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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: grahamsittee on Saturday 27 June 15 22:16 BST (UK)
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I think that George W (could be Wilson) BELL was born in about 1865 in Liverpool, England.
In 1891 he was running a Hotel in Ermington, Plympton, Devon. In 1894 his wife Mary Rebeca BELL (nee Bishop) died. He left his children with his mother in Plymouth and boarded the OROTAVA for Albany (King George Sound). The ship left Plymouth on 1 Dec 1894.
I can find nothing more about him until 1911 when he is back in Plymouth, Devon living with his mother and his children and describes himself as Gold Prospector!
Does anyone have any information on his time in Australia, what he got up to and when he returned to England?
Many thanks in advance,
Graham
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Hi
Are you able to tell us please the source of your information regarding the departure and destination.
When did he die? If you had his death certificate, you would perhaps have his full name which would help.
Of course he may have returned as early as 1901 if you are only using census material as guidance.
Sue
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I think that George W (could be Wilson) BELL was born in about 1865 in Liverpool, England.
But the 1891 census shows his birthplace as Scotland
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Marriages September qtr 1887
George Wilson Bell Plymouth 5b 403
Mary Rebecca Bishop
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Hi Sue,
Thanks for the reply. My information all comes from census and shipping passenger lists ( unfortunately I only have out bound).
He died in Plymouth in 1914. I am pretty sure that the W is Wilson. Both of his sons were called something Wilson. He is my great grandfather and family stories say that Wilson was the first name of his father who my great, great grandmother omitted to marry!
I do not think that he came back as early as 1901 as his children are still living with Georges mother.
Graham
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Thanks CarolW
Marriages September qtr 1887
George Wilson Bell Plymouth 5b 403
Mary Rebecca Bishop
That is all correct. It was Mary who died before he went to Australia. I am really looking for information on him during his time in Australia.
I think that George W (could be Wilson) BELL was born in about 1865 in Liverpool, England.
But the 1891 census shows his birthplace as Scotland
That is true but 1911 shows Liverpool.
Many thanks for your thoughts and help.
Graham
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His mother was Victoria Collacott and the 1881 census shows George as b Swindon
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X3KN-BFR
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Hi CarolW
Again thanks for the information.
His mother was Victoria Collacott and the 1881 census shows George as b Swindon
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X3KN-BFR
That is correct and I have that information but there is a transcription error on that entry and the original reads Liverpool. She married Collacott after George was born. His father was a Bell and she called herself Bell for a short period of time.
I am really interested in what he did in Australia and when he came back to England.
Thanks a lot for your interest and help.
Graham
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Can you please transcribe all the information from the 1911 census please. I know you are interested in the time of George's absence, but his name is very ordinary and there is really nothing to go with here.
Rather odd to be living in Plymouth and describing yourself as a gold prospector...suggests he is back from....somewhere...just for a visit?.
He might have been back in England a month after the 1901 census....who knows?
What happened to George after 1911. Did he marry again, die in England?
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Wivenhoe we are NOT permitted to transcribe 1911 census info.
am really interested in what he did in Australia and when he came back to England.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_in_Western_Australia#Gold
Unless he did something newsworthy I doubt you will find anything.
Cando
Moderator comment: Graham, the op, can openly post 1911 census information he has found in the 1911 census as it is his family and he has paid for his research. The other chatters here may not post information from the 1911 census that is not pertinent to their family
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Hi wivenhoe,
Thanks for looking at this.
Rather odd to be living in Plymouth and describing yourself as a gold prospector...suggests he is back from....somewhere...just for a visit?.
He might have been back in England a month after the 1901 census....who knows?
I think that after his wife died he intended to emigrate. No way of knowing for sure other than he does not come from an income group who would have the cash to just take a trip.
As he was living with his mother and youngest son in 1911, I suspect that he had not been back long. He had not found a job or he probably would have stated that rather than gold prospector.
It is also possible that as he died just 3 or 4 years later he could have returned due to bad health.
What happened to George after 1911. Did he marry again, die in England?
No, he did not remarry and died in 1914.
If we could find the vessel he left Australia on it would help but I have had no luck.
