Storm o'er the flax fields Fermanagh Ireland
FLORA LITTLE (1781 - 1856)
Over the past year I have learned much more about William Bell's wife Flora. According to the Irish census of 1821 for Derryvullan, County of Fermanagh, Ireland. I believe this family of Bell's to be my ancestors. That census began to be recorded at the end of May 1821. Flora was born in 1781.(1) She and William had but one child, Hugh, who at the time of the census was recorded as being 11 years old. As there are no other children in the family I must assumed that either she and William married later in life or she had difficulty bearing children.
She would have been at least twenty-nine when Hugh was born which in those days was late for a first child. I have since discovered new information which show Hugh had possibly two brothers and one sister. None are present in the 1821 census so I presume they died. I know names and birth dates and the names of their parents and nothing more.
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 proof that Flora made the long journey to Canada and remained there until her death.
She would have been at least twenty-nine when Hugh was born which in those days was late for a first child. I have since discovered new information which show Hugh had possibly two brothers and one sister. None are present in the 1821 census so I presume they died. I know names and birth dates and the names of their parents and nothing more.
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 proof that Flora made the long journey to Canada and remained there until her death.
Children of William Bell and Flora Little(2)
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.
Hugh Bell (1809 -1866) Susannah Dunbar (1806 - 1898)
Hugh Bell appears to be the only surviving child of William Bell and Flora to survive and come to Canada. He was born in Northern Ireland in 1809 to this Protestant family 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.
Hugh married Susannah Dunbar on the 20th of May 1830, in Hornby, Halton County, Ontario. Together the couple would produce a family of five girls and two boys. He was born in Northern Ireland in 1809 to this Protestant family and moved to Ontario Canada sometime after the 1821 Irish census but before 1830.
*Click on their names for more information on Hugh Bell and Susannah Dunbar
William Bell (1813 - )
William was baptized May 13, 1813 to William Bell and Flora (last name absent).
Leah Bell (1815 - )
Leah was baptized March 12, 1815 to William Bell and Flora (last name absent).
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.
Hugh Bell (1809 -1866) Susannah Dunbar (1806 - 1898)
Hugh Bell appears to be the only surviving child of William Bell and Flora to survive and come to Canada. He was born in Northern Ireland in 1809 to this Protestant family 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.
Hugh married Susannah Dunbar on the 20th of May 1830, in Hornby, Halton County, Ontario. Together the couple would produce a family of five girls and two boys. He was born in Northern Ireland in 1809 to this Protestant family and moved to Ontario Canada sometime after the 1821 Irish census but before 1830.
*Click on their names for more information on Hugh Bell and Susannah Dunbar
William Bell (1813 - )
William was baptized May 13, 1813 to William Bell and Flora (last name absent).
Leah Bell (1815 - )
Leah was baptized March 12, 1815 to William Bell and Flora (last name absent).
There is 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.(3) Hugh appears to have been married in Canada in or around 183?.
Life in Canada
The 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 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 is dead at this time but Flora is 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.
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.
***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?"
!!!! Further Information
Just this morning I made another possible discovery regarding Flora. I found what could be her father Thomas, mother Elizabeth, and brother James. Thomas and his wife and son James are buried in neighbouring Fivemiletown, Tyrone approximately one hour from Drumbulkin by horse and cart.
Thomas died in 1802 which could further support the naming of their first child Thomas in 1808. More work and luck will need to be done to support this but it is a start.
What I know so far:
Thomas (17??-1802) died 18 Feb 1802
Elizabeth (17??-1817) died Sep 1817
James (????-1841) died 6 Jun 1841
This might also indicate that William and Flora migrated to Fermanagh from Tyrone. I have information that indicates Susannah Dunbar was from Tyrone which could also connect the families. Much to investigate. There are 30 of the Little family buried here. There are also a number of the Bell family in particular H Bell (1675-1751).
Stay tuned.
!!!! Further Information
Just this morning I made another possible discovery regarding Flora. I found what could be her father Thomas, mother Elizabeth, and brother James. Thomas and his wife and son James are buried in neighbouring Fivemiletown, Tyrone approximately one hour from Drumbulkin by horse and cart.
Thomas died in 1802 which could further support the naming of their first child Thomas in 1808. More work and luck will need to be done to support this but it is a start.
What I know so far:
Thomas (17??-1802) died 18 Feb 1802
Elizabeth (17??-1817) died Sep 1817
James (????-1841) died 6 Jun 1841
This might also indicate that William and Flora migrated to Fermanagh from Tyrone. I have information that indicates Susannah Dunbar was from Tyrone which could also connect the families. Much to investigate. There are 30 of the Little family buried here. There are also a number of the Bell family in particular H Bell (1675-1751).
Stay tuned.
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.
(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.