Jedediah Bell - Household 9 - Contributed by Gail M. Walczyk
GEODIAH BELL

HOUSEHOLD 9

A43

Geodiah Bell, son of William Bell and Anne Elliott, was born in Accomack Co., VA circa 1766 Nottingham Northampton Causes, pp. 119-126). He married twice. He married Catherine Harman circa 1797 (Miles & Miles Wills, p. 253). Catherine was born circa 1778. Catherine was the daughter of William Harman and Sally his wife. William Harman mentioned Catherine in his will 25 November 1816 in Accomack Co., VA (253). An abstract of his will reads:
HARMON, WILLIAM Sr. - 19 May 1814 / 25 November 1816 - Wife Sally Harmon & grandson George Extrs. To wife Sally Harmon this dwelling house where I now live & ... at her death to Tamer Harmon & Geodiah's Bell's children that he had with Catey Bell. To grandson George Bell ... To daughter Tamer Harmon ... To daughter Nancy Stockley 1 shilling To Peggy Ann Bradford $5. to Thomas Andrew Bradford $5. To granddaughter Catey Bell ... Remainder to Tamer Harmon & George Bell's children. Prob. there being no witnesses the will was proved by Francis Savage Sr. & George Smith Jr. who were familiar with the handwriting. George Bell the Extr. named being an infant & Sally Harmon relinquishing her right, George S. Savage became the Admr. with William F. Savage & Thomas Kellam securities.
He married Leah Harmon on 26 June 1813 in Accomack Co., VA (Turman , p. 22). The text reads: Bell, Geodiah / Leah Hannaford; 26 June 1813; John Garrison security. Leah was born in Accomack Co., VA circa 1772. She had first married William Hannaford on 20 January 1812 in Accomack Co., VA (Turman , p. 120).Whitelaw mentions Geodiah Bell . . . 1750 - Bell [Jeodiah] (wife Sarah) left to his son George, who in 1792 left to his nephew Jeodiah, son if William. 1825 - Geodiah Bell left to his son George and four years later a survey of adjacent lands showed a storehouse on the corner where the quaint little house of the late Abel. J. Bell now stands (Whitelaw, p. 778).

On 26 November 1791, Geodiah was named as heir in the will of his uncle George. It was proved on 25 June 1792 (Nottingham Wills, p. 395):
BELL, GEORGE - 26 Nov. 1791 - 25 June 1792 - To Jedediah, son of my brother William Bell, whole estate, real & personal, except the following legacy: To Molly Turner, daughter of Atha Turner, a love begotten child, 20£. Brother William Bell & friend Francis Savage Exrs. Witt: William Gibb, John Kellam, Thomas Nere, Joshua Cutlar.
He witnessed the will of Ann Elliott on 10 July 1793 in Accomack Co., VA. it was probated 29 June 1795 (Nottingham Wills, p. 428). An abstract of her will reads:
ELLIOTT, ANN - widow Thomas Elliott, deceased - 10 July 1793 - 29 June 1795 - To grandaughter Sally Kelly. To grandau Famey Mears. To grandau Ann Parker. To my grandson in law Samuel Parker. To grandaughter Nancy Elliott, daughter of Charles Elliott. To grandaughter Ann Mary Elliott. To grandaughter Nancy Elliott, daughter of Thomas Elliott. To grandson John Elliott. To daughter in law Keziah Elliott. 4 sons John, Thomas, William & Charles Elliott & my daughter Nancy Bell residual legatees. To sister Suffia Kelly. Son William Elliott & son in law William Bell Exrs. Witt: Abel Savage, Katron Monger, Geodiah Bell.

