The Bells of Cumberland County Before the Revolution

The Bells of Cumberland County Before the Revolution RAYMOND MARTIN BELL, F.A.S.G. There were at least two Bell families in eastern Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (East Pennsbomugh Township, hereafter EP) before 1750 (relationship unknown): (I) James Bell died ca. 1750, m. Eleanor — letters of administration to James Sherren (Middleton Twp), 30 Sep 1751 sons: Samuel (eldest), James, Thomas—named in Orphans Court estate settlement, 5 Feb 1755 guardian: William Ross (EP), appointed 27 Oct 1753 for James and Thomas, under 21 James Bell, Sr. likely lived in EP, for his son Samuel (m. 7 Nov 1752 Jane McLean) was taxed in EP 1753, 1755, 1764, and James, Jr. settled there in 1767. (2) Robert Bell died ca. 1755; taxed in EP 1750, 1753 (a Robert Bell warranted land in Chester County in 1744) sons: David, William (direct proof lacking) I Jun 1754: Robert Bell had a settlement on Tuscarora Creek in (now) Milford Twp., Juniata Co., according to Robert Taylor 8 Sep 1755: David and William Bell warranted the land, 187 acres. 10 Nov 1755: the land of John Johnson adjoined that of Robert and William (History of Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys (1886), 764, 782). Indian attacks in 1755 drove all the settlers out of Juniata County. It was not safe to return until about 1762. They fled again in 1763, to return finally about 1765. In 1766, Robert Bell (likely estate) is taxed in EP for land only, along with David Bell, who is taxed for land, horses and cows. David was likely the oldest son and had inherited his father's land. The 200-acre farm of Robert Bell was not warranted until 1 Feb 1790, when it was surveyed for Robert and James Bell, the oldest grandsons. David's oldest and William's second son were named Robert. 107 108 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine DAVID BELL OF EAST PENNSSOROTIOFI David was taxed in EP from 1762 on, although in 1763 he was taxed for land in Lack (now Milford) Twp. He sold his interest in the 1755 land to his brother William in April 1763 (see deed by David Bell, grandson, 5 Apr 1820, recorded at Lewistown). At David's death in 1784, letters of administration were granted 7 Oct to Sarah, widow, and Robert, son. In 1768, David Bell was assessed for 100 acres, 30 cleared, 2 horses, 2 cows. During the Revolution, he was Lt. Colonel in the 3rd Battalion of Cumbreland County militia. David Bell, b. ca. 1728, d. 1784, m. ca. 1760 Sarah —, d. 1804 (will G, 33, written 24 Sep 1794, probated 24 Apr 1804; his children are listed in Orphans Court 3: 118). Children: 1. Mary Bell, m. Thomas Henderson 2. Robert Bell, b. ca. 1763, d. 1807 EP, m. ca. 1785 Rachel Hoge, d/o Jonathan a. David, b. ca. 1786 b. Jonathan, m. Martha Irvine Child: Martha Irvine c. Robert, d. 1831, no issue d. James, d. 1792, d. 1828, m. Elizabeth McCormick Loudon, b. 1789, d. 1856 Children: Margaretta Loudon (1818-1918), Rachel E. e. Isabella f. John g. William, b. ca. 1798, to. Margaret Irvine Children: Sarah (1832-1915), Jane (1834-79), Thomas L. (183653), Isabelle (1839-1901), Mary (1842-1921), William Irvine (1844-1899) 3. Jane Bell, m. William Carothers 4. James Bell, b. ca. 1768, freeman EP 1793, 1810 census Cumberland Co. 5. Margaret Bell 6. Sarah Bell 7. David Bell, b. 1779, d. 30 Aug 1852 Claysville, Pa., m. 11 Apr 1799 Isabella Hoge, d/o Jonathan; in EP 1810 a. Isabelle b. Sarah c. David, b. 1810, d. 10 Apr 1892, m. Mary Jane Myers, b. 1816, d. 1892 Children: Walker W., Margaret, Mary Elizabeth WILLIAM BELL OF MILFORD William was taxed in EP 1762, 1763. He lived in Milford Twp., now Juniata Co., from about 1766 until his death in 1819. In 1767, he was taxed for 200 acres. 