Bell Family

The Bell Family

Captain Robert Bell of NC and TN

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A-1 The father is unknown, but perhaps was a Samuel—as the elder of the following two could have been named for their father. Family lore says they came from Ulster, Ireland. Grandson Rev Robert Bell, in an interview with Lyman C Draper, reported his grandfather lived in PA at the time his father Maj Robert Bell was born, but moved to Amherst Co, VA ca 1744.

B-1 Samuel Bell, b ca 1720-30, Ireland or Pennsylvania. He moved from Caswell Co to Guilford Co, NC in 1762, as did his brother Capt. Robert Bell. Their families became members of the Buffalo Presbyterian Church in Guilford Co. Samuel m Mary. He served as a ruling elder of the church, was a witness to the church trials (records of Buffalo Pres. Records 1773-1796). He was a Rev. War pensioner (Col Recs. Vol. 22, p 58). He served as a member of the Safety Committee of the country, and was accused of killing a man, but proved innocent, as the victim was a British spy. For more genealogy see "The Bells in USA and Allied Families, by Gintha Gina Bell, 1977."

B-2 Major/Capt. Robert Bell, b 1731/32 Pennsylvania, d Feb 1816 of a cold plague in Davidson Co, TN, m 1st ca 1763 Catherine Walker, who d 1770, he m 2^nd 1 Jan 1775 Mary Boyd, b 1754, dau of John & Rebecca Boyd. Rebecca Boyd sold land on Belews Cr. to Robert Bell 22 Feb 1784 in Guilford Co, NC. Ref: book A-1, page 306. This 320 acres had been sold 14 Apr 1767 to Rebecca, widow of John. Land was near Bledsoe's Lick. Robert had a land grant from Earl of Granville for 360 acres on Haw Rv in Guilford Co, NC in 1762.

He sold this to his bro, Samuel, 1770. His father-in-law, John Walker, a wit, also his bro, Francis Bell. Robert was in said Co # 691, with 3 males under 10, he 27-45, 1 female 27-45, another female over 45, 1 slave. Neighbors were Jehu Cox and James Johnson. Robert Bell was Capt/Maj. in the Revolution. He raised nineteen children. Chi 1 thru 5 were from Catherine Walker, who d 1772/3 and was dau of John Walker. They are mentioned in the Buffalo Pres. Church records. Robert received 2,560 acres for his service. Goodspeed's History of TN, pp 1080-81.

He had come to Sumner Co, TN for a short time, before settling in Davidson Co. Robert's estate settlement is recorded in Davidson Co, TN, where he lived on Mill Cr, 9 miles SE of Nashville near Nolensville. His estate settlement is lengthy, showing several relatives buying. His son, Rev Robert Bell, said in an interview with Lyman C Draper that his father was a “professor of religion.” This is probably a fact, as his library was rather large, as evidenced by the listing in his estate sale.

C-1 Mary Bell, (dau of Robert) born 11-4-1763, died 9-23-1827, married 8-5-1788 Sumner Co, TN Thomas Williamson.

C-2 Samuel Bell, (son of Robert) born 2-11-1766, died 1836, married 6-16-1791 Margaret Edmiston, born 1773, died 7-6-1830, daughter of John Edmiston of Lincoln Co, TN.

C-3 Ann Bell, (dau of Robert) born 6-27-1768, died 12-24-1860, married 11-4-1790 William Marshall, born 11-2-1757, died 1-27-1826.

C-4 Robert Bell, Jr (twin) (son of Robert) born 12-16-1770, died 11-9-1853, married ? 8-6-1794 Grizelle McCutcheon, born 2-10-1775, died 4-22-1854, widow of James McCutcheon of Logan Co, KY, who she had married 1790.Early Marriages show marriage date as 4-29-1794. Robert was a missionary to the Indians in Pontotoc Co, MS.

C-5 Catherine Bell, (twin) (dau of Robert) born 12-16-1770, died 3-31-1859, married 8-6-1790 Samuel McCutcheon, born 4-13-1759, died 2-19-1816, of Logan Co, KY. A desc from this line is Hildegarde Smith, who wrote the book "The McCutchen Trace.

C-6 infant, chi of Catherine and Robert

C-7 John Bell, (son of Robert) born 12-9-1776 NC, married 3-8-1810 Sally Bell, born 1775, his cousin, daughter of Samuel Bell, show 1850 Davidson Co, TN.

C-8 James Bell, (son of Robert) born 8-23-1777, died 6-22-1823, married ca 1800 Mary Dean, born 7-12-1777 VA, died 8-8-1829.

C-9 Hugh Bell, (son of Robert) born 5-1-1779 NC, died after 1850, married 11-15-1800 Margaret McKinney Davidson Co, TN, born 8-10-1781, died 10-10-1840 Pontotoc Co, MS, daughter of John and Margaret Fulkerson. More about Hugh and his children shown below.

