Bertie County NcArchives Court.....Bell, Robert 1738 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Al Barrs albarrs@wfeca.net April 8, 2010, 4:12 pm Source: Bertie Co Court Records Written: 1738 Robert Bell Property Distribution and Inventory Robert Bell died “Intestate” (Intestacy or intestate is the condition of the estate of a person who dies owning property greater than the sum of his enforceable debts and funeral expenses without having made a valid will or other binding declaration; alternatively where such a will or declaration has been made, but only applies to part.) and the Court appointed his son, George Bell, administrator of his Estate. George’s brothers and sisters signed discharges from any share of their father’s estate. George Bell appeared before the Bertie County February Court of 1738 and produced Discharges from Archibald Bell, John Bell, William Byrd, Penelope Bell, and Michael King for their part of their father, Robert Bell’s, Estate. NOTE: Since Robert Bell had been so active in assisting others will land deeds and wills it is surprising to some Bell researchers, including this one, that he did not make his own Last Will and Testament before his death. I am of the opinion that Robert Bell may have died un-expectantly or he might have been savvy enough to have divided his property between his children before his death. Or, he may have told all of his children that all of his estate was to go to his oldest son, George Bell, which was the common practice in England and early America. It is known from the inventory of Robert Bell’s belongings that he used a cane to walk. This illness or injury, whichever it may have been, could have impressed on him that his days on earth were numbered and motivated him, with his obvious, education and learning that it would be to everyone’s advantage if he distributed his belongings to his children before his death and left his land to his oldest son, George Bell. I know of at least on other relative who did just that. He gave all his money to his daughters and all of his farmlands to his sons before his death. Robert Bell may have just been a savvy and knowledgeable old codger…Al Barrs Robert Bell was 63 years of age at the time of his death in Bertie County, NC Robert Bell’s Children’s Discharges NOTE: In order to prevent a probate judge from intervening in the distribution of their father, Robert Bell’s belongings and land his children voluntarily signed property claim releases giving their father’s property to their oldest sibling, George Bell, who had become the head of our Bell family after their father’s death. Robert Bell’s children’s discharges can be found in the North Carolina Archives of Bertie County, North Carolina in File No. 10.056, pages 144-145: Discharge: I The Subscriber William Byrd (husband of Jean Bell) do clearly & absolutely discharge the said George Bell his Heirs or assigns forever from any claim or claims, Bills, Bonds, Debts, Dues and Demands that may ever hereafter incur upon my account of my dec'd Father in Law Robert Bell's Estate from me or my heirs or assigns as Witness my hand January ye 18th 1738/39. Signed: William Byrd John Bell, Thomas T (his mark) Mitchell Bertie Co. Febry 6, 1738 Exhibited by George Bell Signed: John Wynns, C. Clk Discharge: I The Subscriber Archibald Bell do clearly discharge the said George Bell for value received upon the account of my dec'd Fathers Estate as witnessed my hand Febry ye 9th 1738/39. Signed: Archibald Bell Exhibited on Oath Discharge: I The Subscriber John Bell do clearly discharge the said George Bell for value received upon the account of my dec'd Father's Estate as witness my hand Febry ye 9th 1738/39. Signed: John Bell Exhibited on Oath Discharge: Febry ye 9th: I The Subscriber Michael King (III) (Husband of Robert Bell’s stepdaughter Isabel Ferguson) do clearly & absolutely discharge the said George Bell for value received of all debts, dues, bills, bonds or demands that may be demanded by me or my heirs exec admins hereafter upon the acct of my dec'd Father Robert Bell's Estate as witness my hand. Signed: Michael King Exhibited on Oath Discharge: I The Subscriber