4th Great Grandmother
8th Generation
Born - 21 April 1824 - Carriden, Linlithgow, Scotland
Died -30 October 1909 - Linlithgow Poorhouse, ScotlandJanet was the 3rd child of John Bell and Jean Robinson
At the age of 17 she was living at home, in Grangepans Carriden with her parents and siblings. Her father was a coalminer as were her brothers Alexander (22), James (14) and John (12). It seems that the further back in history we go the younger they became coalminers. It doesn’t state an occupation on the census for Janet but if her younger brother’s are coalminers I would think she worked also.
I have only managed to find snippets of her siblings life however the closeness in proximity the family are to parents, siblings and own their children cements the story we read of her husband – they were a close family. I love learning that even through the hardships of the times (the history books tells us how hard they worked for so little money) family was important to them.
The surname Bell tripled in size from the 1841 to 1851 census in Bo’ness and Carriden. That would be true for this family alone as many of the siblings I have records for have many children.
Janet’s eldest brother Alexander was a coalminer, he lived all his life in grangepans. He married and had 5 children. He lived until he was 63 years old and died of Scarlet Fever.
Her brother Robert married Janet Liddle in 1840 (before first census) and I have no further records. I would presume down to clerical error unless they emigrated
I have her brother James’s birth certificate as well as his record in the 1841 census but no further records
Her sister Euphemia lost her husband James Sneddon at only 34 years only due to a fractured skull. unfortunately she herself only lived to 42 and died of Phthisis.
John, who was a coalminer at 12, was still a coalminer 30 years later! Unfortunately he died at 49
Her brother Andrew also stayed in Carriden, he lived until he was 72, his gravestone is still visible in Carriden Old Churchyard Extension & Cemetery
Janet herself married Archibald MacNeel 3 years after the 1841 census – on 2 September 1844. He was not from Carriden however he would have came to the area for work, in doing so he found a wife and never left.
Janet and Archibald had 13 children! Her son Robert lived with her for as long as possible, he looked after her until he no longer could. Unfortunately that was when she went to the poor house. She lived to 81 years old, she had been senile for the last few years hence the last few years in the poor house. Below is the 1901 census and her death certificate 8 years later
I found the article below which gave me some faith in humanity
(Courier 4 Jan 1907, p.5)
The regime may have suited some of the children, especially during the more enlightened management of George Johnstone and his wife, who came to the Poorhouse in 1889. In 1907, the Courier reported the New Year dinner at the Poorhouse, and added: ‘An interesting feature on such occasions is the visit of young women and young men who as children were brought up in the House, and who now are working for themselves in the world. The visits of such young men and women show that they appreciate the kind treatment they received while in the poorhouse under the care of Mr and Mrs Johnstone. Indeed, many of these young women look upon Mrs Johnstone as their dearest friend and come to her to be guided in the purchase of their clothing, etc. and naturally Mrs Johnstone is very proud at the way the girls are doing for themselves. For long after they have left her immediate care, she keeps in touch with them, and thus knows how they are getting on, and every time they pay her a visit at the Poorhouse, they get a very warm welcome.’
Husband – Archibald McNeil
Son – William Murray McNeil
Marie's Genealogy 