C-10 Daniel, (son of Robert) died 1814 New Orleans, LA, unmarried.

C-11 Sarah Bell, (dau of Robert) married 6-6-1815 John Allen , moved to IL.

C-12 Rebecca Bell, (dau of Robert) died 1816, unmarried.

C-13 Francis Bell, (son of Robert) born 11-23-1782, died 6-21-1866 Talula, Menard Co, IL, married 1st 7-21-1807 Peggy Bailes, she died 9-15-1807, married 2nd 1809 Elizabeth Allen of White Hall Twp, Greene Co, IL she died 8-15-1835.

C-14 David Bell, (son of Robert) born 7-2-1786, died 8-1-1863, married 4-14-1814 Williamson Co, TN Elizabeth Edmiston. Show there 1850 census. Bond was posted by Robert McCutcheon

C-15 Thomas Bell, (son of Robert) born 9-13-1789, died 1879, married 1st 11-6-1805 (bond) Margaret Dooley, 2nd Catherine Foster, born 2-22-1795, died 9-15-1850, 3rd Catherine Adams, born 3-21-1817, died 6-30-1885 . They show 1850 Davidson Co. The marriage was posted by William Dooley, witness was N. P. Harrison.

C-16 Abraham Bell, (son of Robert) moved to MS, lived to be an old man.

C-17 Nathaniel Bell, (son of Robert) died 1844, married 1-18-1823 Davidson Co, TN Eleanor Johnston. He shows purchasing items at his father's estate sale.

C-18 William Bell, (son of Robert) unmarried. There is a will recorded Williamson Co, TN at Oct session 1816 for a William R. Bell, George Bell was adm. (A William M. Bell shows Book B, p 644 and 667, 1808.)

C-19 Jane Bell, (dau of Robert) born 7-24-1795, died 8-15-1860, married 7-2-1818 Peter Martin, born 11-4-1793, died 7-26-1849, lived Gallatin, TN.

Hugh Bell and His Children

Hugh Bell (son of Robert) born 5-1-1779 NC, died after 1850 , married 11-15-1800 in Davidson Co, TN, Margaret McKinney, born 8-10-1781, died 10-10-1840 Pontotoc Co, MS, daughter of John & Margaret Fulkerson. Their chi: Caroline (1802), Zilpha (1803), Alfred ( ), Paris Dooley ( ), Adeline ( ), Jane ( ), Florence (1812), Robert Allen (1816), Mary Boyd (1817), James Daniel (1818).

Four of his children purchased land in Johnson Co, MO, but only three actually moved there. They were Zilpha, Paris Dooley and James Daniel His son Robert Allen Bell sold his land and stayed in Pontotoc Co, MS.

Hugh left Williamson Co, TN for Limestone Co, AL ca 1818. From there he moved where his brother Robert Bell was located, in Monroe Co, MS—and on to Pontotoc Co, MS. He shows deeds Limestone Co, Vol 5, p 183. He shows in the 1820 census, p 24 #469. He has eight children at home. Zilpha was married and probably one of the older children was out working. John Lindsay sued Hugh Bell, Limestone Superior & Circuit Court Abstracts 04 Oct 1819. He had signed a note 22 Sep 1818. Lindsay recovered $3.86. Hugh and Margaret sold their land in Limestone Co, AL 02 Jan 1837.

His brother Robert, the missionary, had moved from Monroe Co, MS to Pontotoc Co at this same time. Hugh shows on Pontotoc Co deeds: Jan 1838, book 2, p 292, to W. Goodman and deeds: 2/510, 3/411, 3/460, 5/275. Hugh and Margaret sold land in Pontotoc Co 9-19-1840, Deed Book 4, p 411— both signed.

He shows in the 1845 state census and he is with his daughters in the 1850 census. He probably died soon after. His son Robert Allen Bell stayed in the county, but most of his siblings moved on. Three went to Johnson Co, Missouri. Hugh and two of his married daughters moved to Itawamba Co, MS, where they show in the 1850 census. He had another daughter, Adaline Bell, and perhaps another daughter named Rebecca? In checking Emmet Bell's genealogy I do not see a Rebecca.

D-1 Caroline Bell (dau of Hugh) born 1-3-1802, died 1-3-1887 Pontotoc Co, MS, married ca 1843 Aucie Godfrey, died 1-12-1862. Lived Pontotoc Co, MS.

