WANTED
Do you descend from John Bell??If SO or if you have questions, contact John Bell: johnbrucebell@gmail.com OR
President Joseph L. Bell: President@clanbell.org
John Bell, son of George and Janet, was born c 1680-1700 Scotsbridge, Dumfrieshire, Scotland; died after 1780 in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia or Canada. He may have served in British Army.
He may have married.
John's ancestor family:
George Bell of Godsbrig (b.1623; d. 1691) and Sibilla Irving
Issue:
Richard Bell bc 1650 d. 1690 & marr. in 1676 Janet Bell bc 1653, daughter of Walter Bell
Issue:
1. George b. bef 1683 Scotsbridge, Dumfrieshire, SCOT. married c 1712 Janet Wilson in Scotsbridge. (dau. of Matthew Wilson tenant at Greenhill, Loch Maben Parish, Dumfrieshire, Scotland)
Issue:
Richard b: 1711-15? At Scotsbridge, Dumfrieshire, dc Dec 1764 at Greenhill and BETWIXT the Waters, Loch Maben Parish, Dumfrieshire, Scot. A Lawyer
John Bell: bc 1713-1717? At Scotsbridge, Dumfrieshire, Scotland
More about John Bell:
John Bell (SON OF GEORGE BELL AND JANET WILSON) was undoubtedly a settler in North America, and in 1780 he was living in THE JERSEYS, in either West or East Jersey, I do not yet know. Since the Revolutionary War fighting did not end until 1783, it is probable he was a settler and not a garrisoned soldier of the King's army.
2. If he had been a soldier in the King's Army, he may have returned to Britain in due course if he had survived the fighting. His mother, a proud lady as proven by her deed of provision, would have mentioned his service in North America. She did not do so.
3. There is the question of a marriage in North America, with possible issue. His mother would have included any grand children in her deed of provision, but did not do so. It is not really clear whether her son John was a Black Sheep, but at least she knew where he was living in North America. John Bell, son to George Bell, portioner of Greenhill and to his wife, Janet Wilson, may have written to his mother about the hostilities [his father being dead], giving rise to her fear that he might be living in reduced circumstances. In 1780, I estimate John to have been about fifty years old. His elder brother, Richard Bell, had died in December, 1764. He had been a respected and prosperous lawyer. He may have had a special affection for his brother John, who, lost to his family by his decision to cross the water, may have led Richard to call his eldest son "John" rather than "George", the name of Richard's father. This John was a Writer to the Signet, but he was drowned on the 9th September 1776, at a point where the Kirtle Water and Kirkburn run together.
4. The existence of John Bell in North America is proven by his mother's deed of provision, but I have yet to see it in any other document. He is not mentioned in his brother's Will [it concerns a list of debts owed to the testator], nor in a paper in which his aunt leaves legacies to her relations. His nephew, George Bell of Greenhill [2nd] makes no mention of his uncle, nor does Jean Bell, his niece.
WANTED
Do you descend from William Bell??If so, contact John Bell: johnbrucebell@gmail.com or
President Joseph L. Bell: President@clanbell.org
WILLIAM BELL of BLACKETHOUSE [died c1747] & MARGARET PRINGLE of the family of PRINGLE of SHARPITLAW and ANNA, Scotland {Sharpitlaw, Kelso} {Pringles: Robert Hoppringill, son of David of Hounam, first of Sharpitlaw, became tenant of the 7-merk lands about 1573. He succeeded his uncle William to the kirklands in Eckfurd, acquired by William's brother James in 1590 (see Hounam). Robert died in 1603.}
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