Edward Bellion - Clockmaker

Post by **Blue70** » 01 Apr 2011 15:13

I'm looking for a baptism record of an Edward Bellion born in about 1808 in St Helens. He appears to have moved to Liverpool at an early age. He may be the son of a Charles Bellion who according to the Liverpool Museums' Horology website was "apprenticed to Matthew Tootell 3/11/1791" Clock Maker at Hardshaw Within Windle.

There is a marriage of a William Bellion (born in Liverpool about 1819) to Ellen Oakes at St Paul's Church Liverpool in 1838. The father was Charles Bellion Clockmaker. Edward married Mary Oakes, surname discovered from the baptisms of their younger children, so it looks like two brothers married two sisters. Samuel Oakes was father of the two sisters.

Blue

Post by **Blue70** » 02 Apr 2011 10:13

I've found records available on CD so I'll send off for it from here:-

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LAN/lprs/CDs.shtml

Blue

Post by **MaryA** » 02 Apr 2011 10:46

Sorry Blue, didn't have any resources with me when I saw your post yesterday. I have checked what I have but baptisms/marriages I found are all about 100 years earlier than you are interested in and in the Downholland/Halsall area.

Also checked for burials at Windleshaw Chantry without success.

Post by **Blue70** » 02 Apr 2011 10:58

Thanks Mary. I thought the Bellions might have been Huguenots but the earliest online parish record is from 1666 in Halsall. There's a lot of them in the Halsall area in the 1600s. The earliest available record in England is from 1616 in Huntingdon. The lack of available records around this time suggests they probably came over from France at a much earlier date than the Huguenots. There is a place in Brittany called Bellion that could be linked to them. They could have arrived at any time between 1066 and the 1600s.

Blue

Post by **MaryA** » 02 Apr 2011 11:02

Blue70 wrote: They could have arrived at any time between 1066 and the 1600s.

Just a small window in time then

Post by **Blue70** » 02 Apr 2011 11:06

During "the Middle Ages" should cover it and I can stop digging

Blue

Post by **Hilary** » 02 Apr 2011 11:19

In case Charles turnms out to be your ancestor here is his marriage

4 january 1803 All Saints Rainford

Charles Bellyan clockmaker bachelor of this parish married Sarah X Sorrelberry spinster of this parish
witnesses Ralph Rhodes Peter Birchall
Charles signs as Bielleuen

This from lancs opc however from the Lancashire Parish Register Society they have

Charles Billyan signs Piellian

There are no children of the marriage baptised at Rainford
Rainford was within the parish of Prescot which was an enormous parish. I think you would need to search al the registers for all the churches within the parish.

Post by **Blue70** » 02 Apr 2011 11:59

Thanks Hilary good find.

Blue

Post by **MaryA** » 02 Apr 2011 16:19

There is apparently a Will for
Bellion, John, Widnes, watch toolmaker. W May 1821. Could be of interest. I believe it will be held in Lancashire Record Office.

Post by **Blue70** » 02 Apr 2011 21:24

Thanks Mary. There's quite a few Bellions in the Liverpool and North West of England area involved in clock or watch making and related occupations appearing in the Census returns, directories, parish records etc.

I'll send a cheque off tomorrow for the St Helens parish records CD and hopefully it will include Edward Bellion's baptism and maybe some of his siblings.

Blue