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I am more than a little confused. It starts with my gt grandmother Helena Bell born Kent c1866. I have received a press cutting from a family member upon her wedding in 1887 and one of the brides maids was her sister Edith Emma Bell c 1877. It then goes on to state that following the wedding party were her other two sisters Mrs Harlow and Mrs Stead. I feel they must have been older than Helena but can find any record of them. their parents were John Bell and Emma.I believe they also had 2 sons Henry Bell c 1868 and Thomas Bell c 1870 making 6 children in all if the press cutting is correct 50 yrs on 1937 and another press cutting on Helena's golden wedding it refer's to 4 daughters and one son. Maybe one had died but which one? Any help in order to get my head to stop spinning and be able to get a good nights sleep would be wonderful Thankyou Lynn

this is them 1881 , trying to find them 1871 Emma Bell Age: 42 Estimated birth year: abt 1839 Relation: Wife Spouse's name: John Gender: Female Where born: Borough, Surrey, England Civil parish: Ashford County/Island: Kent Country: England Street address: Station Road 5 Station Cottages Condition as to marriage: Married Education: Employment status: View image Registration district: West Ashford Sub-registration district: Ashford ED, institution, or vessel: 9 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Charles J. Bell 11 Edith E. Bell 4 Emma Bell 42 Helena Bell 14 Henry J. Bell 13 John Bell 43 Thomas W. Bell 11

1891 Emma Bell Age: 52 Estimated birth year: abt 1839 Relation: Mother-in-law Gender: Female Where born: Boro, Surrey, England Civil parish: Croydon Ecclesiastical parish: St Mark Town: South Norwood County/Island: Surrey Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Education: Employment status: View image Registration district: Croydon Sub-registration district: Croydon ED, institution, or vessel: 47 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Emma Bell 52 Herbert W Dawson 9/12 Joseph W Dawson 30 Lennard F Dawson 2 Mary J Dawson 30 Thomas O Lewis 22 Louisa Louer 22 Emily Tucknot 18 ........ 1901 Emma Bell Age: 62 Estimated birth year: abt 1839 Relation: Wife Spouse's name: John Gender: Female Where born: Borough, London, England Civil parish: Tonbridge Ecclesiastical parish: St Stephens Town: Tonbridge County/Island: Kent Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Education: Employment status: View image Registration district: Tonbridge Sub-registration district: Tonbridge ED, institution, or vessel: 7 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 178 Household Members: Name Age Emma Bell 62 John Bell 63

Hi Jennifer. Yes that is the family John Bell was a station Master and I think one of the boys was their nephew but there is no record of the two other girls. Maybe need to go back further as they were married at the time of this census. Thanks Lynn

1871 possibly Name: Thomas W Ell Age: 2 Estimated birth year: abt 1869 Relation: Son Father's name: Johnb Mother's name: Emma Gender: Male Where born: Ashford, Kent, England Civil parish: Ashford Town: Ashford County/Island: Kent Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Disability: View image Registration district: West Ashford Sub-registration district: Ashford ED, institution, or vessel: 4 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 6 Household Members: Name Age Emma Ell 33 Helena Ell 5 Johnb Ell 46 Louisa E Ell 7 Mary S Ell 11 Thomas W Ell 2 Mary Frankham 68 Mother-in-law, Wickham Market, Suffolk Image is Bell. Same address as 1881

The family in 1861 John Bell Age: 23 Estimated birth year: abt 1838 Relation: Head Spouse's name: Emma Gender: Male Where born: St George in The East, Middlesex, England Civil parish: Southwark St George The Martyr Ecclesiastical parish: St George the Martyr County/Island: Surrey Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: View image Registration district: St George Southwark Sub-registration district: Borough Road ED, institution, or vessel: 6 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 156 Household Members: Name Age Emma Bell 38 John Bell 23 Mary Bell 3 Mo

Very many thanks to all who have replied and this will give me something to mull over...I seem to do all my mulling in bed when I should be asleep Cheers Lynn

oh well done glitter baby. that was a hard one,

Thanks Jennifer. How about this marriage Marriages Mar 1885 (>99%) Bell Louisa Emily W. Ashford 2a 864 BRIDGE James W. Ashford 2a 864 Budge James W. Ashford 2a 864 HILL Emily Jane W. Ashford 2a 864 STEAD Philip W. Ashford 2a 864 So did Mary marry a Harlow as Edith is unmarried at the time of Helena marriage Maureen

Found the Mrs Stead listed Louisa Emily Bell 1885 Jan-Feb-Mar West Ashford Kent James Bridge 1885 Jan-Feb-Mar West Ashford Kent James Budge 1885 Jan-Feb-Mar West Ashford Kent Emily Jane Hill 1885 Jan-Feb-Mar West Ashford Kent Philip Stead 1885 Jan-Feb-Mar West Ashford Kent Name: Louisa Stead Age: 27 Estimated birth year: abt 1864 Relation: Wife Spouse's name: Philip Gender: Female Where born: Pluckley, Kent, England Civil parish: St Pancras Ecclesiastical parish: St Benet and All Saints Town: London County/Island: London Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Education: Employment status: View image Registration district: Pancras Sub-registration district: Kentish Town ED, institution, or vessel: 53 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Charlotte Hilsden 16 Bertram Stead 4 Florence L Stead 1 Louisa Stead 27 Philip Stead 40 Philip Stead 15 Thos Stead 12

