MATERNAL NAMES
FLORA LITTLE (1781-1856)
Storm o'er the flax fields Fermanagh Ireland
BIRTH
The the earliest record I have of Flora is the 1821 fragments of Ireland’s census. Over the past few years I have gathered more information on my Bell ancestors tracing back their roots to Derryvullan, Drumbulcan, Ireland.
According to the census she was born in 1781. In the census she and husband have but one child, Hugh, who is eleven years of age. Further research in the parish records of the area has uncovered what are possibly three other children. They are documented below and most probably are William and Flora’s children.
Flora would have been twenty-nine when Hugh was born, what became of the other siblings is all speculation as no records as yet have been found. All I have is names, birthdates, parent’s names, and the parish they are from.
During the 1820's times in Ireland were difficult not only for the Catholics but the Protestants as well. In the North Eastern part of the country flax growers and weavers suffered due to the mechanicalization of the trade. Reforms in worker unions caused strikes, resulting in higher crime rates and punishment being enforced.
The British government imposed high taxes on grains forcing the Irish to depend on their potato crops. It was said they ate two and sometimes three meals a day of potatoes.
I have been able to find what is possibly two documents of ships on which Flora made the long journey to Canada and remained there until her death.
LIFE IN CANADA
I found a F Bell Is listed as a passenger in 1830 on the Canada, St. Lawrence Steamboat Company Passenger Lists, 1819-1838 for 1830 Waterloo (Apr 16 - Nov 26, 1830 - Passengers Image 32. Could this be our Flora's voyage to Canada? She possibly arrived before the census took place in Ireland in 1831 or possibly as late as the late 1830’s.
I eventually found proof of Flora’s existence in Canada, proving she arrived with William and Hugh in or around 1837.
The Canadian census for 1842 in Canada does not name family members but it does show the land that William Bell had been living on and the produce they had for that year. It indicates that they had been their for twelve years or 1830, as there is a house and much of the land is cleared and producing crops.(4) The census does total the number of members in the family and some other details. It appears there are nine people in the house, who belong to the Church of England. William was dead at this time but Flora was still alive and Hugh would have been running the farm. I calculate there should only be seven or eight but there could be one or two hired hands living on the property. Perhaps Robert Bell who appears in William's will lived and worked with them securing his future by working for the family.
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DEATH
Unfortunately the Census for 1852 in Canada West for the area is unavailable, which would give us more information about the family. Flora would still be alive at this point.
Flora Ann died January 26, 1856 and is documented as 84 years of age. She refused a burial service and while she is also documented at the wife of William Bell and is buried at Saint Peter's Anglican Church in Erindale, her name does not appear on his stone. (5)
Click on the link for an interesting History of Saint Peter's Anglican Church Erindale.
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***I have recently found DNA evidence that could prove Flora's last name could be Little. This is featured in my latest blog post "Where do I go with This!" not yet available on the site.
CHILDREN OF WILLIAM BELL AND FLORA LITTLE
THOMAS BELL (1808- )
Thomas was baptized on February 14, 1808, to William Bell and Florence (last name absent). Not sure as all the others are with William and Flora. I found a Thomas in Ontario, that seemed to match possibly but upon further investigation, he was born in Scotland. This would make him another Thomas.
Hugh Bell appears to be the only child of William Bell and Flora to survive and come to Canada. He was born in Northern Ireland in 1809 to Protestant family of William and Flora, and moved to Ontario Canada sometime after the 1821 Irish census but before 1830. According to the church records for Derryvullan he was baptized May 13, 1810.
WILLIAM BELL (1813 - )
William was baptized on May 13, 1813, to William Bell and Flora (last name absent).
LEAH BELL (1815 - )
Leah was baptized on March 12, 1815, to William Bell and Flora (last name absent).
CITATIONS:
(1) B. "Ireland Census, 1821," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9S-LLPZ : 24 February 2016), William Bell, 1821; from "Ireland Census 1821-1851," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2014); citing Derryvullan, Fermanagh, Ireland, household 10632.
(2) Fermanagh Church Records Births Recorded at CoI Derryvullan North 1803-1839 Part 1 Ireland Genealogy Project Archives
(3) Molson Coors Canada; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; St. Lawrence Steamboat Company Papers 1812-1892, MSS 475;Volume: 48, Waterloo (Apr 16 - Nov 26, 1830 - Passengers)
​(4) 1841 Census for Canada West District Name: Gore Sub-District Name: Brantford (Indian reservation)
​(5) D. 1839 with burial in St. Peter's Cemetery, Erindale, Ontario.