Page last updated 31/05/07 Swindle, Bell letters from Australia 1875 - 1905Note: George Bell emigrated with his wife Hannah and two sons John and Robert in July 1862 to Australia on the Mistress of the Seas. Hannah's sister Mary Ann Greenwell and her brother Robert S Bell together with a family friend Mr Vipond emigrated with them. Janet Garlick has kindly allowed me to publish these transcripts of the letters written back to family members living in North Yorkshire. The letters have been slightly edited for reasons of privacy. Letter from George Swindle to his mother-in-law Ann Bell 1875 Creswick April 18th 1875 Dear Mother I now sit down to inform you how we are getting on we are all well considering I am sorry to informe you of the death of my wife who died on the 31st of March about the quarter to 11 o’clock a m she has had a long severe affliction of about 18 months we tried both English doctor and China doctor but none of them could do her any good she died of consumption but we are glad to tell you she was well prepared she was sensible to the last minute she has been a member of the Wesleyan Church for the last ten years she is a great losf to us but our losf is her gain she was buried on the 2nd of April she was followed by a large funerall of friends she was well respected by all who knew her the hymn that was sung over her was the 720 hymn. Dear Mother we would like for you to get her likeness struck from the one you have she was so ill that she could not go to get it taken send it as soon as it is convenient. I will send you a paper so you will see her death in it we have Brother Roberts Mary Ann keeping house for us her last words was Follow Me she was happy we wer all at home with her when she died so no more at present from your affectionate son John & Robert joines me in sending our kind love to you & Mary Ann also I remain your loving son George Swindle Write Soon
Letter from Robert Bell to family 1892 North Creswick Dec 19 1892 Dear Mother Brothers & Sisters I hope this will find you all well. I hope Brother Joshua is getting better. We were all very much trobled about Brother Thomas death I feel very much for you all at home as it will have been a great trial to you all. I hope his family is all well. Give my love to all of them. I wrote Brother Jacob telling him to send me a newcastle paper with the inquest of Brother Thomas Death as I am anchious to know all about the accident and what he was doing was he riding or driving at the time of accident. I send you Post Office Order for ten pounds to S------- P.O. Pleas ensure Recept of letter as sone as you can. Sister Mary Anne Greenwell and Family is all well. Robert & Jonny Swindle I think is Both Well I have not had a letter from them latly I think they are all well. They are farming in New South Wales. One of them might be over this Christmas. R.S. Bell North Creswick Victoria Australia Letter from Catherine Bell (daughter of Robert Bell) to Ann Bell 1894 Canary Island March 8th 1894 Dear Grandmother I hope these few lines will find you all in good health as it leaves us at present. I do not know whether any of our friends or family wrote and told you about Mothers death. She died on the 12th of July of last year, and was buried near home. We are living on the farm now, my father let it for three years about 4 years ago, we then lived at Creswick, we have been back only about 12 months. I hope you are all getting on well at home also my Uncles & friends also. My father brother and sister join me in best love to you all I remain Your affectionate Granddaughter Catherine Bell Canary Island
Letter from Mary Ann Greenwell to her brother Jacob Bell 1899 Broomfield March 21st 1899 Dear Brother We received your kind letter & was glad to hear that you are all in health and am pleased to say that we are all well at present. Mr Thomas Vipond is going home. He sails today March 21st. He is coming to see you all before he comes back to Australia so I have sent you some little presents with him. There is a pair of Cake D.Oyles for your wife & another pair for Joshua's wife & a traycloth & Handkerchief with a sovereign enclosed for Dear Mother. We have had our photos taken & I am sending the Family Group to you & my Eldest Daughter (Louisa) & Husband & Family to Brother Joshua. Hoping you will receive them all right. I am sending the photos by post as it was rather much for Mr Vipond to take them all. You can write back when you receive the photos. I have written to Brother Robert telling him Mr Vipond was going home & that you would all like very much to see him. But I have not had any answer from him yet. I must come to a close. Hoping these few lines will find you all & Dear Mother in the best of health. With love from all to all. I remain your loving sister M Greenwell
Letter from Robert Bell to family 1899 Nov 30th 1899 Dear Brothers & Sisters and family I hope this will find you all well as it leaves us all at present. I was very sorry to hear of Mothers Death as I was intending to come home next year and I should like to have had the pleasure to seeing her again in her old age. I was glad to hear that she passed away without much affliction and that she had everything she Required and loving friends too in the hour of need. I hope and trust she is gone to her heavenly Rest to be for ever with the Blest. I seen Mr Vipond he was very much surprised to hear of mothers death so soon after being to see her he said she was looking well and was anchious to hear from her family and friends in australia. Mr Vipond wishes to be Remembered to you all. I intend to come home and see you if all is well untill next year and I am spared with