Pedigree

Birth, Death, Marriage

David Bell was born circa 1866 in Ballarat, Victoria.1 
He married Lucy Campbell McDonald, daughter of Archibald McDonald and Lucy Turner Campbell, in 1902 in Victoria.2 
He died in 1946 in Dimboola, Victoria.1 

Family

Lucy Campbell McDonald b. 20 Sep 1864, d. 1948
Children
ChartsCampbell, John, descendant chart
McDonald, Archibald, descendant chart

Story

Marriage and Family 
Lucy Campbell Fenton (recently divorced) and David Bell were married in 1902.2
 
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 12.3,4
 
Son Percy's Tragic Drowning
Lucy and Percy's son, Percival John Fenton, died in a boating accident on the Murray River.5
 
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.6,7,8
 
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'.8

 
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.9,10,11
 
In 1928, four family members, Lucy, David, John and Margaret, are at Bond St in Preston, where they remained for several years.12,13
 
By the mid-1930s, Lucy and David were back in Dimboola, first at Ellerman St, then Lloyd St.14
 
David died in Dimboola in 1946, aged 80. Lucy Campbell Bell died there two years later aged 84.15,1
 

Citations

  1. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, David Bell entry, death registration no. 18444, 1946.
  2. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, David Bell and Lucy Campbell Fenton entry, marriage registration no. 2821, 1902.
  3. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Wannan, subdivision of Dimboola, 1919.
  4. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Wimmera, subdivision of Swan Hill, 1909, 1912, 1914 and 1916.
  5. [S52] Doris 'Nene' Courtie, personal communication, 10 November 2001.
  6. [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
  7. [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
  8. [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
  9. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Wannan, subdivision of Dimboola, 1921 and 1924.
  10. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Fawkner, subdivision of Albert Park, 1921 and 1922.
  11. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, Commonwealth division of Batman, state division of Jika Jika, subdivision of Preston, 1924.
  12. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, Commonwealth division of Batman, state division of Jika Jika, subdivision of Preston, 1928.
  13. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, Commonwealth division of Batman, state division of Heidelberg, subdivision of Preston, 1931.
  14. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, Commonwealth division of Wannan, state division of Lowan, subdivision of Dimboola, 1936 and 1937.
  15. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, Lucy Campbell Bell entry, death registration no. 18305, 1948.
  16. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, Lucy Bell entry, birth registration no. 29063, 1903.
  17. [S250] Death Index Victoria 1921-1985: Index to deaths in Victoria, CD-ROM, Macbeth Genealogical Services, 1998, death registration no. 1225.
  18. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, 'Margt' Bell entry, birth registration no. 6539, 1907.