Bell Scotland to Brooklyn NY 1800s

[nancydrew42]

Trying to determine if two families are connected:
Henry William Bell
b. 1840, Scotland d.1898, New York USA
parents-names from marriage record St Louis, MO,1873
f: Henry Bell m. Elizabeth Farguerson
1880 in Brooklyn NY
at the same address is:
William Bell age 48 b. Scotland,w-Laura 46,ch: isabella, Charles, Albert, Agnes, Edgar
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Henry and his wife Carrie are buried in a plot that was purchased by Thomas Bell, b. Scotland abt 1790? married Allison Spaldin 12 Nov 1811 in Weymiss, Fife, Scotland , moved to Brooklyn NY Thomas' daughter Allison 1821-1895 married a Gourlay. Undertaker for Carrie Bell was S.G.B. Gourlay . Cemetary has no information of a relationship.

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Are Henry William Bell and Thomas Bell related?? Any ideas?

[kiterunner]

I can't seem to find the image for that 1880 census entry on either ancestry or Findmypast although I can see the transcription. Does it state Henry's relationship to the head of household (William), please?

[kiterunner]

This is a complicated one, and it's really late over here, sorry, I will have a look at it tomorrow.

[kiterunner]

This is William and family in 1870, in New York:
Bell William 38 Moulder Scotland
Louisa 35 New York
Isabella 11 New York
Charles 6 New York
George 2 New York

[kiterunner]

And in 1860, still in New York:
William Bell 27 Moulder Scotland
Louisa " 23 New York
Isabella " 4/12 "

George Reynolds 21 Shoe maker New York
Mary " 21 "
William " 1 "

George Bell 30 Machinist Scotland
Harriet " 26 New York

(I don't know whether the Reynolds family are related, but just putting them in as they are listed between the two Bell families. )

[kiterunner]

On the 1910 US census, William Bell gives his year of immigration as 1856 and says he is naturalised. And on the 1900 census, he gives his date of birth as May 1832 and his year of immigration as 1854.

[kiterunner]

1850 US census Willamsburg, Kings, NY:
Thomas Bell 60 Machinist Scotland
Allson " 57 "
Jane " 33 "
James " 4 New York

[kiterunner]

I can't find any record of a Henry Bell with wife Elizabeth Farquharson in Scotland at the moment, nor William's marriage to Louisa (presumably in New York), either of which might help.

[kiterunner]

Henry Bell age 52 on the 1892 State Census of New York is listed as a citizen rather than alien, so he must have been naturalised. If we can find his naturalisation papers (and William's), they might help.

I see that you have Henry's birthplace as Dundee on your ancestry tree - how did you get that information, please?

[nancydrew42]

I have been looking for Henry's naturalization but no luck yet. Such a common name difficult to know who's the right one. Also not sure where he did it. I'm working on Brooklyn as that's where Thomas Bell lived but first documentation of Henry is St Louis Missouri in 1873 (marriage)

Dundee was a guess worked out with another researcher since Gourlay family from that area.

[kiterunner]

There's a Henry Bell, 20, engineer, from Scotland, travelling to New York on the "Resolute" in 1859 but he doesn't seem to be with any other Bells.

[nancydrew42]

Certainly a possibility, I've doubled checked my notes and Dundee also came from my Aunt, his Grand daughter. Age and occupation are positive signs, he was a machinest. I've checked all NYC naturalization records online but no luck.

[kiterunner]

Looking at that George Bell who was on the same page of the 1860 census as William, there is a George Bell age 40, machinist, born Scotland, in NY on the 1870 census but he is with an Emeilia age 21, not Harriet. They have a James age 2 born New York City. This family appears twice on the 1870 census and on the other version, George is 36 and an engineer, and the wife is Amelia 22.

In 1880 George is age 48, engineer, born Scotland, Amelia is 30, also born Scotland, and James 11 born NY.

[nancydrew42]

My Henry was married to Carrie (sometimes in Census called Caroline). In 1880 Henry is head of household, he died in 1898

[kiterunner]

Yes, I know that, sorry, I'm just following George up in case he is also related to them.

[kiterunner]

This family looks good, on the 1851 Scottish census (relying on ancestry's transcription, so I don't know how accurate it is! I have made a guess at what some of the birthplaces should really be where they were obvious mistranscriptions, but would need to view the image to check whether the transcription is correct - the images are on Scotland's People website but you have to buy credits)
Dudhope Crest, Dundee, Angus:
James Bell Head 61 Flaxdresser born Ceres, Fifeshire
Isabella Bell Wife 55 born Strathmiglo, Fifeshire
Geo Bell Son 20 blacksmith born Strathmiglo, Fifeshire
Thos Bell Son 18 moulder born Strathmiglo, Fifeshire
James Bell Son 15 engineer born Dundee, Forfarshire
Henry Bell Son 12 Scholar born Dundee, Forfarshire
Robt Farquharson Visitor 26 born Dundee, Forfarshire
Ann Farquharson Visitor 24 born Strathmiglo, Fife
Isabella Farqharson Visitor 3 born England
Thomas Farquharson Visitor 1 born England.

Isabella was sometimes a variant of Elizabeth. I shall see if I can trace these people back now...

[kiterunner]

This looks to be them in 1841, transcription from FreeCEN, and there is a William too! I wonder whether the street was named after the family?

Bell Street, Dundee, Angus
James Bell 50 Agent N
Isabella Bell 44 N
Elizabeth Bell 20 N
Marjory Bell 18 N
Ann Bell 16 N
Thomas Bell 14 N
George Bell 10 N
William Bell 9 N
Daniel Bell 7 Y
James Bell 5 Y
Henry Bell 1 Y
(Y = born in same county, N = not born in same county)

I remember when I was looking for William on the passenger lists last night, I found a possible who was with a Daniel, so it does look good!

[kiterunner]

FamilySearch has a christening for a James Bell 13 Dec 1789 at Ceres, Fife (Ceres Associate Congregation), parents Thomas Bell and Elisabeth Dewar. The same couple also had a son Thomas christened 30 Mar 1788, so this could be the Thomas who bought the grave plot? He would be James's brother and therefore Henry's uncle.

[Shona]

From Family Search:

Thomas Bell, b 13 Dec 1812, bapt 8 Jan 1813, Wemyss, f Thomas Bell, m Elison Spaldin
James Bell, b 2 Nov 1814, bapt 13 Dec 1814, Wemyss, f Thomas Bell, m Elison Spaldin
Jean Bell, b 8 Nov 1816, bapt 28 Dec 1816, Wemyss, f Thomas Bell, m Elison Spaldon

[nancydrew42]

Thanks for all this research and information. I'll be busy sorting it all out

[tenterfieldjulie]

They are the best ... money can't buy ...