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Jesse Bell and Winiford (Winnie) Bass

Jesse Bell, listed in the 1850 AL census of Dale Co., AL, indicates that he was born in Georgia about 1812. Jesse Bell must have come to Dale County after 1840 and before 1844, since he is not listed in the 1840 census of Dale Co. Jesse Bell also show up in the 1860 and 1880 census for Dale Co., Al. The 1880 and 1860 census indicated that his father and mother was both born in Georgia.

The 1840 Dale Co. Alabama census (page 27) lists a Jacob Bell between 20-30 years old, wife between 20-30 years old and two children under five years old. Jacob Bell moved to Walton Co. Fl by 1850. Jacob Bell is listed as married to Mary ? in the 1850 and 1860 census. In the 1880 census he is listed as widowed. There is a possibility that this Jacob Bell was some relation to Jesse, maybe a brother, cousin, or some other relative, but not his father because of their ages. Jacob Bell is not listed in any later census of Alabama. This Jacob Bell was also a neighbor to Ezekiel Bass Sr, the father of Winnie Bass in Dale Co. Alabama. The likelihood of him being a brother are slim since he list his birthplace as being North Carolina. The 1880 and 1860 census indicated that his father and mother was both born in North Carolina. The exact age of Jacob Bell cannot be determined since he listed his age as 45 in the 1850 and 1860 census and 68 in the 1880 census. So his birth date should be between 1805 and 1815.


The 1850 census also list a William C. Bell b abt 1809 in GA. Found on the 1850 and 1860 census in Dale County Alabama. With Mary M. (31) wife, Jennett Bell b. abt 1843, William H. Bell b. abt 1844, Elly J. Bell b. abt 1848 and Patience Bell b. abt 1850. William C. Bell also shows up the 1880 census in Geneva, Alabama with out his wife, with Dicy Bell b abt 1853 , Robert C. Bell b abt 1856, Lawrence Bell b abt 1858 and granddaughter Lillian Bell . There is a possibility that this William C. Bell was some relation to Jesse, maybe a brother, cousin, or some other relative, but not his father because of their ages. William C. Bell and Jesse Bell show in the Alabama Land Grants together with Doc # numbers in sequence. This means they must have applied together and possibly travel together.

Name        State    County Issue Date Land Office         Doc #
BELL, WILLIAM C     AL    Dale 11/1/1858    Elba    22092    AL2450__.315
BELL, JESSE     AL    Dale 11/1/1858    Elba    21670    AL2450__.316
BELL, SIMON    AL    Dale 11/1/1858    Elba    20444    AL2430__.110
BELL, WILLIAM A    AL    Dale 11/1/1858    Elba    22048    AL2450__.280


The 1850 1860 and 1880 census of Dale County shows Jesse married to Winnie, who we know was a Bass. Since Jesse married the daughter of a neighbor (Ezekiel Bass) to Jacob Bell, it can be speculated that he met Winnie when he visited Jacob or that they knew the Bass’s in Georgia. They were probably married in late 1843 or early 1844, based on the fact that their first child, Whitmill H Bell, was born in early Oct 1844. In which case Jesse would have been about 31 and Winnie about 21 at their marriage.

Although the 1850 census lists Winnie's birthplace as 'unknown', later records indicate that she was born about 1822 in Georgia. She was the daughter of Ezekiel Bass Sr. who had come to Dale County about 1824 from Montgomery County, Georgia. Ezekiel's father was Esau Bass, a veteran of the Revolutionary war from North Carolina. Who did spend some time in Georgia

Census records show they had eleven children between 1844 and 1868; Whitmill H., Jesse W., Hezekaik (Kai), Mary E. (Molly), James, George, Daniel Stephen, William, E. J. (Adney), Elizabeth (Lizzy), and Elijah Franklin.

Homestead Certificates, Sparta and Elba Book, 508, shows Jesse Bell of Dale County filed in Township 3 Range 23, on 27 Nov 1855.

Jesse Bell is listed in the census records as a farmer. In 1850 he had property worth $30. In the 1860 (17 Sep. 1860) Alabama Agricultural census of Dale Co. AL, address at the Newton PO, he had the following assets:
14 A improved
304 A. unimproved
Cash value $ 1500
Value of equipment $20
1 horse, 1 milkcow, 2 ox, 2 other, 18 pigs; value $186
75 bu. corn, 2 bales of cotton, 1 bu. peas/beans, 10 bu. sweet potatoes, 20 lbs. butter.