Many thanks for your input.
Graham
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Hi Cando,
Thanks for the link. It seems that there certainly was a gold rush at the time.
I was hoping that I could at least find the ship he returned on.
Thanks for your input and putting me straight on not transcribing.
Graham
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Sorry, I forgot it was 1911 census.
"...until 1911 when he is back in Plymouth, Devon living with his mother and his children and describes himself as Gold Prospector!"
This is not correct.
COLLACOTT Victoria, 6 Bath St Plymouth, widow, d 16 Jan 1912.......to William Richard COLLACOTT, chief engine room artificer, RN .......249 pounds.
If George, gold prospector, is visiting Plymouth, his mother's Will might name him, and give his location.
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Hi Graham.
Could this be your man?
Inward passenger list.
A list of crew and passengers arriving on the Peterborough of Greenock from the Port of London to Sydney, New South Wales. February 11, 1885.
Seamen’s name: George Wilson Bell. Age: 20. Apprentice. Of what nation: Liverpool.
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Our letters crossed here.
Do you mean that you have accounted for son George.......you know where and when he died?
If not, then he might have joined his father prospecting?
If George is middle-aged (by life expectancy of the times), living with your mother, why would he be described as a gold prospector?
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What do you know about the date and place of death of George W BELL, b. 1865, alive 1911, and son George BELL, dead at 1911.
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Hi Wivenhoe,
Many thanks for taking the time to look at this.
"...until 1911 when he is back in Plymouth, Devon living with his mother and his children and describes himself as Gold Prospector!"
This is not correct.
Not sure why you say this is not correct. He was in Plymouth in 1911 as I described. It is true that he may have returned anytime between 1901 (because i do not find him in England) and 1911.
Do you mean that you have accounted for son George.......you know where and when he died?
If George is middle-aged (by life expectancy of the times), living with your mother, why would he be described as a gold prospector?
Yes, I know that George the son died in 1915 in England, the year after his father.
They certainly all died young.
Again many thanks for the trouble and for the thought about the will. I had not looked at this. Although it does not help with George it does give me some thing new about his step brother.
Graham
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Hi John,
Inward passenger list.
A list of crew and passengers arriving on the Peterborough of Greenock from the Port of London to Sydney, New South Wales. February 11, 1885.
Seamen’s name: George Wilson Bell. Age: 20. Apprentice. Of what nation: Liverpool.
Not what I was expecting as it predates his trip as a passenger (he was not crew in 1894) to Australia. The age and name is correct.
Also the dates work. I know where he was in 1881 age 16 and 1887 when he married and 1891 when he was an innkeeper. It is quite probable that he was at sea 1881 to at least 1887.
Do you have him on any other voyages?
Many thanks for taking the time with this.
Graham
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Hi Graham.
Could this be your man?
Inward passenger list.
A list of crew and passengers arriving on the Peterborough of Greenock from the Port of London to Sydney, New South Wales. February 11, 1885.
Seamen’s name: George Wilson Bell. Age: 20. Apprentice. Of what nation: Liverpool.
This is interesting. I checked the image for George Wilson Bell's marriage to Mary Rebecca Bishop on August 10, 1887 on FindMyPast.
George's occupation is listed as "Second mate Merchant Service" and his father, George Bell (Decd), is listed as "Captain in Merchant Service".
I'm presuming this is the right couple as one of the witnesses to the marriage is Mabel Collacott.
I realise this doesn't solve the answer to what he was doing in Australia, but it is good to have the extra background info which sometimes can help in unexpected ways.
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Hi hsfam,
Many thanks for your interest. You are right! I had not checked the image. It confirms that George was in the merchant service and gives me some much needed information on his father.
Again many thanks
Graham
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Have you got his Second Mates Certificate ?
George Wilson Bell of 2 , Martin Street , Plymouth passed the examination on 24th March 1886 at Plymouth , certificate issued on the 27th.
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CB53,
That is really great and thanks.
I do not have the certificate. Can you point me to it?
Many thanks
Graham
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This will only work if you have the appropriate sub - let me know if there's a problem :
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01fkl/
Christine