Person:William Bell (95)

William Bell was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia

Contents 1 Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA 2 Records in Augusta County, VA 3 Death and Estate of William Bell	Return to Old Augusta County!	Bell Tapestry Register Data Index YDNA. Bell Chalkley's Current Research
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Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA

Acquisition of Land in Augusta County:

• William Bell acquired at least 164 acres of his father, James Bell's 400-acre tract "on a branch of Middle River of Shanando near the North Mountain, Samuel Craig's corner", most likely given to William by will, as listed in the disposition below:

NOTE: this record establishes James Bell as William Bell's father

Disposition of Land from Chalkley's:

• Page 811.----19th March, 1765. William Bell and Rachel to Samuel Craig, £15, two tracts: A, 30 acres, part of 400 whereon Bell now lives, on McClure's Run, a branch of Middle River of Shanandore; B, 60 acres adjoining above, and between it and Morris O'Friel's and Andrew Foster's lands. Delivered: Samuel Craig, 26th May, 1773.

• Page 214.--9th December, 1767. William Bell and Rachel to Rev. Charles Cummins, £120, 164 acres, part of 400 acres patented to James Bell, deceased, father of said William, on a branch of Middle River of Shanando near the North Mountain, Samuel Craig's corner. Teste: Samuel Craig, James Bell, Henry Cresswell, James Bell. Delivered: Cumings, December, 1768.

NOTE: this record establishes James Bell as William Bell's father

Records in Augusta County, VA

From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:

• Vol. 1 --APRIL 15, 1765. - (337) James Bell, provisions. Wm. Bell, provisions. Wm. McCutcheon, provisions and horse impressed. John Rosemond, provisions. Andrew Cowan, enlisting men to garrison Fort Lewis. Walter Trimble, provisions. Thos. Alexander, provisions. John Francis, provisions. James Kirk, provisions. Rob. Armstrong, provisions. Wm. Christian, self et als., ranging. Loftus Pullen, provisions. Rob. Christian, provisions. Danl. O'Freild, provisions. Thos. Poage, provisions. Charles Kilpatrick, provisions. George Moffett, for Wm. Mann et als. Benj. Estill, horse impressed. Andrew Hamilton, provisions. Wm. McClenachan, provisions. Wm. McKarney, self et als., ranging.

• Vol 3, page 446 --28th October 1766. John and Wm. Long, of Chester County, Pennsylvania, to William Long, Sr., of Augusta County, £10, 400 acres, part of 800 acres in Beverley Manor on Long Meadow, a branch of Middle River; corner tract now Andrew McClure's; corner James Alexander's part of this said tract. Teste: James and Wm. Bell, John and Wm. Long. Delivered: Samuel Long, 29th May, 1783. [Augusta County Deed Book 13, page 99]

• Vol 3, page 456 --29th July, 1767. Charles Patrick and Mary, of Albemarle, to John Patrick. Whereas Robert Patrick by will, 10th August, 1761, devised to sons Charles and John 720 acres and Charles and John agreed to divide said land by deed of partition, 16th November, 1762, and recorded in Augusta, viz, John to have tract 283 acres formerly conveyed to Robert by Wm. and David Bell, 20th August, 1754, and to Wm. and David by Samuel Gay, 21st February, 1747; also the land on North of South River whereon said Robert lately dwelt, &c., &c., £200, all the land on south side of the river above. [Augusta County Deed Book 13, page 426]

• Vol 3, page 464 --9th December, 1767. William Bell and Rachel to Rev. Charles Cummins, £120, 164 acres, part of 400 acres patented to James Bell, deceased, father of said William, on a branch of Middle River of Shanando near the North Mountain, Samuel Craig's corner. Teste: Samuel Craig, James Bell, Henry Cresswell, James Bell. Delivered: Cumings, December, 1768. [Augusta County Deed Book 14, page 214]

NOTE: this record establishes James Bell as William Bell's father

• Vol 2, page 456 --1768-7. Processioned by Wm. Bell, George Berry, Wm. McPheeters, James Syers viz: For John McCleerey, for Thos. Kirkpatrick, for James Peerey, for Saml. McNab, for Mathew Wilson, for Alex. McKinney. for David Stewart, for Robert McKittrick, for John Kirk, for Wm. Crawford, for Rob. Wallace, for Rob. Philips, for James Bell, Sr., for Charles Cummins. . . . [Augusta Parish Vestry Book, page 442]

• Vol 3, page 477 --21st May, 1768. James ( ) Peerie and Katharine to Thomas Scot, £5, 220 acres, corner former survey of Thomas Peerie, John Campbell's line, William McNabb's line, corner John Lynn. Teste: John Handly, Patrick Buchanan, William Bell. Delivered: Thomas Scott, 30th December, 1773. [Augusta County Deed Book 15, page 183]

• 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.

• Vol 3, page 481 --1st March, 1769. William Magill and Jean ( ) to Charles Philips, £122. 400 acres on a branch of Cathey's River, called Buffalo Lick Branch, granted William by deed from William and James Bell, 18th March, 1760, patented to James Bell, 1st December, 1740, and bequeathed said William and James by James's will. Teste: John Young Robert Clendinen. William Hogshead. Delivered: John Philips, July, 1774. [Augusta County Deed Book 15, page 302]

NOTE: this record establishes James Bell as William Bell's father

• Page 250.--17th October, 1769. John Young's bond (with John Handley, William and James Bell) as guardian (appointed) to James Young, orphan of James Young.

