Born in Norfolk, c.1837.
Enlisted at King's Lynn, on the 8th of January 1855.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 6".
Trade: Carpenter.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 25th of May 1855.
Shown on a nominal roll made out at the Cavalry Depot, Scutari, on the 9th of November 1855 as being On Duty there from the 27th of August.
Discharged, "by purchase", from Canterbury on the 7th of February 1857. Payment of £30.
Served 2 years 29 days.
Conduct and character: "very good." Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges.
Next of kin: Father, William Bell, living in King's Lynn, Norfolk.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
1861 Census
2, Wellington Street, West Ham.
John Bell, 25, Carpenter, Kings Lynn.
Mary A., 24.
A sister is also shown.
1871 Census
8, Wharf Street, West Ham.
John Bell, 33, Carpenter, King's Lynn, Norfolk.
Mary A., 33.
Two children shown: Annie M., 9; Alfred, 8.
A brother-in-law is also shown.
1881 Census
46, Arthingworth Street, West Ham, London.
John Bell, 44, Joiner, born King's Lynn, Norfolk
Mary, 44, born King's Lynn.
Two children shown: a son, aged 18, an Ironmonger, and a daughter of school age, both born in Canning Town, London.
1891 Census
46, Arthingworth Street, West Ham.
John Bell, 54, Building foreman, born Kings Lynn.
Mary Ann, 55.
A sister-in-law is also shown.
1901 Census
8, Oriental Street, Poplar.
By 1901 he was [age?], living in Poplar, a "Joiner, Builder's Foreman", with his wife, Alice, 28 [his second wife, possibly?], born Plumstead, Kent. [RM]
No information. But in the 1901 Census he was living at 8, Oriental Street, Poplar, so he is likely to have been buried locally.
Census information for 1861, 1871, and 1891 kindly provided by Chris Poole.