Looks like Mary only ever married Joseph W Dawson so there must be another sister that has not appeared on the censuses Mary Jane Bell 1884 Oct-Nov-Dec Auckland Durham John George Close 1884 Oct-Nov-Dec Auckland Durham John George Closk 1884 Oct-Nov-Dec Auckland Durham Joseph William Dawson 1884 Oct-Nov-Dec Auckland Durham Sarah Moore 1884 Oct-Nov-Dec Auckland Durham

Thought I would have another look at this one. On 1891 census Joseph W Dawson is shown as born in Etherley, Durham. Just wondering how he meet Mary Bell as I have found a good match for him still in Durham in 1881. Not found Mary or Louisa in 1881 census or figured out which sister could have married a Harlow. Maureen

Marriages Jun 1886 (94%) BELL Elizabeth Rose W. Ashford 2a 1176 Harlow Reuben W. Ashford 2a 1176 King Emily W.Ashford 2a 1176 Woodgate David W.Ashford 2a 1176 1891 Name: Elizabeth R Harlow Age: 28 Estimated birth year: abt 1863 Relation: Wife Spouse's name: Reuben Gender: Female Where born: Pluckley, Kent, England Civil parish: Margate Ecclesiastical parish: St John Town: Margate County/Island: Kent Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Education: Employment status: View image Registration district: Thanet Sub-registration district: Margate ED, institution, or vessel: 6 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Elizabeth R Harlow 28 Elsie R Harlow 1 Reuben Harlow 27 Would have to find the connection to Helenas family if this is the Harlow mentioned on the newspaper cutting 1881 Name: Elizabeth R. Bell Age: 18 Estimated birth year: abt 1863 Relation: Niece Gender: Female Where born: Pluckley, Kent, England Civil parish: Eastbourne County/Island: Sussex Country: England Street address: No 22 A Ashford Rd Education: Employment status: View image Occupation: Housekeeper (Domestic Servt) Registration district: Eastbourne Sub-registration district: Eastbourne ED, institution, or vessel: 10 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Elizabeth R. Bell 18 John Skinner 22 Jemima Smith 40 John Smith 45 William J. Smith 27 1871 possible Name: Rose Bell Age: 8 Estimated birth year: abt 1863 Relation: Niece Gender: Female Where born: Pluckley, Kent, England Civil parish: Eastbourne Ecclesiastical parish: Holy Trinity Town: Eastbourne County/Island: Sussex Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Disability: View image Registration district: Eastbourne Sub-registration district: Eastbourne ED, institution, or vessel: 4g Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 184 Household Members: Name Age Charles Bell 40 Rose Bell 8 Jemmia Clapson 30 Thomas Clapson 42 William Morgan 27 Maureen

Jemima Smith who has the niece Elizabeth Bell would appear to be Emma Bell' s sister and was also Helena's aunt so Elizabeth R would appear to be Emma and John's daughter who for whatever reason is not living with her parents on any census Jemima and Emma on 1841 census Jemmima Edwards Age: 6 Mo Estimated birth year: abt 1840 Gender: Female Where born: Surrey, England Civil parish: St George The Martyr Hundred: Southwark County/Island: Surrey Country: England Street address: Occupation: View image Registration district: St George Southwark Sub-registration district: Borough Road Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Benjamin Edwards 5 Emma Edwards 3 Jemmima Edwards 6 Mo Mary Edwards 38 Thomas Edwards 10 Jemima's first marriage Thomas Clapson 1865 Apr-May-Jun Newington Surrey Jemima Edwards 1865 Apr-May-Jun Newington Surrey William George Elliott 1865 Apr-May-Jun Newington Surrey Harriet Thomas 1865 Apr-May-Jun Newington Surrey Jemima's second marriage Jemima Clapson 1874 Oct-Nov-Dec Eastbourne Sussex, East Sussex Harriet Elizabeth Kite 1874 Oct-Nov-Dec Eastbourne Sussex, East Sussex Edward Thomas Shaw 1874 Oct-Nov-Dec Eastbourne Sussex, East Sussex View Record John Smith 1874 Oct-Nov-Dec Eastbourne Marriage for Emma Edwards and John Bell which I think goes some way to proving that Jemima and Emma were sisters and the niece that was listed with Jemima as either Elizabeth in 1881 or Rose in 1871 was Emma and John's daughter. Therefore the Harlow sister connection to Helena has in my opinion been proved Charlotte Barrate 1860 Apr-May-Jun Lambeth Greater London, London, Surrey Charlotte Barratt 1860 Apr-May-Jun Lambeth Greater London, London, Surrey John Bell 1860 Apr-May-Jun Lambeth Greater London, London, Surrey Emma Edwards 1860 Apr-May-Jun Lambeth Greater London, London, Surrey Arthur Maddock 1860 Apr-May-Jun Lambeth Greater London, London In conclusion if I am right Helena had four sisters Edith Emma born c1877, Mary Jane born c1860, Elizabeth Rose born c1863, and Louise Emily born c1864 and two brothers Henry J born c1868 and Thomas W born c1870 which would be in keeping with the golden wedding report. Charles J born c1870 was Helena's cousin. I hope this helps

Was about to nudge this up as Lynn does not appear to have come back to the thread Wow Diane you have moved this on a bit. Will need a few certificates buying to prove this. Lets hope Lynn comes back to the thread. Maureen

Once again very many thanks for all your help and if I have any more problems maybe I can come back and ask you good folk again Best regards Lynn