Penelope Bell do clearly discharge the said George Bell for value received upon the acct of my dec'd Father's Estate as Witness my hand Febry ye 9th 1738/9 Signed: Penelope Bell. NOTE: It appears Penelope Bell was unmarried at the time of her father’s death. Ex. on Oath Signed: John Wynns, C/Clk Inventory of Robert Bell’s Estate: Bertie County: Inventories, Sales and Divisions of Estates, 1727 ­ 1744 Dept of Archives & History, Raleigh, NC Robert Bell, 1738, Inventory Page 136, 137, File No.10.056 George Bell, Administrator July ye 6th 1738: An Inventory of the Goods and Estate of Robert Bell dec'd 1 Old Negro Man (Possibly the same “old Negro” Henry Woodnot had willed Robert Bell) 1 Mallato Girl her (name) Essie 2 Beds Bolster Pillow 2 rugs Blanket sheet 4 Barrels & 4 Bushels & a half of corn 14 Pork Barrels of corn 295 Lot of Barrel Pork 72 Pounds of dry pork 51 3/4 lot of ffat 2 cases 3 dishes & one doz of plates 1 mill 4 spoons A box full of old Books 3 chests 2 jugs 2 stone pots 4 Iron pots A pair of stillyards ('a weighing machine consisting of a lever with a short arm for the thing(s) weighed and a long graduated arm on which a single weight moves.' Known today as “cotton scales”.) 1 cart 1 bell One hackle 2 bedheads & one coat & 2 Jackets & 2 Shirts 1 Pair of Breeches One pair of Garters & one pair of shoes, one cane 2 Spinning wheels & 4 pair of cards 1 Loom & geers 2 Sifters one frying pan 1 saspan (sauce pan) 1 Quart pot, one porringer 3 Candlesticks 4 knives & 2 forks 1 Box Iron & heaters 1 Table & 4 Chairs 2 pair of pothooks One pair of flesh forks 1 skimmer 1 Tub pale & buckett & piggin (wooden basin) 1 Sugar box One pepper box 1 Hat 2 ploughs 2 b of rawhides 14 bottles & 1 padlock One crosscut saw rut & file One handsaw A pair of firetongs 178¼ Tobacco One drawing knife & one heading knife Two axes & one coopers axe 3 Gombletts and one Howell (Probably a tool made by the Howell Company) 1 sittle mortar & an iron pestle One gouge & 2 chizells & 1 corking iron 2 Joyntors & one craze one ox chain chevis & bolt & 1 colter for a plough Two bushels and a half of beans & half bushel of rice one peck of pears one salt box Cotton spun for one bed tick 1 side of leather & some remnants 1 quantity of some flax Some old yarn 2 Horses & one mare 3 Beehives 1 Bridle & 2 iron pots with holes in them 2 hoes 2 Iron wedges Some old iron & some old lumber Some fflax to Cotton seventy nine Lot 7 Head of cattle One old ox Signed: George Bell, Adm. Bertie Court Aug 6th 1738 Exhibited on Oath Signed: John Wynns, C/Clk Note: A “Cooper” is someone who makes wood barrels and casks (small barrels) Definitions of items listed in the Inventory: Piggin: A small wooden pail or tub with a handle Stillyards: Scales Hackle: A comb for combing flax & hemp Gouge: A chisel Cards: Used for combing & paralleling fibers of cotton, flax and wool before spinning in order to remove short undesirable fibers and produce a sliver Porringe: A low dish or cup often with a handle from which soup or porridge is served >>> George Bell was the oldest living son of Robert and Anne Bell. George Bell was born 1718 in Chowan NC. He was the first born child of Robert and Ann Bell his second wife who Robert Bell married in 1715 after the death of his first wife Polly Clement-Bell. When Robert Bell, died on January 2, 1738 in Bertie County, NC George Bell was the Court appointed administrator of his Father's Estate. John and Archibald, and sisters, Jean Byrd (wife of William Byrd) and Penelope Bell as well as Michael King IV all signed discharges for any share of Robert Bell’s estate. George received all of his Father's Estate. On November 11, 1738 (Bertie Co. Deed Book E, page 364) George Bell sold the 200 acre home place of his deceased Father, Robert Bell, adjoining properties of William Redits and Col. Pollock. He also sold the 640 Acres to Thomas Sutton for 200 Pounds Sterling. The deed was witnessed by Archibald Bell, Debory Bell, George Bell’s wife and Mary Bell and registered in the November Court of 1738. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/bertie/court/bell1545gwl.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 8.6 Kb