her mothers name is given only as Christian.

· Marriage 25 November 1887 St. Andrew, Burgh of Edinburgh.

At No. 43 Thistle St, Edinburgh.

After publication according to the free Church.

James Davidson, 27, Bachelor,Tailor[Journeyman], No. 8 West Adam St.,Edinburgh, son of:

F. James Davidson, Cotton Weaver, deceased.

M. Mary Davidson M.S. Davidson.

To Mary Ann McLeod, 26, Spinster,laundress. No. 8 West Adam St. Edinburgh, daughter of :

F. John McLeod, stone hewer.

M. Mary McLeod,m.s. McLeod.

Signed Charles Wedderburn, Minister.

Witness Thomas McIlwraith.

Helen Munro.

Despite the incorrect first names for Mary’s parents, I think this is the correct marriage of Mary Ann McLeod.

· 1891 census St Cuthberts, Edinburgh.

James Davidson, Head, Married, 33, tailor, birthplace Edinburgh.

Mary Davidson, wife, married,32, Birthplace Stromness, Orkney [speaks gaelic & English.]

Robert Blair, adopted, 10 months, birthplace Edinburgh, St Giles.

· Death 26 August 1931 District of wick, County of Caithness.

2 Whitehouse Lane , Wick.

James Davidson, tailor, married to Mary Ann McLeod. Aged 70 years, cerebral Haemorrhage. Informant David Mackay friend.

· Death 27 February 1937. Wick, County of Caithness. At 2 Whitehouse Lane Wick.

Mary Ann Davidson, 75, widow of James Davidson, Tailor, daughter of;

F—- deceased

M—–deceased.

Cause myocarditis.

Informant. David Mackay, neighbour.

Summary so far:

Margaret McLeod , daughter of William McLeod & Janet McKay, did not emigrate with the rest of the family in 1838 on the “James Moran”. Oral history was that she had stayed in Scotland to marry her beloved Donald McLeod.

However the marriage did not take place until 17 years later in 1855. From the marriage certificate Donald McLeod was previously married with two children.

There is a marriage of a Donald McLeod to a Janet Mackay in 1834 in Eddrachillis.

There is a death of a Janet Macleod in 1855 in Eddrachillis.[ Her age was however 75 ] so that seems too old, but the coincidence is interesting.

There are at least 7 births with Donald McLeod as the registered father in Eddrachillis between 1834 & 1855 but no way of determining which may have been the children of the Donald we are interested in.

No births were found to Margaret & Donald McLeod in Eddrachillis between 1838 & 1855, nor any found registered in the name of Margaret McLeod separately.

There is the birth of Mary Ann McLeod in Stromness, Orkney in 1861.

I could not find any births 1855 to 1861 in Kinlochbervie or Stromness that may be other children of Donald & Margaret McLeod. This search was extended to 1875 without result.

Donald & Margaret were in Thurso, Caithness by 1881 [ census] & seem to have continued to live there until their deaths in 1898 & 1901.

The marriage was found for Mary Ann McLeod & James Davidson in Edinburgh in 1887 [ despite the incorrect first names of Mary Ann’s parents, I think this is Mary McLeod ].

In an 1891 census in Edinburgh the couple had an adopted 10 month child Robert Blair.

I could not find further children born to Mary Ann & James Davidson.

At some point they moved to Wick, Caithness as they were there at the times of their death in 1931 & 1937.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Transcription of Tif Certificates

1891 Census Bank St Thurso.

Donald McLeod, head of house, married, age 66, general labourer,

Born Sutherland Kinlochbervie, speaks Gaelic & English.

Margaret McLeod, wife, age 72, Born Sutherland Kinlochbervie, speaks Gaelic & English.

One room with one or more windows.

1898 Deaths in Parish of Thurso, County of Caithness.

Margaret MacLeod, married to Donald MacLeod, stonecutter.

1898 December second, Bank St, Thurso, female, age 75 years.

Father William MacLeod, crofter [deceased]

Mother Janet MacLeod, maiden surname Clark. [deceased]

Cause of death Dry gangrene of foot, heart failure. Certified by D. ?Pearson, MB, Thurso.

Mary Davidson, daughter present, of ?Wilson St Thurso.

Dated 1898 December 3^rd at Thurso, Andrew ?, Registrar.