{In the Elba Land Office Military Bounty Land Warrants, Book 342, Certificate # 46238, shows a Jesse Bell filed on Section, 11, Township 7 Range 10, on 19 Apr 1858. It’s not for sure this is our Jesse Bell. (no other Jesse Bell is listed at this time in this area, but the properties are quite far apart, and in the agriculture census shown above, no mention is made of this land). }

In 1863 he and Winnie sold 320 acres of land in Dale Co. to William L. Milligan for $ 1,500. Described as ".... East half of the Northwest Quarter of Section No. Eleven & the South West Quarter of Section No. two in township No. three of range No. Twenty-three also the west half of Northwest Quarter of Section No. Eleven in township No. Three of range No. twenty three all together Containing three hundred twenty acres more or less...." Since this is the same land described above he seems to have sold all his land.

What he did after this is not documented. His last two children were born after this sale. He is listed in the 1850-1880 censuses of Dale Co. so he must have stayed here for some reason. Family tradition has it that at some point he went to live with Elijah Franklin in Escambia Co. Land records show that Elijah filed on SW1/4 of Township 1 North, Range 7 East, Certificate # 12581, on 17 Nov 1893. So Jesse could have went to Escambia Co. about this time. However, since census records of 1890 were destroyed there is no further record of Jesse Bell. When and where his death occurred, or where he is buried is unknown. It was after the 1880 census and before 1900, thus he died between the ages of about 68 and 88.

One can speculate that, if Jesse and Winnie went to Escambia County to live with Elijah and died there he may be buried in the Johnson cemetery. Elijah Franklin who died in 1902 and other Bell family members are buried there and there are unmarked graves that could well be his and Winnie's. Jesse’s son’s Whitmell , Hezekiah and Daniel Stephen all lived in the vicinity of the Conecuh Co. /Escambia Co. line near Barnett’s cross roads. So he could have live with any of them.

Court records of Dale County show that Winnie gave up rights to her father's estate, "..... my entire right title and interest that I have or may have in all the real estate that belong to the estate of my Father Ezekiel Bass Sr. deceased lying and being situated in Dale County and State of Alabama ........ to have and to hold the same unto the said V. J. Holman....", dated 22 Dec 1890. It was signed by D. S. Powell, J.P. and J. W. Parker, Judge of Probate, Escambia County, Alabama. In the document, reference is made to V. J. Holman as "her". Holman family records show a Virginia Jane Milligan married to a ?? Holman in Dale Co (married about 10 years prior to this transaction). It is not known why she gave up these rights to V. J. Holman, since there seems to be no other connections with this family. Winnie died sometime after this transaction (1890) and probably in Escambia County. This transaction definitely proves Ezekiel Bass as her father.

Genealogy of first two Generations.

