Robert Bell

Timeline for Robert Bell by Al Barrs albarrs@wfeca.net:

1675 born in Isle of Wight County Virginia

1705 New Kent County Virginia

1715 Essex County Virginia

1719 Chowan County North Carolina

1722 Bertie County North Carolina [Bertie was divided from Chowan in 1722]

1738 buried on north side of Cashie River, Bertie County NC in January 1738

http://genforum.genealogy.com/ferguson/messages/11554.html

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Robert Bell narrative by Al Barrs, son of Evia Adetha Bell-Barrs

http://wwwer.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/bell/15269/

Narrative:

Robert Bell of Virginia Colony, Chowan and Bertie Counties, North Carolina

(Was born in 1675 and died in 1738)

Most Bell researchers agree that our Robert Bell was transported to Virginia from England about 1704. However, this does not necessarily mean that he was born in England, as some researchers speculate. It was common practice for the children of the early Virginia Colonists to be transported to England for their education and then be transported back to the Colonies, with land awarded for their transport back to America. It was a win, win situation. Robert Bell’s ancestors had attended school and colleges so it would have been sensible that Robert’s father would send him to be educated. That would have been relatively easy since they were well acquainted with the Clements family of County Durham, England who owned and operated their yacht “George” routinely between England and America and into the family which Robert Bell would marry in 1704 upon his and Polly Clements return to America from England after their education had been completed.

Robert Bell was born in Isle of Wight County, Virginia in 1675. Robert Bell was a son of George Bell and Hester Webster-Bell. George Bell was born in 1630 in County Durham England to Richard Bell. Robert Bell 1st married Penelope “Polly” Clements in Virginia shortly after he and she arrived back in Virginia in 1704 on Polly’s family yacht “George”.

One may speculate that Robert Bell and Penelope Clements had been transported to England by their parents to be educated and had arrived back in Virginia together in 1704. The Clements family owned and passed down ownership of their yacht “George” to various family members over its useful lifetime. Jeffrey Clements married Elizabeth Fuller and they had five children.Third son, Jeremiah, was born in 1607. Jeffrey Clements died in 1609 and his widow Elizabeth Clements and four small children came to America on the "yacht George", landing at Jamestown, Virginia, June 10, 1611. She married in Virginia again in 1621 to Colonel Ralph Hamor.Without question, various Clements family members used their yacht “George” to travel back and forth from England to America and the Virginia Colony on a regular basis. One branch of the Clements family was also from County Durham England, the same county which the Richard and George Bell family had lived before immigrating to the Virginia Colony.

The Clements had immigrated to the Virginia Colony earlier than our Richard Bell family, in 1611, and may have been the family that persuaded the Bell family to immigrate during 1640s and 1660s. Plus, the Clements would have received payment from the Virginia Company for bringing the Bell family members over and probably transported them on their yacht “George.” Both families lived in County Durham England prior to immigrating to America.

Penelope ‘Polly’ Clements was born in Surry County, Virginia to John and Mary Clements in 1680. Her Grandfather, John Clements, was a Captain in the American Bacon’s Rebellion of 1675 in “The Colonies.” Penelope Clements’s father, John Clements, was an Indian Trader in America and may have been responsible for Robert Bell moving his family to the Bertie County North Carolina area around 1715 and after Polly had died.

Captain John Clement

Note: The Clement surname, like most surnames, has been spelled a number of ways over the many years of its existence, so too our Clement family surname. It has been spelled Clement, Clements, Clemmit, etc. John Clement, English Ship’s Captain

He was Bo’sun of the yacht ‘Royal Charles’. He was recommended as a Ship’s Master by Phineas Pett and served as Captain of several royal yachts.

He was captain of the ‘Cambridge’, a 3rd-rate yacht. John Clement’s last command was the “St. Andrew”.