1901 Deaths in Parish of Thurso, County of Caithness.

Donald McLeod, stonecutter, widower of Margaret McLeod.

1901 February twenty fifth, 2h 30 am.

Bank St, Thurso, male, aged 82 years.

Father Hugh McLeod.[ deceased]

Mother Christina McLeod, maiden surname Morrison [deceased]

Cause of death bronchitis. Certified by D. ? Durran, MB, Thurso.

Mary A Davidson daughter present.

Dated 1901 Feb. 26 at Thurso,? Hanson Registrar.

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

SITES TO SEE : NEW SOUTH WALES

NEW SOUTH WALES

THE ONLINE BOOKS PAGE.

EMIGRANTS FROM THE FAMILY :

YEAR
SHIP
NAME

1838
BRILLIANT
JESSIE(JENNET, JANET) MCLEAN MOTHER OF MARY ANN MCNEIL

1839
JAMES MORAN
MCLEODS AND MACKAYS

1849
VICTORIA
WILLIAM AND MARY ANN SANDERS

1853
WILLIAM BROWN
JACKSONS

1853
BEEJAPORE
CRAIGS AND HURRELLS

FOR SOME BACKGROUND ATMOSPHERE OF THIS PERIOD , try this one from Google Books:

Notes and sketches of New South Wales: during a residence in that colony

A RESIDENCE IN THAT COLONY FROM 1839 TO 1844.

By Mrs. Charles Meredith

CONTENTS.

Preface \ -i

CHAPTER I.

Embarkation — Indisposition—Pleasures of a Sea Voyage—Fellow-pas-

sengers—Observance of Character—Devonshire Coast—Pilots—Land

Luxuries—H.M.S. Hercules—Eddystone Lighthouse—Last Land . 1

CHAPTER II.

Bay of Biscay—Spanish Coast—Employment the best preventive of.

Ennui—Phosphorescence of the Sea—Portuguese Men-of-war—Swal-

lows— Tenerifie — Speaking the Cherub — Fear of Pirates—Por-

poises—Flying Fish—Capture of a Boneto—Dolphins . 7

Chapter in.

Calm in the Tropics—Sharks — Turtle — lanthina—Shovel-board—

" Crossing the Line "—Loss of the North Star—Southern Constellations

—Moonlight in the Tropics—Sunsets—Waterspouts—"Sun-dogs" . ‘16

CHAPTER IV.

Whales and " Jets d’eau"—Birds—Boatswain—Boobies—Cape Pigeon—

Mischief of Idleness—" Mr.Winkles" at Sea—Great Albatross—Nelly

—Stormy Petrel—Blue Petrel—Sailors’ Delicacies—Stormy Weather 23

CHAPTER V.

Island of St. Paul’s—Islands in Bass’s Straits—Mutton-birds—Botany

Bay Heads—General excitement—Heads of Port Jackson—Scenery—

New Zealanders—First sight of Sydney—Pull ashore—Comforts of

Land Life—George Street, Sydney—The Domain—Eucalyptus, &c.

—Wooloomooloo—Government Gardens 31
CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VI.

Sydney Market—Fish, &c.—Dust, Flies, Mosquitoes—Drive to the

Lighthouse — Flowers — Parrots—Black Cockatoos—Hyde Park—

Churches — Libraries — " Currency " Population — Houses — Balls,

&c. —Inns—Colonial Newspapers Page 43

CHAPTER VII.

Leave Sydney—" Clearings"—Huts of the Working Classes — Chain-

Gangs — Parramatta — Creeks and Rivers —Inn — Birds — Road to

Penrith—Grasshoppers—Penrith—Nepean—Emu Plains—Ascent of

the Blue Mountains—Waratah 56

CHAPTER VIII.

A "Country Inn"—Breakfast—Contrasts—A Bush Ramble and Digres-

sion about Ants—Mountain Scenery—Cattle Skeletons—"Weather-

board" Inn—Supper and Night at " Bliud Paddy’s"—Mountains, and

the Surveyor’s Roads—Mount Victoria—Convict Gangs and Bush-

rangers—Inn at the " Rivulet," and its Inhabitants—The Ruling Vice 66

CHAPTER IX.

" Hassan’s Walls"—Grass Trees—Mount Lambey—Victoria Inn—Speci-

men of Benevolent Politeness—Colonial Bridges—First View of

Bathurst—The " Settlement"—Dearth—Climate—Hot Winds—Pro-

cessions of Whirlwinds—Hurricanes . . . . . .79

CHAPTER X.

