Alexander Bell (abt. 1621)

Born about 1621 in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland

Husband of Margaret Ramsey — married 26 Mar 1646 in St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland

Descendants

Died [date unknown] in Scotland

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Alexander Bell was a historically significant person of Scotland. Join: Scotland Project Discuss: Scotland

Biography

Primary records attesting to Alexander Bell consist of some St. Andrews church records availagle at the National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople), previously reported by Alexander Graham Bell^[1] and by Sharon Doliante ^[2]and the 1653 will of a woman named Christian Trail. ^[3]

While their presumed descendants in Maryland spelled the family name as "Beall" after their arrival, the Scottish family consistently spelled it Bell in the original records. ^[2]For further information see Fifeshire and Bells.

No birth or baptism record has been found for Alexander. Sharon Doliante ^[4] suggests 1621; Mike Marshall, more conservative, simply states, "born before 1626." ^[5]

1639 Marriage of Brother William

A William Bell married Christen Traill on or after 5 December 1639 in St. Andrews. ^[6]

Given other documents linking Alexander as son of "William the Elder" and brother of "William the Younger,"we can surmise:

• Date Estimation: Given the marriage of William the younger taking place in 1639, William the younger was born no later than 1618. If William the elder was 21 at marriage in 1617, he was born no later than 1596; and a a more likely year of birth for William the Elder would be, say, 1590.
• William Bell the elder was a braboner (weaver) and other family members had taken up[ this trade.
• The William Bell who witnessed Alexander's son's baptism was most likely a brother of Alexander and another son of William the Elder. ^[2]

1646 Marriage to Margaret Ramsay

The following marriage record appears in the old Register for St. Andrew's Church, in St. Andrews: Thursday 26th of March 1646 contracted Alexander Bell with Margaret Ramsay, both in this Citie, married 21st May. ^[2]Other sources add that the marriage, contracted on 26 March (the day after New Year's Day by the old calendar), was conducted on 21 May following.^[7]

From this one may conclude:

• Alexander Bell and Margaret Ramsay were residents of St. Andrews in 1646.
• Barring other evidence, they were of typical marriage age, say 25 for Alexander and 18 for Margaret,. giving them estimated birth years of 1621 and 1628, respectively.
• Alexander Bell is listed as a "brabener" or weaver.

1646 An Acre in North Muire

Two sasines -- deeds -- record Alexander Bell's acquisition of an acre and two roods of land in North Muire in 1646, and his conveyance of the land in 1651. ^[8] Persons named in the 1646 sasine includes:

• Alexander Bell, "a prudent young man", "lawful and nearet heir" to the deceased Christina Patersone's acre in Northmyre located between the lands of James Robertsone, Andrew Thomsone, and the burial-place commonly called the Galous Gaitt" on the south. Of lawful age in 1646. Accepted the land by placing in his hands earth and stone of the ground of the said land.
• Christina Patersone, deceased, name also appears as Christian, daughter of the brother of Alexander's grandmother
• William Bell, elder, weaver, St. Andrews, witness
• David Duncane, weaver, St. Andrews, witness
• John Arnott, writer, St. Andrews witness
• Patrick Reid, notary public, St. Andrews, witness
• David Smart, elder, brewer, St. Andrews, witness

In the second sasine, 1651, Alexander Bell is identified as the former owner.

From this we can surmise:

• William Bell, the elder, and his son Alexander both were living in 1646.

William, if born about 1600, was now 46, and Alexander, born in 1621, was now 25.

• Alexander inherited the property, rather than his living father William, beause the property descended through Alexander's mother, whose name is not known.

