The Origin and Brief History of the Clan Bell

The origin of the Bell Clan in Scotland does not seem to have been definitely
recorded. Numerous data have been collected and digested on the subject but
we can only surmise at its actual origins.

There are various theories that the name Bell came from the old French town of
Belle, or from a Frenchman named Gilbert La Fitz Bel and later William Le Bel, or
from a shortening of "Isabel", or from the sign of a bell on an inn, or from the
priests of the Druid agricultural deity Baal, or maybe from the moors of
Denmark and the dales of Norway. All the stories are interesting and intriguing,
but absolutely improvable. No matter the beginning, our forebears settled in the
southwest of Scotland not later than the early 1100s, more likely the 1000s, and
became typical Borderers in pursuit of their survival. They populated the 40
square mile area now called Middlebie Parish in Dumfriesshire where more than
thirty major families and their numerous sub-families have been identified.
There is an old Scot's saying, "As numerous as the Bells of Middlebie."

The spelling of the name seems to have varied with the recorder of the event as
it ranged from Bel, Bellis, Belle, Beall, Beal, Beale and Bale to Bell. We have found
many families whose name has been spelled Bell who have changed the spelling
to Beall, Beal and Beale. The genealogical histories of many show both spellings
in the family tree. In one early document, the scribe spelled Bell four different
ways. He was going to get it right no matter what!

The Act of 1587 provides proof that we are a Border Family. During the 16th
century, the appellation "Clan" began to be used in other than the Highlands.
The list under "Elleventh Parliament of King James the Sext, xxix of Juli, 1587,"
gives the name of the Clan and indicates that even down to that date the Bells
were under Patriarchal Chiefs rather than Feudal Superiors. The Act was passed
"for the quieting and keeping in obedience of the disorderit and subjectis
inhabitants of the Borders, Highlands and Isles" and contains "The Roll of the
Names of the Landislords and Baillies of Landes dwelling on the Bordoures and
in the Hielandes, quhair broken men hes dwelt and presently dwellis. To the
quhilk Roll, the 95 Acte of this Parliament is relative." Then follows, "The Rolle of
the Clannes that hes Captaines and Chieftaines, quhom on they dependes, of
times against the willes of their Landes Lordes, alsweill on the Bordoures, as
Hielandes, and of sum special persons of Braunches of the saidis Clannes, West
Marche, Scottes of Eusdaill, Beatisonnes, Littles, Thomsonnes, Glendunninges,
Irvinges, Belles, Carrutheres, Grahames, Johnstones, Jardines, Moffettes and
Latimers." (Reference APS, III, p 466).

Blacks "The Surnames of Scotland" states, "The name Bell was common on the
Scottish Border for centuries and the Belles are included in the 1587 list of
unruly clans in the West Marches. Families of the name long predominated in
the parish of Middlebie, insomuch that, the "Bells of Middlebie" was a current
phrase throughout Dumfriesshire."

J. A. Rennie, in "The Scotish People, their Clans, Families and Origins", writes on
the Lowland Clans. He states, "In many ways the great families found on each
side of the Border resembled the Highland Clans. The more prominent Scottish
Border families had chiefs, clan badges, and slogans and wore bonnet and plaid.
On the English side, few families were as powerful as those of the Scottish
Barons; the families tended to be smaller and more localized. Families whose
chiefs were landed gentlemen, though not possessing baronies, included 1/4.
Bell."

"Ane Act in favours of Johne Erll of Mortoun, Lord Maxwell, his friendis and
servantis (Acts Parl., III., 387," contains the Muster Roll of the Clansmen at the
siege of Stirling in 1585 that resulted in the capitulation of (King)James VI., and
gives a list of forty Dumfriesshire Bells, including our chief William Bell, called
"Redcloak", and members of other clans associated with them.

In "The Scotch-Irish, Vol II", by Charles A. Hanna, Baltimore Genealogical

Publishing Co., 1968, the Bells are listed under the heading of Border and
Lowland Clans in Annandale in 1547. There is also a listing for Border Clans and
Chiefs in 1597 including the Bells of Annandale. Additional data regarding Clan
status is that in 1596, thirty-seven hostages were taken from every division of
the clans, including the Bells. (Caledonia, III., 112).