Robert Bell was also closely associated with Henry Woodnot (Woodnut), before 1715. Henry Woodnot lived in Essex County, Virginia where Robert had bought land and lived with his wife Polly Clement. Robert and Polly Bell had three children while living in Essex County, Virginia. Robert Bell would eventually receive Henry Woodnot’s estate ‘by instruction’ in Mr. Woodnot’s Last Will and Testament dated December 29, 1718 and which was probated on 29th June 29, 1719 in Bertie County North Carolina. Robert Bell would marry Henry Woodnot’s daughter Anne Woodnot, the widow of John Ferguson (Fargeson), who is also know to have been in Essex County Virginia in 1704 and died there in 1715, the same year Penelope Bell died. Old documents show that Henry Woodnot (Woodnut) and John Ferguson were on the same jury on February 10, 1704 in Essex County, Virginia. The Bell, Woodnot and Ferguson families were acquainted in Essex County, Virginia.

Robert Bell married Anne Woodnot, the widow of John Ferguson, after his 1st wife Penelope Clement’s death in 1715 and about the same time the Bell family moved to the Cashie River region in the Chowan and Bertie County area of North Carolina. We don’t know if Robert Bell married Anne Woodnot in Essex County, Virginia or in Chowan, North Carolina. We do know that by 1715 the Bell and Woodnot families were in Chowan, North Carolina on the Cashie River.

Robert Bell's children, born to his 1st wife, Penelope Clement, were: 1) Robert, Jr who died at age 7 in Essex County, Virginia; 2) Jean Bell and 3) Mary Bell born in Essex County, Virginia. After Penelope Clement-Bell’s death, Robert Bell married the widow Anne Woodnot-Ferguson shortly after his 1st wife Polly’s extended illness and death in 1715.

I believe Penelope Bell had suffered a long and serious illness before her death in 1715. There was a long period of time between the birth of their daughter Mary Bell and George Bell the first born with Anne Woodnot-Bell. We know that by 1715, or certainly by 1716, Robert Bell had moved his family to property on the north bank of Cashie River in Chowan County, North Carolina (Later to become the Chowan Precinct of Bertie County) near what would become Windsor, North Carolina in 1768.

Anne Woodnot-Bell (formerly the widow Ferguson), brought a daughter, Isabella (Isobel) Ferguson into her marriage with Robert Bell. Isabel Ferguson was the youngest daughter and perhaps the only child of Anne and John Ferguson and she is often referred to in records as “Isabel Bell” and in some instances as the “wife of Robert Bell” which is not correct. The facts are, Anne brought Isabel Ferguson, her and John Ferguson’s daughter, into her 2nd marriage with Robert Bell. Isabel was the stepdaughter of Robert Bell. Whether or not Robert Bell officially adopted Isabel is not known. Isobel would live in Robert Bell and Anne Woodnot-Bell’s home on the north bank of the Cashie River from 1715-16 until her marriage to Michael King III in 1720. I have as yet no validated information or the family tree of John Ferguson (Fargeson) and/or his family, but continue to search old documents. Isabel’s father was John Ferguson. John Ferguson was recorded to have died in 1715 in Essex County Virginia, which is the same year that Anne married Robert Bell and the same year Penelope Bell, Robert Bell’s 1st wife died. Isabel and Michael King had 7 children in Bertie County North Carolina.

Robert Bell and Anne Woodnot-Bell had additional children while living in their home on the north side of the Cashie River in Chowan/Bertie County North Carolina in what would become the Windsor area of North Carolina. Windsor was created on the south bank of the Cashie River and the Robert Bell family lived on the North Bank of the Cashie River.

George Bell was born to Robert and Anne Bell in 1718 in Chowan County, North Carolina and he was the oldest living son of Robert Bell. Robert Bell’s first son Robert Bell, Jr. had died at age 7 in Essex County, Virginia. Then Archibald Bell was born in 1719 in Chowan County, North Carolina; John Bell was then born in 1720 in Chowan County, North Carolina. He died after 1783. Penelope Bell was the last child born to Robert and Anne Bell in 1724 in Bertie County, North Carolina on the north bank of the Cashie River where Robert Bell had moved his family in about 1715 or 1716. I am certain Robert Bell’s last child was named after his 1st wife, Penelope “Polly” Clement, who was the daughter of John, the Indian Trader and Mary Clement.

