Hello,
I last wrote the group in 2016 seeking information about my husband's g grandfather, Adam Bell b. Jedburgh 1839 died 1906 Toronto, Ontario, the son of Agnes Easton Bell and James Hardie. The forum gave me great information. Now, my husband has DNA matches to be evaluated, which we didn't have the first time around. In 2016, I'd taken Adam back one generation to his mother, Agnes Easton Bell, who records indicate, was born c. 1815, died 1868 in Denholm, age 54. Some family trees show her parents are Margaret Brown and David Bell, although this couple wasn't married until 1826, and neither this forum nor I were able to confirm Agnes' birth records. I thought perhaps she was an Easton rather than a Bell. So there are several gaps in that timeline that I'll continue to work on.
In the meantime, I'm writing because I'm stuck at his 4th generation grandfather, who has the distinctive name of Malachi Bell, no dates. I'd have thought with a name like that, that he might be easy to find on either Scotlandspeople or Familysearch, even though 1700s records are fuzzy. According to the match list, he m. Isabel Kerr (Car, Oar, Orr) (1740-1832). I've found an Isabel Orr mentioned in several records, but not married to a Malachi Bell.
Going back to the last generation listed, my husband's 5th generation grandparents are Robert Orr (Oar) 1727-1800 (no wife listed); James Bell (1739-1819) and Janet Brown (1750-1825); I found them married at Crailing on Aug.6 1775; and John Bell of Minsca and Torbeckhill (1712-1778) and Mary Glendinning (1718-1788). They married on Dec. 6, 1739 in Torthorwald, Dumfries. I've found several articles about the Minsca and Torbeckhill Bells, but once again, none linking a Bell to an Orr.
Any advice or thoughts on a direction to go would be very welcomed.
Thanks very much. Jean in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
