Person:James Bell (97)

Page 195.--14th February, 1795. James Bell's will--To wife, Martha; to sons, James and William, tract purchased of James Trimble on Middle River; to Frances Bell; to son, Robert; to sons, John and Samuel Bell, home plantation; to eldest daughter, Agnes, 1,000 acres in Kentucky; to daughter, Rachel, 1,000 acres in Kentucky; to son, Robert, 500 acres in Kentucky; to son, Francis, 1,000 acres in Kentucky; to daughter, Mary An, 1,000 acres in Kentucky. Executors, wife Martha, brother William Bell, brother John Kirk. Teste: William Sterrett, Francis Gardiner, Jas. Brown. Proved, October Court, 1795, by the witnesses. Widow qualifies.

Page 228.--4th February, 1796. James Bell's estate appraised by Daniel Friel, Francis Gardner, Jas. Cunningham, Robert Renick.

Page 125.--17th April, 1807. Receipt of heirs of James Bell to John Bell, administrator, viz: William Bell and wife Mary; Samuel Bell and wife Jane; Israel Patterson and wife Rachel.

Vol. 2 - Bell vs. Bell--O. S. 110; N. S. 38--Bill, 25th August, 1807. Orator, William Bell, owned tract in Augusta adjoining tract of James and Samuel Bell, between whom a dispute arose. James is dead and land has descended to heir-at-law, Francis Bell. Answer dated 16th March, 1808, states: James Bell, father of William, made an entry for 400 acres. Samuel Bell is now 49 years of age. Andrew Foster settled on the land upwards of 60 years ago. A certain William Bell was uncle of defendants.

Vol. 2 - Bell vs. Bell--O. S. 195; N. S. 69--Bill, 1813. Settlement of estate of James Bell, of Augusta, who died testate, leaving widow, six sons and three daughters, of whom Robert, Francis and Samuel were miners. Robert was a student. Widow, Martha, was executrix and died leaving complainant, William Bell, her executor. Robert is also dead, and said William administered. Francis Bell has also died. James Bell, son of James, is also dead.

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Records in Augusta County, VA

From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:

Page 95.--5th July, 1768. William Davis, of Mecklenburg County, N. C , to Morris Ofreil, planter, 5 shillings, 160 acres. Bell's Spring Run, adjoining James Bell, William Bell and Charles Phillips patented to William Davis 16th August, 1756. Teste: John Stuart, Robert Wallace, William Blear.

Page 448.--29th August, ____. (Recorded, 19th November, 1776.) Thomas Armstrong's estate appraised by James Kirk, William and James Bell.

Vol. 2 - Crawford vs. Kenney--O. S. 115; N. S. 39--Bill, 27th December, 1805. Orator, John Crawford. In 1751 Morris Offriel entered 200 acres in Augusta adjoining William Davis's survey. Morris did not complete his title and another survey was made by Daniel Offriel, son and heir-at-law of Morris, on 100 acres of the tract, on which in 1785 James Bell also made an entry. Chesley and Jacob Kenney, brothers, are in possession. James Bell died and devised the land to his sons, John and Samuel Bell, who conveyed to C. Kinney, who conveyed to Jacob. William Bell, aged 68 years, deposes 16th July, 1808, he has lived 60 years and upwards adjoining the land, being two years old when his father settled where deponent lives. John Elliott, aged 60 years upwards, the lower road on the plat was built 20 or 25 years after the affiant knew the upper road laid down by said defendants, to have been in use. The last was the old road and had been long used before the other was cut or opened. Maj. Samuel Bell, aged 48 or 49, deposes 2d April, 1808; has lived all his life in the neighborhood of the land in controversy on the near Buffalo Gap; there was a beautiful piece of pine timber on it. Samuel's father has been dead six or seven years and was about 70 years old. Samuel's grandfather and defendant's (Bell's) grandfather were brothers. Francis Gardner, aged 46 years, deposes, 1808; he was born and lived (except 2 or 3 years of childhood) in the neighborhood; his father was Thomas Gardner, who owned lands adjoining. Thomas was killed by Indians when Francis was very young. Francis Bell, aged 38, deposes, 23d January, 1808, that he has lived all his life near the land in controversy; son of James Bell, who has been dead more than 5 years. Robert Wallace deposes that he was well acquainted with Morris Offriel and Daniel Offriel. Daniel was cousin of deponent. Agnes Offriel deposes, 14th November, 1808, that she is widow of Daniel. They lived within two miles of the land from the time they were married upwards of thirty years ago, till the death of her husband ten years ago. William Bell, Jr., deposes 12th March, 1808; son of James and brother to John and Samuel. William is now in 40th year.

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