ABT 1770 - Lancaster, VA
BEF 11 SEP 1820 - Northumberland, VA

John Bell

Show Family Line John Bell >> Elizabeth Bell >> Urbane Bush >> Robert Bush >> John Bush >> Savilla Bush >> Maida George
John Bell was born about 1770 in Lancaster County. His father was Thomas Bell, a sergeant during the Revolutionary War. John was named in his father's will, written in 1786 and proven in 1790. He received "the plantation that he lived on," three slaves, one set of bedroom furniture, three head of cattle, three head of sheep, and two leather chairs. His brother Charles received the plantation that their father lived on.

The land John inherited appeared to be in Lancaster County, but at some point he relocated to Northumberland and all remaining records refer to him there. A marriage bond was issued on November 22nd, 1790 to John Bell, widower of Lancaster County, and Elizabeth Toff, also a widower. John Cornish provided security (John Bell's brother Charles appears to have married Caty Cornish in 1796) and Zephaniah Bell was listed as a witness. I have not found a marriage record for John in Lancaster County, and do not know if he had children from that first marriage.

John wrote his will on August 6th, 1820. He left one slave and a gun to his daughter Elizabeth Y. Bush. He directed that the rest of his estate be sold and proceeds divided between his remaining four daughters with provisions set aside for his widow, Elizabeth. His will was proven on September 11th, 1820. In the will Elizabeth Y. was singled out from his other children, she seemed to receive less inheritance, and she was the only one mentioned with a middle initial, for those reasons I question if she could have been a child from John's first marriage. Maybe she had received an inheritance from her mother's parents already.

An appraisal of John's estate was returned to the court on February 12th, 1821. The value was totaled to $506.06. The highest valued items listed were; two slaves, a crop of corn and fodder in the field, livestock, and household furniture. Other items mentioned included; a parcel of old books, four sides of leather, a spinning wheel, and a "garden of greens."

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Future 2:

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Future 3:

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Sources:

  • "Northumberland, Virginia, United States Records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C91H-4TQC : September 10, 2021), image 17 of 295; Northumberland County (Virginia). County Clerk, Northumberland County (Virginia). School Commissioners.
  • "Northumberland, Virginia, United States Records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9P6-T3TQ : September 10, 2021), image 427 of 654; Virginia. County Court (Northumberland County).
  • "Northumberland, Virginia, United States Records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9P6-T7WZ : September 10, 2021), image 488 of 654; Virginia. County Court (Northumberland County).

Parents:


Spouse & Children:

  • Elizabeth Toff
    •  

  • Elizabeth Y. Bell
    • 1796-1834
  • Sally Bell
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  • Nancy Bell
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  • Molly Bell
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  • Tomsey Bell
    •  


Siblings:

  • Charles Bell
    •  
  • Sarah Bell
    •  

Last Updated: 9/10/2021