The Bell Family from Monilea, Mullingar

The Bell Family from Monilea, Mullingar

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Margaret McQuade married Francis Bell of Monilea, Mullingar Co Westmeath

Frank had a sister Georgina who died aged 17 from TB

They had 4 known children:

Annie(Dolly), Louisa Frances, Arthur Thomas & Florence Martha
who married into my Donaldson family

Frank Bell of Monilea

Georgina Bell

Louisa and Dolly Bell
in Monilea

Annie(Dolly) Bell
married
Charles Henry Lee

Lee home at
Lees Corner, Monilea

Charles Henry Lee died
14 May 1963 at Monilea - - service at Knockdrin Church
buried Ballyglass Cemetery

Annie (Dolly) Lee died 6 May 1967 at Monilea - service at
St Mary's Knockdrin buried Ballyglass Cemetery

Louisa Frances Bell born 05/07/1871.
She died 21/11/1952 in Monilea

Death of
Louisa Frances Bell 1952

Arthur Thomas Bell born 06/09/1875

Florence Martha Bell 1877-1977 married W H H Donaldson 11/02/1902

Donaldsons of Stranorlar

Frank Bell and South Africa

South African Group

Frank Bell in uniform

Frank Bell grave

Grave details on a postcard 1922

Frank Bell died in a battle at Mariental S.W. Africa in 11 th April 1922. - He is buried in Gibeon Cemetery Hardap Region Namibia next to Major John Robertson Watt.

The cemetery is situated next to the Gibeon Station The majority of the South African and German burials are the casualties of the battle of Gibeon which took place on 27 April 1915. Memorials to the Natal Light Horse and the German dead have been erected.

Here are War Graves of German and South African Soldiers fallen in World War I in the Battles around Gibeon:

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is responsible for the commemoration of serving members of the Commonwealth Forces who died during the two World Wars.up to 1921 As Frank Bell died in 1922, they hold no information.

Frank Bell's next-of-kin was presented by King George V with a Memorial Bronze Plaque designed by E Carter Preston. This was presented by the King to the nearest relative of every man or woman of all the services who gave his or her life whilst in service up until 1925, regardless of rank or circumstances.	The following message from Buckingham Palace was sent to each recipient. "I join my grateful people in sending you this memorial of a brave life given for others in the Great War." George R. A scroll was also sent bearing the following words: "He/She whom this scroll commemorates was numbered among those who, at the call of king and country, left all that was dear to them, endured hardness, faced danger, and finally passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom. Let those who come after see to it that His/Her name be not forgotten. The name on the plaque is the name of the sailor, soldier, airman or service woman to whom the plaque is a memorial
Frank Bell's medal

Commonwealth War Graves Commission In Memory of Major John Robertson Watt Natal Light Horse who died age 49 on 27 April 1915 Son of Thomas and Mary Watt, of Glasgow, Scotland. Served in the South African Campaign. Remembered with honour Gibeon Station Cemetery	Major John Robertson Watt
	Gibeon Station Cemetery

STILL SEARCHING

Searching for more links between the Bell family and my Donaldsons from Donegal.

From family history and cuttings kept by the Stranorlar Donaldsons I know of other connections to Monilea Mullingar.. If anyone can help I would love to hear from them.

Samuel Donaldson 1793-1865 from Donegal had a daughter - first name unknown - who married a Rev McMullan. Their daughter Anne married a Mr Daly. I do not know where McMullan or Daly came from but other family members were marrying into Co Westmeath area. Rev McMullan was a minister in Armagh City in 1894 when he and his wife gave a present for the wedding of Arthur McQuade and Freddie Donaldson (Samuel's granddaughter) in 1894

Margaret McQuade (above) sister of Arthur married Francis Bell - daughter Annie(Dolly) married Lee

From LDS website:-

James Lee married Anne Daly - Westmeath, Ireland

Children Mary Josephine born 13/02/1874 and James born 08/08/1876, both in Westmeath, Ireland

All help appreciated

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