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David Joseph Bell Gunningrah, 1838 Later at Spring Flat Photos from Judy Egan - History from Bev Moore - Genealogy from David Smith
DAVID & ANNIE BELL Their first child Jane/Jean was born at Lockerbie, Dumfries on the 29th August 1834. Their exact year of arrival in NSW is currently unknown, (Shipping Records searched at Kiama Family history Centre) however their second child, Mary, was born on
the 19th December 1836 and baptized on the 11th April 1837 at St Andrew’s Church, Sydney. At this time, David was an Overseer on a property, Shancamore, which was situated at Mulgoa. When Mary was baptized the family’s abode was shown as Sydney. By 1838, the family were on the Monaro where David was Superintendant of Gunningrah for John Terry Hughes. Claire Schofield, in her book, Bombala Hub of Southern Monaro, stated that David Bell came free on the Lusitania and
was an upholsterer in George Street Sydney in 1828. This is incorrect as in 1828 our David Bell was still in Scotland. When daughter, Elizabeth was baptised, David was a Settler on the McLaughlin River. The family’s abode as Spring Flat first appears on Robert’s baptism details in 1844. David now calling himself a Grazier. In 1848, a lease application had been made by David Bell for 10 240 acres on the McLaughlin River. Source: Squatting on Crown Lands in
NSW by J.F. Campbell. He made certain his run was secure when he paid 160 pounds for 160 acres around his house on the 9th August 1854 following an application dated 18th April 1854 for the land now
legally available to him. Sources: Return of Applications to Purchase Portions of Runs of Crown Lands beyond the Settled District. Letter from Society of Australian Genealogists 1975. In 1865 Spring Flat Station consisted of 7200 acres; capacity 350 cattle; charges 26 pounds, eight shillings and twopence. Source: Bailliere’s NSW Gazeteer and Road Guide Melbourne 1866.
David & Annie remained at Spring Flat where they reared a family of nine children. Annie Bell died on the 12 July 1873, aged 60 Yrs. She was buried on the property beside her two sons, Robert and David. Following the death of Annie, David married Elizabeth Fitzpatrick who was much younger than himself. They were married at St Matthia’s Church Bombala on the 12 September 1876. They had one son, Robert Bell. David Bell died on the on the 8 February 1886. He too was buried on the property.
He left an estate valued at 12 400 pounds. Apart from Spring Flat he had two properties in Bombala. Land and premises which were occupied by Dr Robert Eddie and a Chemist shop and dwelling occupied by N.E. Earl. The Bell headstones, which have been transcribed, are on private property belonging to the Garnock family. I believe the paddock in which they are situated is still called the Spring Flat Paddock. Elizabeth married Edward Taylor at Kameruka.
They had a family of six. She died on the 13 March 1938, aged 80 years at Skeleton Creek near Glen Innes and was buried in the Glen Innes Cemetery. It is worth noting that Annie Bell had a brother and sister who also came to NSW. Her brother, William White, settled in the Wilberforce/Windsor District. His descendants are mostly in Northern NSW. Sister, Elizabeth, married Robert Jamieson in England and settled in the Bendoc/ Delegate district where many descendants still remain.
Submitted by Bev Moore – May 2003 <bevm-at-netspace.net.au> Descendants of David Joseph Bell
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