Hugh Bell (1779 - 1845)

Born 1 May 1779 in Guilford, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret McKinney — married 15 Nov 1800 in , Davidson, Tennessee, USA

Descendants

Died 1845 at about age 65 in Pontotoc, Mississippi, United States

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Biography

Hugh Bell was born May 1, 1779 in Guilford County, North Carolina. He was age three, living nearby, at the time of the Battle of Guilford Court House. He apparently moved with his father to Sumner County Tennessee in 1785 and subsequently to Davidson County, Tennessee about 1798-99.

Hugh was apparently a farmer all his adult life. He married Margaret McKinney in Davidson County Tennessee in 1800. Margaret was the daughter of John McKinney and Margaret Fulkerson. I know nothing more about them. Given the information in the Bell MCR Files, it appears that Margaret McKinney is the source of the claimed Choctaw ancestry.

In 1817 Hugh signs the settlement of his father's estate in Davidson County Tennessee. He is not among those who receive a share of the real estate. He does not appear among those who purchased movable items at the estate sale in 1816 (See (Bell-884)).

Bell Family says Hugh leaves Williamson County, Tennessee (adjacent to Davidson County) about 1818, moving to Limestone County Alabama. He owns land there, perhaps purchased with his share of his father's estate. He appears in 1819 as defendant in a lawsuit in Limestone County relating to a note signed (there?) in 1818. Bell Family finds him in Limestone County in the 1820 census. I do not find him there in the 1820 census, though I do find him there in the 1830 census. Form there Hugh moves to Monroe County Mississippi where his brother Rev. Robert Bell II (Bell-920) is superintendent of Charity Hall (mission school for Chickasaws / Choctaws). The school closes when the Native American move to Indian Territory about 1835. Robert and he then move to Pontotoc County Mississippi. Hugh appears in Pontotoc County in the 1840 census. ^[1]Hugh dies in Pontotoc County in 1845.

Hugh and Margaret had ten children: Adaline, Caroline and Florence remain in Mississippi; Jane goes to Tennessee; Paris Dooley, Zilphia and James Daniel go to Missouri; Robert Allen lives most of his life in Mississippi, but dies in Indian Territory, Mary Boyd goes to Texas; Alfred leaves no record. ^[2]

According to Bell Family (Smith, 2004):

C-9 Hugh Bell (son of Robert) b 5-1-1779 NC, d after 1845, m 11-15-1800 Margaret McKinney in Davidson Co, TN, b 8-10-1781, d 10-10-1840 Pontotoc Co, MS, dau of John & Margaret Fulkerson McKinney. Their chi: Caroline (1802), Zilpha (1803), Alfred ( ), Paris Dooley ( ), Adeline ( ), Jane ( ), Florence (1812), Robert Allen (1816), Mary Boyd (1817), James Daniel (1818). Four of his children purchased land in Johnson Co, MO, but only three actually moved there. They were Zilpha, Paris Dooley, and James. Robert Allen resold his land and stayed in Pontotoc Co, MS. Hugh left Williamson Co, TN for Limestone Co, AL ca 1818. From there he moved, where his brother Robert Bell was located, in Monroe Co, MS-and on to Pontotoc Co, MS. He shows deeds Limestone Co Vol 5, p 183. He shows in the 1820 census, p 24 #469. He has eight chi at home. Zilpha was married and probably one of the older children was out working.. John Lindsay sued Hugh Bell, Limestone Superior & Circuit Court Abstracts 04 Oct 1819. He had signed a note 22 Sep 1818. Lindsay recovered $3.86. Hugh and Margaret sold their land in Limestone Co, AL 02 Jan 1837. His brother Robert, the missionary, had moved from Monroe Co, MS to Pontotoc Co at this same time.

Hugh shows on Pontotoc Co deeds: Jan 1838, book 2, p 292, to W. Goodman and deeds: 2/510, 3/411,

Hugh and Margaret sold land in Pontotoc Co 9-19-1840 Deed Book 4, p 411- both signed. He shows in the 1845 state census and probably died before the 1850 census. His son Robert Allen Bell stayed in the county, but most of his siblings moved on. Several moved to Texas and while three went to Johnson Co, Missouri.

SOURCES

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHTX-GMR : 7 September 2017), Hugh Bell, Pontotoc, Mississippi, United States; citing p. 158, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 218; FHL microfilm 14,842.
2. ↑ Joe Sneed 16:57, 28 January 2013 (EST)

• Smith, 2004

• Hugh Bell, "Tennessee, State Marriage Index, 1780-1950", 15 Nov 1800, Davidson, Tennessee, United States
• Hugh Bell in household of Hugh Bell, U. S. Census, 1830, Not Stated, Limestone, Alabama

• Hugh Bell in household of Hugh Bell, U. S. Census, 1840, Not Stated, Pontotoc, Mississippi

• 1850 Census: "United States Census, 1850"
  citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M432; Line: 11; Digital film/folder number: 004200044_003_M9C8-RBN; FHL microfilm: 443585; Image number: 138; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01169-8
  FamilySearch Record: M4LZ-2NM (accessed 30 September 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: S3HY-64KS-DPJ
  Hugh Ball (70) in Itawamba, Mississippi, United States. Born in South Carolina.

• Bell Family (Smith, 2004)

• The Bells in U. S. A. and Allied Families 1650-1977 (Bell 1977)

• Bell Family Information

• Historical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church

• BELL TREE

• Robert (Bob) McDonald, 2634 Arroyo Dobbie, San Marcos, TX 78666,

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 13 April 2017, 19:56), entry for Hugh Bell(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LHCW-LMS); contributed by various users.

https://archive.org/stream/annalsofaugusta00wadd#page/430/mode/2up