User:HarveyBell

Augusta Co, VA. All Bell Families, especially the family of William Bell, wife Mary, known as Stone Church. William died before his will was proved 18 AUG 1757. He requested to be buried beside his recently deceased wife, wife in the Old Stone Church Burying Ground next to his wife Mary. There are no monuments, though others of his children are also buried there. Though the surname given to Mary is frequently McGowan, there is no proof. He purchased a tract in the Beverly Patent 18 APR 1746, from Francis McGowan. Though he is lumped with the other Scots Irish from the North of Ireland, there is no proof of his origin before settling in Augusta Co. That he probably came from the lowlands of Scotland through Northern Ireland has been suggested by my DNA Analysis which is also within 90% probability compared to a known descendant of his. As he purchased his tract from a McGowan, it is possible that there was a relationship between Francis McGowan the grantor and William's wife.

Five children are mentioned in Williams's will; William, David, Samuel, Mary (Baird/Beard)and Joseph. A curious note completes his will, rather it refers to more children unnamed, or to the children mentioned in his will is unclear: "Note that I do leave and bequeath each Every one of My other children the Sum of one Shilling, Shilling Silver."

I descend from his son Samuel Bell and wife Jane. Again,the origins of Samuel are assumed to be from the North of Ireland where he may have been born. His wife is frequently referred to as Jane Holmes, though again, there is nothing to verify that claim. It is possible that her maiden name was Givens as the proximity to the Givens land, possible the surname of a second wife, also with the given name Jane. Samuel died before 27 Jun 1803, when his will was proved. Samuel's grave most likely was in a family plot located on his farm near the Middle River, the site of a portion of the Civil War Battle of Piedmont. Current occupants recall gravestones being tossed in a ditch on what was once his property, when they were children; it is speculative of course, but most of his family are not otherwise locatable in the surrounding area.

Samuel in his will lists twelve children: William, Elizabeth, David, Sarah James, George, Thomas, Joseph, Samuel, Margaret, Martha and John.

I descend from his last son, John Bell b. 28 APR 1770 d. 30 APR 1848, Rush Co., Indiana. He is buried in the Bell Cemetery, a tract given by his son, Harvey Bell, to the Knightstown Bethel Presbyterian Church. John married Sarah McCutcheon b 3 SEP 1780 d. 27 SEP 1862 also in Rush Co. Indiana. They were married at the Bethel Church ca. 25 AUG 1800. In 1832, John and his family moved with William McCutcheon and Margaret Bell and their family, to the Rush and Henry Counties area of Indiana. William and Sarah McCutcheon were children of Capt. Samuel McCutcheon. And John and Margaret Bell were also brother and sister, children of Samuel Bell. They had twelve known children; eleven were born in Augusta County. The Bells remained in Indiana, The McCutchans (name changed) moved first to Iowa, then to the Sacramento CA. area via the Mormon Trail.

I have spent thirty five years gathering information about the early Bells in Augusta from 1740 (possibly 1738) to 1850, in Augusta Co., which has included copying every will, land deed, law suit, references in all of the usual books, and tax records. I belong to the McCutchen Trace, the Augusta Co., Historical Society, Indiana Historical Society as well as to other county societies as my research has focused in them. Sadly, there are many incorrect assumptions contained in well meaning researchers who have not realized the complete scope of the Bell Families in early Augusta.