Joseph Bell – Cumbrian
Visitors to this website may wonder if Joseph Bell spoke with a Cumbrian accent albeit with strong influences of the English borders and the North East? We will never know for sure, but assume that he did so.
To help interested visitors understand and appreciate the ancient and rich Cumbrian dialect, we have, under the pseudonym of ‘William & Betsy Bell’, published a glossary of Cumbrian words and phrases titled ‘CUMBRIAN ENGLISH’ (link to book here)
William & Betsy Bell were my Grandparents, to whom this glossary is dedicated. William was born in Longtown in 1870. He started out in life working on a farm and subsequently migrated for work to West Cumberland first as an iron ore worker and then as a coal miner, reaching the position of Deputy. The Deputies, in the absence of the Back Overman, went to work two hours before the Coal Hewers and were responsible for the management of the district of the pit over which they were appointed.
The Deputies’ responsibilities included supporting the roof with props of wood, removing props from the old workings, changing the air currents when necessary, and clearing away any sudden eruption of gas or fall of stone that might impede the work of the Hewers. My Grandfather I think was a hero too, he died on the 29th of November 1943, aged 72.
Cumbrian English can be obtained from the publisher from the link here: www.absonbooks.co.uk
William & Betsy Bell c.1941
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- William & Betsy Bell c.1941
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- Hannah Bell daughter of William & Betsy Bell, b.15th April 1908, and mother of Barrie Bell Hodgson.
Joseph Bell, Chief Engineer on the R.M.S. Titanic 
April 15, 2012 at 8:47 am |
Excellent website, thank you.
I have loads of Bells from Farlam and thereabouts with my family tree.
Trying to find a connection to Joseph as my grandson is Titanic mad! He would be so excited if he had a connection.
April 17, 2012 at 8:20 pm |
Thanks Linda, Glad that you have found the site of interest. Do take a look at the Bell genealogy and maybe, amongst the many Bells to be to be found historically in Farlam, your grandson has a
however slight, a connection to hero Joseph Bell.
June 22, 2022 at 11:01 am |
I am writing the story of the Titanic and have just reached this page and I’m stuck so may I use it in my book please citing you as the research page in the bibliography.
June 22, 2022 at 11:13 am |
Hello David, that would be fine thanks. Is it possible to mention my fathers name Barrie Hodgson as the creator of the material? He died last year but would be glad to know he’d provided something useful. Bill.
June 22, 2022 at 11:36 am
Good afternoon certainly and Thankyou for allowing this use material its going to open a story no one knew of titanic and my last page of the book I’m using facial memories all half an inch by half an inch and will include Joesph and now his family Thankyou again.
June 22, 2022 at 12:56 pm
I’ve written about Joseph and will say this in the bibliography. joesph bell created by Barrie Hodgson who sadly passed away last year.
Anything else should I say ?
David
June 22, 2022 at 1:18 pm
How about “Background on the Bell family used by permission from the estate of Barrie Hodgson, author the Joseph Bell Engineer website” ? Bill.
June 22, 2022 at 1:23 pm |
Good idea Thankyou I’ll put exactly that as I would like when finished send you a pdf file of the chapter called Liverpool and crew I think you’re like it infact I can send you a copy now as I finish trying to find crew photos so what’s your private email please