First Generation
______________________________________________________________________-
1. Jesse Bell . Born Circa 1812 in GA. Died After 1880 in ? Escambia Co., AL. Occupation Farmer. In 1850-1880 census, Dale Co. AL. He married Winiford (Winnie) Bass, daughter of Ezekiel Bass & Sarah Elizabeth (Ukn). Born Circa 1822 in Montgomery Co, GA. Died After Dec 1880 in ? Escambia Co., Al. Granddaughter of Esau Bass, revolutionary war soldier. They had the following children:
   2    i.    Whitmell Henry Bell
   3    ii.    Jesse W. Bell
   4    iii.    Hezekiah (Kai) Bell
   5    iv.    Mary E. (Molly) Bell
   6    v.    James Bell
   7    vi.    George Bell
   8    vii.    Daniel Stephen Bell
   9    viii.    William Bell
   10    ix.    E. J. (Adney) Bell
   11    x.    S. Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bell
   12    xi.    Elijah Franklin Bell
Second Generation
______________________________________________________________________
2. Whitmil Henry Bell . Born 5 Oct 1844 in Newton, AL. Died 20 Jun 1926. Buried in Johnson Cem., near Range, AL. In 1900 census of Conecuh Co. AL. In "Monroe and Conecuh Co. AL Marriages -1833-80", Colson, L.W. Entered CSA as Pvt in Co. E, 15th Ala Inf. Dale Co., AL, served in another unit. Wounded at Fredericksburg & Chicamauga, paroled at Appomattox at end of war. Occupation Farmer. May have lost his leg and arm from complications of his war wounds or from a logging accident. He married Nancy J. Hinson , daughter of Emer Hinson, 20 Sep 1872 in Monroe, Co., AL. Born 9 Oct 1846. Died 24 Aug 1928. Buried in Johnson Cem., near Range, AL. They had the following children:
   13    i.    John Henry Bell
   14    ii.    Mary Elizabeth Bell
   15    iii.    Elijah Frank Bell
   16    iv.    Nannie G. Bell
3. Jesse W. Bell. Born Circa 1847 in AL. Occupation Farmer. He married Lydia (Ukn). Born Circa 1851. They had the following children:
   17    i.    Henry Bell
   18    ii.    Elvira? Bell
   19    iii.    Susan Bell
   20    iv.    Eugenia Bell (Twin)
   21    v.    Salonia Bell (Twin)
4. Hezekiah (Kai) Bell. Born Circa 1849 in AL. Died 10 Aug 1915 in AL. In 1900 census of Conecuh Co. AL. In "Monroe and Conecuh Co. AL Marriages--1833-80", Colson, L.W. He married M. A. (Alabama) Hinson, daughter of Emer Hinson, 11 Dec 1872 in Monroe Co., AL. Born Jul 1851. They had the following children:
   22    i.    William M. Bell
   23    ii.    Emma H. Bell
   24    iii.    James D. Bell
   25    iv.    Julian H. Bell
   26    v.    Winnie C. Bell
   27    vi.    Willie A. Bell
   28    vii.    Lizzie Bell
   29    viii.    Eugene H. Bell
   30    ix.    Leubenia Bell
5. Mary E. (Molly) Bell. Born Circa 1850 in AL. Died 14 Jun 1916. Buried in Johnson Cem., near Range, AL. She married Joseph Winship Bagwell. Died ? Oct 1920. Buried in Johnson Cem., near Range, AL. They had the following children:
   31    i.    William Roxie Bagwell
   32    ii.    Henry Boson Bagwell
   33    iii.    Joe (Jody) Bagwell
   34    iv.    Dan Bagwell
   35    v.    Matilda Bagwell
   36    vi.    Lily Bagwell
6. James Bell. Born Circa 1853 in Newton, Dale Co. AL. He married Henrietta Weed August 29,1878 in Fort Gaines, GA. She was born in March 1854. James is buried at Shiloh Cemetery Dale Co. Alabama. They had the following children:
   37    i.    Alama M. Bell b. Sept 4 1879
   38    ii.    Mamie Bell b. Oct 07, 1883
   39    iii.    John William Bell b. June 9 1888 Dale Co. AL d. April 5 1947.
   40    iv.    Mary Ann Elizabeth Aldona Bell b.1891
7. George Bell. Born Circa 1854 in AL. He married Mary (Ukn). Born Circa 1858. They had the following children:
   41    i.    Lula Bell (Adopted)
8. Daniel Stephen Bell. Born 10 Aug 1857 in AL. Died 11 May 1932 in AL. Buried in Caanon Freewill Bap. Church, Barnett X'roads, AL. He married Dellie Adell Johnson, daughter of (Ukn) Johnson, 1883. Born 21 May 1865 in AL. Died 2 Nov 1947 in AL. She was told to be ½ Creek Indian. Buried in Caanon Freewill Bap. Church, Barnett X'roads, AL. They had the following children:
   42    i.    John Whit Bell
   43    ii.    Mollie Virginia Bell
   44    iii.    Ernest E. Bell
   45    iv.    William Robert Bell
   46    v.    Hettie A. Bell
   47    vi.    Sally D. Bell
   48    vii.    Noah Bell
   49    viii.    Bessie Roberta Bell
   46    ix.    Nora Bell
   50    x.    Lottie Bell
9. William Bell. Born 1860 in AL. may have died young
10. E. J. (Adney) Bell. Born Circa 1862 in AL. Died 17 Apr 1944. Buried in Johnson Cem., near Range, AL. She married David (Dave) Johnson, son of (Ukn) Johnson. Born 15 Apr 1862. Died 11 Jan 1957. Buried in Johnson Cem., near Range, AL.
11. S. Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bell. Born Circa 1864 in AL. She married William Diamond. They had the following children:
   51    i.    Walter Diamond
   52    ii.    Sallie Diamond
12. Elijah Franklin Bell. Born Feb 1868 in Dale Co. AL. Died 1902. Buried in Johnson Cem., Range, AL. Occupation Farmer, timber business. In 1900 census of Conecuh Co. AL. He married Mary Matilda Johnson, daughter of James M. Johnson & Elizabeth (Betsy) Rolin, Circa 1886. Born 15 Nov 1869 in Escambia Co?, AL. Died 18 Nov 1950 in 2201 2nd St., Pensacola, FL. Buried in Johnson Cem., Range, AL. Occupation Housewfe, midwife & farmer. In 1910 census of Escambia Co. AL Precinct "Owens", Stage Road. In 1920 census of Escambia Co. AL Precinct "5", RFD #1, Wallace. They had the following children:
   53    i.    Jesse Jordan Bell
   54    ii.    Gordon Henry Bell
   55    iii.    James Franklin Bell
   56    iv.    Lida M. Bell
   57    v.    Mamie Bell (Twin)
   58    vi.    (infant) Bell (Twin)
   59    vii.    (infant) Bell
   60    viii.    Corrie N. E. Bell
   61    ix.    Hopie Noredith Bell



Some of this information was taken from William C. Bell’s posting in 1989. If anyone has any more pieces please contact me. Most of this information has been verified, however mistakes do happen and any corrections or commits are welcomed. I have more information on this Bell line and would like to find Jesse Bell’s parents.

Scott Dawkins
sldawkins@netscape.net

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