John Lewis Bell (1853 - 1933)

Born 19 May 1853 in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Anne (Raphael) Bell — married 6 Aug 1871 in Christ Church, Sofala, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 26 Feb 1933 at age 79 in St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

John was born on 19 May 1853 in Clarendon near Richmond, New South Wales, Australia. He was the son of Isaiah Bell and Hannah (Day) Bell.^[1][2]

John Lewis Bell married Annie Raphael on 6 August 1871 in Sofala, New South Wales, Australia. The couple had 9 children: Isaiah Nathan (a.k.a. Joseph Lewis) Bell, John Joseph Bell, William John Bell, Louis Silvester Bell, Charles Samuel L Bell, Elsie Annie(Mary) May Bell, Emily Bell, Alice Raphael Bell and Florence Ellen Bell.^[3]

John died at the age of 79 on 26 February 1933 in North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.^[4][5] He was buried in the Church of England cemetery, Northern Suburbs.^[6]

Research Notes

On his marriage certificate to Anne Raphael (6 Aug 1871) he states he is 21 years old which conflicts with his being 18 on his death certificate and considering he is the one giving the information and this is the only record I have that he is actually the one giving his own details, I am confident that this was his age at the time of his marriage and therefore his year of birth was 1853.

On his mother Hannah Bell nee Day’s death (25 August 1915) certificate the informant was her son Joseph Bell; he gives the children, all living with one female deceased (this is likely Jane Josephine who died in 1908) from Hannah and Isaiah’s marriage as follows

• a. Georgina was 64
• b. John was 62
• c. Joseph was 59
• d. There should have been 2 females deceased but likely Joseph didn’t know about Emma Jane who died in 1878 or simply forgot about her
• Because of this error I can guess that he was likely wrong about his other siblings ages although he would have been right about his own (pretty sad if he didn’t even know his own age but then again, how does someone know if they are never told?)

John is not mentioned on his father Isaiah’s death record, in fact, none of the family are except for wife Anne Day. It was decreed that he died at his own hand whilst under delirium tremens; he was a boxer and went around the towns boxing, he was also a drunk apparently – sad. His brother Moses erected his headstone

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: Citing: Note: Ancestry Record ausbirthindex #4371784 Note: Data: Text: Birth date: 1853 Birth place: Richmond, New South Wales (accessed before 9 May 2022)
2. ↑ Birth: Missing source ID S-1364638806. Citing: Note: Ancestry Record ausbirthindex #4371785 Note: Data: Text: Birth date: 1853 Birth place: Richmond, New South Wales (accessed before 9 May 2022)
3. ↑ Note: Ancestry Record ausmarrindex #1966193 Note: Data: Text: Marriage date: 1871 Marriage place: Sofala, New South Wales (accessed before 9 May 2022)
4. ↑ Death: Note: Ancestry Record ausdeathindex #3592665 Note: Data: Text: Death date: 1933 Death place: North Sydney, New South Wales (accessed before 9 May 2022)
5. ↑ Death certificate: John’s death certificate is dated 26th February 1933 informant was his son-in-law with whom he lived. At the time of his death
   • a. He died at 4 Lighthouse Street in North Sydney
   • b. He was a Gold Miner
   • c. Male aged 79 years (making his birth year c1854)
   • d. He died of Chronic Myocarditis and senile decay and was attended by W.B. Studdy (registered) last visit was 24th February 1933
   • e. His father is recorded as Isaiah Bell, a blacksmith and Hannah Day
   • f. The informant was P.R. Broomham, son-in-law of 4 Lighthouse Street, North Sydney
   • g. It was registered by some undiscernible scrawl dated 27th February 1933 at North Sydney
   • h. His burial took place
   • i. 27th February 1933
   • ii. Church of England cemetery Northern Suburbs
   • iii. A. Klein, employed by Motor Funerals Limited
   • i. Minister was Frank Cash of the Church of England and witnessed by R. Brown and Les Walsh?
   • j. He was born at Clarendon NSW
   • k. Married at Sofala NSW aged 18 years to Annie Raphael
   • l. Had following children
   • i. William J. aged 57
   • ii. Louis S. aged 55
   • iii. Elsie A.M aged 51
   • iv. Emily aged 49
   • v. Alice R. aged 47
   • vi. Mary E. aged 44
   • vii. Florence E. aged 41
   • viii. 3 males deceased (these are John Joseph b. 1874 d.1875; Charles Samuel Leslie b.1879 d.1917 and Joseph Lewis Isaiah Nathan b.1874 d.1931)
6. ↑ John’s funeral notice: Sydney Morning Herald Monday 27 February 1933 pg 7 - BELL - The relatives and friends of Mr Robert Bell, Mr and Mrs Perce (sic) Broomham and family, Mr and Mrs William Bell and family, Mr and Mrs Burge and family, Mr and Mrs Coleman and family, Mr and Mrs Donnelly and family, Mr and Mrs Bright and family, Mr and Mrs Harris and family and Mr and Mrs Fred Moeller and family are invited to attend the funeral of their beloved father, father-in-law and grandfather, JOHN BELL; to leave his daughter's residence, 4 Lighthouse-street, North Sydney, this afternoon, at 3 o'clock, for the Church of England Cemetery, Northern Suburbs. Motor Funerals Limited, 267 Pacific Highway, Crow's Nest, Tele., X5227, M6277.