Robert Bell I
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Robert Bell I (1736 - 1816)

Capt. Robert Bell I
Born in Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania Colonymap [uncertain]
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and [mother unknown]
Brother of [half], [half], [half], [half], [half], [half] and [half]
Husband of — married about 1764 in Caswell, North Carolina, Colonial Americamap [uncertain]
Husband of — married 17 Jan 1775 in Guilford, North Carolinamap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and
Died at age 79 in Hermitage, Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 9 Feb 2011
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Contents

Biography

1776 Project
Captain Robert Bell I served with Guilford County Regiment, North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.
American Flag
Robert Bell is an American Patriot (see sources below)
This profile is part of the Bell Name Study.

Summary

Robert Bell I (Bell-884) (hereafter RBI) was born in 1736,[1] probably in the Cumberland Valley of Pennsylvania,[2][1] and died in 1816 in Davidson County, Tennessee.[3][1] In 1748 his family moved to Amherst County, Virginia[1] and subsequently to Caswell and Guilford Counties, North Carolina.[1]
In 1762 he received a land grant of 360 acres on the Haw River in Guilford County, North Carolina from John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville. He lived on this land about nine miles from Guilford Courthouse. He owned a slave and was apparently a moderately prosperous farmer. In 1770 he sold this land to a Samuel Bell.[4]
RBI married twice: first in 1764 to Catherine Walker with whom he had six children[3][1] (she died in 1770[5]), second in 1774 to Mary Boyd[1] with whom he had thirteen children. Catherine Walker's family can be traced to the Scotch-English Borderlands, but little is known of Mary Boyd.
Several of Robert's descendants were ministers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His descendants and some biographies of those who were ministers can be found at the source noted with this footnote. [6]
In the Revolutionary War, RBI served as a captain in the North Carolina Militia under General Griffith Rutherford and also as a lieutenant in the Continental Line under General Nathaniel Greene. He was commended for meritorious service in the Battle of Eutaw Springs in a letter from General Greene to Governor Richard Caswell of North Carolina[1] [7]
In 1785, RBI and his family, together with his brother, Samuel Bell II, moved to Sumner County, Tennessee and subsequently about 1798-99 to the Mill Creek area of southeastern Davidson County, Tennessee where he lived on a North Carolina land grant of 640 acres which he had purchased from another veteran. In recognition of his own military service, he received a North Carolina land grant for 2,568 acres in Davidson county, which he sold.[1]
Robert Bell (RBI) "died of the cold plague in January, 1816, in his 80th year" in Davidson County, Tennessee.[1]

Vitals

Capt. Robert Bell
Parents: Samuel Bell (wife unknown)
born December 1736[1] in Cumberland Valley, Bedford, Pennsylvania[2]
Wives:
  1. Catherine Walker,[8] married about 1764 in Caswell, North Carolina[3][1]
  2. Mary Boyd,[8] married January 17, 1775 in Guilford, North Carolina
Children[9]
by Catherine Walker (six children[3][1])
  1. Mary (Bell) Williamson
  2. Samuel Bell[8]
  3. Ann (Bell) Marshall[8]
  4. Catherine (Bell) McCutchen[8]
  5. Robert Bell[8]
  6. Unknown Bell
by Mary Boyd (thirteen children)
  1. John Bell
  2. James Bell[8]
  3. Hugh Bell[8]
  4. Daniel Bell
  5. Francis Bell[8]
  6. William Bell
  7. David Bell[8]
  8. Thomas Bell
  9. Abraham Bell
  10. Sarah (Bell) Allen
  11. Nathaniel Bell
  12. Rebecca Bell
  13. Jane (Bell) Martin[8]
Died: about January 1816, Hermitage, Davidson, Tennessee[3][1][10]

Heirs

Samuel Bell, administrator of the estate of Robert Bell, "and others" (the heirs of Robert Bell) recorded an agreement concerning the settlement of his estate in Davidson County (registered 21 August 1818, witnessed January 1817). The agreement was necessary to provide for three of his sons, as he died "intestate after having provided during his life time for part of his children and leaving others without such provisions".[11]
Witnesses - "children and legal representatives of the heirs of Robert Bell deceased lately of Davidson County":[12]

Details + Evidence

Origins

The source for RBI's birth date is his son Rev. Robert Bell II (Bell-920) as related to Draper [1]. Apparently based on family lore, E. H. Bell believed RBI was born in the Cumberland valley of Pennsylvania [2]. Fred Hawthorne thought he came from Virginia [14]
The early life of RBI in Pennsylvania and Virginia presumably parallels that of his father Samuel Bell I (Bell-3884) as described by Draper [1].