D-2 Zilpha Bell (dau of Hugh) born 10-16-1803 Davidson Co, TN, died 6-12-1889 Warrensburg, MO, married 11-28-1824 Limestone Co, AL, Harvey Harrison, born 3-7-1806 Blount Co, TN, died 3-7-1890 in Warrensburg, MO. They buried Webster Cem, Johnson Co. He was son of Joseph & Nancy Harrison, of Madison Co, moving to Limestone Co, AL. His bio said Zilpha Bell moved shortly before their marriage, with her family, to Limestone Co, MS from Davidson Co, TN. When they died they had 48 g-chi, 45 g-g-chi, 1 g-g-grandchild.

They lived in Hazel Hill Twp. In 1829 or 30 they came in a one-horse cart to Missouri and located near   Dover in Lafayette Co, where they stayed a few years before coming on to Johnson Co. He settled 300 acres, part of which was Government land. Several brothers came to   Missouri with them. During the Civil War he moved to Warrensburg, where he served as Justice of the Peace and Judge. Shown History of Johnson Co, MO p 469, 852, 893. They show census Warrensburg 1850 p 008 and Hazel Hill Twp 1860 p 745.

Zilpha's bros, Paris Dooley Bell and James Daniel Bell, came at a later date. James D. Bell settled on land joining Harvey and Zilpha. Purchase was most likely arranged by Harvey Harrison. A third brother, Robert Allen Bell also purchased land, but stayed in Mississippi.
One of   Harvey 's brothers must have been John C. Harrison, who shows in wills & adms 10-28-1847, with Harvey Harrison as adm with securities Joseph Harrison and Joseph H. Bell, who was son of Paris Dooley Bell,

Judge Harvey Harrison wrote to a grandson on Orcas Island Mary 1889, that he was great grandson of Daniel Harrison, who had 5 sons: Micael, James, Jesse, Gideon and Benjamin. He did not name his father. He said his g-grandmother was White. He was the son of Joseph and Nancy Craig Harrison, who married 1805 in Greene Co, TN.

D-3 Florence Bell (dau of Hugh) born 1-2-1812, died 8-22-1872 Chesterville, Pontotoc Co, MS, married ca 1837 James Madison Bigham, born 2-2-1810, died 5-31-1862. Mrs Florence Orr, of Marlow, OK, was an informant.

D-4 Robert Allen Bell (son of Hugh) born 4-4-1816 TN, died 10-5-1896 married 12-25-1845 Elizabeth Dickson (Dixson) Kennedy, daughter of Gilbert Kennedy and Elizabeth Dixon. She was born December 29, 1821 in Tennessee , and died November 02, 1906 in Pontotoc County, MS Lived Pontotoc Co, MS. He purchased land in Johnson Co, MO and sold it 3-11-1871 to William Donald Bell, Deed Book 21, p 680. Served with the   Pontotoc County 5th Regiment, 1st Brigade, CSA. See 1860 US Census, Pontotoc County, Mississippi. Page 34 line 23.

D-5 Mary Boyd Bell (dau of Hugh) born 2-27-1817 TN, died 1-3-1864 Clarksville, TX, married 1846 John William Ford, born 12-23-1807 TN, died 10-10-1876, lived Clarksville, Red River Co, TX. Show 1850 Itawamba Co, MS and 1860 Lamar Co, TX.

D-6 Alfred Bell (son of Hugh), born ca 1805, no information given in Emmett's genealogy.

D-7   Paris Dooley Bell (son of Hugh) died Warrensburg , MO, married Cynthia Harrison, lived Warrensburg, Johnson Co, MO. She was sister of Harvey Harrison, who married Zilpha Bell, sister of Paris Dooley Bell. Cynthia is probably found as Lucintha Bell, born 1810 TN in the 1850 census, Warrensburg Twp, same page as Joseph Harrison and next page Harvey Harrison. He does not show, which could indicate that Paris Dooley Bell died before 1850.

D-8 Adeline Bell (dau of Hugh) married Itawamba Co Nov 17, 1850 Obednego Taylor, lived Fulton, Itawamba Co, MS. She is with her father and married sister in Itawamba Co, MS in 1850.

D-9 Jane Bell (dau of Hugh) married Tom Flanagan, lived Memphis, TN.

D-10 James Daniel Bell (son of Hugh) born 5-25-1818 TN, died 1-5-1882 Johnson Co, MO, married 1st 10-14-1841 Mary Alice Cox, born 10-4-1823 AL, died 1863, dau of James (Jimmie) Cox, a "wealthy southerner." He and Mary showed in the census of 1850 Pontotoc Co, MS, he was born TN and was an overseer. They moved from Pontotoc Co, MS to Fayetteville, Hazel Hill Twp, Johnson Co, MO. He sold out in MO and moved ca 1855 to Benton Co, AR where his wife Mary Alice died. He moved back to Johnson Co, MO and married 2^nd 9-18-1864 Nancy Manion. Have a picture of him with his second wife, who was reported to have been his housekeeper before marriage. Nancy is probably daughter of widow Sarah Manion.