Marriage and Birth lookup and links to Bell family Rathfriland

[Nairda]

I am trying to link Bell family members from Rathfriland.
Possible marriage John Bell to Rachel Bell pre 1867. Their Daughter link to Margaret Bell born 1867-1949 her daughter Margaret Ellen Bell born 1895 and sister Esther (Essie) Bell born 1896 and brother Joseph Bell 1894

[gaffy]

Is this who you are talking about?

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FR9G-KJD

Marriage:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FGXX-T16

It took place in Clonduff Church of Ireland.

Presumably this is the family in 1901 and 1911?

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Rathfriland/Castle_Street/1250118/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Rathfryland/Newry_Street/258758/

 

[gaffy]

Although Margaret is supposedly widowed in 1911, the 1901 census shows Margaret as not married.   I had a look on GRONI online for the children in the 1901 census and quickly found 3 potential Newry registrations, Margaret born 5 November 1889, Joseph born 24 January 1893, and Esther born 31 March 1896. 

In all 3 cases the mother's maiden name is blank. In my experience this may support the possibility that she wasn't married, ie. if you pay to view one of them I wouldn't be surprised if the mother's name is stated as Margaret Bell (with "formerly" stroked out or left blank) and no father's name entered. Just a thought.

[Nairda]

The census returns refer to the family.  Tracing back from there was the problem.  I agree that it appears there is no marriage for Margaret.  Is it possible to go beyond Rachel or would record's exist?

[Nairda]

Would there be any reference to Mary Jane 6yrs and John Thomas 9yrs births shown on census of 1901?

[gaffy]

Rachel's birthplace in the 1901 census is stated as Rathfriland. Of course, we can't rely 100% on the accuracy of this.

PRONI says the earliest registers for Rathfriland Church of Ireland (Drumgath) were "destroyed in Dublin" and the first baptisms held are from 1881, in local custody.

The only other church baptism records in Rathfriland held by PRONI are for the Presbyterian Church, from 1827-1970 for the 1st Presbyterian Church, 1804-1934 for the 2nd Presbyterian Church, and 1834-1934 for the 3rd Presbyterian Church.

http://www.proni.gov.uk/guide_to_church_records.pdf

[gaffy]

Would there be any reference to Mary Jane 6yrs and John Thomas 9yrs births shown on census of 1901?

You can search here:

https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk/

[Nairda]

Thank you for your information which has been helpful and taken my research a little further.

[beller9993]

I am related to this family, and have been trying to build the family tree, any information i can give you are welcome. my grand father was Joseph Bell. born 11 November 1893