Lucy Campbell Bell (McDonald)
Image: Nene Courtie
FatherArchibald McDonald b. c Jun 1833, d. 26 Dec 1890
MotherLucy Turner Campbell b. 26 Jul 1845, d. 22 Nov 1929
Pedigree

Birth, Death, Marriage

Lucy Campbell McDonald was born on 20 September 1864 in Swan Hill, Victoria.1 
She married Percival Anderson Fenton on 5 March 1884 in Swan Hill, Victoria.2,3 
She married David Bell in 1902 in Victoria.4 
She died in 1948 in Dimboola, Victoria.5 

Family 1

Percival Anderson Fenton b. c 1861
Children

Family 2

David Bell b. c 1866, d. 1946
Children
ChartsCampbell, John, descendant chart
McDonald, Archibald, descendant chart

Story

Lucy Campbell McDonald was born in Swan Hill on 20 September 1864. She was the second child and eldest daughter of Archibald and Lucy (nee Campbell).1
 
Marriage and Family
Lucy Campbell McDonald and Percival Anderson Fenton married at John Knox church in Swan Hill on 5 March 1884.3
 
Lucy and Percy had five children between 1885 and 1892.
 
Archibald's Death and Property Interest
Lucy's father Archibald died in December 1890, and his will named Percy as one of the executors. The probate documents show Lucy Fenton had property on Tyntynder station. In December 1893, Percy induced Lucy to sign documents, the purpose of which she didn't understand. In March 1894, when she received a letter demanding mortgage repayments on property she owned, she realised that Percy had mortgaged her property.6,7,8
 
Financial Problems, Desertion and Divorce
In 1894, Percy Fenton got into financial difficulties, including owing rate money to the Irrigation Trust. In April, he fled to Melbourne to hide from his creditors.9
 
This left Lucy in Swan Hill with five young children and no means of support. Following failed attempts at restitution over several years, in February 1902 Lucy filed for divorce.

FENTON V FENTON
On the ground of desertion, Lucy Campbell Fenton (37) petitioned for the dissolution of her marriage with Percival Anderson Fenton (40), farmer, coach proprietor and horse dealer, alleging that he had deserted her. The parties were married at Swan Hill on 5th March, 1884, and five children had resulted from the union. Mr Woolf (instructed by Mr Grant) represented petitioner, who appeared in court in the garb of a member of the Salvation Army. She stated that after the marriage she and her husband lived at Swan Hill. In December, 1893, respondent induced her to sign certain documents, the purport of which she did not then know. She did not ascertain the meaning of the documents until March, 1894, when she received a letter demanding payment of the amount of a mortgage which had been raised on certain land belonging to her. She found out also that her husband was being pressed by creditors. He went to Melbourne and she followed him. He promised to meet her and talk over matters, but failed to keep to his undertaking, and she went back to Swan Hill. In August, 1894, petitioner issued a warrant for her husband's arrest for deserting his wife and children. He returned to Swan Hill unexpectedly in September of that year. She told him of the warrant and he said, 'Go through with it, and I promise you it will be the worst day's work ever you did.' Respondent said he would go to Western Australia, and would send for his wife, and on these representations she cancelled the warrant. After staying in Swan Hill, Fenton left the town. He wrote to his wife from Melbourne four times, in the last letter mentioning that he was going away. She heard nothing from or of him until March, 1897, and in August of the same year she had him arrested at Walhalla. He was ordered to contribute 5/- a week towards the support of his wife, and 19/- a week towards that of his children. He was in gaol until he got sureties, and after his release he left Swan Hill. She had a letter from him on 14th September, 1897, in which he said he was quite prepared to help his wife and children if given time to get work. She replied, but did not hear from respondent again. She had not since seen her husband, and did not know where he was.

The Chief Justice said this appeared to be one of those cases in which the temptation of the law was too strong for selfish, weak people. It was impossible not to observe that the act, with all its great advantages, was a dreadful temptation to the weak and vicious, who were willing to resort to all the villainy of cruelly treating their wives and children because they knew they could escape all consequences and regain their freedom. The decree nisi was granted, with costs.10

 
Impact on Children 
When Percy initially left, the children were aged from nine (Percy junior) down to two (May).

Three years later, it was clear Lucy would not get any support from Percy. Newspaper reports suggest that at this time, Percy junior, now aged 12, began working for Murray River paddle steamer operator, Captain Hunt.11,10,12
 
Second Marriage and Family 
Lucy Campbell Fenton (recently divorced) and David Bell were married in 1902.4
 
They had three children in Swan Hill between 1903 and 1907.

Electoral rolls show Lucy and David in Swan Hill until 1916.

By 1919, they were living in Dimboola in western Victoria. The Fenton children were all adults, and the Bell children were aged between 16 and 12.13,14
 
Son Percy's Tragic Drowning
Lucy and Percy's son, Percival John Fenton, died in a boating accident on the Murray River.15
 
He was second mate on the paddle steamer Invincible, when on 21 November 1912, about 30 km from Euston, he was swept overboard. At about 4:00 am a tree branch struck the cabin he and two others were sleeping in. Percy was said to be a strong swimmer and was last seen almost at the bank, but when the other two men were safe on board, Percy could not be found. Police recovered his body the following day.12,16,11
 
In February 1913, due to considerable public interest (including in the Sydney newspapers), a Coroner's inquiry was held at the Euston courthouse. There was concern that no inquest was held at the time of the incident. Six witnesses gave evidence and were questioned. As well as details of the event, the court heard that Percy had been employed by river boat operator Captain Hunt for about 15 years. While Hunt was on board at the time, at the wheel was Albert McLean who Percy had recommended to Hunt.