North Carolina

Caswell County
Evidence that RBI lived in Caswell County is provided by Draper [1] who says that RBI moved to Caswell County North Carolina in 1771 and later to Guilford County, but gives no date for the second move.
Presumably based, in part at least, on records of the [1] and other unspecified sources, Rankin [15] has:
"Robert Bell came here from Caswell County in 1762 and located on Sugar Tree Creek (Jordan's Branch).
Likewise providing no source, Parks [16] has:
A native of Caswell County, North Carolina, Robert Bell (Bell-884) had moved to Guilford County prior to the Revolution and settled "about nine miles" from Guilford Courthouse.
Parks seems to be unaware of RBI's time in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Parks does not cite Draper [1], though he mentions Draper's source, Rev. Robert Bell II (Bell-920).
On this point, G. G. Bell [3] apparently quotes Parks [16] without citation.
Foote [17] mentions RBI's presence in Caswell County and subsequent removal to Guilford County.
Guilford County
Evidence that RBI lived in Guilford County comes from several, not clearly independent, sources.
Hofmann, Margaret M., The Granville District of North Carolina 1748-1763, Abstracts of Land Grants, Vol. 3, p. 43.
ROBERT BELL 10 May 1762, 360 acres in Rowan County on the Waters of Sugar Tree being the Water of Haw River, Joing JOHN NIX and JOHN McNIGHT /s/ ROBERT BELL Wit: JOHN FROHOCK examined by: JOHN FROHOCK surveyed 27 April 1762 CC: JOSEPH CUNNINGHAM, WILLIAM HAMILTON JOHN FROHOCK Survr."
The date is apparently inconsistent with Draper [1], as cited above, unless RBI took the land grant before he relocated.
Hofmann's work and its historical background are described below in North Carolina Land Grants before 1800, State Library of North Carolina:
Margaret M. Hofmann authored a 5 volume series called Granville District of North Carolina, 1748-1763 : Abstracts of Land Grants. The Granville District was a large tract of land created in 1744 and owned by John, Lord Carteret, who became the Earl of Granville. The Granville District ran along the border of Virginia in the North from the Atlantic Coast with a southern border going west at 35 degrees and 34 minutes latitude from the middle of present day Beaufort County through the middle of Swain County. In 1729, the Lords Proprietors sold their land to the Crown, all except one, which became Granville District. A land office did not open however, until 1748 due to negotiations between the Crown and the Earl of Granville. This 5 volume series gives abstracts for land deeds dated between 1749-1763. Another book by Margaret M. Hofmann continues the Granville District land patents with the book Abstracts of Granville Grantees, Halifax County, North Carolina Public Registry. This book covers Granville Grants from Halifax County during 1749-1763. With the completion of this book, Margaret M. Hofmann abstracted every land patent in colonial North Carolina.
Smith [4] says, presumably based on examination of public records,
Robert had a land grant from Earl of Granville for 360 acres on Haw Rv in Guilford Co, NC in 1762. He sold this to his brother, Samuel, 1770. His father-in-law, John Walker, a witness, also his brother, Francis Bell. Robert was in said County # 691, with 3 males under 10, he 27-45, 1 female 27-45, another female over 45, 1 slave. Neighbors were Jehu Cox and James Johnson.
Smith may have looked at Hofmann, quoted above, and apparently records to land transactions and census. She does not cite sources.
A book about one if his dependents, Leander Bell has a copy of an Indenture made August 15, 1762 between John and Rebecca Boone and Robert who purchased 350 acres on the north bank of Hunting Creek in Guilford County. This indenture source is cited "Deed book 6, page 188 of Rowan County, NC"
Rankin [15] includes RBI in a list of members of the Buffalo Presbyterian Church in the years 1773-1777.
RBI's presence in Guilford County is evidenced by records land transactions summarized by Paula Snyder (Norman-673). [18]
Family
Draper [1] has:
At the age of 28, he had married Miss Catherine Walker, by whom he had 3 sons & 3 daughters; married a second time in Guilford County in Dec. '74 to Miss Mary Boyd, by whom he had 10 sons & 3 daughters 19 children in all, of whom 11 were living in 1841.
This, together with the birth date of 1736, also from Draper [1] implies a date of 1764 for the first marriage. This is shortly after RBI obtains the land grant in Guilford County.
The date of the second marriage is provided by Robert Bell, "North Carolina, Marriages, 1759-1979".
Data pertaining to the children of RBI comes from G. G. Bell [3] and Smith [4]. It appears that Smith may have obtained her information from G. G. Bell [3] who says her information came from George Emmett Bell (Bell-1092). In most cases, existence of the children has been verified by public records cited in their profiles.
Rankin [15], a source cited by G. G. Bell [3] mentions some children:
His children appear to have been Samuel, Robert, Francis and James.
