Family History

Angus Bell-----Marriage 1841 approx-----Jane McDowell

This information has been researched by Greg Mander / Nancy Sneddon and compiled by Greg Mander. To contact us, please send an e-mail. (Last update 1/11/02) Greg Mander manderfamilyhistory@rogers.com
Nancy Sneddon nsneddon@gto.net
Ken Wright kdw@i2k.net

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Family History

                                                                    Family History

 

                  Angus Bell------Marriage 1841 approx-----Jane McDowell

                                Born                     1816 ca                                                   Born                   1823 ca

                                                              Isle of Islay                                                        

                                                              Scotland                                                                            Ireland

                                    Died  18 Sep  1897                                                          Died  25 Aug     1878

                                                              Singhampton,                                                                   Singhampton,

                                                              Ontario                                                                               Ontario

                                    Int’d                 Union Cemetery,                                  Int’d                   Union Cemetery,

                                                              Singhampton,                                                                   Singhampton,

                                                              Ontario                                                                               Ontario

 

                                                                            Children

                                                

                           Ronald                                                        Margaret

                             Born                 1842 ca                                                   Born                 1843 ca

                                                                West Gwillimbury

                                                                Township,

                                                                Canada West                                                                  Canada West

                                                                (Ontario)                                                                        (Ontario)

                                      Died                                                                                  Died

 

 

                                      Int’d                                                                                 Int’d

 

 

 

 

                           Mary Ann                                                  Elizabeth

                                      Born                 1845 ca                                                   Born 22 May   1847

                                                                Canada West                                                                  Canada West                                              (Ontario)                                                                (Ontario)

                                      Died                                                                                  Died                  1941

 

 

                                      Int’d                                                                                 Int’d                 Union Cemetery,

                                                                                                                                                          Singhampton,

                                                                                                                                                          Ontario

 

                                    Angus (jr)                                                   Sarah Jane

                             Born  24 Aug  1848                                                        Born                 1851 ca

                                                                Nottawasaga

                                                                Twshp., Canada West                                                   Canada West

                                                                (Ontario)                                                                        (Ontario)

                                      Died   2 Mar    1906                                                        Died       Feb    1928

                                                                Singhampton,                                                                 Shellbrook,

                                                                Ontario                                                                             Saskatchewan

                                      Int’d                                                                                 Int’d                

                                                                                                                                                          Saskatchewan

 

 

 

                                    Catharine                                                   Thomas Wildridge

                             Born   3 Sep     1854                                                        Born                 1856 ca

                                                                Singhampton,                                                                

                                                                Canada West                                                                  Canada West

                                                                (Ontario)                                                                        (Ontario)

                                      Died  21 Dec    1927                                                        Died

                                                                Islington (Toronto)

                                                                Ontario

                                      Int’d                 Union Cemetery,                                  Int’d

                                                                Singhampton,

                                                                Ontario

 

                                    Agnes                                                         Janet

                             Born                 1858 ca                                                   Born      Oct     1860

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Canada West                                                                  Canada West

                                                                (Ontario)                                                                        (Ontario)

                                      Died                                                                                  Died   4  Feb    1891

                                                                                                                                                          Singhampton,

                                                                                                                                                          Ontario

                                      Int’d                                                                                 Int’d                 Union Cemetery,

                                                                                                                                                          Singhampton,

                                                                                                                                                          Ontario

 

                                                     John

                                                                 Born    9 Aug  1863

                                                                                                    Singhampton,

                                                                                                    Canada West

                                                                                                    (Ontario)

                                                                          Died      3 Apr  1864

                                                                                                    Singhampton,

                                                                                                    Canada West

                                                                                                    (Ontario)

                                                                          Int’d                 Union Cemetery,

                                                                                                    Cemetery (?)

                                                                                                    Singhampton,

                                                                                                    Canada West

                                                                                                    (Ontario)                                   

 

Biography of Angus and Jane Bell

 

¨      Angus was born in Scotland apparently on the Isle of Islay located off the west coast Scotland. Shortly after immigrating to America in about the year 1832 at the approximate age of 13 years, he settled in Upper Canada in the Township of Innisfil and/or West Gwillimbury.

 

¨      Jane was born in Ireland and was probably living in the Township of Innisfil or West Gwillimbury where she met Angus. They were married in approximately 1841.

 

¨      1842 ca.  Ronald, a son, born in West Gwillimbury Township, County of Simcoe,

            Upper Canada.

