Mathew Bell
Encyclopedia
Mathew Bell was a seigneur
, businessman and political figure in Lower Canada
. His first name is also sometimes recorded as Matthew.
He was born at Berwick-upon-Tweed
in England
, the son of James Bell, who served two terms as the town's mayor. Bell came to Quebec
around 1784 and worked as a clerk for merchant John Lees
. In 1890, he started an importing business in partnership with David Monro
; they owned a store at Quebec and their own ships. When John Lees retired from business in 1791, they became agents for Alexander
and George Davison
, who were suppliers to the British
troops in North America. Bell and Monro also managed the king's posts on the north shore of the lower Saint Lawrence River
and, in 1793, held a share in the lease of the Saint-Maurice ironworks
. In 1799, after the death of George Davison, they became sole holders of the lease of the ironworks.
In 1799, Bell was named a justice of the peace. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
for Saint-Maurice in 1800. He was elected for Trois-Rivières in 1809 and again in 1810, generally supporting the English party. During the War of 1812
, he served as a captain in the local militia and formed a volunteer cavalry unit at Quebec. Bell served as master of Trinity House
of Quebec from 1814 to 1816. His partner David Monro retired in 1815 and he took on John Stewart as a partner in the firm. In 1817, with Monro, Bell bought the seigneury of Champlain; he acquired the seigneuries of Hertel and Mont-Louis on his own. Bell also acquired large amounts of property in the townships. In 1823, he was named to the Legislative Council
and served until the suspension of the constitution following the Lower Canada Rebellion
. In 1829, he moved his home to Trois-Rivières
to be closer to the ironworks. During the rebellion, he organized the defence against the Patriotes in the region. Bell was invited to serve on the Special Council
that governed the province after the rebellion but did not accept the offer.
In 1846, the government sold the Saint-Maurice ironworks; Bell lost to Henry Stuart in the bidding. He retired to Trois-Rivières, where he died in 1849.
His daughter Catherine married Edward Greive
, who represented Trois-Rivières in the legislative assembly of the Province of Canada. His daughter Margaret married William Walker, who served on the legislative council. His daughter Ann, married merchant John George Irvine and was the mother of George Irvine
, who was a lawyer, judge and served in both the federal and provincial legislatures.
Seigneurial system of New France
The seigneurial system of New France was the semi-feudal system of land distribution used in the North American colonies of New France.-Introduction to New France:...
, businessman and political figure in Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
. His first name is also sometimes recorded as Matthew.
He was born at Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed or simply Berwick is a town in the county of Northumberland and is the northernmost town in England, on the east coast at the mouth of the River Tweed. It is situated 2.5 miles south of the Scottish border....
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the son of James Bell, who served two terms as the town's mayor. Bell came to Quebec
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
around 1784 and worked as a clerk for merchant John Lees
John Lees (politician)
John Lees was a businessman, judge and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Scotland around 1740 and came to the town of Quebec with his family around 1761. With Alexander Dawson, he formed a company in 1773 that was involved in importing goods and supplying the British Army; they also...
. In 1890, he started an importing business in partnership with David Monro
David Monro (merchant)
David Monro was a seigneur, businessman and political figure in Lower Canada. His surname was also sometimes spelled Munro....
; they owned a store at Quebec and their own ships. When John Lees retired from business in 1791, they became agents for Alexander
Alexander Davison
Alexander Davison was an English businessman, born on 2 April 1750 in Lanton, Northumberland, England and who died in 1829 in Brighton, England. He was a contemporary and close friend of Admiral Lord Nelson....
and George Davison
George Davison (merchant)
George Davison was a businessman and political figure in Quebec. His surname also sometimes appears as Davidson.He came to Quebec around 1773 and acquired lands in the seigneury of Rivière-du-Loup. He was in business in partnership with his older brother Alexander. Davison was named to the...
, who were suppliers to the British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
troops in North America. Bell and Monro also managed the king's posts on the north shore of the lower Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
and, in 1793, held a share in the lease of the Saint-Maurice ironworks
Forges du Saint-Maurice
Forges du Saint-Maurice , just outside of Trois-Rivières, Quebec, is a National Historic Site of Canada, and birthplace of the country's iron industry....
. In 1799, after the death of George Davison, they became sole holders of the lease of the ironworks.
In 1799, Bell was named a justice of the peace. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada was the lower house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The legislative assembly was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791...
for Saint-Maurice in 1800. He was elected for Trois-Rivières in 1809 and again in 1810, generally supporting the English party. During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, he served as a captain in the local militia and formed a volunteer cavalry unit at Quebec. Bell served as master of Trinity House
Trinity House
The Corporation of Trinity House of Deptford Strond is the official General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales and other British territorial waters...
of Quebec from 1814 to 1816. His partner David Monro retired in 1815 and he took on John Stewart as a partner in the firm. In 1817, with Monro, Bell bought the seigneury of Champlain; he acquired the seigneuries of Hertel and Mont-Louis on his own. Bell also acquired large amounts of property in the townships. In 1823, he was named to the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Lower Canada
The Legislative Council of Lower Canada was the upper house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The upper house consisted of appointed councillors who voted on bills passed up by the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada. The legislative council was...
and served until the suspension of the constitution following the Lower Canada Rebellion
Lower Canada Rebellion
The Lower Canada Rebellion , commonly referred to as the Patriots' War by Quebeckers, is the name given to the armed conflict between the rebels of Lower Canada and the British colonial power of that province...
. In 1829, he moved his home to Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Trois-Rivières is a city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada, located at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence Rivers. It is situated in the Mauricie administrative region, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River across from the city of Bécancour...
to be closer to the ironworks. During the rebellion, he organized the defence against the Patriotes in the region. Bell was invited to serve on the Special Council
Special Council of Lower Canada
The Special Council of Lower Canada was an appointed body which administered Lower Canada until the Union Act of 1840 created the Province of Canada. Following the Lower Canada Rebellion, on March 27, 1838, the Constitutional Act of 1791 was suspended and both the Legislative Assembly and...
that governed the province after the rebellion but did not accept the offer.
In 1846, the government sold the Saint-Maurice ironworks; Bell lost to Henry Stuart in the bidding. He retired to Trois-Rivières, where he died in 1849.
His daughter Catherine married Edward Greive
Edward Greive
Edward Greive was a businessman and political figure in Canada East.He was a merchant at Trois-Rivières and also acted as an agent there for Mathew Bell. In 1844, he married Catherine, Bell's daughter...
, who represented Trois-Rivières in the legislative assembly of the Province of Canada. His daughter Margaret married William Walker, who served on the legislative council. His daughter Ann, married merchant John George Irvine and was the mother of George Irvine
George Irvine (Canadian politician)
George Irvine was a Quebec lawyer, judge, professor and political figure. He represented Mégantic in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1867 to 1876 and from 1878 to 1884 and in the 1st Canadian Parliament as a Conservative.He was born in Quebec City in 1826, the son of Lt.-Colonel John...
, who was a lawyer, judge and served in both the federal and provincial legislatures.