On in 1795/96 in Accomack Co., VA, District 5 the boundaries of the lands of Geodiah Bell were processioned (Walczyk Processions, p. 6). The text in part reads:

Jany 5th - The Lands of Jedediah Bell, John Bell, Margaret Stockley, Kendal Bradford, Nathl Bradford, John Garrison, William Polk, John B. Upshur, Thomas Bradford, Zorobable Kellam, Orphan, Elizabeth Bradford, Orphan, Abel Bradford, Orphan, Janet Bradford, Esther Bradford, Orphan, John Mears, & Abel Upshur's heirs, Jediah Bell, William Ward, Thos H. Bradford, Levi Long, George Hyslop, John Mears, Kendal Bradford, John Harman, John Garrison, Edmd Read, William Polk, John Bell, Thos Bradford present.
On 26 September 1797 Geodiah was named as heir in the will of his father William. It was fully proved on 28 April 1801 (Miles & Miles Wills, p.53). An abstract of his will reads:
BELL, WILLIAM, 26 September 1797 / 29 September 1800 (partly proved) 28 April 1801 (fully proved) Son John Bell. Geodiah Bell, & Nanny Bell extrs. To son John Bell the land on the eastern & northern part of my land adjoining Thomas H. Bradford's land. To sons William Bell and Anthony Bell part of plantation to be divided. Anthony Bell to have the house. To son George Bell L100. To daughter Famey Mears ... To wife Ann Bell ... To son Anthony Bell my still & my other sons John, Geodiah, William & George the use of the still. To William, George & Anthony the remainder. Witt: Thomas H. Bradford & Branson Turner. Prob: James Laws & James Polk security.

Geodiah was listed as the head of a family on the 1800 Census in Accomack Co., VA (Powell, Censuses 1800, 1810, 1820, p. 4). The census reads: 

Page 3 Saint George Parish, Head: Gedediah Bell (WLM) 2 males 0-10, 1 mail 16-26, 1 male 26-45, 1 female 16-36, 1 slave.

William Harman mentioned Geodiah Bell in his will 25 November 1816 in Accomack Co., VA (Miles & Miles Wills, p. 253).

On 31 January 1820 Geodiah obtained a performance bond to insure his older under age children would receive their estate when they reached lawful age (Walczyk Bonds, p. 9). The bond reads:

31 January 1820 - Geodiah Bell, Jno. Garrison and Jno. Robins are bound unto William Parramore, Thos. Cropper, Saml. Coward and Geo. Scarburgh and Bagwell Wharton Justices of the Court Five Thousand Dollars. The above G. Bell his executors and administrators shall deliver unto Sally, Mihaly, James, Lorenzo, Peggy and Caty Bell of sd Geodiah Bell what is due the said orphans when they attain lawful age. Signed: Geodiah Bell, Jno. W. Garrison, John Robins.
Geodiah made a will on 7 November 1825 in Accomack Co., VA. It was probated (Miles & Miles Wills, p. 50). An abstract if his will reads:
BELL, GEODIAH - 7 November 1825 / 28 November 1825 - To son William H. Bell a part of my manner farm adjoining Savage Davis & James Bradford on Matchapungo Creek & 1/2 of my woods land that I purchased of Thomas H. Bradford. To son Lorenzo Bell 2 parts of my manner farm, one of which is where my son William H. Bell now lives. To son George H. Bell the balance of my manner farm. To wife Leah Bell the land I purchased of Thomas H. Bradford. & at her death the Prouts Island land. I have sold my Negro man Peter. Other Negro Esther & interest in Leah Hateny to be sold. Remainder to children William H. James, Sally, Mahala, Margaret, Caty, Robins and Thomas H. Bell. Sons George H. William H. & James Bell Extrs. Witt: Thomas Smith of Jonathan, James Glen & Geodiah Bell. Prob: Levin Mears, Jacob Bell & Anthony Bell securities.
Geodiah Bell and Catherine Harman had the following children:

1. George H. Bell was born 14 October 1796 (Mihalyka Graven, p. 20). George died on 5 January 1860 Walczyk Deaths, p. 13). The register reads: Bell, Geo. H., W/m, 5 Feb 1860, Acc, congestion, 62yr c/o Jediah & Cath., b. Acc, farmer, h/o Marg. R. Bell, Geo. W., son g/info. (p. 13). He married Margaret R. Welch on 19 December 1821 in Accomack Co., VA (Turman Marriages, p. 23). On 30 January 1860 the estate of George H. Bell was administered by George W. Bell (Miles & MilesWills, p. 51).