            See Biography of Ronald Bell

      Note: Upper Canada was a colony created in 1791 when the old Province of

      Quebec was divided into Upper and Lower Canada. This lasted until 1841, when

      Upper Canada became Canada West and Lower Canada (present day Quebec)

      became Canada East. Together, Canada West and East, were known as the

      Province of Canada. Internal self-government was granted in 1848.

 

      In 1867, the Dominion of Canada was established by the British North America

      Act forming the Confederation of the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia

      Quebec (formerly Canada East) and Ontario (formerly Canada West). Later

      additions to Canada were the Provinces of Manitoba (1870), British Columbia

      (1871), Prince Edward Island (1873), Alberta and Saskatchewan (1905) and

      Newfoundland (1949)              

 

¨      1843 ca.  Margaret, a daughter, born in Canada West (probably West Gwillimbury or

      Innisfil Township, County of Simcoe).

See Biography of Margaret Bell

 

¨      1845 ca.  Mary Ann, a daughter, born in Canada West (probably West Gwillimbury

            or Innisfil Township, County of Simcoe).

See Biography of Mary Ann Bell

 

¨      1846  Reference Creemore Star (newspaper) Village of Singhampton in 1889, written

     by J. B. Spurr, Editor.

     See 1889 Entry

 

“In 1846 he (Angus) settled on the lot which has seen the rise and progress of the

village of Singhampton.”

 

¨      1847  Elizabeth, a daughter, born in Canada West, May 22 (probably in Singhampton,

Nottawasaga Township, County of Simcoe, since Angus and Jane had moved to

this location in 1846).

See Biography of Elizabeth Bell

 

¨      1848  Angus, a son, born in Nottawasaga Township, County of  Simcoe, Canada

West, August 24.

See Biography of Angus (junior) Bell

 

¨      1850  Reference the publication “The Outburst of the Iroquois” Published in 1934 by

                 THE  HISTORICAL COMMITTEE NOTTAWASAGA CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.

 

                                                                        INTRODUCTION

                      Some gleanings of the Historical Committee in connection with the Centennial

                 Celebration of the first settlements in the Township. Held at Duntroon, July 1st,

                 2nd, 1934

 

             Minutes of the First Council Meeting

                        Held in Nottawasaga

                                                Nottawasaga, Jan. 21st, 1850

 

The toll book having been received showing that the following were elected Councillors for this Township for the current year, viz:

 

Peter Ferguson, Esquire, Malcolm Livingstone, Esquire, Donald Patterson, Esquire, Alex Campbell, Esquire.

The above named Councillors met according to appointment for the election of a Town Reeve, and proceeded with the election accordingly.

When it was moved by Mr. Livingstone and seconded by Mr. Patterson that

P. Ferguson, Esquire be Town Reeve for the Current Year. (Carried).

 

Moved by Mr. Livingstone, seconded by Mr. Patterson that Mr. Angus Bell be the Township Clerk for the current year. (Carried).

 

Moved by the same and seconded by the same that Mr. John Ferguson of Collingwood be the Township Supt. of Common Schools for the current year. (Carried).

 

Moved by Mr. Patterson, and seconded by Mr. Livingstone that the Township be divided into three afsefsment (assessment) districts, each to be afsefsed (assessed) by the particular afsefsor (assessor) to be appointed for the same. (Carried)

 

Moved by Mr. Patterson, and seconded by Mr. Campbell that the first district extend from the Townline of Mulmur to the sideline between Lot 15 and 16 acrofs (across) the Township, and that Mr. Mathew Dowling be the afsefsor (assessor) therein. (Carried).

 

Moved and seconded by the same that the second district extend from sideline between Lots 15 and 16 to sideline between Lots 27 and 28 acrofs (across) the Township and that Mr. John Campbell of Lot 21 and the 10th confsefsion (concession) be the afsefsor (assessor) therein. (Carried).

 

Moved by Mr. Livingstone, seconded by Mr. Campbell that Francis Hewson, Esq., be the Township Treasurer for the current year.  (Carried).

 

Moved by Mr. Livingstone, seconded by Mr. Campbell that Mefsrf (Messrs.) Francis Kerr and John More be Auditors for the current year. (Carried).

 

The Council then adjourned.

                                                            (Signed) Peter Ferguson, Town Reeve

                                                             Signed Angus Bell, Town Clerk

 

¨      1851 ca.  Reference the publication “The Outburst of the Iroquois” Published in 1934

                       by THE HISTORICAL COMMITTEE NOTTAWASAGA CENTENNIAL

                              CELEBRATION.

 

                                                                            INTRODUCTION

                              Some gleanings of the Historical Committee in connection with the

                       Centennial Celebration of the first settlements in the Township. Held at

                       Duntroon, July 1st, 2nd, 1934

 

                                                When Avening Flourished

 

          The following are three excerpts are from the subject article.