The Bells of the old West Marche Clan, were one of the eight great riding
families of the Scottish Border since the early 1100s, were allied with the best
border families through blood and friendship. Their land holdings were
extensive, and to survive, they engaged in the 'reiving' of the period and
participated in many battles against the English. Declared "unruly" by the
Scottish Parliament, many of the Clan emigrated to the Ulster Plantation after
1610. After William Bell, called "Redcloak" and Chief of the Clan died in 1627/28,
the chief-ship became dormant; without leadership, the Bells ceased to exist as
a viable clan.

The Albie branch of the Bells, Pennersax Parish, was of considerable importance
in the district and quite possibly among the first Bells to hold land in what
became Middlebie Parish in 1609, prior to 1300. From this branch of the clan
sprang the holders of Blackethouse, Godsbrig (of Scotsbrig), Auldhall, Satur and
Land. In the 1600s, Middlebie Parish encompassed approximately 40,000 acres
and was populated by 31 major Bell families.

The Branches of the Clan and their old locations are:

Cowholm in Half-Morton Parish
Pennersax in Pennersax Parish
Kirksleights in Hutton and Corrie Parish
Curre in Corrie Parish
Laverhay and Poldeen in Wamphray Parish
Clynts in Ecclefechan Parish
Kirkconnel in Kirkpatrick-Flemming Parish
Albie (including Satur) in Pennersax Parish
Auldhall and Land
Blackethouse in Pennersax Parish
Godsbrig and Scotsbrig in Middlebie Parish
Dunnabie in Carruthers Parish
Neuk or Broadlea in Pennersax Parish
The Hill or Milldlebiehill in Middlebie Parish
Castlebank in Ecclefechan Parish
Middlebie Tenants
Crowdieknowe in Carruthers Parish
Minsca and Torbeckhill and Carruthers in Carruthers Parish
Whitcastles and Whiteknowe in Corrie Parish
Crurie in Eskdalemuir Parish
Stockbriggs in Middlebie Parish
 Nether Albie in Pennersax Parish
Between-the-Waters in Carruthers Parish
Hotts in Carruthers Parish
Water of Milk in St Mungo Parish
Winterhopehead in Carruthers Parish
Skellyholm (now Glenholm) in St Mungo Parish
Milton and Newhall in Tundergarth Parish
Tundergarth Tenants
Rammerscales in Dalton Parish
On 6th March 1426, King James I confirmed a Charter granted by the then
deceased Archibald, Earl of Douglas, Lord of Galloway and Annandale (who died
in 1424), to William Bell, "pro ejus servitio et benemeritis dicto comiti impensis,"
the lands of Kircconveth, otherwise called the Fleminglandis in the Lordship of
Annandale, which had fallen to the Earl through the death of John de
Carrutheris without heirs, to be held by the said William Bell and his heirs of the
Lord of the lands of Luce in fee (Reg. Mag. Sig., 1424-1513, No. 85.). This was
Kirkconnel, possibly the Bells first land by parchment rather than by sword. The
old site of Kirkconnel was on the left bank of the Kirtle River. Old Kirkconnel was
burned during the Great Plague and only the cemetery remains. The property is
now owned by the Maxwells and renamed Springkell.

Charles Davidson Bell's "Memorial of the Clan of the Bells" tells of the
relationship of the Bells and the Douglas on Scotland's border in those early
days. The Bells were never a Sept but were retainers of and allied with the Great
House of Douglas by blood as well as friendship. They generally accompanied
any of the Douglas clan in their expeditions and invasions into England and the
Bells of Kirkconnel, being valiant men, were always sent upon the most
hazardous enterprises.

Thomas Bell of Kirkconnel was a close friend of, and kept faith with, James, 9th of
the name, last Earl of Douglas, also called the Black Douglas while most of the
other Douglas retainers and supporters deserted and fought against him. In the
late 1400s, when Douglas lost at Arkinholme and Burnswark, the ruin of his
friends was complete. The Earl's possessions were distributed to the victors and
the Bell Family, it is said, forfeited Kirkconnel to the Maxwells. It is possible the
Bells of Blackethouse were not involved, but unlikely; however, they did not lose
their lands.

