Lucy Bell was born on 22 May 1843 in Tillicoultry, Scotland.
She arrived in Victoria on 20 April 1855. Aged 11 years, she
came out here with her family on the ship, Sir Charles Napier.
Her family were government-assisted immigrants.
The journey had taken five months. They landed in Geelong and
went straight to the goldfields south of Ballarat. Ballarat
had been the site of the Eureka Stockade on 3 December 1854.
In November 1855 responsible government was introduced in Victoria.
On 16 October 1863, aged 20, Lucy married a Swiss immigrant,
John Singer. In 1864 she turned 21 years of age. Three children
followed: Charles Leopold in 1865, Lucy Caroline in 1866 and
Agatha Katherine in 1872. By the time Agatha was born, John
Singer had been granted permission to occupy two areas of land
which were located side by side (in Yarrowee and Lynchfield).
The Land Act 1869 allowed a successful applicant to
lease the land selected for three years. If they met certain
conditions to improve the land during that time they could buy
the land or lease it for another seven years. During that seven-year
period they were required to pay for the land in instalments.
The Land Act of 1869 also required people who leased
land to live on the land and to cultivate it.
Lucy's husband John Singer died suddenly in 1873. She
remarried in 1874 before issues about ownership of the land
were settled. This created problems for Lucy during the coming
years. The matters were not finalised until 1880. She died in
January 1885.
You can find out more about Lucy Bell's life by visiting
the Public Records Office of Victoria's website at http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/exhibs/lucy/welcome.htm