           

            The following sketch of Avening was written by Mr. George Carruthers of

            Toronto, president of Interlake Tissue Mills and a son of one of the early pioneers

            of Avening.

 

            My grandfather, George Carruthers, a native of Dumfriesshire, Scotland, came to

            America in 1848, by way of New York. He lived for a time in Albany, later in

            Buffalo, and took up land in what is now Avening, about 1850. Some clearing

            was done by my grandfather’s brother John and his son John (my Uncle John) and

            the family moved on to that property about 1851.

 

            When the Carruthers’ family settled in Avening in the early 50’s there was only

            one other settler on the second line northward, near Cashtown.

 

            When our family first moved to Avening, six months would sometimes pass

            without their seeing any man from the outside world. When Mr. Angus, the

            Township Clerk, came they unyoked the oxen, got the bacon down from the

            garret, and had a good visit with him for the rest of the day, and in this way they            

            got quite a lot of news as to what was going on in the Township,

 

¨      1851 ca.  Sarah Jane, a daughter, born in Singhampton, County of Simcoe, Canada

West.

See Biography of Sarah Jane Bell

 

¨      1854  Catharine, a daughter, born in Singhampton, County of Simcoe, Canada West,

September 3.

See Biography of Catharine Bell

 

¨      1856  Reference Plan of Town Plot of Singhampton on the Mad River as laid out on

                 Lot No. 15, 12 Con. Nottawasaga. 1856

 

            The Township Clerk’s Office (Angus Bell) is identified on the subject map as

            being located south of the Mad River on Victoria Street, east of Melancthon 

            Street.

 

¨      1856 ca.  Thomas Wildridge, a son, born in Singhampton, County of Simcoe, Canada

West.

See Biography of Thomas Wildridge

¨      1858 Reference Assessment Roll for the Township of Nottawasaga 1858.

Occupants: Angus Bell

Profession, Occupation, &c: Tp Clerk

Freeholders, Householders: H

Age: 40

No. of Concession: 12

No. of Lot: NW ¼  17

No. Acres: 50

Value of each Lot: £125

Total Value of Real Property: £125

Total Value of Real and Personal property: £125

 

£ symbol for Pounds currency. The dollar currency was introduced at a later

date.

 

¨      1859 ca.  Agnes, a daughter, born in Singhampton, County of Simcoe, Canada West.

See Biography of Agnes Bell

 

¨      1860  Janet, a daughter, born in Singhampton, County of Simcoe, Canada West,

October ca.

See Biography of Janet Bell

 

¨      1860  Angus and Jane’s daughter, Margaret, age 17, marries Robert Lang, age 26,

in Nottawasaga Twp, Canada West, December 5.

            See Biography of Margaret Bell

 

¨      1861  Census Province of Canada West (Ontario), Enumeration District No. 2 of the

                 Township of Nottawasaga in the County of Simcoe. Page 4.

                 Enumerator Angus Bell.

            Angus Bell,

            Profession, Trade or Occupation: Farmer

            Place of Birth: Scotland

            Age next Birthday: 43

            Married or Single: M

            HOUSES- Brick, Stone, Frame, Log, &c: Log

            No. of Stories: one

            No. of families living in house: one

            Jane Bell,

                Profession, Trade or Occupation: no entry

            Place of Birth: Ireland

            Age next Birthday: 38

            Married or Single: M

            Ronald Bell,

            Profession, Trade or Occupation: Labourer

            Place of Birth: Canada West

            Age next Birthday: 19

            Married or Single: S

             Mary Ann Bell,

            Profession, Trade or Occupation: no entry

            Place of Birth: Canada West

            Age next Birthday: 16

                Married or Single: S

            Attending School within the year.

            Elizabeth Bell,

            Profession, Trade or Occupation: no entry

            Place of Birth: Canada West

            Age next Birthday: 14

            Married or Single: S

            Attending School within the year.

            Angus Bell,

            Profession, Trade or Occupation: Labourer

            Place of Birth: Canada West

            Age next Birthday: 12

                Married or Single: S

            Attending School within the year.

            Sarah Jane Bell,

            Profession, Trade or Occupation: no entry

            Place of Birth: Canada West

            Age next Birthday: 10

            Married or Single: S

                Attending School within the year.

            Catherine Bell,

            Profession, Trade or Occupation: no entry

            Place of Birth: Canada West

            Age next Birthday: 8

            Married or Single: S

            Attending School within the year.

            Thos. W. Bell,

            Profession, Trade or Occupation: no entry

            Place of Birth: Canada West

            Age next Birthday: 5

            Married or Single: S

            Attending School within the year.