12 cleared, 2 horses, 2 cows. Originally, this area was a part of Cumberland County; it was a part of Mifflin County from 1789 to 1831. In 1780, William Bell was a private in the 7th Battalion of militia under Captain Daniel McClelland. He The Bells of Cumberland County 109 was a squire in Milford. His children are named in his will written 5 Feb 1819, probated at Lewistown in May 1819. William Bell, b. I May 1732, d. 5 Apr 1819, m. 4 Jan 1760 Elizabeth Stewart, b. 1737, d. 17 Oct 1825. Children: 1. Mary Bell, m. John Stewart; to Butler Co., Pa., 1810 a. William Bell Stewart, m. Isabella Craig Children: William Bell Stewart, b. 1818, at Washington College, 1844; and others and others 2. Arthur Bell, b. ca. 1763, d. ca. 1820 Milford Twp., freeman 1785 3. Elizabeth Bell, m. Lyttle a. William Bell Lyttle and others 4. Robert Bell a. William and others 5. David Bell, b. 1769, d. 1835 Mifflin Co., Pa., m. 1800 Agnes Allen, b. 4 Feb 1778, d. 14 Oct 1849 Belleville, Pa. a. William b. Allen Child: Sarah Eleanor c. David Stewart, b. 15 Nov 1811, d. 1873 Cedar Twp., Lee Co., Iowa, m. Sarah SChild: Zachary d. Margaret A., b 1813, d. 1841 e. Joseph A. f. Thomas Mitchell, b. 1820, d. 1892 Brooklyn, N.Y., m. Margaretta Placethes Child: Jennie Maud g. Robert Samuel, d. 1874 h. James Boyd, b. 1826, d 1907, m. Mary Elizabeth Irvin, d. 1905 and others 6. Ann Bell, b. 1771, d. 1835, m. 1795 Samuel Laird, b. 1769 a. William Bell Laird b. Ann Laird, b. 1803, d. 1880, m. 1825 David Jenkins, b. 1800, d. 1894 and others 7. Jane Bell, m. Taylor a William Bell Taylor and others 8. William Bell, b. 1775, d. 1 Sep 1821 Mifflintown, Pa., m. Sarah Bryson. d. 1839 a. Sarah Ann b. Jane, m. John Irwin c. William (a General in the Civil War) d. Margaretta, m. J. D. Sharon, Springfield, Ohio 9. Sarah Bell, m. McFadden a. William Bell McFadden and others 110 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine JAMES BELL, JR. OF EAST PENNSHOROUGH James, Jr. (tailor, innkeeper, farmer) was taxed for a lot in Carlisle, Pa., 1762, 1764 (then a freeman) and 1769. He sold the lot 13 Sep 1778 (DB 1E477). In 1767, his name first appeared on the EP tax list. In 1768, he was assessed for 100 acres, 7 cleared, 3 horses, 2 cows. He lived in EP until his death. In 1768, he took up 223 acres in Tyrone Twp., now Perry Co. (order of survey 5 Jul, survey 1 Dec). On this land his brother Thomas settled about 1770. James sold to the heirs of Thomas part of the land 17 Mar 1703 (DB 1P479). On 2 Aug 1774 (DB 1Q491), James bought 137 acres in EP. He was a captain in the 3rd Battalion of militia, 1780. He is buried in a private graveyard about 2 miles north of Hogestown, Pa. Letters of administration were issued on 8 Dec 1806 to Thomas Bell and Thomas Williamson His children are named in Deed Book 1T14 (13 Sep 1808) and in his wife Sarah's will (I, 127). Her will was written 15 Apr 1819 and probated 3 Jun. James Bell, b. 1737, d. 31 Oct 1806 EP, m. ca. 1765 Sarah ?Holmes, d. 1819 1. Mary Bell 2. Rebecca Bell, b. ca. 1768, m. Thomas Williamson 3. James Bell, b. ca. 