».

Bathurst Society and Hospitality—" White Rock"—Native Dance and

Ceremony—Kangaroo Dance—Appearance of Natives—Children—

" Gins "—Their marriage, slavery, and sufferings—Family Dinner-

party—Adopted Children—Infanticide—Religion — " Devil-Devil"—

Language—Story of Hougong and Jimmy—" Ay, ay ?"—Duties of

the Toilet—Native Songs—Mimicry—Fondness for English Dress—

Boundary Laws—Legal Parricide—Habitual Treachery . .90

CHAPTER XI.

Native Huts—" Gunyon"—Natives’ ingenuity in Duck-Snaring and

Fishing—Native Weapons—Green Frogs—Freshwater Shells—Platy-

pus — Spur-winged Plover—Australian Harebell — Convolvulus —

Everlastings—Peppermint Tree—Opossums—Natives’ mode of taking

His
CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XII. ,

Native Turkeys—Their mode of Incubation—Native Cranberry—Our

Return — Locusts — Manna — Transformations — Ground Grubs —

Night at the Rivulet—New flowers—Heat and Dust—" Weather-

board" Inn—Walk to the Cascade—Fringed Violet—Waratahs—

Fine View—Lories Page 114

CHAPTER XIII.

Storm and fine view on Lapstone Hill—Farm-house in the " public" line

—Arrive at Parramatta — Steamboat — Scenery on the " River "—

Sydney Christmas Tree—Christmas Day—Tippling Servants . 124

CHAPTER XIV.

Homebush—Colonial Country-houses—The " Avenue"—Gates—Slip-

rails — Bushrangers — Mounted Police — Dingoes — Flying Fox —

Flying Opossum—Native Cats—Birds—Robins—Swallows— Knife-

grinder—Coachman—Bell-bird—Laughing Jackass—Larks—Game 129

CHAPTER XV.

Norfolk Island Pine—English Pear-tree—Daisy — Bush Flowers—

Creepers—He-oak—Zamia—" Wooden Pear-tree"—Native Cherry—

Insect Architecture—Twig-nests, &c.—Butterflies—Ground Spiders—

Tarantula—Silk Spiders—Scorpions—Hornets—Mosquitoes—Ants . 139

CHAPTER XVI.

Guanas—Lizards—Snakes—Salt Marshes—Fishing—Crabs—Toad-fish

—Mangrove-trees—Romance and reality—Night sounds — Orange-

Groves—Gardens—Gigantic Lily—Scarcity of fresh water—Winter

Rains—Salt Well — Climate in Winter—Society — Conversation—

Servants—Domestic matters—Embarkation for Van Diemen’s Land 150

N.B. OUR EMIGRANTS WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE SAME ADVANTAGES AS MRS MEREDITH .

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE OF JAMES BELL AND WILLIAMINA MCLEOD

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE OF JAMES BELL AND WILLIAMINA MCLEOD

COLONIAL MOTHERS

THE SAG Newsletter reports that Dr Tanya Evans, now of Macquarie University, is engaged in researching the history of motherhood in early Colonial Australia and Britain between 1750 and 1850. The focus has caught my fancy. My Mind seems to have taken a disproportionate amount of time in recovering from the Change of year and the Summer Season and I haven’t been able to get my mental historical  hard drive functioning at all but this little article has begun to bring the ghosts back to life again. Dr Evans is asking for assistance from any who have worked extensively on their family histories and have details of mothers from these early times. Dept of Modern History at Macquarie University, Sydney would have the contact details for you.

As for me, it has me thinking of all the Mothers of Mine who and the folkore I have been given. The Scottish Widow who was asked to be Laird of the Clan but came out here with her children instead.  Johannah Ready Prendergast, whose son John was sent as a convict to Government House at Windsor where his mother was Housekeeper. I wonder often about Johannah who was 47 when convicted in Ireland. She tried to have another son and his family sent out but failed. When John’s marriage failed and he became excessively odd in his behaviour and was sentenced to Moreton Bay, Johannah disappears from the records. I like to think she followed him.

