Richard BELL (c.1636 - 1700)

The Bell family dates its colonial residence from 1635. The immigrant 
ancestor came to Virginia from County Norfolk, England, after first going 
to Roger William's colony in New England. 

A Richard Bell, probably the father of the subject of this record, was a 
large landowner in the James City area, north of the James River. His name 
first appears in the records on 23 May 1637 when he patented 500 acres "at 
a little Indian field over against John Dansey". His fate is unlearned, 
but he may be the progenitor of the Bell line in Virginia. The James City 
records were burned in Richmond during the Civil War.

Sources: 
"Southside Virginia Families", Vol. I, p.35, John Bennett Boddie.
"Historical Southern Families", Vol. VIII, p.55, John Bennett Boddie.
"Virginia Wills and Administrations, 1632-1800", p.30, Clayton Torrence,
Richmond, VA. 1930. 1990.