William Fell

William Fell (1823-1902)^[1]“William Fell,” Memorial ID 61459989, Find A Grave, accessed September 7, 2021, a native of England, came to America in 1855 and farmed in Ionia County, Michigan.

Biography

Early life

William Fell was born on September 1, 1823 in Coppull, Lancashire, England.^[2]William Fell death certificate, September 1, 1902, Ionia County, Michigan, page 246, registered number 10, digital file 232180, “Death Records,” Michiganology.org, accessed September 10, … Continue reading Five weeks later, on November 9, 1823, he was baptized at the Chapelry of Coppull.^[3]William Fell baptismal record, November 9, 1823, Chapelry of Coppull, Coppull, Lancashire, England, Register of Baptisms 1813-1833, page 53, record 419, “England Births and Christenings, … Continue reading William’s parents were William Fell and Frances Kirkham (c. 1788-1854).

The Fell family were weavers. The elder William was listed as a weaver both on the younger William’s baptismal record^[4]William Fell baptismal record, November 9, 1823, Chapelry of Coppull, Coppull, Lancashire, England, Register of Baptisms 1813-1833, page 53, record 419, “England Births and Christenings, … Continue reading and in the 1841 England Census.^[5]Wm Fell in Chorley, Lancashire, England in “England and Wales Census, 1841,” FamilySearch, accessed September 11, 2021 It is unclear as to whether this would have been handloom weaving or industrial weaving, though both Coppull and Chorley were home to large textile factories. In the 1851 England Census, the elder William, Frances, the younger William, and Thomas were all listed as handloom weavers. Two of the younger William’s brothers (Peter and John) were listed as grade labourers (railroad workers), one of his sisters (Alice) was listed as working at a cotton mill, and a 12 year-old cousin (Thomas Leather) was listed as working as a bobbin winder. The handloom weaving would have been done in their house, as they were listed as cotters.^[6]William Fell in Chorley, Lancashire, England in “England and Wales Census, 1851,” FamilySearch, accessed September 11, 2021

The Fells moved around within a small area. William and Frances were married in Wigan on May 15, 1820,^[7]William Fell and Frances Kirkham marriage record, May 15, 1820, Wigan All Saints, Wigan, Lancashire, England, 1820 Marriages, page 35, record 105, in “England Marriages, 1538-1973,” … Continue reading but by the end of 1820, they were living in Coppull, where their first two sons (Thomas and Henry) were baptized.^[8]Thomas and Henry Fell baptismal record, December 30, 1820, Chapelry of Coppull, Coppull, Lancashire, England, Coppull Baptisms 1813-1833, page 38, record 298, “England Births and Christenings, … Continue reading By 1828, they were living in Charnock Richard,^[9]William Fell in Chorley, Lancashire, England in “England and Wales Census, 1851,” FamilySearch, accessed September 11, 2021 and by 1841, they were living in Leigh Road in Chorley.^[10]Wm Fell in Chorley, Lancashire, England in “England and Wales Census, 1841,” FamilySearch, accessed September 11, 2021

1854 was a momentous year for William Fell. On February 5, 1854, he married Winifred Gallagher in St. George’s Church in Chorley.^[11]William Fell and Enney Gallagher marriage record, February 5, 1854, St. George’s Church, Chorley, Lancashire, England, Register of Marriages No. 3 (1854), page 7, “England, Lancashire, … Continue reading Winifred was a native of Ireland and had likely moved to England during the Great Famine. Just over a month after their wedding, their first child, Mary Ann Fell, was born on March 10, 1854 in Chorley.^[12]Mary Ann Fell baptismal record, March 15, 1854, St. George’s Church, Chorley, Lancashire, England, Register of Baptisms 1850-1866, page 86, record 15, “England Births and Christenings, … Continue reading His mother, Frances, died on May 16, 1854.^[13]Frances Fell burial record, May 20, 1854, St. George’s Church, Chorley, Lancashire, England, Register of Burials 1836-1859, page 190, record 1517, in “England, Lancashire, Parish … Continue reading And then on October 24, William, Winifred, Mary Ann, and Winifred’s sister Jane set sail for America.^[14]Liverpool Mercury, October 20, 1854, Newspapers.com, accessed September 11, 2021^[15]William Fell on the “City of New York,” arrived December 4, 1854, in “New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1891,” FamilySearch, accessed September 9, 2021