Ann Moran and Hannah Hutchings/Hitchens. What was it like for them to be mothers here in the early 19th Century ? Young convict women. Ann had 5 children to John Curtis who was already husband and father to a family in England and had attempted to have them brought to him.  Hannah was recorded as a ‘ loose woman’ on the convict ship THE BROTHERS. How did her life as a mother develop from that starting point and from the death of her first husband in the Lunatic Asylum, Liverpool ?

MCLEOD ON CONDONG PLAINS

So far we have placed John and Normal Bell with their families on the TWEED RIVER. We also have their sister Wilhelmina who married GEORGE DINSEY. There is a MR BELL christian name unknown supervising at ABBOTSFORD MILL( I don’t yet know which mill that was. ) Now a JOHN MCLEOD appears and McLeod is the maiden name of the mother WILHELMINA who came on the JAMES MORAN in 1839. She had other children with her whose names I don’t as yet have.

WANTED to Let, on Clearing Leases, Seven FARMS, of from forty to fifty acres each; fine scrub land; river frontage, Tweed River ¡ eight miles from the Heads. Apply to Mr. JOHN M’LEOD, Condong Plains, Tweed River ; or E. W. S. HAYLEY, Southgate, Clarence River. 2575

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1295006

The Brisbane Courier Friday 30 August 1872, page 1.

This is 3 years after JOHN BELL acquires his land and 6 years before he married MARY ANN MCNEIL.

 

And in 1881;

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article919217 he Brisbane Courier Saturday 30 April 1881, page 5 “Unique” writes from the Tweed River: ” On the evening of Easter Monday the rather monotonous course of life on the Tweed was broken by a ball given by the employes of the C.S.R. Company, and which, under the kind auspices of Mr. and Mrs Isaacs, bids fair to become one of the annual events of the neighbourhood. A range of the barracks had been prepared for the festive occasion, and, although the weather was unpropitious, a goodly array of the votaries of Terpsichore assembled. The room had  been most effectively decorated by the hands of f$air neighbours-wreaths, crowns, and pendants of varied colours relieved tbe sombre green of the foliage with which the walls and roof had been profusely ornamented, and with the brilliancy of the lights and the bright eyes and flowing drapery of the ladies, combined to produce a tout ensemble seldom seen in the neighbourhood. Dancing commenced at 8 o’clock to the enlivening strains of three musicians, and dance succeeded dance in rapid succession till long past the small hours of the morning. At a late hour the party broke up with many expressions of pleasure on the part of the hosts that their guests had been sufficiently enterprising to brave such stormy weather, and of hope that on a future occasion Condong might again be honoured by their presence.

THE COTTAGE BILAMBIL 2008

James had been born to John and Mary Ann by this time and Norman was born in 1881.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3429862 FROM BRISBANE COURIER THURSDAY MAY 8 . In 1884, Mr T Steel from the CONDONG MILL sent a large series of animals to the QUEENSLAND MUSEUM for nomenaclature.and two of those were included in science and named as follows;

1. a tree frog resembling in coloration an American  species. Now named HYLA FENESTRATA and
2. a fish of the GENUS GALAXUS which was to be described as GALAXIAS BREVIANALUS

The ABBOTSFORD MILL I find in the BRISBANE COURIER 5 AUGUST 1882 was erected near the JUNCTION – the village now called TUMBULGUM. This one did not belong to the massive COLONIAL SUGAR REFINING COMPANY to which CONDONG belonged. It belonged to PRINGLE, SHANKY and CO. Small but enterprising beginners.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3412851

 

IN 1886 the schooner CONDONG, of the TWEED RIVER, was carrying logs of beech, cedar and pine into BRISBANE. In the same year a general servant was wanted for the CONDONG MILL at 15s per week.

IN 1889 E DOWLING of Condong won 900 pounds in the  TATTERSALLS MELBOURNE- CUP SWEEPS.

And in 1892, the BELLS went south to LAURIETON. Some of the family remained. Wilhelmina Dinsey for one.