1770, freeman EP 1793, 1810 census Cumberland Co. 4. Thomas Bell, b. 1772, d. 12 Oct 1860 Silver Spring Twp., Cumberland Co., m. Margaret Dunlap, b. 1784, d. 27 Dec 1870 a. Sarah, b. 18 Oct 1820, d. 9 Oct 1854, m. 28 Nov 1838 Marshall Mains b. James D., b. 1826, d. 11 May 1872, m. Sara Jane Cornman c. Mary Jane, m. Joshua Kennedy d. Margaret, m. 9 May 1856 John Kennedy Dunlap 5. Jane Bell, m. 6. William H. Bell, living 1820 7. Martha Bell, d. 1825, no issue Culbertson 8. Daughter, m. Child: John Culbertson 9. Daughter THOMAS BELL OF TYRONE Thomas Bell, son of James, Sr., was a tailor and farmer. He was taxed for a lot in Carlisle 1762, 1764, 1769. The sheriff sold the lot 9 Sep 1769 (DB IC15) to pay debts of Thomas after an October 1768 court order. On 24 Oct 1769, Thomas was living in Warrington Twp., York Co. Beginning in 1770, the name of Thomas Bell appeared in Tyrone Twp., then Cumberland (now Perry) Co. He had 100 acres, 4 cleared, 1 cow. He evidently lived on the land warranted by his brother James in 1768. Thomas died before 1793, when his oldest son James was taxed for the land. Letters of administration Were issued 13 Aug 1796 to Anthony Shatto. There is no record of Revolutionary War service by Thomas. His children are named in Cumberland County Deed Books 15164 (5 Apr 1803) and 1R227 (21 Jan 1804). The Bells of Cumberland County 111 Thomas Bell, b. ca. 1739, d. bf. 1793 Tyrone Twp., m. ca. 1763 Eleanor 1. James Bell, b. 14 Aug 1764, d. 21 Aug 1827 Hilliar Twp., Knox Co., Ohio, m. 10 Jun 1794 Jane Milligan, d/o Samuel, b. 22 Mar 1770, d. 21 Aug 1827; to Ohio ca. 1817 a. James, m. 14 Sep 1821 Christianna Meritt b. Samuel, d. bf. 1850 Harden Co., Ohio, m. 15 Aug 1827 Mariak Garet c. Eleanor, m. John Donelson d. John, b. 1803, m. 8 Mar 1829 Rachel Card e. Thomas, to Coles Co., Ill. f. Jane, m. James Chonner g. Milligan h. Joseph, b. 21 Aug 1811, d. 11 Sep 1853 White Co., Ind., m. 1) Harriet Wells, d. 1846, in. 2) Mary L. Appleton Child: Amanda Malissa (1846-1932) m. Whiteside Co., Ill., 8 Nov 1861 Francis Marion Harrison 2. Samuel Bell, m. 12 May 1796 Eleanor Campbell; Tyrone Twp., 1810 3. Eleanor Bell, m. Jacob Jacobs 4. Sarah Bell, m. Joseph Richardson 5. Agnes (Nancy) Bell, m. James Phrener 6. John Bell, m. Rebecca ; made deed 1804 A third Bell family appeared briefly in eastern Cumberland County. William Bell and William Bell (freeman) were taxed in EP 1768 and 1769. William and wife Sarah sold land in El' in 1769. This may be the William Bell who was taxed in Hopewell Twp., Cumberland Co. 1772-75 and 1778 and in Letterkenny Twp. 1779-83. His son William, Jr. was taxed in Letterkenny 1780 and 1783. He married ca. 1779 Rosanna Bell (1755-1834), d/o Walter. After the death of William, Jr. in 1784, Rosanna m. 2) ca. 1785 another William Bell, Jr. (1755-1828) and went to Derry Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pa. Rosanna Bell thus had two husbands named William Bell, Jr. Her two fathersin-law, each William, Sr., died in 1806. One died in Hopewell Twp., Cumberland Co., leaving grandsons William and Walter Bell, and a daughter Margaret, wife of Andrew McLean. Tradition says that this William, Sr.'s wife was a Jack. The other William, Sr. died in Deny Twp., Westmoreland Co. See Cumberland and Westmoreland County court records, also PGM, XXIX (1975), 33. George H. S. King, FA.S.G., has helped with this research.