M. before about 1721 in (probably0 Londonderry, Ireland3
Wife: Katherine __________
D. 2 Feb 1763 in Bedford, New Hampshire1
During the early 18th century, a migration took place which brought a hardy breed of people to the English colonies in America — the Scots-Irish. Primarily they came to the middle-Atlantic states of Pennsylvania and Virginia, but some landed in New England as well. This was the course taken by John Bell, who was one of the earliest settlers of Bedford, New Hampshire
John was born in about 1696 in Coleraine, Ireland,1,2 a town near the northern coast. It had been populated by Scottish settlers in the early 17th century, among whom were John’s ancestors. As John came of age, there was turmoil among the Catholics and Protestants, and this drove many people to leave. By 1721, John married a woman named Katherine, whose last name is unknown.3 They had at least four children, born between the years 1722 and 1732.
Map showing Coleraine, Ireland, where John was born.
In about 1736, John boarded a ship bound for America.3 His wife and children were left behind, and they would join him three years later. John likely landed at Boston, and made his way to New Hampshire within a year or two. The place he settled was still raw wilderness, as many of his former countrymen were building cabins on unsettled land. John’s new home became part of the town of Bedford.3 After the rest of his family came over from Ireland, they lived in a place alongside an orchard that likely produced crops for their needs.3 They later moved to another location before settling in an area that would be called Bell Hill.3 Sadly, Katherine passed away on January 4, 1746, and she was buried in the town cemetery, one of its earliest graves.4
Bedford’s Scots-Irish immigrants were mostly Presbyterians. After the town was incorporated, the brethren needed to decide where to build their church, and this demonstrates how the community solved such issues. On January 24, 1750, a committee of men gathered at the barn of one congregant and voted that the church should be constructed at Bell Hill.3 This meant that either John or his neighbor, John McLaughlin, had to give up 2 acres of land. It seemed neither wanted to do it, so some neutral men were appointed to decide which land was a better location. They chose McLaughlin’s property, but then dragged their feet on following through with it. So the committee met again in 1755, this time in John’s barn, coming to the conclusion to build in another part of town.3
John lived only another few years, and he died in Bedford on February 2, 1763.1 He was buried next to Katherine, and a double tombstone was erected over their graves. The inscription reads in part, “Our bodys [sic] turned are to dust, our dust it shall arise.” John’s legacy lives on with a street in present-day Bedford called Bell Hill Road.
The grave of John and Katherine Bell.
Children:
1. Mary Bell – B. about 1721, Coleraine, Londonderry, Ireland;3 D. 7 Jan 1813, Bedford, New Hampshire;5 M. Gawn Riddle (~1700-1779), about 17453
2. Susanna Bell – B. about 1722, Coleraine, Londonderry, Ireland2
3. Joseph Bell – B. about 1723, Coleraine, Londonderry, Ireland2
4. John Bell — B. about 1732, Coleraine, Londonderry, Ireland;3 D. April 1804, Bedford, New Hampshire;6 M. (1) Jane Carr;3 (2) Sarah Bell (?-1786), about 1755, New Hampshire3
Sources:
1 Gravestone of John Bell, Find-a-Grave.com
2 The Bells in U.S.A. and Allied Families, 1650-1977, Getha Gina Bell, 1977, p. 377
3 The History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737, Rumford Printing Company, 1903, p.869
4 Find-a-Grave listing of Katherine Bell
5 Find-a-Grave listing of Mary (Bell) Riddle
6 History of the Bell family of Bedford (website)