AND FROM TUMBULGUM, where I lived from 2002-2005;

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3701412

The Brisbane Courier Tuesday 12 September 1899,

A correspondent of a New South Wales
top-country paper questions whether the
Hunter district is entitled to the credit of
producing the largest pumpkins. He says :
-” I read an account of prolific pumpkins
in the Hunter. The Hunter may be a won-
derful place for pumpkins, but a neighbour
of mine, at Tumbulgum, lost a sow not long

since. He searched everywhere for several
days without success, and at last came to
the conclusion that she was dead.- But one
day, while riding across his farm, he no-

ticed something peculiar about one of his
pumpkins. He rode over to see, and was
surprised to find his sow. She had eaten
her way into the pumpkin, made a bed, and
had a litter of thirteen young ones all inside
the pumpkin

 

the DEATH OF GEORGE DINSEY http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3963005

CONNECTIONS FROM MURWILLUMBAH AND THE TWEED – BELLS, BIGNELLS, LAURIES AND MORE

NORMAN BELL was the older brother of JOHN BELL wife of MARY ANN MCNEIL. They had adjoining land at CONDONG on the TWEED.

Their parents were JAMES AND WILHELMINA as noted elsewhere. James was the housebreaker transported from Glasgow in 1831 on the YORK and WILHELMINA was the daughter of WILLIAM MCLEOD and JANET MACKAY who came on the JAMES MORAN in 1839. They married in 1839 at MAITLAND when WILHELMINA was 17 years old. Check in the search engine to the right for further details. It appears at this time that the Mcleods and Mackays came as a result of the ruthless clearances of the Sutherland Shires in the HIGHLANDS of Scotland. In the 1860s the BELL boys have land on the TWEED. The NSW BDM records indicate that their father JAMES died in 1859( to be verified). I do not know what brought the boys ( and perhaps more members of their family north from the Maitland Area). Land is also indicated to belong to WILHELLMINA BELL – mother ? sister ? daughter ?

NORMAN BELL was born 1845 and died 15 June 1924 . He is buried in BARRINGTON CEMETERY. His occupations are listed at TWEED RIVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY as farmer/grazier. Whilst on Tweed he was resident at CONDONG. Norman married in 1870 at DUNGOG NSW. His wife was AGNES FRASER HIGGINS and her mother was JANET LAURIE. As my mother used to tell me the BELLS and the LAURIES were ‘tied in somehow”. Her father was JOHN HIGGINS. Agnes Higgins was born at Pt Stephens in 1846 and died in CHATSWOOD, SYDNEY in 1929.

Their children;

names	birthdate and place	marriage date and spouse	death date and place
JANET LAURIE	1871 TWEED RIVER	1898 GEORGE BIGNELL MURWILLUMBAH
WILLIMINA A	1872 TWEED RIVER	JOHN A. GUNN COPELAND 1895	1911 STROUD NSW
JAMES WALTER	1874 PORT STEPHENS		15-8-1886 NSW
AGNES MARY	1876 PORT STEPHENS	GORDON A D CLARK STROUD 1915
ELIZABETH J	1878 PORT STEPHENS	JOHN STACE	PORT STEPHENS 1903
MARGARET CHRISTINA	1881 BARRINGTON	THOMAS FARLEY CRICK SYDNEY 1907
MARY HENRIETTA	1883 COPELAND	WILLIAM JAMES MARTIN STROUD 1907	22-8-1938 KRAMBACH NSW
JOHN JAMES	1889 COPELAND		1923 BARRINGTON
NOREINE F	1893 COPELAND

From these dates it appears Norman left the Tweed district by the early 1870s whereas John’s Children are born on Tweed between 1879 and 1890 with the youngest being born at Laurieton in the early 90s. Hmm. A rethink required again.

THE INFORMATION I HAVE IS THAT NO 49 IS JOHN BELL’S LAND . ( YET TO BE VERIFIED AS ONE MAP INDICATES CONDONG AND ONE IS FURTHER ALONG NEAR STOTTS CREEK)

 

_____________________________________________________________

GEORGE  BIGNELL. IN 1898 AT MURWILLUMBAH MARRIED JANET LAURIE BELL DAUGHTER OF NORMAN BELL WHO WAS BROTHER OF JOHN BELL, GRANNY’S HUSBAND.  http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/showPerson?pid=22518

 

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FROM THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA HISTORIC NEWSPAPERS

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1368785 There is mention of a MR BELL managing the ABBOTSFORD SUGAR MILL on the TWEED.

 

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MURWILLUMBAH LINKS

http://www.mit.edu/~dfm/genealogy/sercombe.html Sercombe Families

SUTHERLAND SHIRE SCOTLAND

The James Moran, a ship of 600 tons, sailed under Captain Ferguson and Dr McNee. It left Loch Inver and Loch Broom, on 21st October, 1838,

Most of the 229 passengers on board were clearance victims. They came to Australia under Rev John Dunmore Lang’s Bounty Scheme. 2 people died on the voyage to Australia. The voyage took 113 days, sailing directly to Cape Town, where it arrived 26th December, 1838. 20 passengers left the ship there on New Year’s Day.