Military Service
The evidence for RBI's military service is considered and a narrative based on this evidence is provided.
Evidence
The earliest coherent record of RBI's military service is provided by Draper [1]:
When the Revolution broke out, he commanded a company and served throughout the war went with his company on Gen. Rutherford's campaign in '76 against the Cherokees there was no fighting, for the S.C. troops had met & defeated the Indians previous to Rutherford's joining them however the North Carolina troops burnt some Indian towns, destroyed corn Maj. Bell fought at the battle of Eutaw Springs under Gen. Pickens at the close of which, he was placed in command of the guard that conveyed the prisoners 22 miles to a place of security. They had marched 6 miles before engaging making 28 miles march that day, beside the engagement. Gen. Greene in consideration of Bell's good services promoted him to a Majority in the regular service. Major Bell was in a private capacity at the siege of Ninety-Six; & was often out against the Tories. He was temporarily absent from the army after a supply of corn, or he would have taken part at Guilford battle.
Parks [16] has:
In 1782 an invading British army was sweeping victoriously through South Carolina. At Eutaw Springs on September 8 an American force under General Nathanael Greene tried to halt the redcoats. With Greene was a company under the command of Captain Robert Bell (Bell-884). During the battle Bell was in effect commander of the regiment since the French regimental commander, unable to speak effective English, relied heavily on him. Following the engagement General Greene, in a letter to Governor Richard Caswell of North Carolina, made special mention of the meritorious service by Captain Bell.
At this point, Parks [16] cites
[1] John Bell (Bell-884) to ?, December 8, 1844, printed in Jonesborough (Tennessee) Whig, February 19, 1845; G. E. Bell (Bell-1092) to Tennessee Historical Commission, July 6, 1923, in Bell File, Tennessee State Library.
The first item cited is John Bell - Jonesboro Whig 02/19/1845; the second has not yet been located in the Tennessee State Archives.
The source of the Parks [16] account of the Battle of Eutaw Springs is not evident and at variance with standard accounts (e.g. Middlekauff, The Glorious Cause) on several points. Most saliently, the standard accounts do not mention the participation of French troops. However, the pension application of Joseph Denny in "Constructed History of Captain Robert Bell" [19] mentions " a French Colonel...Malmedy" who is also named in the application of James Stewart in connection with Eutaw Springs.
Booraem, Young Hickory, p. 112 and related citations mention "a Frenchman named Malmady" in connection with "two units of North Carolina militia" returning home from Eutaw Springs.
The "French Colonel ...Malmedy" / "a Frenchman named Malmady" mentioned here is very likely Col. Marquis Francois DeMalmedy. Apparently, though indeed a "French Colonel", he was not associated with the French government's military forces in North America. Parks [16] writes of a "French regimental commander" suggesting that this is the commander of a French regiment. Another interpretation is that he was a Frenchman commanding a regiment, possibly North Carolina militia. The second interpretation appears to be in accord with other accounts.
On RBI's role in the Battle of Eutaw Springs, G. G. Bell [3] apparently quotes Parks [16], again without citation.
Additional information is provided by applications for Revolutionary War pensions by men who served with RBI:
Pension Application of John Denny [20]
Pension Application of James Dougan [21]
Pension Application of James Stewart [22]
Pension Application of Jethro Harper [23]and by a narrative constructed from other pension applications:
Constructed History of Captain Robert Bell [19].
These are of some interest independently of RBI. They suggest a picture of repeated, intermittent military service in militia units by a group of men, many of who seem to be acquaintances. Note that the pension applications were produced more than fifty years after the events they describe.
Narrative
These sources present a somewhat fragmented picture of RBI's military service. A more coherent account can be structured around the following chronological list of battles associated with RBI in the sources:
Cherokee Campaign -- 08-09/ 1776
Siege of Charleston -- 02/11-04/08/ 1780
Camden -- 08/16/1780
Guilford Courthouse -- 03/15/1781
Siege of Ninety-Six -- 06/08-06/18/ 1781
Eutaw Springs -- 09/08/1781
RBI is a commissioned officer in the NC militia at the beginning the Revolutionary War and served until the end..."When the Revolution broke out he commanded a company and served throughout the war" [1]. He apparently held the rank of captain ("commanded a company") but it is not clear what prior military experience would justify this rank. It is not unlikely that he served in the Anglo-Cherokee War in 1760–-1761 before settling in Guilford County, though there is no evidence for this. We are told he "was much of a military man" [1].
