The writer of this book has, unfortunately, to plead “guilty” to the failings herein enumerated of the Bells & Gells; & after half-a century has passed over his head, even yet feels himself to lack what is desirable of foresight, caution, & bold, plodding, self-reliant energy so necessary to contend with the world & its difficulties. The Gells were farmers, as before stated, but of the very worst description. As managers of their crops & stock, they were short-sighted & helpless. They were incapable of turning anything to the best 52x account, & were always in poverty. It was of small moment to them whether the seasons were favourable or adverse – whether the crops were good or bad, or whether the animals – horses, cows, calves, pigs, or poultry – lived, multiplied, or died – the position of the Gells never improved. They were always in the slough of Despond, & could never get out of the rough cart-ruts of their locality. In farming they were slovenly, careless, & without energy. If one of the Methodist local preachers paid them a visit, any of the Gells were at their service, either with a “cup o’ tea” & a fatty cake upon a girdle – made of cream, milk, or butter – or a horse to convey them to some other “station” upon the Wesleyan “plan.” The man who succeeded the Gells upon their farm is doing well. The living at the Gells farm was of rather a queer sort, as well as singular. For instance, they seldom had a bit of decent-made bread – hot, tough, water-cakes were baked every morning to breakfast, with bacon in a brown dish, into wh. every one “dipped in” their cake in lieu of butter. Sometimes the bacon was & of rancid taste, with a smell not unlike ancient brown cod-liver oil, with wh. tanners dress their leather! Sheeps’ heads, scragg-shoulders of mutton, fatty pieces of bony beef or salted junck, along with equally fat bacon, were the substitutes for dinner, with an unlimited quantity of thin broth. When vegetables
Charles Bell, born 10th Ap. 1827. Alfred Bell, born 14th May, 1829. Jessy Bell, born 2d. July, 1831. Margaret Bell, born 22nd July, 1833; died at Stockton in 1844, aged 11 years. over for number of children. 64x Number of children born to the sons & daughters of John & Margaret Bell. Wm. Bell – none – unmarried -- Jas. Bell – died young -- Mary Bell – none – unmarried -- Emma Bell – none. do. Thos. Bell – Six 6 John Bell – Two 2 Edward Bell – none -- George Bell – none – unmarried -- Charles Bell – Six 6 Alfred Bell – Five 5 Jessy Bell – (Saint) – one 1 20 The above are calculated up to the 5th of January, 1869.-- Wm. Bell. 65x
originally from out of Westmoreland, where it is believed his father followed the occupation of a farmer. The first named was born at Finans, or Finings. Throughout Cumberland, Westmoreland, & Northumberland, the name of Bell is one in very common use. Successor followed successor, & all resided in Brancepeth or vicinity, for upwards of 240 years. Where did the Bell’s spring from? Kendal, in Westmoreland, is named as the place from whence the Bells cropped out, where they officiated as farmers & cordwainers. John Bell, of “Bell’s Life in London,” was a relative of this first-named John Bell, & it is evident “the young man from the country” found the occupations of the provinces too limited for his capacity, & stepped from the limits of parental control to the world at large. Of course, at that time of day, it was a far more difficult & venturesome feat to perform than at present, & the man who ventured to face the difficulties which surrounded him when leaving the parental roof, was looked upon as a prodigy on his return. Perhaps it is not too much to say, that before risking a journey to London 150 years ago (at present, 1868), a man would require as much preparation & thought as he would now if 5 going to the north pole, or as a missionary into the deserts of Africa! Therefore, it may be safely assumed that this John Bell (of “Bell’s Life”) was a man of pluck, with no small amount of energy & talent, however light might have been his pockets. Links in the Bell Family. The next step is another of the Bells, who was born at Brancepeth in the year 1685, who also followed the business of a shoemaker, kept a cow, & did a little in the gardening & farming line. He never was from Brancepeth as a resident, but lived & died there. He had some property at Ash [i.e. Esh], about four miles north of Brancepeth. This property consisted of a public house, another house (now a
retraced his footsteps to Brancepeth – a man of the world, & highly improved in the secret art of “cutting out” ladies’ & gentlemen’s fashionable boots & shoes! (& perhaps “a wonder” to the surrounding villagers.) On his return home, John Bell became the head-man as designer & fitter of shoes for the district, & doubtless felt highly elevated. Trade increased, & his father “honoured” him as he never done before. Whilst in York, John o’ Brancepeth, was initiated into the “Friendly Institution of Cordwainers. The “card” declaring him a free member & clear on the books, he kept in an old pocket-book till the day of his death, & was “proud” of it, as recalling the scenes of what may be termed his first entrance into the world. The writing on the card reads – “Dec. 25, 1807 – This is to certify that John Bell is a legal member of the trade, & free of all demands. “As witness, R. Johnson.” Father