health and strength to do so, as I am achious to see you all again after being away so long. I was down to see sister Maryan and Family last week she was very sorry and trobled about mothers death. I think they are all fairly well. I am going to write to Jony & Robert Swindle to inform them of there Grandmothers Death they are in new South Wales they are Farming and doing very well they are Both Married and has got familys I was over seeing them about 18 months ago they ware asking very kindly about there Grandmother and Uncles and ants and there familys. Remember me to Brother Joshua his Wife and Family also Brother Johns Family and Brother Thomas Family. Accept the same to yourself and Family I thank you all very kindly for being so kind to Mother. I am sorry I could not come home last year. No more at present From your Affec Brother Robert Bell address Appin P.O. Victoria Australia
Letter from Mary Ann Greenwell to family 1899 Broomfield 1899 Dear Brothers & Sisters We recived your letter and it is with depest sorow to hear of the death of Dear Mother but our loss will be her eternal gain. She has gone to meet those dear loved ones that has gone before I should liked to have been with her to have had the last Farewell on Earth but if we are only faithfull we shall all meet in heaven to part no more Brother Robert came down a few days after I had the letter he feels it very much that he did not go home before Mr Vipond called to see us he could scarcely believe that Dear Mother was gone he said that she was so well when he saw her what a blessing it is to be ready when the Lord calleth us I was glad to hear that you are all getting on very well I think he has had a grand trip you should have come back with him for six months it was a grand chance for you but it has been all for the best as Dear Mother is gone since he came back I hope you will come to see us before long he said you have plenty of sons to look after the Farm he said that you have a splendid Farm and I hope that you will do well with it remember me to Brother Joshua and his wife I would like to have a letter from him so I must come to a close wishing you all health and happiness I remain your ever loving sister M Greenwell With sincerest wishes For a Happy Christmas And New Year Write Soon
Letter from Mary Ann Greenwell to family 1901 Broomfield Aug 19th 1901 Dear Brother & Sister Just a line hoping to find you all well in health as it leaves us all well at present. We are all very pleased over the photo you sent us. It is very nice also the presents with many thanks. We have not had Robert to see us for a while. He has only been down once since he came back from England. He says it is too cold down here in the winter time so we expect him as soon as the weather gets a bit warmer. I think the trip has done him a lot of good. He was looking splendid when he came back & is enjoying good health Johnny Swindle's wife was over from New South Wales to see us a few weeks ago for her health. She says Robert & Johnny are getting on very well over there. I suppose Robert gave you all particulars when he was home about them. It is a wonder neither you or one of the boys came back with Robert for a trip. We would have been pleased to have seen you. My second son Walter has a great desire to go to England to see all his relations. He has been off work for a month with a very bad hand. But it is getting better now. You can remember me to Joshua & tell him I would like to have a letter from him. Dear Brother I wish you would send me my marriage certificate. They would be in Mothers Chest of Drawers. If they are not there I would like you to get me them from the Church we were married. It was the Garrigill Wesleyan Church May 3rd 1860. I intended to tell Robert to get them when he was home but forgot to tell him. I will conclude with love to all. I remain your loving sister M Greenwell Hoping to hear from you soon
Appin Dec 1905 Dear Brother & Family I hope this will find you all well as it leaves us at present. Christmas is coming very near to us again. I hope you will all of you be able to enjoy another Xmas & happy new year. I am going into Kerang Sale all well tomorow, if I can get any nice cards I shall send you some we are getting pretty hot weather it is about midsumer hear our harvest is in full swing just now, every one at work gathering in there crops, I don’t put any in I only graizing stock, I have don very well with cattle this last 2 years not much laboure with graizing. I was down to Ballarat about 3 or 4 weeks ago I called to see our sister Maryan Greenwell & family our sister M A has not been very well this last twelve months but she is much better than she was her family are all well, one son & one Daughter at home with her so she is very comfortable & well cared for & a nice climate. I hope you are doing well with your farming & your graizing & sucsesfull in all your dealings. Please try & get me our Cousins address in NewZealand where our Cousin Redver Bell died at I might be going over ther on a trip all being well. Send the address as soon as you can. Please give my compliments to all our friends, to Mr & Mrs Walker Mr Skillbeck & Family, Mr Coultard & Family the Muncasters at Osmotherley & all our friends in Cumberland & Newcastle or other places. Please let me know if Brother Joshua & his Daughter is still at S----- L---- on your farm & if they are well. Remember me to Tilly the young lady that was living with you when I was there, I have note to Brother Joshua this mail. Kind regards to all your Family Your Affec Brother R S Bell P.O.Appin Victoria Australia
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