In 1776 RBI serves with General Griffith Rutherford in the Cherokee Campaign "...went with his company on Gen. Rutherford's campaign in '76 against the Cherokees" [1]. It is likely that RBI served with the Guilford Regiment (North Carolina militia), under Colonel James Martin [Rutherford]. We are told "...there was no fighting, for the S. C. troops had met & defeated the Indians previous to Rutherford's joining them - however the North Carolina troops [presumably the Guilford Regiment among them] burnt some Indian towns, destroyed corn - " [1]. James Dougan who also served under Captain John Collier also in the Guilford Regiment confirms this account of the campaign [21]].
In 1777 Dougan volunteered to serve three months as Ensign under Captain RBI. They "...rendezvoused at Salisbury and were stationed at Camden S. C." [21]. James Stewart apparently served under RBI at the same time, though he is uncertain of dates..."...enlisted a tour of three to the aid of South Carolina months [?], JOHN PAISLEY, colonel; ROBERT BELL, captain; and ROBERT CURRY, lieutenant; individual's self, 1st sergeant, and marched through Martinsville, Salisbury, Charlotte, Camden and after passing Camden, was met by a continental officer and sent back and stationed near Camden, and there remained, as further service was not demanded until the three months expired. This took place shortly after the Cherokee expedition date not recollected." [22]. These events probably occurred in summer / fall of 1777. Apparently, RBI was home long enough to father a child (James Bell, born 08/1777) in early 1777.
These accounts (whose dates might be questioned) put RBI at Camden in 1777 before the Siege of Charleston and the Battle of Camden. There is no evidence that he participated in either of these events. Nor is there any evidence of RBI's activities between 1777 and 1781. It appears likely that he participated in the guerrilla activity characteristic of the war in the South at this time. He fathered one child during this time (Hugh Bell, born 05/01/1779, my 2X great grandfather), so he may not have been far from home.
Subsequently, RBI was apparently foraging for supplies during the battle of Guilford Courthouse..."He was temporarily absent from the army after a supply of corn...[1] and "...in a private capacity..."often out against the Tories" [1] at the Siege of Ninety-Six. It is not clear what this is telling us about RBI's role in the Siege of Ninety-Six. One interpretation is that he had left the regular military and joined irregulars who were active against loyalist (Tory) irregulars.
In 1781, prior to the Battle of Eutaw Springs, RBI is joined by at least two men who had previously served with him: John Denny... "In June, 1781 he volunteered again under Captain Robert Bell and marched to join General [Nathaniel] Green at Camden." [20]; and James Stewart..."...he next volunteered his service for the space of three months to the aid of South Carolina under the command of Captain ROBERT BELL, Lieutenant ROBERT CURRY, Ensign GEORGE NICKS, self 1st sergeant, and advanced to the state line. Ensign NICKS being what was then called a "ticket man" refused to cross the state line and returned. This applicant was then advanced to the place of ensign and marched to Camden, joined by Colonel MALMEDY and our Lieutenant CURRY left us. This applicant was advanced to the then vacant office. Here Captain BELL was advanced to major and this applicant was advanced to captain, but remained uncommissioned. General [Nathaniel] GREENE then on his march from the High Hills of Santee, fell in with us and we advanced to the Eutaw Springs and fought in that memorable battle early in September 1781." [22]. Camden was apparently along the line of march from North Carolina to Eutaw Springs.
At the Battle of Eutaw Springs "...Maj. Bell fought...under Gen. [Andrew] Pickens at the close of which, he was placed in command of the guard that conveyed the prisoners 22 miles to a place of security. They had marched 6 miles before engaging making 28 miles march that day, beside the engagement. [One might suspect that, as an officer, RBI rode, rather than walked.] Gen. [Nathaniel] Greene in consideration of Bell's good services promoted him to a Majority in the regular service." [1]
Note that the accounts of Stewart [22] and Draper [1] do not agree on the circumstance of RBI's promotion to major. G. G. Bell [3] and E. H. Bell [2] suggest there was no promotion. Draper [1] suggests that the promotion accompanied a transfer from militia to regular (Continental Line) service. This is the only evidence that RBI held the rank of major. NC records indicate was a lieutenant in the Continental Line at the end of the War. The title "Captain" by which he is usually know pertains to his rank in the NC militia. E. H. Bell [2] suggests that RBI was in regular service ("Continental Line") throughout the war. Further insight into this question is provided in the discussion of the activities of Col. Marquis Francois DeMalmedy.