History records that all Bells throughout the kingdom acknowledged Bell of
Blackethouse for their Chief. The Bell relationship was acknowledged, even by
English Bells, especially when a coat of arms was introduced by using the Bell
characters in the chevron. William Bell of Blackethouse, who died about 1627/8,
was undoubted Chief of the Surname and is believed to have used the principal
coat of arms of the Family, viz. Azure, three bells, the crest, a hand holding a
dagger, paleways proper, with the motto, "I beir the bel!" Records of the 1400's
indicate that this motto is or can likely be attributed the peoples' (of that area
and era) involvement in contests, engagements of sorts and races of that time;
the winner of such events often was rewarded with a small gold or silver bell.
Thus, the winner, the demonstrated champion, could and would exclaim, "I beir
the bel."

After the devastating War of Independence, residents of the Marches were

forced by circumstances to return to primitive living. It was in this environment
that our Bell forebear's character was hammered out on the anvil of survival and
tested. Our ancestors used to number their horses in the hundreds and their
cattle and sheep in the thousands. The Bells of Middlebie were quite well
known, especially for their fighting skills.

There were also Bells in Gilsland on the English side of the border. In the 1500s
and 1600s, they had ties with their Middlebie cousins. The raiding party which
rescued Kinmont Willie Armstrong from the Carlisle Castle Gaol is identified as
having four Bells, including our Chief William Bell called "Redcloak" of
Blackethouse. Kinmont Willie and William Bell were said to be brothers-in-law.

The "Castles of Mar," namely Midmar, Fyvie, Castle Fraser, Cragievar and Crathes
Castle, were built by a prominent family of Bell masons, headed by Master
Mason George Bell whose "signature" is inscribed right into the walls of the
castles. The castles are located outside of Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Grampian
Highlands - N.E. quarter). They are some of the finest examples of French
influenced architecture based on the "Z-Plan." In actuality, they are baronial
dwellings, not castles, but no one refers to them as such in this day and age.
Cragievar castle was featured as the logo for Philip Morris cigarettes for years.
Confusing to many is the "Bell Sept" claimed by Clan MacMillan. Of much later
origin than Clan Bell, the "Bell Sept" of Clan MacMillan possibly originated in
Glen Shira at a settlement called Badokennen near the head of Loch Fyne in
Argyllshire, far north of the border Bells. These were Bells who seemed to
collaborate with the MacMillans when needed. DNA research is currently
underway to determine if there maybe be a substantiated link.

In sharp contrast to today, the border area where Scotland and England meet
was significantly over-populated in the 1500s; as a result, there was a scarcity of
land, jobs and food to sustain the ever growing numbers of Borderers. Like
other families in this impoverished land, the Bell Clan began to break up and re-
settle elsewhere. While many a hearty Bell remained in their beloved Border
homeland, economic reality forced thousands of other Bells to migrate to
diverse locations throughout Scotland and overseas.

One group of displaced Bells migrated to the Glasgow area and remained for a
time. Then they continued on to Argyll where they settled, apparently in two
factions. One faction affiliated with the Campbells. Records confirm Bells worked
for the Campbells in various capacities. Of the second faction, there is no valid
history. Interesting though, is the existence of a gravestone found in Argyll with
the Border Bell Coat of Arms on the stone, exactly the same as found in Border
cemeteries.

As with many Clans and Families and, to the best of our knowledge, Clan Bell
apparently did not have a distinctive tartan, not surprising since many of the
Border Bells were horsemen who most often wore leather, wool or cotton
breeches. Nonetheless, tartan purveyors saw possible sales and have always
told Bells their tartan is MacMillan. This falsehood has caused great confusion
over the years. To the detriment of Clan Bell, many have been wrongly taught by
the merchandisers that they were of the MacMillan-Bell Sept that resulted in kilt
sales to Bells. Despite the confusion, the Bells and MacMillans are, in this
modern day, good friends and cooperate with each other.