As was often the case, Indian Traders such as John Clement, because they ranges far from settlements and into the wilderness and up rivers to trade with the Native American tribes, would return with information about new and better lands to settle and establish tobacco, cotton and corn plantations. Perhaps this is what enticed Robert Bell to migrate with his family and other families and friends from the Isle of Wight County, Virginia to Chowan County, North Carolina, which would become the Chowan Precinct of Bertie County North Carolina in 1722.

John Clement died in 1734 in Bertie County, North Carolina. John Clement willed his estate to Robert Bell and each of Robert Bell’s children. John Clement’s Last Will and Testament does not mention that the Clement and Bell were related by marriage and this has confused some Bell researchers. Robert Bell’s 1st wife was Penelope “Polly” Clement, John Clement’s daughter who had died in 1715.

By the 1730s the Bells were also well connected to the Bird or Byrd family of Bertie County North Carolina. Robert Bell’s daughter Mary Bell married John Bird or Byrd and her sister Jean Bell married John's brother, William Bird or Byrd. Robert Bell's son, Archibald Bell, moved to Duplin County, North Carolina along with his brother-in-law William Bird or Byrd. The area they settled in Duplin County would become part of Sampson County in 1784. Other Bell family members would move to Duplin and later Sampson County, North Carolina. Duncan Bell would be born in Sampson County in 1795 to Hezekiah Bell and Martha Baggett. Hezekiah was the son of George and Mary Bell.

By 1721-1722 Robert Bell and his family were living on the north bank of the Cashie River across the river in what would become the town of Windsor, Bertie County, North Carolina in 1768. Robert Bell had bought land on the north side of the Cashie River to build a home and clear forests for tobacco, corn, cotton and other cash crops. Chowan County became a part of Bertie County in 1722. Chowan became the Chowan Precinct of Bertie County. Robert Bell bought 640 acres in Bertie County, North Carolina from a Sarah ROSE on May7, 1726.

Robert Bell died on January 2, 1738 at age 63 in his home on the north bank of the Cashie River and was buried with a “dedicated cemetery,” at a place called the “burial ground,” on the north bank of the Cashie River, on January 6, 1738. The “burial ground” on the Cashie River is located near where he and his family had lived and farmed. Robert Bell’s 1st wife, Penelope Clement-Bell was laid to rest in Essex County, Virginia where she died in 1715. We are uncertain as to where Anne Bell was laid to rest, but believe the location to be the same “burial ground” in which Robert Bell was laid to rest. In 1759 Robert Bell’s oldest son, George Bell, bought the same land (200 acres) his father had first owned and sold, to preserve his father’s resting place among others who had been buried there earlier. We don’t know who else was buried there and can’t locate the cemetery exactly today. We believe the “burial ground” was across the Cashie River from what would become Windsor, North Carolina on the bank of the Cashie River in 1768.

A deed proved January 15, 1759 in Chowan County, North Carolina Court to George Bell [eldest living son and administrator of his father, Robert Bell’s, estate] of Duplin County, NC bought from John Campbell, Merchant of Bertie County, dated December 27, 1758, property on the Cashie River. George Bell paid John Campbell 50 pounds ‘proc’ money (Proclamation Money) for 200 acres, which Roger Smith “sold to my father” (Robert Bell) on August 7, 1721 and was recorded in Chowan Precinct on Oct 16, 1722, and then was recorded again in Bertie County North Carolina on November 1, 1739 by George Bell. The “burial ground” and the 200 acre parcel of land were located on the north side of the Cashie River. The boundaries of the 200 acre parcel were describes as follows. “North side of Cashie River, joining Colonel Pollock’s property, Sam’s Branch and Major West’s property.” George Bell stated in the deed that he was “reserving the burying ground where my (George Bell’s) father (Robert Bell) and others are laid.” Robert Rainey and Samuel Barron witnessed the deed to George Bell, dated January 15, 1759.