Tennessee

Residence
Sumner County
In 1785, RBI and his family, together with his brother, Samuel Bell II (Bell-1372), moved to Sumner County, Tennessee. Parks [16] has:
Following the Revolution he and his brother Samuel (Bell-1372) joined the throng of emigrants who moved into central Tennessee. Robert's first home in Tennessee is said to have been north of the Cumberland River in Sumner County. [4]
There seems to be no record of the place of his residence. In 1794 a Robert Bell and his wife Margaret purchased a tract of land on Drake's Creek. This could not have been the same Bell; his wife was named Mary. Sumner County Deed Book 1, p. 80.
Draper [1] has:
In 1785 Majr. Bell emigrated to Sumner county in the Cumberland Country since Tennessee. In the fall of '92 there were **rted at Maj. Bell's a dozen families, & when getting logs to stockade the place, 40 Indians were lurking about but did not attack the fort.
The fort Draper mentions is likely known as Isaac Bledsoe's Fort which was located in Bledsoe's Lick - now Castalian Springs where a historical site Bledsoe's Fort Park. An interesting chapter in the development of this area from the book titled The Appalachian Frontier: America's First Surge Westward by John Anthony Caruso can be downloaded at https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_appalachian-echoes/3/
Robert Bell is listed in 1787 as owning 1990 acres of land in Sumner Co. - Source: Sumner County Tax Book -Original book at the Sumner County Archives, Catalog # 976.847SN-T link is at Tennessee Sumner 1787
Vondrak-7 10:08, 2 February 2015 (EST)
Davidson County
Parks [16] has:
Sometime during the 1790's he moved to Davidson County, settling on Mill Creek, a short distance southeast of Nashville, where he had previously located North Carolina grants for several hundred acres of land....
...In 1792 a Captain Robert Bell located in the Big Harpeth River west of southwest of Nashville a North Carolina military grant for 2,560 acres of land. Whether this was the Robert Bell who had acquired land on Mill Creek has not been established. It seems unlikely that two Revolutionary captains by the same name would locate land in the same general area. Yet there is an incongruity in the dates which makes this appear probable. The owner of the Harpeth tract sold one half of it to Garret Goodlow in 1796, and the deed stated that Robert Bell was a resident of Franklin County, North Carolina. According to the family story Robert Bell of Mill Creek had migrated to Tennessee at least a decade prior to 1796. The reliability of this account is further strengthened by the fact that three of his children -- Samuel (Bell-918), Catherine (Bell-921), and Robert Jr. (Bell-920) -- married in Tennessee Country in the early 1790's The presence of older children in this area suggests, but does not prove, that the father had also arrived...
...and subsequently about 1798-99 to the Mill Creek area of southeastern Davidson County, Tennessee where, he lived on a North Carolina land grant of 640 acres which he had purchased from another veteran. In recognition of his own military service, he received a North Carolina land grant for 2,568 acres in Davidson county, which he sold....