Clan Bell, since 1984, has had a tartan named "Bell of the Borders", informally
called the "Dress Blue". It is listed by the Scottish Tartans Society and in "Tartan
For Me!" By Dr. Philip D. Smith. Another tartan has been designed for the Chief;
however, it will not be woven for sale until our Chief is appointed by the Lyon
Court. There is a third tartan which was acquired when the Bell Family
Association and Clan Bell Descendants merged. The tartan is named Bell South.
All three tartans will, when our Chief is appointed, be registered with the Lord
Lyon's office. No other tartan, claimed to be of Bell of Blackethouse, is
recognized at this time. Also, use of the name "Blackethouse" is specifically
reserved for the Chief.

In 1610, when the Ulster Plantation was opened, a good number of Bells were
encouraged to journey to the new "land of opportunity." A standard to assist in
determining Bell origin for those Bells in North America is whether or not your
ancestors came through the Ulster Plantation in Ireland. A certain portion of
Scotland was expressly excluded from the "privilege" of sharing in the Ulster
experience as it was made a condition that the colonists, both of higher and
lower ranks, must have been "born in England or the inward parts of Scotland."
This restriction was specifically designed to exclude all persons in Argyllshire and
the Isles. The MacMillans and their Bell Sept were of Argyllshire.

Nine "major" Bell families are identified as having lived in Ulster. Of them, it is
said that between 1707 and 1729 approximately 500 Bell families emigrated
from Ulster to North America where they flourished. Scottish literature of the
early fifteenth century and later, indicates that Scottish citizens by the name of
Bell were by then separated into two classes, viz: those who preserved the
Clannish form of government and were referred to in political documents as
Clan Bell of the West Marche, and, the other class which was found scattered
throughout Scotland and England, paying little attention to Clannish
organization but successfully indulging in literary, scientific and military pursuits.

After William Bell called "Redcloak", Chief of the Bells, died in 1627/8, the chief-
ship apparently became dormant. The distinguished Edinburgh surgeon
Benjamin Bell, in direct line for the chief-ship, was offered a baronetcy but
refused. He later sold the family homestead, Blackethouse to help educate his
children. The Bells ceased to exist as a viable clan as they were without
leadership and many were living in other countries and were no longer within
influence of the clan structure.
Thus, for over 385 years, the Bells have lacked a clan chief. Regardless, Clan Bell
has long been recognized by the Lord Lyon Court as being one of the strong
riding clans of the borders. As a prominent Border clan with a rich history, the
Bells are entitled to their own three feather chief and clan status in the family of
Scottish clans. Fortunately, a concerted effort is underway to resurrect Clan Bell
to its past status through the appointment of a Chief by Scotland's Lord Lyon,
King of Arms. In April 1985, a letter providing proof of the Border Bell's history
was sent to the Lord Lyon requesting he acknowledge the Bells had, at one time,
been a Clan under patriarchal chiefs and to allow us to reestablish the Clan. The
Lord Lyon's 6 May 1985 letter provided acknowledgment and permission.
Shortly thereafter, work was commenced concentrating on a genealogical trace
of the senior Blackethouse line to determine the ranking Bell to be invested as
Chief.

This was accomplished in 1988, when Douglas Bell, C.B.E., was found to be the
ranking Bell. Sadly, Douglas passed away in February 1993. This is where we
stand today. Research to find the proper family line candidate continues. Once a
proper candidate is identified and if the candidate approves, a petition to Lord
Lyon Court will be submitted. Upon approval of the petition by the Lyon Court,
the genealogically highest ranking Bell will be invested as Chief of the Bells. The
Clan will then assume its rightful place among the Families of Scotland. The time
frame for submission and approval of the petition by the Lyon Court is
unknown.

Clan Bell has Bell members and representatives all over the world. Bells reside
in: Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Argentina, Chile, Norway, England, Ireland,
the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, the United States and
Uruguay. The Clan Bell North America site (formerly Clan Bell International,
Limited) Web Site is located at: www.clanbell.org. Clan Bell AUS/NZ is our sister
organization in Australia and New Zealand. It has been ably led by June Freeman
Bell!

"We owe to ourselves, our country and posterity the duty of collecting and
publishing such information and records concerning the Bells as may exist or
become available. Pride in family history must be encouraged for it tends to
strengthen the moral obligations, elevate the individual character, broaden our
patriotism and give each a sense of Clan/Family history and pride."