Robert Bell’s long association with Michael King (III) and his family is not completely understood by some Bell family researchers. I will try here to explain the connection. Michael King III, who was born in 1698 in Nansemond County, Virginia and died in 1741 in Bertie County, North Carolina, had a marriage relationship with Robert Bell and his family. Michael King wrote his Last Will and Testament in 1741. Michael King III was the oldest son of Henry II and Catherine King. Michael King III lived most of his life in the Chowan Precinct and Bertie County North Carolina. Michael King III married Isabel Ferguson. Isabel was Robert Bell’s stepdaughter and the daughter of Robert Bell’s 2nd wife, the widow Ferguson, Anne Woodnot. Michael and Isabel King had seven children. Isabel was not Michael King’s 1st wife. Michael King, born 1698 and died 1741 married Isabel Ferguson (Bell) in 1720. This was Isabel’s 1st marriage, but not her last.

Isabel and Michael King had 7 children before his death in 1741. One son of Isabel and Michael King, Michael King (4th) or “Jr.” born about 1722 in North Carolina patented 711 acres in Duplin County North Carolina on March 29, 1753 below George Bell’s property, on Six Runs Creek in Duplin County North Carolina. George Bell had moved earlier to Six Runs Creek with the King family and settled in Duplin County North Carolina after Michael King, III had died in 1741 in Bertie County.

Movement of Robert Bell, born 1675 in America:

Robert Bell born 1675 was in the following American counties in;

1675: Robert Bell born in Isle of Wight County Virginia;

1700: Robert Bell transported to County Durham, England for education

1704: Robert Bell and Penelope Clement returned from England to Virginia;

- Robert Bell married Penelope ‘Polly’ Clement;

1705: Robert and Penelope Bell in King and Queen County formerly New Kent County Virginia;

- Robert Bell, Jr. born in 1705 in Virginia and died in 1712 in Virginia at age 7 (seven);

- Jean Bell born in 1708 Virginia;

- Mary Bell born in 1710 in Virginia;

1715: Robert Bell in Essex County Virginia;

- Penelope Clements-Bell died in Essex County VA;

- Robert Bell married Anne Woodnot (the widow Ferguson);

- George Bell born in 1718 in Chowan County died 1792 Sampson County, NC;

- Archibald Bell born in 1719 in Chowan County, NC died in 1779;

- John Bell born in 1720 in Chowan County, NC died after 1783;

- Penelope Bell born 1724 in Bertie County, NC

1719: Robert Bell in Chowan County North Carolina;

1722: Robert Bell in Bertie County North Carolina and

1738: Robert Bell died and was buried on north side of Cashie River, Bertie County NC

Robert Bell

Birth: 1675 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia North America

Death: JAN 6, 1738 in Bertie County North Carolina

Burial: January 1738 in the dedicated “Burial Ground” on the north side of Cashie River in Bertie County, North Carolina

Father: George Bell

Mother: Hester Webster

Marriage 1: Penelope (Polly) Clement

Birth: 1680 in Surry County, Virginia

Death: about 1715 Essex County Virginia

Married: 1704 in Virginia

Note: on Penelope Clement’s family:

Father: John Clement born 1659 Surry County, Virginia; married Mary ____ before 1680 in Virginia and died in 1734 in Bertie County, NC

Father: John Clement was born 1631 in Surry County, VA; married about 1658 in Virginia; Commander-in-Chief for Nathaniel Bacon in the Bacon's Rebellion of 1676 and died in Surry County, Virginia.