...He lived "near Flat Rock on the Nolensville Road" in 1816.
RBI's Estate Settlement suggests he was a prosperous farmer who owned a mill. He owned two slaves.
Death
RBI apparently died of what we would now call 'influenza' in January of 1816 at the home of John Edmiston (Edmiston-5) in Hermitage, Davidson, Tennessee.
RBI's son, Rev. Robert Bell II (Bell-920), relates, as reported by Draper [1]:
He died of the cold plague in January, 1816, in his 80th year, while at John Edmondson's, in the neighborhood of the Hermitage:.... His son Nathaniel sickened with the cold plague, a terrible malignant disease, while at Edmondson's, & Maj. Bell & one of his daughters went to minister to him he recovered, but the aged father & daughter were seized by the fearful malady & died Edmondson also died, & there were 4 corpses in the house at the same time.
The daughter mentioned is apparently Rebecca (Bell-910 ). Edmonson is apparently John Edmiston (Edmiston-5), father of RBI's daughter-in-law, wife of his son Samuel (Bell-918). Draper [1] mentions "4 corpses". This accounts for only three. Nathaniel (Bell-914) survives so the fourth could not be his corpse.
An account of the influenza epidemic occurring at the time of his death and treatment (bloodletting) provided to those suffering from it appears in The Epidemic, a contemporary newspaper account apparently written by a physician.
Estate Settlement
RBI died intestate. His children agreed on a disposition of his estate (see Estate Settlement; abstract above).[11]
Estate Inventory
An inventory of RBI's estate, apparently in preparation for sale, appears below. It is from this inventory that we learn that he owned two slaves,
DAVIDSON COUNTY, TN - WILLS - Robert Bell Estate Inventory
"Record Book Davidson County, Tennessee # 4 page 447
from Metropolitan Government Archives
3801 Green Hills Village Drive
Nashville, TN 37215
Robert Bell decd. Inventory Recorded 23rd April 1816
March 25th 1816. A true Inventory of the goods and chattles of the estate of Robert Bell decd.: 1 Negro man, 1 Negro woman, 41 head of horse kind, 11 head of Cattle, 17 head of Sheep, 26 head of Hoggs, 1 waggon and gear, 1 Jack Screw, 1 desk and bookcase, 1 Cupboard, 1 Table, 9 chairs, 2 beds and furniture, 2 bedsteads, 1 whip saw, 1 cross cut saw, one wheel fan, one currying knife, three barshear-ploughs, two shovel ploughs, 2 nalocko, 3 weeding hoes, 1 log chain, two Broad axes, 3 pole axes, one foot adze, one Howell, 5 augers, 1 hand saw, one tenant saw, 2 pots, 2 kettles, 2 ovens, one pair fire dogs, 1 frow, two Iron wedges, one pair of fire tongs, 2 flat irons, 3 ladles, 1 loom, 1 slay, 1 looking glass, 1 cotton wheel, 1 stone hammer, pot rack, 1 Brass Serve, 1 wheel oieve, 1 Briar sythe, 1 long Sythe, one cuting knife, two rifle guns, five raw hides, 1 flax hackle, two drawing knives, four brewing tubs, two slates, one Spoon moulds, 1 pair of Sadle bags, one sword, a Small quanty of corn, one note on John Gordin of six dollars, 1 note on Elijah Linkhorn of Six dollars, 1 proved account on Santee eleven dollars 30 cents, 1 Note on Shaw $10.00, 1 due bill on James Stuart of ten dollars 31 cents, 1 crib of corn.
Samuel Bell admr.
John Bell admr.
State of Tennessee, Davidson County Court April Sessions 1816