In New York

After six weeks at sea, the packet ship “City of New York” arrived in New York City. All but 3 of its 775 passengers arrived safely.^[17]William Fell on the “City of New York,” arrived December 4, 1854, in “New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1891,” FamilySearch, accessed September 9, 2021 The Fells, along with Jane Gallagher, headed to the Town of Brookfield, Madison County, New York, where Winifred’s parents had settled the year before.^[18]John Gallahar in Brookfield, Madison County, New York in “New York State Census, 1855,” FamilySearch, accessed September 12, 2021

After a life of weaving, William Fell began his career as a farmer. In the 1855 New York Census, William was living with Lorenzo D. Conger, for whom he was a farm laborer.^[19]William Fell in Brookfield, Madison County, New York in “New York State Census, 1855,” FamilySearch, accessed September 12, 2021 In the 1860 United States Census, William and Winifred had their own household, and William was working as a day laborer.^[20]William Fell in Town of Brookfield, Madison County, New York in “United States Census, 1860,” FamilySearch, accessed September 12, 2021

In Michigan

On May 2, 1865, William Fell bought his first farm. This was a 36 acre farm in the northeast quarter of the northeast fractional quarter of Section 6 of Township 5N of Range 6W (Sebewa Township) in Ionia County, Michigan that he purchased for $500.^[21]Myron Wright to William Fell deed recorded May 3, 1865 in Ionia County Deed Book v. 31, page 309 in Ionia County (Michigan) Register of Deeds, “Deed records, 1838-1937; index, 1836-1902,” … Continue reading Fifteen years later, the Fells sold this land to Henry Seckstone for $1625,^[22]William Fell to Henry Seckstone deed recorded April 1, 1880 in Ionia County Deed Book v. 75, page 585 in Ionia County (Michigan) Register of Deeds, “Deed records, 1838-1937; index, … Continue reading He then purchased 79 acres of land in Sebewa Township–the west half of the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 7 and the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 5–for $3950.^[23]John G. Snyder to William Fell deed recorded April 1, 1880 in Ionia County Deed Book v. 75, page 584 in Ionia County (Michigan) Register of Deeds, “Deed records, 1838-1937; index, … Continue reading The Fells farmed this land until 1900, when they sold it to Frank Lehman for $2200.^[24]William Fell to Frank Lehman deed recorded April 23, 1900 in Ionia County Deed Book v. 128, page 513 in Ionia County (Michigan) Register of Deeds, “Deed records, 1838-1937; index, … Continue reading

Later life

On September 1, 1902, William Fell died at his home in Sebewa Township. The cause of death was heart failure brought on by general paralysis. He was buried in Alderman Cemetery.^[25]William Fell death certificate, September 1, 1902, Ionia County, Michigan, page 246, registered number 10, digital file 232180, “Death Records,” Michiganology.org, accessed September 10, … Continue reading^[26]“William Fell,” Memorial ID 61459989, Find A Grave, accessed September 7, 2021

Children

William Fell and Winifred (Gallagher) Fell had ten children^[27]Winifred Fell in Sebewa Township, Ionia County, Michigan in “United States Census, 1900,” FamilySearch, accessed September 12, 2021, nine of whom we have information on:

1. Mary Ann Fell (1854-?)^[28]Mary Ann Fell baptismal record, March 15, 1854, St. George’s Church, Chorley, Lancashire, England, Register of Baptisms 1850-1866, page 86, record 15, “England Births and Christenings, … Continue reading was listed in the 1860 United States Census,^[29]Mary Fell in Town of Brookfield, Madison County, New York in “United States Census, 1860,” FamilySearch, accessed September 12, 2021 but she is not seen in records after then.
2. Frances Mary Fell (1855-1932)^[30]“Frances Marie Fell Rubedeaux,” Memorial ID 103343906, Find A Grave, accessed September 12, 2021 married Anson Rubedeaux and farmed in Ionia County.^[31]Frances M Rubedew in Sebewa Township, Ionia County, Michigan in “United States Census, 1900,” FamilySearch, accessed September 12, 2021
3. Thomas Fell (1857-1928)^[32]“Thomas Fell,” Memorial ID 98709062, Find A Grave, accessed September 12, 2021 married Sarah Seckstone and then Elsie Huff. He was a laborer in Ionia County.^[33]Thomas Fell in “United States Census, 1920,” FamilySearch, accessed September 12, 2021
4. Sarah Jane Fell (1859-1938)^[34]“Sarah Jane Fell Williams,” Memorial ID 116773843, Find A Grave, accessed September 12, 2021 married John Arthur Williams and farmed in Ionia County.^[35]Sarah Jane Williams in Sebewa Township, Ionia County, Michigan in “United States Census, 1910,” FamilySearch, accessed September 12, 2021
5. William Fell (1862-1910)^[36]“William Fell,” Memorial ID 204306799, Find A Grave, accessed September 12, 2021 moved to Evansville, Rock County, Wisconsin. He married Edith Priebe and worked as a house painter.^[37]William Fell in Evansville, Rock County, Wisconsin in “United States Census, 1900,” FamilySearch, accessed September 12, 2021
6. Emma C. Fell (1869-1888)^[38]“Emma Henderson,” Memorial ID 103199661, Find A Grave, accessed September 12, 2021 married Archibald Henderson in 1887 but died only a year later.
7. Mary Etta Fell (1871-1948)^[39]“Mary Etta Fell Evans,” Memorial ID 35961339, Find A Grave, accessed September 12, 2021 moved to Ravenna, Portage County, Ohio, and married Orrin Alman Evans.
8. John Edward Fell (1874-1951)^[40]“John Edward Fell,” Memorial ID 98708974, Find A Grave, accessed September 12, 2021 married Evaline Hare and farmed in Ionia County.^[41]Edward Fell in Orange Township, Ionia County, Michigan in “United States Census, 1920,” FamilySearch, accessed September 12, 2021
9. Lillian Blanche Fell (1876-1950)^[42]“Lillian Blanche Fell Hackett,” Memorial ID 97784120, Find A Grave, accessed September 12, 2021 married George Hackett, who ran a hardware store in Ionia.^[43]Blanche Hackett in Ionia, Ionia County, Michigan in “United States Census, 1920,” FamilySearch, accessed September 12, 2021

