originally from out of Westmoreland, where it is believed his father followed the occupation of a farmer. The first named was born at Finans, or Finings. Throughout Cumberland, Westmoreland, & Northumberland, the name of Bell is one in very common use. Successor followed successor, & all resided in Brancepeth or vicinity, for upwards of 240 years. Where did the Bell’s spring from? Kendal, in Westmoreland, is named as the place from whence the Bells cropped out, where they officiated as farmers & cordwainers. John Bell, of “Bell’s Life in London,” was a relative of this first-named John Bell, & it is evident “the young man from the country” found the occupations of the provinces too limited for his capacity, & stepped from the limits of parental control to the world at large. Of course, at that time of day, it was a far more difficult & venturesome feat to perform than at present, & the man who ventured to face the difficulties which surrounded him when leaving the parental roof, was looked upon as a prodigy on his return. Perhaps it is not too much to say, that before risking a journey to London 150 years ago (at present, 1868), a man would require as much preparation & thought as he would now if 5 going to the north pole, or as a missionary into the deserts of Africa! Therefore, it may be safely assumed that this John Bell (of Life”) was a man of pluck, “Bell’s with no small amount of energy & talent, however light might have been his pockets. Links in the Bell Family. The next step is another of the Bells, who was born at Brancepeth in the year 1685, who also followed the business of a shoemaker, kept a cow, & did a little in the gardening & farming line. He never was from Brancepeth as a resident, but lived & died there. He had some property at Ash [i.e. Esh], about four miles north of Brancepeth. This property consisted of a public house, another house (now a
originally from out of Westmoreland, where it is believed his father followed the occupation of a farmer. The first named was born at Finans, or Finings. Throughout Cumberland, Westmoreland, & Northumberland, the name of Bell is one in very common use. Successor followed successor, & all resided in Brancepeth or vicinity, for upwards of 240 years. Where did the Bell’s spring from? Kendal, in Westmoreland, is named as the place from whence the Bells cropped out, where they officiated as farmers & cordwainers. John Bell, of “Bell’s Life in London,” was a relative of this first-named John Bell, & it is evident “the young man from the country” found the occupations of the provinces too limited for his capacity, & stepped from the limits of parental control to the world at large. Of course, at that time of day, it was a far more difficult & venturesome feat to perform than at present, & the man who ventured to face the difficulties which surrounded him when leaving the parental roof, was looked upon as a prodigy on his return. Perhaps it is not too much to say, that before risking a journey to London 150 years ago (at present, 1868), a man would require as much preparation & thought as he would now if 5 going to the north pole, or as a missionary into the deserts of Africa! Therefore, it may be safely assumed that this John Bell (of “Bell’s Life”) was a man of pluck, with no small amount of energy & talent, however light might have been his pockets. Links in the Bell Family. The next step is another of the Bells, who was born at Brancepeth in the year 1685, who also followed the business of a shoemaker, kept a cow, & did a little in the gardening & farming line. He never was from Brancepeth as a resident, but lived & died there. He had some property at Ash [i.e. Esh], about four miles north of Brancepeth. This property consisted of a public house, another house (now a
Bell_manuscript.docx