This Inventory of the estate of Robert Bell decd. was returned into court By Samuel Bell and John Bell admr. and ordered to be recorded Testa __Nathan Ewing Clerk of

Estate Sale
Photos of a record of sale of RBI's estate appear to the right on this page. A transcription is in preparation.
Items appearing in the sale record appear to be largely identical to those appearing in the inventory above. A notable exception is books which appear in the sale record but not in the inventory.
By far, the most valuable items sold were the two slaves, a male selling for $730, a female selling for $5(?)60.
Many items appear to have been purchased by members of RBI's family.
With the exception of a Bible, there is no itemized list of books sold. However, Parks [16], apparently citing record of the estate sale pictured at right, tells us:
A portion of the equipment of his [John Bell (Bell-924)] office consisted of a desk, a chair, and a few books, including a dictionary, which he had recently acquired at the sale of his grandfather's personal property.

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 Draper, 1841-44
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Bell, E. H., 1930
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 Bell, G. G.,1977
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Smith, 2004
  5. ↑ James Elton Bell, Frances Jean Bell, Sir Robert Bell and His Early Virginia Colony Descendants: A Compilation of 16th, 17th, and 18th Century English and Scottish Families with the Surname Bell, Beale, Le Bel ... Et Al (page 53 source citation, 122, is to G.G. Bell's book - see Space: Bell, 1977).
  6. ↑ http://www.cumberland.org/hfcpc/minister/Bell.htm
  7. ↑ https://www.carolana.com/NC/Revolution/patriots_nc_capt_robert_bell.html
  8. ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed October 13, 2015), "Record of Robert Bell (Lt.)", Ancestor # A008776.
  9. ↑ Note that a DAR citation means that a descendant entered the DAR by documenting their relationship to Robert Bell through the listed child. The DAR database includes only the ancestors of members. If a child is not listed, it only means that the DAR does not have any members who joined based on their relationship to that child.
  10. ↑ A profile for him has been added to Find a grave memorial, although his burial site has not been documented. ~ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/223808867/robert-bell
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Abstract from transcription by Paula Snyder from Warranty Deed Book M p. 341, held in Metropolitan Nashville/Davidson County Archives, 3801 Green Hills Village Drive, Nashville, TN 37215. File contributed to USGenWeb and WikiTree, accessed 4 May 2024. Annotations on the WikiTree space page "References to this data base provided by JDS (basis for text links to WikiTree profiles in the listed witnesses).
  12. ↑ Not among the children who witnessed this agreement: Robert Bell II, Daniel Bell, Rebecca Bell, and the "Unnamed Infant Bell" (attached as children of Robert Bell as of 4 May 2024).
  13. ↑ The JDS reference on the space page for "J Bell": "Bell-916?"
  14. ↑ Hawthorne, 2004
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Rankin, 1934
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.7 16.8 16.9 Parks, 1950
  17. ↑ Foote, 1846
  18. ↑ Guilford NC Records
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 CONSTRUCTED HISTORY OF CAPTAIN ROBERT BELL
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Pension Application of John Denny
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Pension Application of James Dougan
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Pension Application of James Stewart
  23. ↑ Pension Application of Jethro Harper

