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William “Stone Church” Bell

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William “Stone Church” Bell

Birth	:	1685 County Down, Northern Ireland
Death	:	Jul 1757 Augusta County, Virginia, USA
Burial	:	Calvary Cemetery, Madera, Madera County, USA
Coordinate	:	36.9529457, -120.0298004
Plot	:	Old cemetery, 1/4 mile from current church
Description	:	The photo shown, is of William's son Joseph Bell. It is believed that William an dhis wife AMry are buried near this grave in a section that includes many other related bell burials. From Colonial Families of the United States Lineage of John Franklin Bell...pg. 82-83 "William Bell, the immigrant ancestor, was. circa 1685-90 in the north of Ireland; d. Aug 1757, near Staunton, in Augusta Co., Va. Was probably of Scotch origin, hence a Scotch-Irishman. Immigrated to America, with his wife and older children, probably entering the Delaware Bay and River and first in Pennsylvania.... Read More	The photo shown, is of William's son Joseph Bell. It is believed that William an dhis wife AMry are buried near this grave in a section that includes many other related bell burials. From Colonial Families of the United States Lineage of John Franklin Bell...pg. 82-83 "William Bell, the immigrant ancestor, was. circa 1685-90 in the north of Ireland; d. Aug 1757, near Staunton, in Augusta Co., Va. Was probably of Scotch origin, hence a Scotch-Irishman. Immigrated to America, with his wife and older children, probably entering the Delaware Bay and River and first in Pennsylvania. Settled in Augusta Co., Va., about eight miles north of Staunton, circa 1738-40, certainly prior to 1746. Was a staunch Presbyterian and founded the local family known as "The Stone Church Bells," by which name they are distinguished from other families of the same name in Augusta Co." In his will dated 25th July 1757 and probated 17 Aug. 1757, he recommends that his body "be buried in decent order, as becometh at the Stone Meeting House, close to my beloved wife, lately deceased." Was perhaps, twice m. In his will he named children: William, Samuel, David, Mary Baird, and Joseph. Some sources state a wife was Mary McCowan. Based upon the instructions in his Will, he is buried in the older section of the cemetery, no monument is present. The photo shows the area where the Bells are generally located in the cemetery Children thus far not located: William Bell; curiously there is a reference in his will to "My other children..." but it is unclear if it is a legal term to include other possible claimants so as to avoid later conflict or if it is a re-reference to the children so named. DNA tests with living descendants (2012) provide that this Bell Family were of a time in Northern Ireland, and came there from the area of Dumfrieshire, Scotland. Their name Bell may be related to the name William le Bell, France. William may have accompanied The Douglas to the region and may have been involved in the building of a "keep" there, which may be the origin of Blacket House. The Normans were invited into Scotland By David I of Scotland. The Normans or Northmen/Norsemen/Vikings who settled in Normandy were descendants of Danish raiders who claimed the land from France and later became vassals of the French King. A recent inquiry (2018) to Dr. Tyrone Bowles, now believes that the area of Scotland that can be considered a Genetic Homeland is most probably Middlebie, Scotland This is based on the surnames of those that match the DNA of the Bells to an extent that shows they all originaled from that area and the naming of place names which includes "Bell." He also altered the prvious information as to a Norman Heritage, believed the Bells are more likely of ancient Briton, Celtic stock. However after a recent reading of a Maunscript contained in "A Memorial of the Clan Bell, 1864," located in the National Library of Scotland, dated 1692, which stated the Bells of Kirckconnell (North West of MIddlebie) came to Scotland in the personage of William le Bell who returned with Lord Doulas in the reign of Robert the Second, from Belle France, located in Normandy. I have provided Dr. Bowes with this new information and am awaiting his research into a deeper heritage. In the fourteenth through the sixteenth century, The Bells were one of the great Reiving Families of the Border between Scotland and England and have to their account many deeds of daring, thieving and rustling, and all other banditry common to the area. As such they were among the families suppressed by James VI of England, subject to mass executions, imprisonments and deportations. March 2020: Dr. Bowes has provided this information as to the probable origins of William Bell's Family In the North of Ireland where they resided until emigrating to America. “…Summary: While commercial ancestral Y-DNA testing pinpointed an origin for the test subject’s Bell paternal ancestors in Dumfriesshire approximately 1,000 years ago, his autosomal DNA results indicate that his Bell ancestors settled in the farmland that surrounds Ballylintagh town land in County Down in Northern Ireland during the Plantation of Ulster that began in 1610AD. Commercial autosomal and/or Y-DNA testing of farmers named Bells that live and farm in the Ballylintag area would confirm the ancestral link with that location." FaG no longer allows undocumented editing, please submit your proposed changes through the normal procedure. There is no known evidence that the William Bell d. 1802 attached to this memorial is the actual William Bell, son of William Stone Church. It is possible, but needs authentication. Harvey Bell, March 12, 2020