Attributions:
Lt. Col. William H. Bell, President Emeritus, Clan Bell International, Ltd.
Edited/updated: David Erwin Bell, President, Clan Bell--Clan Bell North America:
March 2015}

Former Presidents of Bell Family Groups and Associations:

Irving Bell, Bell Family Association;
E. R. Bell, Tennessee Bells;
Attorney-General Kaufman E. Bell;
June Bell Freeman AUS/NZ;
Lt. Col. William H. Bell

History of Clan Bell:

The Borders family Bell may well descend from a Norman follower of David I
who reigned until 1153 and was, by the end of the thirteenth century, well
established in Dumfriesshire, Berwickshire and Perthshire. The name may derive
from the French 'Bel,' meaning fair or handsome. Since the derivation is
descriptive, common ancestry cannot be assumed for all those bearing the
surname.
The arms attributed to the principal family are in the nature of canting, or
punning, heraldry, alluding to the pronunciation of the name rather than its
origin.
The suggestion that it relates to living beside a bell tower seems far fetched.

The Bells participated in the Borders disturbances as one of the riding clans of
border reivers. In the thirteenth century Gilbert Le Fitzbel held lands in
Dumfries, Sir David Bell was Clerk of the Wardrobe to Robert II. In 1426, William
Bell's lands of Kirkconnel were confirmed by James I under a charter recorded in
the register of the great seal.
The Bells, along with other Borders families, became increasingly turbulent
throughout the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The Bells were one of the
thirteen clans considered "the Devil's Dozen" for their reiving activities. The
Crown's determination to pacify the Borders led in 1517 to Clan Bell receiving
royal letters of warning to keep the peace.
The tower of Blackethouse was destroyed in a raid by the English in 1547. After
the union of the Crowns in 1603, the family suffered much the same fate as the
other border reivers; many emigrated to the new plantation lands in Ulster
where the name is among the twenty most numerous in that province. Others
settled further afield in Australia and New Zealand.
The descendants of the Lairds of Blackethouse stayed in the realm but moved
to the cities where they contributed substantially to learning and in particular
medical science.

Andrew Bell, co-publisher of the Encyclopedia Britannica and founder of the

Madras system of education was born at St. Andrews in 1753, The college
founded in his native town and named after his system is still a respected seat
of education today.
Dr. Joseph Bell, great-grandson of Benjamin Bell of Blacket House, who was
himself a distinguished surgeon, is said to have inspired his former assistant Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle to create his great detective, Sherlock Holmes.
General Sir John Bell was a distinguished soldier during the Napoleonic Wars
and a friend of the Duke of Wellington. Scottish lawyers encounter the name of
Bell in their study of Principals of the Law of Scotland by George Joseph Bell,
Professor of Scots Law at the University of Edinburgh in 1829. More recently,
Alexander Graham Bell was a pioneer in the development of the telephone.

Nathaniel Bell
Posted 23 Aug 2010 by mabsecretary
A Scots family named Bell emigrated from the land of the heather
and the herds,
c1720, to the coast of Colonial North Carolina. They located on the
mainland
just north of Cape Fear and settled on the Lockwood Folly where
they had
received a large land grant. In time, they became prominent in the
affairs of
Brunswick County and in 1784 the seat of county government was
moved to John
Bell's plantation in the little community of Bell on the banks of the
Lockwood
Folly River.

The Bells were herders in Scotland and they continued that

tradition as herders
in Brunswick County. They possessed a strong interest in public
affairs and
served on grand juries and worked as road commissioners. They
often secured the
bond of elected public officials so they legally qualified to serve.
Several
were members of the Royal Militia, who in 1748, successfully
resisted the
invasion during the Spanish Alarm at Brunswick and later
participated in the
burning of Fort Johnson in 1775 during the North Carolina
Regulator Movement.
The Spaniards sailed from Cuba and were stealing slaves from the
Colonials.
Perhaps acting more as Scotsmen than Colonials, the company in
which the Bells
served and billed the Crown for their military services which
included their
food, their rum and for burying the Spaniards they killed.

