Lt. Col. Thomas Bell, Sr.

Parents uncertain, said in Miles Files to be Robert Bell and Alice Colston, about whom little is known.
https://espl-genealogy.org/MilesFiles/site/p1219.htm#i121818
https://espl-genealogy.org/MilesFiles/site/p1219.htm#i121819

NOT the son of Sir Robert Bell and Lady Mary Chester (they had no son Thomas). Verified via Genealogical memoirs of the extinct family of Chester of Chicheley, pp. 120-121 https://archive.org/details/genealogicalmem01wategoog/page/n160/mod...

Thomas Bell was born circa 1618 in England.1 [Note: It should not be assumed that just because he sailed from Gravesend, he was born there.] Thomas Bell emigrated from Gravesend, England to Virginia on the Thomas and John in 1635 at the age of 17 and settled on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.1 He married Mary Neale circa 1650.2 He made a will on 6 July 1678 at Northampton Co, VA. To my son Thomas Bell my 250 A. plantation where I now live. To my son Thomas 350 A. in Northampton Co. on the seaboard side near Matchepungo as mentioned in my pattent dated 20 Oct. 1661 subscribed by Francis Morryson and Thomas Ludwell. To my son Thomas my handmill. To my sons William and Robert Bell 300 A. which belongs to the land I now live upon to be eq. div. as they themselves have agreed. To my son George Bell one shilling and I hereby disinherit him from any part of my land. To my dau. Elizabeth Giddins now the wife of Thomas Giddins one shilling. To John Giddins the youngest son of my dau. Elizabeth, one heifer. To my loving wife Mary Bell her full 1/3rd of the remainder of my cattle, and the remaining 2/3rds to be eq. div. by my children Thomas, George, William, Robert, and Anthony Bell, my dau. Mary Maddux, and my granddau. Elizabeth Gethings. Wife Mary extrx. and to dispose of remaining estate as she sees fit. Witt: Morgan (an unknown value) Dowell, Thomas Barton, John Burroughs..3 Thomas died before 10 December 1678 at Northampton Co, VA.2

Family

• Mary (Neale? Harrington?) b. c 1630

Children

• Thomas Bell Jr. b. c 1651, d. b 1 Dec 1696
• William Bell b. c 1653
• Robert Bell+ b. c 1655, d. b 5 Jan 1724/25
• Mary Bell+ b. c 1656, d. 1721
• George Bell+ b. c 1657, d. b 8 Oct 1723
• Elizabeth Bell+ b. c 1658
• Anthony Bell b. c 1659

Citations

1. [S724] Robert Irving Upshur & Thomas Teackel Upshur IV, Upshur Family in Virginia, 2nd Edition, p. 249.
2. [S497] James Handley Marshall, Northampton Co, VA, Abstracts of Wills & Administrations, 1632-1802, p. 103 (will of Thomas Bell Sr., wife Mary).
3. [S570] Stratton Nottingham, Accomack Co, VA, Wills & Administrations, 1663-1800, p. 103 (will of Thomas Bell Sr., wife Mary).

   ---

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Oct 22 2016, 8:27:16 UTC