Census records

• 1841 England Census, Chorley, Lancashire, England
• 1851 England Census, Chorley, Lancashire, England
• 1855 New York Census, Brookfield Township, Madison County, New York
• 1860 U.S. Census, Brookfield Township, Madison County, New York
• 1880 U.S. Census, Sebewa Township, Ionia County, Michigan
• 1900 U.S. Census, Sebewa Township, Ionia County, Michigan

Property records

Sebewa Township, Ionia County, Michigan

Date of Deed	Date Recorded	Grantor	Grantee	Volume	Page	Description
1865-05-02	1865-05-03	Myron Wright and Mary Jane his wife	William Fell	31	309	36 acres in the NE 1/4 of the NE fractional 1/4 of Section 6 of Township 5N of Range 6W
1880-04-01	1880-04-01	John G. Snyder	Wm Fell	75	584	39 acres in the SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 5 of Township 5N of Range 6W and 40 acres in the W 1/2 of the W 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of Section 7 of Township 5N of Range 6W
1880-04-01	1880-04-01	William Fell and Winnyfred Fell his wife	Henry Seckstone	75	585	36 acres in the NE 1/4 of the NE fractional 1/4 of Section 6 of Township 5N of Range 6W
1885-05-29	1889-07-15	William Fell and Winneyford Fell his wife	Luke La Lange	100	57	A small parcel in Section 5 of Township 5N of Range 6W
1891-03-09	1891-03-18	William Fell and Winnyfred Fell his wife	Henry Seckstone et al.	105	383	40 square rods in Section 5 of Township 5N of Range 6W
1892-02-20	1892-02-29	William Fell and Wineyfred Fell	Anson Rubedew	109	131	40 acres in the W 1/2 of the W 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of Section 7 and 79 acres in the SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 5 of Township 5N of Range 6W, also including personal property
1892-02-20	1892-02-29	Anson Rubedew and his wife Frances Rubedew	William Fell and wife Winnyfred Fell	109	132	40 acres in the W 1/2 of the W 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of Section 7 and 79 acres in the SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 5 of Township 5N of Range 6W, also including personal property
1892-09-26	1893-11-14	William Fell and Winniefred Fell his wife	Geo E Warring et al.	112	204	A small parcel in Section 5 of Township 5N of Range 6W
1899-02-17	1899-02-17	William Fell and Winnifred Fell	George Y. Fletcher	124	553	W 1/2 of the W 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of Section 7 of Township 5N of Range 6W
1900-04-23	1900-04-23	George Y. Fletcher	William Fell and Winfred Fell his wife	128	512	5 acres in the NW 1/4 of Section 7 of Township 5N of Range 6W
1900-04-23	1900-04-23	William Fell	Frank Lehman	128	513	79 acres in the SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 5 of Township 5N of Range 6W

Research notes

• 2021-09-12: I have been unable to find any record of the Fells in the 1870 U.S. Census. They should be listed in Sebewa Township, but they are not there. Also, I have e-mailed the library in Lake Odessa to try to obtain an obituary for William, but I have not heard back yet.