Nathaniel Bell served as a private in Captain Whitehall's Company,

First North
Carolina Militia Regiment, in 1780. This same Nathaniel Bell
became a prosperous
herder of cattle and migrated with his family from Brunswick, the
southern most
coastal County in North Carolina, to Louisville in Jefferson County,
Georgia
about 1805. Jefferson County was bisected by the Ogeechee River
and located on
the frontier of interior Georgia.

A few years later, as the frontier was pushed further into the
interior,
Nathaniel moved about a hundred miles south to Tattnall County,
located on the
Altamaha River with navigable water to Darien and the coast.
Nathaniel purchased
land in Tattnall County in March and April 1812 and was involved
in a land
dispute there in 1814. He died before 1820.

Nathaniel had six children who lived until adulthood; three

daughters were the
oldest and then three sons, Daniel, Joseph and James. The extent of
their
education is unknown, however they were all literate. Personal
letters written
by Daniel, Joseph, and James clearly indicate this fact. There is one
letter in
Daniel's handwriting and other documents he wrote and signed,
showing his
penmanship to be beautiful.

Birth:  1760
Bolivia
Brunswick County
North Carolina, USA
Death:  1820
Tattnall County
 Georgia, USA

Nathan Bell was born in NC , son of James

Bell RS and his wife Sarah which James
passed in Brunswick County, NC. in 1793 and
his will was probated there...
Nathaniel served in the Revolutionary War as
a private in Capt. Alexander Whitehall's
Company, 1st North Carolina Militia
Regiment, in June 2, 1780 ...He sold out his
holdings in Brunswick County, NC on
November 22, 1805 to John C. Baker (deed
book 'E', page 208 of Brunswick County, NC)
and moved to Jefferson County, Ga. After
living there about 10 years he moved to
Tattnall County where he lived until his
passing.....
Known children: (1) Martha -1785- m)
Needham Gause ; m) Allen Johnson , (2)
France -1787- m)James Smith (s/o Simon) ,
(3) Nancy -1793- m)James Williams (2-4-
1819 moved to Appling , (4) Daniel -1795-
m) Mary Cone ; m) Evaline ? , (5) Joseph
-1798- m) Elizabeth Johnson (d/o Allen) , (6)
James S. -1801- m) Matilda Johnson (d/o
Allen)

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?
page=gr&GRid=157357887&ref=acom

Half African
American?
 Posted 12 May 2015 by LOWEEE
The grandsonson of Sara Elizabeth Bell, Daughter of William Socrates
Bell - is of 5% African genetics according to ancestry DNA.
Extrapilating, William Arthur should be a minimum of roughly twice the
percentage and so forth, making William Socrates approximately 50%
African descent. William's "father" Nathaniel - can not be his father
according to records found, he disappeared roughly nine years before
William Socrates birth. His mother Sarah, was living with her children a
domestic servant with her children all with the last name Bell, along
with 2 adult black farm laborers, one Thomas Moody age 60, and one
Sandy Baurels (Baures/Bowers/Barnes?) age 18 in the 1870 Federal
Cencus. It is possible that one of these men - perhaps the older Thomas
Moody is the father of William Socrates 5 years later. Sarah Bell died
about a year and a half after William was born and I can find no other
records of any of the African Americans living with her in any later
records on Ancestry.com. 
William Socrates, along with an older brother John, went on to live with
an even older brother still, Joseph. 
 end ngIf:
havePhotoUrl(message)

