History of the Bell Family in North Carolina

As a young man growing up in Halifax County, North Carolina, John Bell apprenticed as a "cooper," also known as a barrel-maker.  He was a member of Union Baptist Church, later called Upper Towne Creek Baptist Church, which was led in part by the Fort family who would later move to Tennessee and figure prominently into the "Bell Witch" legend. ¹  It was at this church, near the Tarboro Settlement, where he met his future wife, Lucy Williams, daughter of planters John and Mourning Williams of Edgecombe County.

John Bell was the son of William and Martha Bell, who had land holdings in Edgecombe, Nash, and Halifax counties.  He purchased his first land, a 323-acre farm on the south side of Kehukee Swamp, near Blackman's Branch in Halifax County, at age 23, on September 1, 1773. ²

John and Lucy Bell married in August of 1782.  He was 32 years old at the time, and she was either 12 or 17.  The reason I say "or" is because there are discrepancies regarding her date of birth; there is evidence that suggests each date, 1765 and 1770, but neither is conclusive.  The only record of their marriage that I have found is the last will and testament of John Williams, written in March of 1792 and probated in August of 1793, which mentions their marriage.

They farmed successfully for many years and had several children, including Jesse (b. 1790), John, Jr. (b.1793), Drewry (b.1796), Benjamin (b. 1798), Esther (b. 1800), and Zadok (b. 1803).  More information on the Bell children can be found in the "Biographies" and "Genealogy" sections.  The Bells also acquired a slave, Chloe, as part of John Williams' estate settlement in 1793.  Chloe would later figure into the "Bell Witch" legend, as would her son, Aberdeen ("Dean").

John Bell received a letter of dismission from Towne Creek Baptist Church in September of 1803, and in October of 1804 he deeded the farm to William Rawls and set out for Tennessee with his family and slaves. ³  On April 20, 1805 he was accepted into the Red River Baptist Church in Tennessee, pursuant to the letter of dismission from his former church in North Carolina. ⁴ 

For more information on the theories behind these stories, please visit the Bell Witch Questions and Answers page.  If you are interested in the Bell Witch legend of North Carolina, please visit the essay entitled, “The Bell Witch - North Carolina Version.”

 

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1. Kehukee Baptist Association records.
2. Halifax County, North Carolina, Deed Book 13, p.157.
3. Halifax County, North Carolina, Deed Book 19, p.164.
4. Red River Baptist Church Minutes (1791-1826), P. 161.

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