1653 Will of Sister in Law Christian Traill

Documentary evidence in the form of Christian Traill's 1653 will confirms that Alexander Bell was a son of a William Bell, the elder, who was also a braboner of St. Andrews. ^[3]

A will was recorded 8 Nov 1653 for Christian Traill, wife of William Bell the Younger, who died July 1653. No children were mentioned. The will of Christian Traill appears in the "Index of Testaments for the Commissariot of St. Andrews, recorded on 8th November 1653. Christian's husband William Bell the younger, a braboner of St. Andrews, gave the testament. The testament mentions William Bell, elder, also a braboner, presumably Christian's father-in -law. Readily available records in Scotland revealed nothing else identifiable with this familiy in Fife County or St. Andrews parish. ^[9]

From this may be concluded:

• The Bells as a family were braboners (weavers)
• William Bell the younger was the William Bell baptised in 1647
• William Bell the elder in the 1653 document is the William Bell who witnessed the baptism of Alexander Bell's son William in 1647. Therefore William Bell the elder was the father both of the Alexander who married Margaret Ramsay, and also William Bell the younger. ^[10]

Four Children of Alexander Bell and Margaret Ramsey

Alexander Bell lived in St. Andrews Parish, where baptisms of four children are included in the St. Andrews Parish register. The Bell spelling was used in the parish register, but those who migrated to Maryland later used the Beall spelling. ^[1][2] The mother was listed as Margaret Ramsay.

1. William Beall-98 was baptised 22 Aug 1647, in St. Andrew's, Fife, Scotland, son of Alexander Bell and Margaret Ramsay^[11] Witnesses William Bell & Alexander Young.^[2] St. Andrew's Church, St. Andrews, Scotland. William Bell, born 1647, baptised in St. Andrew's Church, Fife, Scotland August 22, 1647.^[11][12]
2. Alexander Beall-97, born 22 Aug 1649, was baptised 11 Oct 1649, Fife, Scotland, son of Alexander Bell and Margaret Ramsay^[13] Witnesses: Alexander Young and John Gibsonne^[2]St. Andrew's Church, St. Andrews, Scotland. Alexander Bell, baptised 11 Oct 1649, St. Andrew Parish, Fife, Scotland^[13] d. 5 Sep 1744, Prince George's County, Maryland^[14] - probate. Listed by Mike Marshall. ^[5] Married Elizabeth Coombs and Elizabeth Butterfield. Has children.
3. James Beall-88, born and baptised 5 Feb 1652 (which would be 1653 by today's calendar) Fife, Scotland, son of Alexander Bell and Margaret Ramsay^[15] Alexander Bell, brabener [weaver], and Margaret Ramsay, a son baptised called James. William and Janet Gourlayes witnesses."^[2]St. Andrew's Church, St. Andrews, Scotland. James William Bell, b. 5 Feb 1652, St. Andrew Parish, Fife, Scotland^[15] d. 10 Jul 1725, Prince George's County, Maryland ^[16]- probate. Listed by Mike Marshall ^[5] Married Sarah Peerse. Has children.
4. Andrew (Andro) Beall-99, baptised 28 Mar 1655, St. Andrew's Church, Fife, Scotland, son of Alexander Bell and Margaret Ramsay^[17] Witnesses: William Livingstone and John Smart.^[2]St. Andrew's Church, St. Andrews, Scotland.^[17] He died before 1742. Migrated to Prince Georges County,^[18] no children.

Fielder Beall in his work Colonial Families of the United States indicates that each of the brothers were immigrants to Maryland.

Research Notes

DNA

Paternal relationship is confirmed by a triangulated group on GEDmatch consisting of Ida Pinkston, LA Childress, and Laura O'Grady who share a segment on chromosome 15 at 4.18 cMs. The MRCA (Most Recent Common Ancestors) are Alexander Bell and Margaret Ramsey.

Was Alexander the son of Dr James Beall and Anne Marie Calvert?

Some genealogies show Alexander to be the son of a Dr. James B. Beall and his wife Anne Marie Calvert. Genealogist Rick Saunders observes, "There is no record of a James Bell and Anne Marie Calvert marriage at St. Andrew's or elsewhere on that date or any other date. " ^[19]

Was Alexander the Grandson of a couple with the same names?

