Seeking infromation on the family and origins of Victor BELL b. abt. 1734 poss. in VA, d. 1820-1830 prob. Rockbridge Co. VA. Wife's name unknown, b. abt. 1739; children:
* Jeremiah BELL b. abt. 1760 in VA, d. bef. 1810 in Botetourt or abt. 1819 in Sumner Co. TN, m. 1796 Elizabeth SARVER. Jeremiah bought several parcels of land on Craigs Creek in present-day Botetourt, Craig and Montgomery counties and may have left descendants there.
* James BELL b. abt. 1765 in VA, d. 1826 in Botetourt, m. 1804 in Botetourt to Elizabeth HENDRON, by whom he had as many as 15 children.
* Victor BELL Jr. b. abt. 1770 in VA, m. 1812 Ann HENDRON;
* John (?) BELL b. abt. 1772 in VA, m. (?) 1797 in Botetourt to Elizabeth BROWN.
* Margaret BELL b. abt. 1774 in VA, m. 1794 in Botetourt to William HAMILTON.
There may also have been sons named William, Robert, Joseph, and/or George, as well as additional daughters.
Victor BELL is not named on a militia roster of 31 Aug 1782, suggesting that he is already over 45 at that date, or b. bef. 1737. Son Jeremiah BELL is named, indicating that he over 16 at that date (i.e., b. bef. 1766). Elsewhere in the county is a William BELL whose relationship is unknown.
Victor BELL appears on the 1785 tax list for Joseph Pryor's district of Botetourt Co. VA, believed to be in the southern part of the county. At this date his household contains seven white persons; next door is son Jeremiah, who is as yet unmarried. Elsewhere in the county (Henry Watterson's district) is the same William BELL, with a wife and one child.
The 1794 tax list for Botetourt Co. VA contains the names of Victor BELL with two tithables (white males over 16), Jeremiah BALL [sic] with one tithe and two slaves, and Robert BELL with one tithe, as well as William BALL [sic] also with one tithe.
Census returns for 1800 are missing, but the 1810 Census of Botetourt Co. VA includes Victor BELL with a household of 00011-00001 (that is, one grown son still at home) and Robert BELL with a household of 02001-01010. Jeremiah BELL is missing and believed to have d. or moved to Sumner Co. TN. (Men named Jeremiah, Robert and William BELL were also enum. in neighboring Montgomery Co., but they appear to be younger individuals.)
In the Census of 1820, Victor BELL is enum. in Rockbridge Co. VA with a household of 100001-41010. It is uncertain whether the first household is Victor Sr. with the widow and children of one of his sons, or Victor Jr. with his wife and children. Also enum. in Rockbridge are:
* Bell, Joseph 410110-11010
* Bell, John 210101-10201
* Bell, George 000010-00001
I cannot determine whether these are Victor's sons or an unrelated family.
Victor BELL is not enum. in the Census of 1830 and is assumed to have d. bef. that date, if not bef. 1820.
http://genforum.genealogy.com/bell/messages/10999.html