Mother: Mary _______ born abt 1635 in Virginia

Children of Penelope Clement and Robert Bell:

1. Robert Bell, Jr. born in 1705 in Virginia and died in 1712 in Virginia at age 7 (seven)

2. Jean Bell born in 1708 VA; married William Byrd in 1727 in Bertie County, NC and died after 1765 in the Sumter District of South Carolina

3. Mary Bell born in 1710 in Virginia; married Robert Byrd in 1725 in Bertie County NC and died in August 1745 in Bertie County, NC

Marriage 2: Anne (Woodnot) (the widow Ferguson) was born 1682 in VA and died in 1738 in Bertie County, North Carolina

Father: Henry Woodnot

Mother: Mary ________

Married: About 1715 in Essex County Virginia or Chowan County, North Carolina

Children of Robert Bell and Anne Woodnot:

1. Isabelle Ferguson was born in 1706 in Nansemond County, Virginia to Anne Woodnot and Mr. Ferguson. Isabel 1st married Michael King about 1720, but it was not Michael’s 1st marriage. Isabel and Michael had 7 children. Michael King died in 1741 in Bertie County, NC. Isabelle died in 1780 in NC. Michael King’s Last Will and Testament was dated 1741. Isabel and Michael King were the great grandparents of William Rufus King, Jr. the 13th Vice President of the United States of America, under President Franklin Pierce.

Note: Isabel lived with Robert and Anne Bell, her mother, and was called “Isabel Bell” beginning about 1715 and until her marriage to Michael King III in Bertie County North Carolina in 1720

2. George Bell born in 1718 in Chowan County died 1792 Sampson County, NC

3. Archibald Bell born in 1719 in Chowan County, NC died 1779

4. John Bell born in 1720 in Chowan County, NC died after 1783

5. Penelope Bell born 1724 in Bertie County, NC

Note: Bertie County was divided from Chowan County in 1722.

Note: There are conflicting opinions about Robert Bell’s children’s mother. Following is my measured opinion based on all the evidence and data I have found. There was a period of years between the birth of Mary Bell, in 1710 to Polly Clement-Bell, in Virginia and the birth of George Bell, in 1718 to Anne Woodnot-Bell, in Chowan/Bertie County, North Carolina.

There apparently were no children born to Robert Bell between 1710 and 1718, a period of 8 years. This leads me to believe that Penelope Clement-Bell was the mother of Robert Bell, Jr. who died at age 7, as well as the mother of Jean Bell and Mary Bell who were born in Virginia.

Some speculation exists that Robert Bell married Anne Ferguson “shortly after his first wife died,” which is plausible, but is in need of an explanation or at least speculation regarding what may have been going on with the Robert Bell family during the 8 year period between 1710 and 1718. One possible and plausible explanation follows.

With Robert Bell’s first child, Robert Bell, Jr having been born in 1705 and his second child, Jean Bell, born in 1708, and then the third child, Mary Bell born in 1710, and then no children born until George Bell was born 8 years later in 1718 to Robert Bell’s 2nd wife, Anne Woodnot-Bell, and after Mary Bell had been born, in 1710, simply defies logic without some sort of explanation. So, here goes! I believe Robert Bell’s first wife, Penelope Clement-Bell, probably had an extended illness before her death in 1715, which was not unusual for wilderness wives of that period. I believe her illness began about 1711 or 1712 and that was the reason no more children were born to Robert Bell until after Polly’s death in 1715.

This being the case, Robert may have and probably did remarried shortly after Polly’s death in 1715 to the widow Ferguson, Anne Woodnot. It was customary for widowers or widows, with young children, to seek out a replacement spouse immediately upon the death of their spouse.A widow was considered the ideal candidate for a 2nd marriage because she would have experience with raising children and would be in need of a household and family to care for her own wellbeing. We recall, that is exactly what Frontiersman Daniel Boon did when his first wife died and left him with young children.Robert and Anne Bell had their first child, George Bell, in 1718 in Chowan County North Carolina. The rest of Robert and Anne Bell’s children were born in Chowan County or the Chowan Precinct of Bertie County North County.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/233407707/robert-bell