WHERE IS E WARD?

[dickiesam]

Hello PatsyB,
Just been browsing this thread and noted the reference to Spanish descent in your post of the 12th of May. I think it is entirely possible that the Bellas are of Spanish origins, possibly dating from the Spanish Armada.

Following the routing of the Armada in the English Channel by Sir Francis Drake etc, the remaining Spanish vessels were prevented sailing south for home by both the prevailing wind and the English fleet. Instead they sailed north to go around Scotland and return to Spain by following the west coast of Ireland.

The Armada had by now disintegrated into dozens of individual ships fleeing back to Spain. Many vessels were lost in storms during this passage and as they approached Ireland some sailed south west while others apparently sailed south east. The latter course would have brought them between Ireland and Scotland.

The west coast of Ireland has many tales of Spanish sailors coming ashore from wrecked Armada vessels and descendents are still there. It is possible some arrived on the north west coast on the border between Scotland and England, and in the Cumbria area. They would have been fortunate to survive capture by local militia etc, but it could have happened. Digging into local history in the area might reveal more clues.
Cheers,
Dickiesam