• 23 Nov 1770. --Reverend Charles Cummins and Mille his wife of Washington County to Robert Cummins of Augusta, 164 acres in Augusta County, part of a tract of 400 acres first granted to James Bell dc'd father to William Bell, conveyed to Charles by sd James Bell; on a branch of the Middle river of Shanandore near the North Mountain; corner "near Samuel Craigs corner." TESTE: John Finley, William McPheetors, Robert Trumble, John McPheetors, Ben Brown. Recorded 16 March 1779.

NOTE: this record establishes James Bell as William Bell's father

• Vol 3 page 120 --21st August, 1771. Samuel Craig's bond with William and James Bell as guardian to John Black, orphan of Anthony Black. [Augusta County Will Book 4, page 443]

• Vol 1, page 171 --20 Mar 1773. Hemp certificate: William Bell--South River. [Augusta County Order Book No. 15, page 39]

• Vol 1, page 176 --17 Nov 1773. Alexr. Long, qualified Captain; Francis Long, qualified Lieutenant; William Bell, Ensign [Augusta County Order Book No. 15, page 234]

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

• Page 18.--29th March, 1778. Morris O'Friel's will, farmer--To wife, Catherine, executrix; to son, Daniel; to daughter, Mary; to son, Jeremiah; to daughter, Eleanor; to grandson, Joseph, 160 acres between William and James Bell; to grandsons, Morris and John Martin, infants, 400 acres, tract in Forks of James; to John O'Friel, survey on McClure's Run. Teste: Walter Trimble, Robert Wallace, Robt. Rennick. Proved, 21st April, 1778, by Trimble, and 19th May, 1778, by the witnesses. Executrix qualifies.

• 1787-006: [Augusta County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1746-1912] William Bell, etc. vs. Daniel Ofriel, etc. - William and Samuel Bell, Daniel Ofriel and John Cunningham agreed to purchase beef and pork for the Albemarle Barracks. They encounter much difficulty, including snow, but finally bought the animals in Halifax County, NC. Lots of depositions are included in this folder. Library of Virginia website

• Vol. 1 --August 1787 (A to D). - William Bell and Samuel Bell vs. Daniel O'Friel and Jas. Cunningham.-- Spa. Ch., 12th June, 1780. In November, 1779, Orator William Bell was employed by James Sayers to purchase beef and pork for the barracks in Albemarle. Plaintiffs and defendants were partners and bill is for accounting and settlement. The winter of 1779 was the worst ever known. William Bell and Cunningham were relatives. James C. had a son, Johnny. William Bell was brother of James Bell. Depositions of Thomas Hill and Elizabeth Hill, his wife, 26th August, 1780. James Sawyers was Commissary for Albemarle Barracks. His wife was Hannah. Her deposition, 19th October, 1784.

• Vol 1, page 249 --April 18, 1787. Militia officers recommended: Captains, William Shields, Robert Doak; Lieutenants. Wm. Bell, John Gamble, James Mitchell; Ensigns, Wm. Bell, Jr., Alexr. Reed, James McCune, David Williams, Wm. Brownlee, Wm. Henderson. [Augusta County Order Book No. 20, page 254]

• Vol 1, page 250 --June 19, 1787. William Bell qualified Lieutenant, and William Bell Ensign. [Augusta County Order Book No. 20, page 341]

• Page 412 --1788. Page 13 George Kinkead, Greenbrier; Page 14 John Ware, Goochland; Page 14 Frances Hamilton, infant; Page 18 William Blair, B. T.; Page 20 Samuel McChesney, Rockbridge; Page 21 John Brown, North Mountain; Page 29 James Wallace, Albemarle; Page 31 John Brown, merchant; Page 83 Andrew Lewis, Botetourt; Page 84 George Divers, Albemarle; Page 85 William Bell, North Mountain; Page 86 Alex. Stuart, Rockbridge; Page 87 Joseph Moore, Rockbridge; Page 88 Dr. William Gross; Page 91 John Montgomery, Pastures; Page 93 Doctor James McChesney. [Augusta County Fee Books]

• 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.

• 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. (Note: record establishes William Bell's birthdate in abt. 1740)

Death and Estate of William Bell

• William Bell wrote his Will March 3, 1813; his Will was proven in Court February 28, 1814:

Page 316 --3d March 1813. William Bell, Sr.'s, will---To nephew, William B. Kirk, land on Middle River adjoining land testator lives on; to nephew, Wm. Bell; to Jane, wife to Robt. Cunningham; Rachel, wife to John Cunningham, Rachel, wife to Israel Patterson; William Bell, son to nephew John Bell; Margaret Jameson, each one share; nephew, William Bell, and his brother, Samuel; to Rachel Bell Kirk. daughter to Wm. B. Kirk.

Executor, Robert Cunningham.

Teste: Samuel Bell, Wm. Cunningham, Francis Bell.

Proved, 28th February, 1814. Executor qualified.

1. ↑ Will of William Bell, written 3 Mar 1813; proved 25 Feb 1814.

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