Historical Background

For an account of the community in Guilford County, North Carolina in which the Bells lived see:
Adams, Wendy Lynn, The Nottingham Settlement, a North Carolina Backcountry Community, MA Thesis, Department of History, Indiana University, 2009.
A free download is available here.
General historical background is provided by:
Middelkauff, Robert, The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution 1763-1789, Oxford University Press, 1982.
This is a standard source on the American Revolution useful in placing family information in context.
Specific to the Revolution in the South are:
Ekirch, A. Roger, "Poor Carolina": politics and society in colonial North Carolina, 1729-1776, Chapel Hill : University of North Carolina Press, 1981.
Hoffman, Ronald, An uncivil war : the southern backcountry during the American Revolution, Charlottesville: Univ. Pr. of Virginia, 1985.
Specific information about the Battle of Cowpens is provided by
Davis, Butke, The Cowpens - Guilford Courthouse Campaign, J. B. Lippincott Company, New York, 1962
It is a somewhat romanticized account by a popular historian. However, it is well sourced and appears to be accurate on essential facts like location and dates of battles.
Information about General Griffith Rutherford under whose command RBI served is provided by:
Mac Donald, James M., Politics of the personal in the old north state : Griffith Rutherford in Revolutionary North Carolina, Thesis (Ph. D.)--Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 2006.
A free download was available on an LSU website that is no longer active, but is still available through a 2016 WayBack Machine capture (accessed 15 December 2020).
More about Rutherford is provided by:
Wikipedia:Griffith Rutherford
General Griffith Rutherford.
General Griffith Rutherford
Sketches Of Western North Carolina, Historical And Biographical Rowan County, North Carolina Biographies.

DAR

Daughters of the American Revolution
Robert Bell I is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A008776.
Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed May 23, 2015), "Record of Robert Bell (Lt.)", Ancestor # A008776.
Bell, G. G.,1977
Bell, E. H., 1930
Constructed History of Captain Robert Bell
Draper, 1841-44
Foote, 1846
Guilford NC Records
Hawthorne, 2004
Hay, G. M., Soldiers from North Carolina in the Revolution, North Carolina, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1932, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, TN (Xerox)
Parks, 1950
Pension Application of John Denny
Pension Application of James Dougan
Pension Application of Jethro Harper
Pension Application of James Stewart
Rankin, 1934
Smith, 2004
Robert Bell, "North Carolina, Marriages, 1759-1979"
User Submitted Genealogies:Robert BELL

Recent Contributions

Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed May 23, 2015), "Record of Robert Bell (Lt.)", Ancestor # A008776.

I believe there is some misinformation about Mary Boyd Bell and her daughter Rebecca Bell who died in 1816. Rebecca Bell was probably not Mary Boyd Bell's last child, her last child most probably was Jane Bell born in 1795 when Mary was about 41. It has been suggested that Mary Boyd Bell died either in childbirth or shortly thereafter with Jane. I have done a fairly thorough search of the records here, but have not found anything revealing her death. Rebecca Bell was old enough when she died to have an estate settlement. She was not married but was presumably over the age of 21. I'm not sure why she was deemed to have owned the things in her estate.
Paula Snyder
Sent from my iPhone
05/27/15

The American Revolution in North Carolina], Carolana.com

Acknowledgements






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Comments: 6

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Lee-5956 Robin Lee
Bell-11775 and Bell-884 appear to represent the same person because: same wife, dates and places are not sourced at all on -11775
posted by Robin Lee
Noland-165 Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Samuel's wife Mary was detached as Robert's mother (because of dates... Robert born 1736/7, Mary married Samuel 1746). BUT the profile of Robert's mother (was Unknown-94465) appears to have been merged into Mary's, so text for Mary's profile has info from Robert's mother (e.g., Samuel Bell's wife (name unknown) passed away before 1746. The birth year of 1716 was added as a guess, based on her 1736 marriage to Samuel.)
posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Noland-165 Liz (Noland) Shifflett
deleted [Category: Rowan County Committee of Safety] ... which had been added previously - neither time citing any sources?
posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Lee-5956 Robin Lee
Bell-16584 and Bell-884 appear to represent the same person because: same wife and death
posted by Robin Lee
Noland-165 Liz (Noland) Shifflett
I added a "Vitals" section with just the basics. Hope that helps.
posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
McWhorter-226 Karen (McWhorter) Wilhelm
There is a lot of information here, some relevant and some not. It does not indicate clear evidence for family relationships and identities, making it hard to know who is who.

The profile needs a very thorough makeover and probably more profiles of people mentioned.

posted by Karen (McWhorter) Wilhelm

Rejected matches › Robert Bell (abt.1770-)

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