had this document in his possession for 60 & it was found carefully put away in his pocket-book after his death, Nov. 22nd 1867. Father continued for four years longer at Brancepeth, officiating in the capacity of foreman & cutter; but towards about the year 1810, an event arose which changed the whole scene of his previous existence. He became enamoured with Margaret Gell, who was fated to be his wife. This most 37 important step in a man’s career is thus described by uncle William Bell, his brother: -- Margaret Gell was ladies’ maid to a Miss Gale. This lady was on a visit to the Russells at Brancepeth Castle, & Margaret accompanied her. As before stated, John Wesley had made Methodism prominent throughout the country, & Margaret Gell was a sincere follower & believer in Methodism. The Wesleyans held prayer meetings & preachings at Brandon, near Brancepeth. Father & his
49c gineer in the Arsenal, we may rest assured he was clever as a workman, & qualified for his task; but – without conduct, tact, & cool judgment, the highest ability must fail in the long run. A greater contrast could not well be imagined than Tom Bell as a boy and farmer’s hack, than Don Tho-mass (Bell) as principal engineer on board ship or in the Arsenal at Havannah! – The boy, with corduroys, thick, ill-fitting shoes, fustian (or red) waistcoat, & a slatternly jacket – made out of the cast-off togs of some one slightly better off than himself – with a red face & dirty nose, trudging wearily to school, or “minding” geese or pigs in stubble fields, driving horses, living upon poor tea or coffee, eating tough cakes or sad bread, chewing rancid bacon & swallowing broth by the gallon made from mawky beef or mutton, or sheeps’ heads! – The man, in 50d the West Indies, a little swell, with a large number of men at his beck, all of his own choosing, £30 per month clear of all but his living expenses, & everything that mortal man could desire, yet was he not content, & missed “the tide” in feathering his nest, or laying by sufficient “ballast” for his future necessities! Surely, Tom’s was a chance that occurs only once in a lifetime; & glad should we all be, at even the shadow of such a privilege. It is worthy of remark, that both the Gells & Bells were of a sarcastic turn, & partial to tricks of fun or ridicule. As an instance, the following may be recited:-- When living at Norton, there was a custom of holding “class-meetings,” at the houses of the various members of the Methodists. On one occasion, the turn came for the gathering to take place under father’s roof. On the fact being made known, Tom & John became “curious to
The triumphs of His grace,” &c. “A charge to keep I have, A God to glorify, A never-dying soul to save, And fit it for the Sky: To serve the present age, My calling to fulfil: Oh, may it all my powers engage, To do my Master’s will,” &c. Though some of us – myself included – did not possess the organ of tune very largely developed, yet we “all joined in” with those who did, whilst mother sat listening, as if she had already “the realms of the blest.” Was it not, indeed, “a little heaven below?” “The land of promise, the shrine of love, A type on of our home above; What matter to us how the world may glide, If it leave us the light [of] our own fire sides?” There was a hymn, of wh. I remember that the juvenile portion of the family were especially fond: – 5 “What are those arrayed in white – Brighter than the noon-day sun? Foremost of the sons of light – Nearest the eternal throne? These are they that bore the cross –
23 The Leather Shillings! “What is sauce for [the] goose is sauce for the gander,” however; & I was myself on one occasion made the victim of relying on “leather hinges” – contradicting another old adage – “there’s nothing like leather.” The incident I am about to relate will show to what straits poor father was often reduced to secure absolute necessities, either for his business or for food for [the] family. It was well known in [the] family, th. I had scraped a few shillings together by thrifty means. These shillings were deposited in a box under lock & key; but alas! also with leather hinges! Father being hard put to it for a little ready cash, removed the hinges, & at the same time “removed” (or borrowed) the said few shillings. The question appd. to have been with him, “How conceal the abstraction from me, until they cd. be replaced?” He cut four pieces of leather, of the size of shillings, & wrapped them up in the identical paper (or rag), out of wh. [the] images & superscription of her majesty had just been taken! Each time I visited [the] box, I of course glanced to see if the valued treasure was still intact; & being satisfied with the “outward & visible form,” I never looked further for [the] inward & tangible reality, until one day, having obtained another sixpence, I went to my horde to deposit 24 the additional coin, when, lo! – the silver birds had flown – the Bank was broken – & leather shillings were substituted for sterling silver! Of course, I bemoaned the loss of my treasure with heartfelt sorrow; but, upon proper explanation became pacified, & the money was duly replaced, & all amicably arranged. I recollect mother calling me privately to one side, & interrogating me as to “where I had obtained the funds?” Tho’ it was known th. I had saved a little cash, she did not