James Bell (1735 - abt. 1778)

Born 1735 in Virginia Colony

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1778 at about age 43 in Surry County, Virginia, United States

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Biography

James Bell was born 1735 in Sussex County, Virginia ^[1] and died 1778 in Surry County, Virginia. ^[1]

John Bell, father of the Reverend James Bell, moved from Lawne's Creek Parish, Surry County to Albemarle Parish, Surry County Virginia circa 1728. In 1754, Surry county was divided to form two counties, one retaining the name Surry and the other became the new county of Sussex. After this division in 1754 the whole of Albermarle Parish was contained in Sussex County. John Bell is believed to have been a communicant of Spring Swamp chapel or church. The church, which no longer stands, was in the vicinity of Seaborn's store in Sussex County. Apparently some bricks from Swamp Chapel remain. This would only be several miles from John Bell's home. John Bell left the farm he lived on to his son James Bell. James Bell was a communicant of the Anglican church until he became a Baptist in 1770. He joined the fellowship of Racoon Swamp church, which is now known as Antioch Church, located near Yale, Virginia. Several years later, James Bell became a minister and took pastoral charge and became the second pastor of Sappony Baptist church, located on route 40 west of Stony Creek in Sussex County. ^[2]

Will of James Bell

In Christ in Sussex County on Sappona Creek being sick in Body but in good Composure of Mind being certain that I must shortly put of this my Tabernacle and uncertain of the time when do look upon it expedient to set my House in Order by making my last Will and Testament.

First I recommend my Soul to God who gave in Expectation of a blessed Immortality through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus and my Body I leave to mingle with fellow Clay till the morning of the Resurrection desireing that my respected Friend and Brother in the Ministry David Tinsley John Williams or Jeremiah Dargan may officiate at my Interment. Approaching the small Portion of temporal good things that God hath been pleased to entrust me with I leave to be disposed of in the following Manner Viz. I desire that my Executors may sell what Part of my personal Estate they shall think can be best spared at publick sale as shall be sufficient to discharge my just Debts & funeral Expences].

Item. I give and bequeath unto my loving son George Bell the Land and Plantation whereon John Willias now lives part of which Land I recovered of Jeremiah Donald by Petition with all the Lands I hold on the north Side of Willises pond Branch down to the Mouth thereof and up the crooked Branch to Abraham Boltons Line and so along the said Boltons Line to a Corner on the said Land that I recovered of the said Darnal and so along the said old Line to Willies pond Branch containing by Estimation Two hundred & thirty Acres be the same more or less to him his Heirs or Assigns forever.

Imprimes I lend unto my loving wife Mildred Bell the use of all my other Lands untill my Son Benjamin Bell arrives to the age of twenty Years at which time I desire that the Lands be equally divided & my Son Benjamin to have the use of one half and the other half I desire she should have the Use of during her natural Life subjecting her to raise my son Benjamin Bell while he shall arrive to the Age of sisteen Years and to give him five Years Schooling. I also lend unto my said Wife Mildred all my other Estate during her Widowhood or while my Children hereafter named shall come to the Ages hereafter mentioned but in Case my said Wife should marry it is my Desire that two thirds of my Negroes & personal Estate be taken from her and the Legacies which I hereafter give be paid out of it and if any remaining it be equally divided among all my Children -

Item, I give and bequeath unto my son Balam Bell when he arrives to the age of twenty Years Eighty pounds lawfull Money of Virginia and one Horse of twenty Pounds Value in good ? and one Sadle & Bridle.

Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Son Benjamin Bell In Case he lives to the Age of twenty one Years or leaves Issue of his Body lawfully begotten All my Lands and Plantation which I have not given to my Son George to him the said Benjamin Bell his Heirs or Assigns forever but in Case my said Son Benjamine should die before he arrives to the Age of twenty one Years or has such Issue as above mentioned I desire that the Lands and Plantation bequeathed to my said Son Benjamin may be sold and the Money arising from such sale to be equally divided amongst all my children. Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Daughter Rebecka Bell one feather Bed and furniture One Cow and Calf one Yewand Lamb One Sow and Piggs to be raised out of my Estate and given her at the Age of twenty Years or Married to her the said Rebeca to her Heirs & Assigns forever.

Item I give and bequeath unto my two youngest Daughters Mildred Lucas Bell and Sally Wilkes Bell one Bed and furniture one side Saddle one Cow & Calf one Yew & Lamb one Sow & Piggs, each to be raised out of my Estate & given them at the Age of twenty Years or Married to them their Heirs or Assigns forever.

Item all the remainder of my Estate that I have lent unto my loving Wife after paying the above Legacies I desire may be equally divided at my Wife's Decease amongst all my Children.

Item I leave the Tuition & bringing up of my Son Balam while he he arrives to the Age of twenty Years to my beloved Brother in Christ Buckner Lanier desiring that he may use the same Authority over him as if he was his son.

Lastly I do appoint my son George Bell and my friends Sylvanus Bell & Gray Judkins Executors of this my last Will & Testatment ratifying & confirming this & no other to be my last Will & Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & affixed my Seal this the sixteenth Day of September One thousand Seven hundred & Seventy eight. James Bell stament of the Testator In Presence of (bottom of page cut off)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Ancestry.com: OneWorldTree. The Generations Network, Inc.

   Record for John Bell.

2. ↑ https://www.ourfamtree.org/browse.php/James-Bell/p369193

• 1769 --- James Bell, Guardian of Michael Hill, son of Michael Hill --- Sussex County Orphans Docket to August Court 1769 ----- THE SOUTHSIDE VIRGINAN VOL. 6, #3, 1988, editors: Lyndon Hart and Christian Kolbe, page: 137

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Bell-3342 created through the import of NEWEST BACKUP_2011-10-12.ged on Oct 13, 2011 by Season McMillan.