William Bell Family Tree
Tree Outline of Bell Generations
A1 William Bell, born ca. 1705 in North Ireland, died October 29, 1783, Paxton Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Married Jane Lea, born 1710, died 1780. William Bell's father was John Bell, born 1675 in Ulster, Ireland, died 1751 in Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. William Bell's grandfather was Robert Bell.
The earliest record of A1 William Bell the Farmer is May 6, 1738 when he is listed as owning a 203 acre farm on Paxton Creek, then Paxton Township, Lancaster County. This farm was located in what is known today as Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. It was in the Bell family until 1796. The stone house built about 1760 was torn down in 1970 to make way for the Progress Avenue exit of Interstate 81. William was likely an Ulster Scot, born in Ireland and came to Paxton from Bucks County as early as 1736. He may have been the nephew of John Bell I who came from Ireland to Bucks County in 1719 and who died in Newtown in 1751. He was an elder of the New Side Presbyterian Church of Paxton.
Children of William Bell and Jane Lea:
B1 Jane Bell, born ca. 1730 or 1736?. May have married ___ Campbell.
B2 John Bell, born 1732. Died August 1810, Cecil Twp, Washington County, PA. Married ca. 1762 to Elizabeth Boyd, born 1735, died ca. 1800.
B3 George Bell, born ca. 1734. Died March 1816. Married Mary Bell, a second cousin. (Daughter of John Bell II).
B4 Sarah Bell, born ca. 1737. Married 8/4/1755 to John Bell III, a second cousin, born 1728, died 1819. (Son of John Bell II).
B5 Mary Bell, born ca. 1740. Married John Bell on 4/23/1761.
B6 William Bell, born 1743. Died 12/11/1813. Married Dorcas Forster, born 1764, died 1826.
B7 Dorcas Bell, born ca. 1746. Married James Richardson 11/08/1769.
B8 Thomas Bell, born ca. 1748. Died ca. 1814.
B9 Margaret Bell, born ca. 1750. Never married.
B10 Arthur Bell, born 01/11/1753. Died 08/06/1834. Married Eleanor Montgomery.
B11 Andrew Bell, born ca. 1755. No record after 1784. Served under Captains william Bell and John Reed in 1776, and under Andrew Stewart 1778-82.