Alexander Bell-15403, born 1621, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland, who married [[Ramsey-362|Margaret Ramsey-362, was the son of William Bell-15405, born, say, 1590. William Bell was previously shown as the son of [[Beall-78|Alexander Beall-78 and his wife Margaret Ramsey-299, born 1569. There is no documentation establishing the existence of the earlier Alexander and Margaret, and they have been disconnected as parents of William and grandparents of Alexander Bell-15403.

Was Alexander the Father of Col. Ninian Beall?

Some genealogies show Alexander as the father of Col. Ninian Beall, a notable immigrant to Maryland. A Ninian Beall, born 1625 at or near Largo, Ligensheim Fyffe (Fife) was previously connected as a son of Alexander, but no reference to such a person has been found on Scotlands People. Since there is no evidence this family included a Ninian, he has been disconnected.

Was Alexander the Father of "Robert the Scotsman?

Some reputable genealogies show Alexander with an additional son, Robert Beall, born 28 April 1670 in St. Andrews Parish. Thie 1744 will of Alexander's son Alexander Beall bequeathes to "brother Robert -- all my wearing apparel." ^[20] Based on this, Heterick refers to "Robert Beall, immigrant into Maryland, brother to Alexander and James Beall. ^[21] Robert Beall is listed as a son by Mike Marshall ^[5]. However there is no Robert in the St. Andrews records and no other indication that Alexander Bell had such a son. Robert is identified by Fielder Beall in Colonial Famiilies as the son of Thomas Bell and Jenat Oliphant. ^[22] Fielder Beall source states he may have been a 'Foster' brother of James and Robert. Since there is no evidence Alexander had a son Robert, Beall-100 has been disconnected.

Was the spelling "Beall" ever used in Scotland?

