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 silverstreams@bell.net or you can snail mail me at Brenda Belbin, 138 Dufferin 
Street, Orillia, Ontario.  L3V 5T2 or if you'd like to speak to me my # is 705-325-5656.  Please 
sign our Guest Book and let us know if this site has been helpful or interesting to you.  As in most 
cases of history being handed down, we do run into errors and omissions and will try to correct 
these as they are brought to my attention. Our Guest Book is a means that we use to improve this 
website for everyone.  Please take the time and record your visit. I've just noticed that the Guest 
Book does not provide any way for me to contact you, so please include your email address, so I can 
respond to you.  Many thanks for taking the time to browse this site and provide updates and changes 
that are required.

     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 or photos 
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).  Please note *Terry now has a 
Belbin/Belbin Facebook page.  
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.  

     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.  When too many variations/conflicts 
of the spelling of this surname arise, the name will be recorded as Belbin.

     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.  
Update:  Summer of 2011 I have been in Newfoundland and have spent time with some of the more 
senior members of the Matthews family and am deeply indebted to their contribution in developing the 
"Matthews" side of our Family Tree.   

Sorry to note, that due to some unscrupulous internet activities, some data of living relatives has 
been blocked to protect them.  If you are filling out your own family tree and would like access to 
this info, please contact me and I will ask permission from the living individuals, if I am able to 
contact them.  

 Some trivia:  In 2003, the Newfoundland government decided to change the abbreviated form of 
NF to NL to reflect both Newfoundland and Labrador, the two land masses that make up the province 
of Newfoundland.

     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."