Hello and Welcome to the Belbin-Matthews web site.  It is my wish that you find this
site informative and enlightening. As Web Site administrator, I have tried to be as
accurate as I can about names and dates of the persons entered in this site.  Much
of the data that I have gleaned the info about is very dated and you may find some
errors or omissions, please contact me to have the corrections made.  My e-mail address
is silverstreamsfarm@sympatico.ca or you can snail mail me at Brenda Belbin, 3115
Riverdale Drive, Washago, Ontario.  L0K 2B0 or if you'd like to speak to me my # is
705-689-1512.

     I am always looking for stories or anecdotes that provide insight to the persons
listed, so please, if you have any, contact me.  Also, if you have any fond memories
linked to persons listed here, I would be pleased to add them to the person's notes.

     Many people have been exceptionally helpful in providing the information on
specific families included in our Belben/Belbin Family History.  Lloyd Belben of New
Chelsea, NL. provided the base of the family tree and inspired me to dig a little
deeper into the family history and many web sites, including
"www.belbin.net/newfoundland" and "BelbinMania", both by Terry Belbin of England, (I
have found "BelbinMania" to be absolutely the best site on the web for a variety of
"Belben/Belbin/Bellman/ etc. Info.) has been instrumental in filling in many of the
blanks that occur when researching family history.  The early background history is
very confusing in this family tree of Belbin's; Belben's;Bellman's, Belman's (visit
"Belbinmania" on the web for even more variations of this name).  The Grand Banks
Records Data is another source rich in a variety of documentations pertaining to the
Island of Newfoundland and their link is included on our home page.  I encourage you to
have a look at both sites, however, Belbinmania has the resources for the
"Belbin/Belben" name.  Jim Halpin of United States has a site on the web that is rich
in Belben/Belbin history of the United States.  I am truly grateful to all the people
who have made such efforts of cataloging all the family names for both the
Belbins/Belbens and Matthews families.

     It is some people's theory that the Belbin/Belben/Bellman/Belman of Newfoundland
have originated from a Nathan Belbin of England and for this reason, Nathan Belben of
England is included in this version of the family.  However, thus far, NO DOCUMENTED
proof has been confirmed as of yet.  Hopefully, in my lifetime or the next 
administrator's lifetime, documentation proving the English ancestry, will come to
light and we will have documentation to confirm or disprove this.  

     As in most cases of history being handed down, we do run into errors and 
omissions and I will try to correct these as they are brought to my attention. So
please, if you are aware of changes that need to be made to this site, please
let me know.  

     Please note, in many official documents Belbin/Belben/Bellman/Belman and many
variations, have been intermixed from the original information that I have received. 
In many cases, I have tried to include the different spellings of the surnames of this
family, however, due to volume, some of the person's listed are listed under the
original name that I was given and updates are still underway.

     Also, if you are looking at this site and find some of your relatives/ancestors 
on it, please provide your family information, so that we can include your family
also.  The more we know, the better the site.  So for all you relatives of the
Belbin/Matthews lines, enjoy this site and become an active participant.

     For the Matthews/Harris side of the family, credit and thanks must be given to 
the late Agnes Harris Matthews and June Matthews Belbin.  Many years ago, I was able 
to tape the family history by my Grandmother, Agnes and it is from there, much of the
older family history is recorded.  My mother June Matthews Belbin has spent many hours
working on her biography and we, as Mother and Daughter have shared many hours of
conversation about her memories and her accounts of the family.  Many thanks to my
wonderful and talented Mother.  

     Mom's sisters Mona and Geraldine have wonderful memories and many anecdotes come
from their past experiences.  Thank you, Dear Aunts.  Bob Ford of Mount Pearl, NL has
researched and provided much of the Matthews history and deserves  credit for his input
into this history web page. 

     I have found it very difficult to trace much of the Matthews Family, as Matthews
is quite a common name and many are not related.  If anyone should possess the
information related to the Matthews' listed and their ancestors and descendants, please
contact me.

     This summer, 2008, I am planning on a touring trip of Newfoundland to collect and
document "Matthews" information on our family.  I hope to be able to fill in the many
blanks of our "Matthews & Harris" family tree and by 2009, should have most of the
information listed on our Family Site.  If anyone having any info re: this family tree
and who lives in Newfoundland and would welcome an information sharing visit, please
let me know so I can fill out our tour schedule.

     I would like to acknowledge the help of Donna Alden-Budgen of Winnipeg, Manitoba,
for her input into the Matthews side of the family.  

     Currently, many members of our family live far away and apart, however, we remain
close in love and family bonds.

     Please remember, that it is not only for our generation that the Family History is
to be enjoyed, but also, and more importantly, for the future generations to come.   It
is our mark that we leave in this world that our descendants can get to know and
remember us by.  "Spend time with your children and tell them about their past family;
you will be surprised at just how much they remember of your conversations, when they
become adults."