            Agnes Bell,

            Profession, Trade or Occupation: no entry

            Place of Birth: Canada West

            Age next Birthday: 3

            Married or Single: S

            Attending School within the year. (probably an incorrect entry)

            Janet Bell,

            Profession, Trade or Occupation: no entry

            Place of Birth: Canada West

            Age next Birthday: 1

            Married or Single: S

            Births in 1860: 1 (Janet)

 

¨      1863  John, a son, born in Singhampton, County of Simcoe, Canada West (Ontario),

     August 9.

See Biography of John Bell

 

¨      1864  Township of Osprey, Village of Kelvin, Lot No. Being a subdivision of the

                 East-end of Lot No. 9 Con. A. Andrew Yuill, proprietor, Regst 7 Nov 1856.

 

                                                      Queen Street

                                                                          A                                   

                                                        

     NO. OF         INST’MENT    ITS DATE             DATE                  GRANTOR        GRANTEE        QUANTITY     Consideration       REMARKS

    INST’MENT                                                    OF REGISTRY                                                             OF LAND       or amount of

                                                                                                                                                                                           Mortgage

       9956                B&S*       27 Feby             30 Mch                George          Angus Bell          **                  $100             & other

                                                1864                 1864                    Christie                                                                                  lands

                                                                                                     & Wife

 

                * Bargain & Sell                                        ** not defined other than being a subdivision of the East-end of Lot No. 9 Con A.

 

            Angus did not reside on the subject property. His residence was on Lot 17 in

            Concession 12 which was on the east side of Melancthon Street in the Village of

            Singhampton. The Village of Kelvin was located on the west side of Melancthon,

            mainly on the south side of the Mad River.

 

¨      1864  Angus and Jane’s son, John, died in Singhampton, Canada West (Ontario),

            August 26.

            See Biography of John Bell

 

¨      1865  Reference Directory of the County of Grey in 1865, which is Reproduced from

                 the Gazetter of the County Published by W. W. Smith of Owen Sound in 1865.

 

            SINGHAMPTON                                        

                Angus Bell

            Ronald Bell

 

¨      1866  Reference Gazatteer and Directory of the County of Simcoe for 1866-7.

           

                                                        LIST OF CORONERS

            Angus Bell……Singhampton

             

            Note: There were 23 coroners listed for the County of Simcoe of which only nine

            (including Angus) were not doctors.

            

            SINGHAMPTON—A rising village on the county line, between Simcoe and Grey,

            partly in Nottawasaga and partly in Osprey, 35 miles from Barrie. Water power is

            furnished by the Mad River, a tributary of the Nottawasaga. There are said to be

            no water privileges on the Mad River above Singhampton, but any number

            immediately below. Richard Richmond first settled here about 1840, in which

            year he erected a saw mill. The village was laid out in 1856 by Messrs. C. R. and

            J. R. Sing, who owned the property. For some years after its first establishment,

            the Post Office was called Mad Mills P.O. The mills, which consist of a grist mill

            of two run of stones, and a saw mill, were built about 11 years ago, and are about

            a quarter of a mile east of the principal street in Nottawasaga. The Post Office,

            Store, and Common School are also on the Simcoe side. The Post Office was

            established in 1852. There is a Canada Presbyterian and a Wesleyan Methodist

            Church. The School House is a comfortable stone building, with a large

            attendance of pupils. There are also a Lodge of the Loyal Orange institution, No.

            586, and a Lodge of the British American Good Templars, No. 371. Mails daily to

            and from Durham, Collingwood, and intermediate places. Population about 150.

 

            Algeo, James, boot and shoe maker

            Bell, Angus, conveyancer, issuer of marriage licences, township clerk

            Nottawasaga, coroner, &c.

            Bell, Ronald, licensed auctioner. (Angus’ son)

                Grant, David, carpenter and J.P.

            Green, Mrs, weaver

            Glenning, Edward, miller

            Hamilton, Jas. General merchant

            Hilts, Frederick, limeburner

            Kitchen, Robert, blacksmith

            Lang, Alex. Weaver

            Lang, John, laborer

            McDougall, Thomas, blacksmith

            McDonald, Neil, teacher

            McKinnon, Donald, blacksmith

            Ough, John, proprietor Royal Hotel

            Richards, James

            Richardson, Alonzo, waggon maker (wagon-maker)

            Richmond, Mrs. tailoress

            Sing, Joseph

            SING, JOSIAH R. postmaster, commissioner in B.R. &c.

            Stinson, John, proprietor Victoria Inn