WILHELMINA MCLEOD emigrated from Sutherland Shire Scotland, with her mother JANET MACKAY , two sisters and a brother on the JAMES MORAN arriving Sydney 11-2-1839. The family moved to the Hunter.

James and  Wilhelmina married on 29-9-1840  at the Scots Church Paterson.

• THE SHIP’S LIST

          http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/au1838.htm

Name of Ship             James Moran Place of Departure    Loch Broom Date of Sailing           13 Oct 1838 Destination                SYDNEY Tonnage                     538 No. of Adult Passengers                                 136 No. of  Children between 14 and 7 Years      34 No. of  Children under 7 Years                      40 Total Number of Passengers                          210

 

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THE SUTHERLAND SHIRE

 

• http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotland/chap10.htm

• http://www.archives.lib.ed.ac.uk/geog/l/1838/  Loch Broom (Scotland) UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH LIBRARY

 

• http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~coigach/ullapool.htm Ullapool, Lochbroom

 

• http://home.xtra.co.nz/hosts/clan/i_mcleod.html MCLEODS

 

• http://www.ecademy.com/account.php?id=97842 Rod Fraser

 

• http://www.lockershappyvalley.com/ LOCKERS HAPPY VALLEY

 

• Edinburgh Calotype Club  http://www.nls.uk/pencilsoflight/history.htm

 

• http://members.tripod.com/~lemac2/index-18.html NORTH SYDNEY MCLEODS NEWFOUNDLAND

 

• The Topographical, Statistical, and Historical Gazetteer of Scotland

 

• http://www.glengarrynow.com/castle.html  Invergarry Castle Ancestral home of the MacDonells of Glengarry

 

• Pictou County NOVA SCOTIA http://www.parl.ns.ca/placenames/pictoua.html

 

Buildings, Faith and Worship
By Nigel Yates

 

• McLeod Family http://home.iprimus.com.au/pjmg/familyhistory/stories/mcleod_story.htm

 

• http://www.cranntara.org.uk/clear5.htm 

EMIGRANTS & EMIGRATION   www.cranntara.org.uk


The clearances had a lot of sub factors which were responsible for the mass waves of emigration. The collapse of the kelp industry,extreme poverty, the potato famine all made a new life abroad seem desirable. Promised by landowners that emigration would give them a new beginning and afar better way of living, for many it was not until they reached foreign shores that they realised that it was in fact hardship and poverty they faced

‘S i seo an dùthaich ’s a bheil an cruadal
Gun fhios do’n t-sluagh a tha tigh’nn anall.
Gur h-olc a fhuaras oirnn luchd a’ bhuairidh
A rinn le’n tuairisgeul ar toirt ann’.

• The Topographical, Statistical, and Historical Gazetteer of Scotland

 

• Scottish Voice radio program NOVA SCOTIA http://www.scottishvoice.org/Places/CapeBreton/CB/CapeBreton_Places.html 

From 1815 to 1838 Nova Scotia received approximately 22,000 Scottish immigrants, most of them were from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

Between 1826-1827, approximately 2,000 Scots left from Tobermory and Stornaway, Scotland for Cape Breton Island.

1835 saw approximately 3,500 departed from Stornaway, Oban and Campbelton. Others came from places in the Highlands and Islands such as Strath Glas, Moidart, Knoydart, Lochaber, the Inner Hebrides, Lewis and Harris, Barra, the Uists, Sutherlandshire and Wester Ross.

 

• http://www.tain.org.uk/guestbook.asp  TAIN GUEST BOOK

 

• http://www.scotia-sc.com/info.asp?Area=Northern%20Highlands  

  Northern Highlands

 

• Moidart Emigration from 1772 – 1860 http://www.moidart.org.uk/justus/restricteddataset/moidartemigration.htm

 

• Old harbours in northern and western Scotland  http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_117/117_265_352.pdf

 

• What can be discovered about your Scottish ancestors? http://www.ancestor.abel.co.uk/index.html

 

• SCOTLAND http://www.hebridean.co.uk/_pdf/Hebridean-Princess-Scotland.pdf