William Bell (1763 - 1838)

Born 8 May 1763 in County Monaghan, Ireland

Descendants

Died 23 May 1838 at age 75 in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

William Bell was born May 8 1763 in County Monaghan, Ireland. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin.^[1]

He emigrated to America in 1787 and settled at Reading, Pennsylvania, in about 1791. In Reading he was a dry goods merchant and operated several mills for the manufacture of flour.^[1][2] He was one of the pioneers in the development of anthracite coal at the headwaters of the Schuylkill River, which was then a part of Berks County. ^[1]

In 1794, he was one of the founders of a local Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons in Reading, Pennsylvania. He became the new Lodge's first Worshipful Master and was re-elected to that station seven times in the succeeding 21 years.^[3] He had a prominent part in establishing the first bank at Reading in 1808 and he continued his connection with the bank for many years. He was also one of the founders and an active member of the First Presbyterian Church at Reading.^[1]

He married Mary Greer, also born in Ireland, the daughter of Arthur Greer. Their only child was Samuel Bell, born in 1797.^[2]

He died in Reading on 23 May 1838.^[4]

William Bell died without a will. On 9 June 1840 his son Samuel, identified in the records as Samuel Bell jr., was granted letters of administration for the estate in Berks County. ^[5] On that same date, Samuel Bell jr., Samuel Bell, and Joseph H. Spayd provided an administration bond in the amount of sixteen thousand dollars.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Haage, page 129
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Montgomery, page 85.
3. ↑ Haage, page 7 and page 129.
4. ↑ Haage, page 130.
5. ↑ Ancestry.com, database Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993. Letters of Administration, Vol 13-18, 1836-1851. Berks County. #121, Letters of Administration in and for the County of Berks, to Samuel Bell jr. , a son to William Bell, late of the Borough of Reading, Berks County, Merchant, deceased.
6. ↑ Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993. Administration Bonds, Vol 12-15, 1834-1844. Berks County. #121.

• Haage, C. F. History of Lodge No. 62, F. and A. M.: Working Under the Jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, from 1794 to 1894 : Including the Centennial Proceedings. 1894.
• Montgomery, Morton L., compiler. Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families. Chicago: J. H. Beers Co. page 85 (ebooksread)