Yes, the St. Andrews records include a George Beall, baptised 6 Aug 1628, Leslie, Fife, son of Thomas Beall and Elspit Thamsone ^[23]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "St. Andrews Parish, Scotland, Births. Compiled by Alexander Graham Bell from information supplied by Rev. Walter Macleod, Edinburgh, Scotland, contributed by Montye M. Blacksten, Downey, California to The Beall News, I:4, December 1991, p. 19
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8} Marriage and birth records in the old Register for St. Andrew's Church, in St. Andrews, Scotland, located by Patricia Baxendine of the Scots Ancestry Research Society in Edinburgh, and cited by Doliante, I, 13
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Carol Middleton, Submitter. Births and Christenings in Fife. Scotland Genweb Project. http://www.scotlandgenweb.org/index.php/counties/fife/91-birth-death-marriage-records-fife/19-births-and-christenings-in-fife. Accessed August 14, 2016
4. ↑ Doliante, 1, 13
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} Mike Marshall. Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia's Northern Neck Counties. Profile for Alexander Bell Citing Western Maryland Genealogy, Vol 8., No. 3, July 1992. Accessed 21 January 2024 jhd
6. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Banns and Marriages," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 24 January 2024), William Bell marriage to Christen Traill Fr1212 (Fr1212) on or after 5 December 1639 in St Andrews and St Leonards, Fife, Scotland; citing Parish Number 453, Ref 50/37.
7. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Banns and Marriages," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 23 January 2024), Alexander Bell marriage to Margaret Ramsay Fr1386 (Fr1386) on or after 21 May 1646 in St Andrews and St Leonards, Fife, Scotland; citing Parish Number 453, Ref 50/224.
8. ↑ The sasines were located by the Scots Ancestry Research Society in Fife, Scotland, and were translated by Miss Alma B. Calderwood of Edinburgh and appear in Doliante, 1, 59-62
9. ↑ Robert Hunter McLean, Alexander Beall of Maryland 1649-1744: One Line of Descent in America, Fort Worth: Fort Worth Genealogical Society, 1977, p. 7
10. ↑ Barbara Inman Beall. The Ringing of the Bells–Part Two: They Came From Scotland. https://bundlesoftwigsandflowers.com/2016/01/02/the-ringing-of-the-bells-part-two-they-came-from-scotland/. Accessed September 6, 2016.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 23 January 2024), William Bell born or baptised on 22 Aug 1647, son of Alexander Bell Margaret Ramsay, in St Andrews and St Leonards, Fife, Scotland; citing Parish Number 453, Ref 10/162.
12. ↑ Fielder Beall, Colonial Families in the USA Page 129-130 Brothers William Beall 1647-1731, Immigrant, b 1647, son of Alexander Bell and his wife, Margaret Ramsay Bell, baptised Aug 22 1647, arrived Maryland 1664, Retiurned to Scotland and returned to Maryland Dec 1671, d 1731, married Elizabeth Stallingses, had 8 children
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 23 January 2024), Alexander Bell born or baptised on 11 Oct 1649, son of Alexander Bell Margaret Ramsay, in St Andrews and St Leonards, Fife, Scotland; citing Parish Number 453, Ref 10/175.
14. ↑ Fielder Beall, Colonial Families in the USA Page 130-131 Alexander Beall, Sr 1649-1744, Immigrant, b 1649, son of Alexander Bell and his wife, Margaret Ramsay Bell, baptised Oct 11 1749, Had brothers in Maryland - William, James and Andrew, d 1744, married Elizabeth Coombes, had 6 children
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 23 January 2024), James William Bell born or baptised on 5 Feb 1652, son of Alexander Bell Margret Ramsay, in St Andrews and St Leonards, Fife, Scotland; citing Parish Number 453, Ref 10/193.
16. ↑ Fielder Beall, Colonial Families in the USA Page 148-152 James Beall, Sr 1652-1725, Immigrant, b 1652, son of Alexander Bell and his wife, Margaret Ramsay Bell, baptised Feb 5 1652, arrived Maryland 1668, d 1725, married Sarah Pearce 1693, had 8 children
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 23 January 2024), Andro Bell born or baptised on 28 Mar 1655, son of Alexander Bell Margret Ramsay, in St Andrews and St Leonards, Fife, Scotland; citing Parish Number 453, Ref 10/215, Frame 220.
18. ↑ Fielder Beall, Colonial Families in the USA Page 130 Andrew Beall 1655-1742, Immigrant, b 1655, son of Alexander Bell and his wife, Margaret Ramsay Bell, baptised Mar 18 1655, arrived Maryland 1677, d 1742, will indicated he had no family and left property to friends
19. ↑ Fredric Z. Saunders Beall Family
20. ↑ Heterick, I, 1. Heterick provides the entire will, which may be found on the profile for [[Beall-97|Alexander Beall
21. ↑ Heterick, III, 1
22. ↑ Fielder Beall, Page 11
23. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 23 January 2024), George Beall born or baptised on 6 Aug 1628, son of Thomas Beall & Elspit Thamsone, in Leslie, Scotland; citing Parish Number 444, Ref 60/73, Frame 929.

Bibliography of Frequently Cited Works

Full detail is provided below for abbreviated references with various page numbers shown above:

• Beall, Fielder M.M. Colonial Families in the USA Descended from the Immigrants who arrived before 1700, mostly from England and Scotland, and are now represented by citizens of the following names; Bell, Beal, Bale, Beale, Beall Note: this work contains many citations to facts, but also makes some serious errors connecting persons to the wrong parents. Because of his errors, Fielder M. M. Beall's work should be considered a useful but not reliable source. Chevy Chase, Maryland: By the author, 1929.
• Doliante, Sharon J. Maryland and Virginia Colonials: Genealogies of Some Colonial Families. 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1991
• Heterick, Elizabeth B. Five Families "BEALL" of Maryland; Their Intermarriages and Descendants. 5 sections. By the author: unpublished Manuscript, prior to 1970. Available at Montgomery County Historical Society, Rockville, Maryland, United States.

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Beall-145 created through the import of 2010-09-14.ged on Jul 28, 2011 by Bob Carson.