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William “Stone Church” Bell's memorial?
William “Stone Church” Bell's memorial is located at: Calvary Cemetery, Madera, Madera County, USA.
When did William “Stone Church” Bell death?
William “Stone Church” Bell death on Jul 1757 in Augusta County, Virginia, USA
Where are the coordinates of the William “Stone Church” Bell's memorial?
Latitude: 36.9529457
Longitude: -120.0298004

Family Members:

Spouse

Mrs Mary McGowan Bell

(1694 - 1757)

Children

CPT David Bell

(1720 - 1780)

Joseph Bell Sr.

(1742 - 1823)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Calvary Cemetery
Madera, Madera County, USA
Coordinate: 36.9529457, -120.0298004

2. Borden's Chinese Cemetery
Borden, Madera County, USA
Coordinate: 36.9238820, -120.0331560

3. Arbor Vitae Cemetery
Madera, Madera County, USA
Coordinate: 36.9660988, -120.0717010

4. Mordecai Ranch Cemetery
Madera, Madera County, USA
Coordinate: 36.9003950, -120.0579230

5. Madera Islamic Cemetery
Madera County, USA
Coordinate: 37.0370774, -120.0744976

6. New Hope Cemetery
Madera County, USA
Coordinate: 36.9089737, -120.1552200

7. Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery
Fresno County, USA
Coordinate: 36.8176003, -120.0721588

8. Russian Molokan Cemetery
Kerman, Fresno County, USA
Coordinate: 36.8156840, -120.0724290

9. Hensley-Noble Ranch Cemetery
Raymond, Madera County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1022200, -119.8749160

10. James D Savage Grave Site
Raymond, Madera County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1239860, -119.8740600

11. Good Shepherd Lutheran Memorial Garden
Fresno, Fresno County, USA
Coordinate: 36.8116100, -119.8162700

12. Golden Sunset Memorial Park
Kerman, Fresno County, USA
Coordinate: 36.7307700, -120.0414400

13. Hope Lutheran Church Grove Columbarium
Fresno, Fresno County, USA
Coordinate: 36.8158810, -119.7815980

14. Raymond Cemetery
Raymond, Madera County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1849251, -119.9385986

15. Chowchilla Cemetery
Chowchilla, Madera County, USA
Coordinate: 37.0880318, -120.2834854

16. Saint Peters Catholic Cemetery
Fresno, Fresno County, USA
Coordinate: 36.7400970, -119.8708496

17. Fresno Memorial Gardens
Fresno, Fresno County, USA
Coordinate: 36.7330590, -119.8810050

18. Vignolo Cemetery
Madera County, USA
Coordinate: 37.2026530, -119.9847190

19. Holy Cross Cemetery
Fresno, Fresno County, USA
Coordinate: 36.7500000, -119.8347015

20. Fresno County Cemetery #2
Fresno, Fresno County, USA
Coordinate: 36.7474900, -119.8372470

21. Ararat Cemetery
Fresno, Fresno County, USA
Coordinate: 36.7487000, -119.8344900

22. Chinese Cemetery
Fresno, Fresno County, USA
Coordinate: 36.7475900, -119.8357100

23. Beth Israel Cemetery
Fresno, Fresno County, USA
Coordinate: 36.7500800, -119.8315000

24. Liberty Veterans Cemetery
Fresno, Fresno County, USA
Coordinate: 36.7494800, -119.8324100