Step-father David Bell told the court that Percy was 27 years old, a heavy sleeper and a strong swimmer. Also that he was born in Swan Hill and unmarried.

The Coroner, in summing up, said there was no doubt in his mind that the unfortunate occurrence was accidental, and that the deceased met his death by drowning, and the verdict would be - 'That Percy Fenton was drowned through the steamer Invincible accidentally colliding with the limbs of a red gum tree'.11

 
Dressmaking and Needlework
Lucy supported herself and her young Fenton family using her dressmaking skills.

Two of Lucy's nieces, sisters Nene (Doris) Courtie (McDonald) and Bub (Violet) Williams (McDonald), were quick to comment on the quality of her dressmaking skills and needlework in general. But you wouldn't see her doing needlework on a Sunday; when Bub was once there doing some needlework, Lucy would say 'You shouldn't be doing fancy needlework on Sunday or you'll have to pull it out with your nose'.17,15,18
 
Move to Melbourne
In 1921, Lucy is at Page St in Albert Park, but David is still in Dimboola. In 1924, David is still in Dimboola but Lucy is now at Bond St in Preston.19,20,21
 
In 1928, four family members, Lucy, David, John and Margaret, are at Bond St in Preston, where they remained for several years.22,23
 
By the mid-1930s, Lucy and David were back in Dimboola, first at Ellerman St, then Lloyd St.24
 
David died in Dimboola in 1946, aged 80. Lucy Campbell Bell died there two years later aged 84.5,25
 

Citations

  1. [S372] Lucy Campbell McDonald, birth registration no. 25203, 20 September 1864.
  2. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, Percival Anderson Fenton and Lucy Campbell McDonald entry, marriage registration no. 1062, 1884.
  3. [S523] 'Marriages: Fenton-McDonald', Australasian, 1864-1946, newspaper, Hugh George, 29 March 1884, p. 11, viewed 23 May 2019, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/138651477
  4. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, David Bell and Lucy Campbell Fenton entry, marriage registration no. 2821, 1902.
  5. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, Lucy Campbell Bell entry, death registration no. 18305, 1948.
  6. [S110] 'Archibald McDonald', VPRS 28 Probate and Administration Files, no. 44/962, probate, 4 May 1891.
  7. [S437] 'Wills and bequests', Table Talk, 1885-1939, newspaper, Maurice Brodzky, 20 March 1891, p. 5, viewed 26 December 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147284400
  8. [S539] 'Police gazette', Bendigo Advertiser, 1853-2003, newspaper, RR Haverfield, 28 September 1894, p. 3, viewed 24 June 2019, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/88934599
  9. [S189] A History of the Shire of Swan Hill, Shire of Swan Hill, 1989, p. 96.
  10. [S171] 'Divorce Court: Fenton V Fenton', The Age, 1854-, newspaper, 19 February 1902, p. 6, viewed 30 May 2019, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/197252507
  11. [S545] 'Euston drowning fatality: Coroner's report', Riverina Recorder, 1877-1965, newspaper, Richard Beaty, 12 February 1913, p. 2, viewed 22 June 2019, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/134745324
  12. [S543] 'Drowning fatality at Swan Hill', Kerang New Times, 1901-1918, newspaper, George Adams, 29 November 1912, p. 2, viewed 22 June 2019, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222476907
  13. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Wannan, subdivision of Dimboola, 1919.
  14. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Wimmera, subdivision of Swan Hill, 1909, 1912, 1914 and 1916.
  15. [S52] Doris 'Nene' Courtie, personal communication, 10 November 2001.
  16. [S544] 'Mishap to Murray steamer: Second mate drowned', Riverine Herald, 1869-1954, newspaper, Haverfield & Co, 28 November 1912, p. 2, viewed 22 June 2019, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/114938428
  17. [S58] Violet 'Bub' Williams, personal communication, 30 December 1996.
  18. [S539] 'Victorian Police gazette', Bendigo Advertiser, 1853-2003, newspaper, RR Haverfield, 17 April 1897, p. 3, viewed 24 June 2019, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/88972451
  19. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Wannan, subdivision of Dimboola, 1921 and 1924.
  20. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Fawkner, subdivision of Albert Park, 1921 and 1922.
  21. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, Commonwealth division of Batman, state division of Jika Jika, subdivision of Preston, 1924.
  22. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, Commonwealth division of Batman, state division of Jika Jika, subdivision of Preston, 1928.
  23. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, Commonwealth division of Batman, state division of Heidelberg, subdivision of Preston, 1931.
  24. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, Commonwealth division of Wannan, state division of Lowan, subdivision of Dimboola, 1936 and 1937.
  25. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, David Bell entry, death registration no. 18444, 1946.
  26. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, Percival John Fenton entry, birth registration no. 6414, 1885.
  27. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, 'Margt' Bell entry, birth registration no. 6539, 1907.