“Modified Register for William (Stone Church) BELL” First Generation 1. William (Stone Church) BELL was born in 1685/1690 in Ulster, Ireland. He died in Aug 1757 in Staunton, Augusta Co., Virginia . He was buried in Old Stone Church, Augusta Co., Virginia. Nine major Bell families are identified as having lived in Ulster. Of them, it is said that between 1707 and 1729 approximately 500 Bell families emigrated from Ulster to North America where they flourished. freepages.genealogy.rootsweb/~stonechurchbells/Bell%20Manuscript.rtf Bell Family Stone Church Branch, Augusta County, Virginia Little is known of the immigrant ancestor of this family, except that his name was William Bell, and he was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, having been born of Scotch parents in the north of Ireland, about 1685 to 1690. He came to America with his older children and is believed to have landed in PA from the Delaware River. It is not known how long he lived in PA., but about 1738 to 1740, he located in Augusta County, VA a few miles northeast of Staunton. There he and his wife, Mary, founded the branch of the Bell family which came to be known as the “Stone Church Bells”. They were thus designated to distinguish them from several other Bell families located in Augusta County but who seem to be unrelated to the Stone Church clan. William Bell appears to have been a staunch Presbyterian. He left a will, dated 25 July 1757, and probated 17 Aug. 1757, in which he recommends his “body to the grave, to be buried in decent order as becometh at the Stone Meeting House close by my beloved wife lately ceased.” The exact spot in which he was buried is not now known, but the graves of his youngest son, Joeseph, Jospeh’s wife and several descendants are in a group, well marked, near the center of the “Old Cemetray”, about 300 yards east of and across the highway (US Rt 11) from the Presbyterian Stone Church at FortDefiance, VA. An intensive search of available records was made, about 1895 to 1910, by two of William Bell’s descendants, Maj. Henderson M. Bell, Staunton, VA and Judge Samuel M. Wilson, Lexington,KY. They concluded that William Bell, immigrants, was probably married twice, his first wife being the mother of the four older children named in his will, all of whom appear to have been born in Ireland before 1726, and came to America with their father. worldconnect.rootsweb/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=a_m_crocker_1720&id=I0881 Augusta County Will Book 2, page 195. Will of William Bell of the Parish and County of Augusta. To be buried at the Stone Meeting House close by my beloved wife lately [de]ceased. To my son Joseph, the plantation on whom [sic] I did live, with all bonds, bills, notes, and debts due to me with the rest of said plantation, except that such debts as are due by me shall be paid out of the aforesaid bond, bills, and notes. Also to Joseph, my horse on whom I used to ride; likewise my bed and bedding of cloaths; only that my daughter Mary is to have the use of the bed and bedding of cloaths until said Joseph has occasion for them. To my daughter Mary, my saddle and the gold ring which I usually did wear. To my son Edward Baird my gunn, a harrow, and a bed sted and a silk cap. If my son Joseph should chance to die before he comes home from Carolina the estate left to him is to be equally divided between my sons William Bell, David Bell, Saml. Bell, and Edward Baird. Executors: my sons David Bell and Edward Baird. Executed July 25, 1757. [signed] William Bell. Note that I do leave & Bequeath unto Every one of my other Children the sum of one Shilling Sterling. [signed] William Bell. Witnesses: Robert McMhan, John Theobald Maighan. Probated August 17, 1757. [The probate statement spells Edwards name Edward Beard, and says that David Bell is not in this Colony.] Bond of Edward Beard, Henry Reaburn, and James Craig, £500, to inventory the goods, chattels, and credits of William Bell deceased. Executed and recorded August 17, 1757 To read more go to: freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry/~jcraven/people/stonechurchbells.htm DNA tests with living descendants (2012) provide that this Bell Family were of a time in Northern Ireland, and came there from the area of Dumfrieshire, Scotland. Their name Bell may be related to the name LeBel, possibly a minor Norman noble who brought the name after the invasion to the region and building a keep there which may be the origin of Blacket House. The Normans or Northmen/Norsemen/Vikings who settled in Normandy were descendants of Danish raiders who claimed the land from France and later became vassals of the French King. To read more go to: findagrave/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=58189357
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 04:26:11 +0000