2. William H. Bell was born in Accomack Co., VA on 5 August 1798 (Mihalyka Graven, p. 22). William died on 29 July 1865 (22). He married Margaret West on 19 December 1823 (Turman Marriages, p. 24). The text reads: Bell, William H. / Margaret West, orphan of Abel. She was the daughter of Abel West (24). She died on 20 November 1873 (Mihalyka Graven, p. 21).

3. Sally Bell was born in Accomack Co., VA on 15 December 1800. Sally died on 5 January 1860 (Mihalyka Graven, p.. 21). The inscription on her stone reads: Sally Bell, Daughter of Jediah and Catherine.

4. Mahala Bell was born in Accomack Co., VA on 15 January 1802 (Mihalyka Graven, p. 217). Mahala died on 10 November 1857 (217). The inscription on her stone reads: Daugther of Jediah and Catherine Bell. On 28 July 1823 Mahala married Jesse Phillips (Turman Marriages, p. 225).

5. James H. Bell was born in Accomack Co., VA on 10 March 1805 (Mihalyka Graven, p. 19). James died on 19 August 1840 (19). On 8 January 1827 James married Charlotte Garrison (Turman Marriages, p. 23).

6. Lornenzo D. Bell was born circa 1808. On 4 October 1831 Lorenzo married Alice Ann Stewart; orphan of Levin (Turman Marriages, p. 24).

7. Margaret Bell was born in Accomack Co., VA on 8 January 1810 (Mihalyka Graven, p. 77). Margaret died on 10 December 1892 (Walczyk Deaths, 48). The text reads: Downing, Marg., W/f, 10 Dec 1892, St. Geo. P., pneumonia, 82yr 11mo c/o Bell, Godiah, b. Acc, lady, widow. Bradford, E., nephew g/info. On 23 December 1844 Margaret married James Downing (Turman Marriages, p. 86).

8. Catherine Bell was born in Accomack Co., VA circa 1812. In William Harman's will on 19 May 1814 in Accomack Co., VA, Catherine was named as an heir. It was probated 25 November 1816 (Miles & MilesWills, p. 253). On 24 March 1832 Catherine married Benjamin Bradford (Turman Marriages, p.38).

Geodiah Bell and Leah Harmon had the following children:

9. Robins H. Bell was born on 17 October 1817. Robins died on 20 July 1860 (Walczyk Deaths, p. 14). Bell, Robin H., W/m, 20 Jul 1860, Acc, consumption, 40yr c/o Jediah & Cath., b. Acc, farmer, h/o Sally. Bell, Geo. W., nephew g/info. (p. 14). On on 7 January 1846 Robins married Sarah Kellam (Turman Marriages, p.24).

10. Thomas H. Bell was born in Accomack Co., VA in December 1818 (Mihalyka Graven, p. 22). Thomas died on 10 October 1882 (22). On 17 December 1844 Thomas married Margaret Bell (Turman Marriages, p.24).


Sources:

Mihalyka, Jean and Faye Downing Wilson. Graven Stones. Inscriptions from Lower Accomack County, Virginia, including Liberty and Parksley Cemeteries. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1966.

Miles, Barry W., & Moody K. Miles III. Wills and Administrations of Accomack Co., VA 1800-1860. Bowie MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 2000.

Nottingham, Stratton. Wills and Administrations of Accomack County, Virginia 1663-1800. Bowie MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1990.

Powell, Jody. Accomac County Virginia 1800 1810 1820 Census. Roanoke, TX: Jody Powell, 1991.

Turman, Nora Miller. Marriage Records of Accomack County, Virginia 1776-1854, Recorded in Bonds, Licenses and Ministers' Returns. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1994.

Walczyk, Gail M. Accomack County Death Register 1853-1896. Coram, NY: Peter's Row, 1999.

Walczyk, Gail M. Accomack County Guardian Bonds 1819-1827. Coram, NY: Peter's Row, 2008.

Walczyk, Gail M. Accomack County Processioners Returns 1796 - 1816 for Accomack and St. George's Parishes. Coram NY: Peter's Row, 2004.

Whitelaw, Ralph T. Virginia's Eastern Shore A History of Northampton and Accomack Counties. Volume Two. Gloucester MA: Peter Smith.


© Copyright 2011-2012 by Gail M. Walczyk