LOWEEE
Mar 05, 2016
Your Grandfather is Alton Bell? My husband's Grandmother was
born a Bell. Though, through a twist of fate, you may not be
related as I have found that her father William Socrates Bell was
born (to Sarah Mobley Bell) into the family 3 years after Nathaniel
Bell died and had African American DNA intermixed. The farthest
back I have is Shadrack Bell who came from England, but I
wouldn't be surprised if he or his parents originated from
Scotland...
 end ngIf:
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LOWEEE
Mar 05, 2016
Yes, You are not the first Joseph Bell! William Socrates' story is
an usual one. My husband's grandmother refused to talk about
her family, and everyone used to joke that it must be because
either because he came from a black background (you should
have seen how that woman tanned) or that they came from a
slaveholder family, or both, but no one knew for sure. I started
looking for clues and had a hard time finding him as a child living
with his parents, but instead found a young William living with an
older brother (2 really). But I had no proof it was the same
William. I stewed on it for about a year and then decided to see if I
could pretend it was accurate and take it back farther and found a
record that would connect the older brothers to a mother and
father, and then the mother to a census that showed siblings
along with her parents. If you can believe one of her brothers
names was William, and another.... Socrates! What are the
chances?!? So basing it off that I felt secure in placing him in the
household. Later I found records showing the "Father" Nathaniel
Bell (a Georgian Slaveholder) actually died before William
Socrates was born, by a lot and that of course through a whole
new twist into this family saga. Then I had my husband do a DNA
test through here and it came back with a 5% African result, as
well as a small amount of Native American, which is quite
possibly from the father of William, making him roughly half
Caucasian and half African if you double the percentages through
the generations. One final confirmation is that through the DNA he
(and his father, because he did one too after my husband's
results came in) both are genetically confirmed as related to the
'assumed' mother - Sarah Mobley (Bell) and a couple of her
ancestors. It was such a coup to find this information and be able
to confirm it after the generations of secrecy....

Hello, there!

Clan Stewart is misnomer. There are more than ONE

Stewart clan - I am a Stewart of Appin,but there is
also Stewart of Bute and others. Some Stewarts are
lowlanders who were never part of the clan system.
You need to find out where your Stewart (or Stuart)
ancestors lived in Scotland before you can make an
informed guess as to which clan they MAY have
belonged! This is a difficult task for those who are
living overseas, but it can be done!

Clan Bell - well I took the following

from http://www.electricscotland.com I would point
out that ElectricS admit that they do not verify any
information, but post as the submitting posters
asks.
QUOTE
Clan Bell International. A review of the Border Clan,
its history and present day world-wide impact. (This
information was kindly provided by William Bell)

THE FOLLOWING DATA QUOTED IS APPROVED BY

THE STANDING COUNCIL OF SCOTTISH CHIEFS:

"The Borders family Bell may well descend from a

Norman follower of David I who reigned until 1153
and was, by the end of the thirteenth century, well
established in Dumfriesshire, Berwickshire and
Perthshire.

The name may derive from the French ‘Bel,’

meaning fair or handsome. Since the derivation is
descriptive, common ancestry cannot be assumed
for all those bearing the surname.

The arms attributed to the principal family are in the

nature of canting, or punning, heraldry, alluding to
the pronunciation of the name rather than its origin.

The suggestion that it relates to living beside a bell

tower seems far fetched.

The Bells participated in the Borders disturbances as

one of the riding clans of border reivers. In the
thirteenth century Gilbert Le Fitzbel held lands in
Dumfries, Sir David Bell was Clerk of the Wardrobe
to Robert II. In 1426, William Bell’s lands of
Kirkconnel were confirmed by James I under a
charter recorded in the register of the great seal.

The Bells, along with other Borders families, became

increasingly turbulent throughout the fifteenth and
sixteenth centuries. The Crown’s determination to
pacify the Borders led in 1517 to Clan Bell receiving
royal letters of warning to keep the peace.

The tower of Blackethouse was destroyed in a raid

by the English in 1547. After the union of the
Crowns in 1603, the family suffered much the same
fate as the other border reivers; many emigrated to
the new plantation lands in Ulster where the name is
among the twenty most numerous in that province.
Others settled further afield in Australia and New
Zealand.

The descendants of the Lairds of Blackethouse

stayed in the realm but moved to the cities where
they contributed substantially to learning and in
particular medical science.

Andrew Bell, founder of the Madras system of

education was born at St. Andrews in 1753, The
college founded in his native town and named after
his system is still a respected seat of education
today.

Dr. Joseph Bell, great-grandson of Benjamin Bell of

Blacket House, who was himself a distinguished
surgeon, is said to have inspired Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle to create his great detective, Sherlock
Holmes.

General Sir John Bell was a distinguished soldier

during the Napoleonic Wars and a friend of the Duke
of Wellington. Scottish lawyers encounter the name
of Bell in their study of Principals of the Law of
Scotland by George Joseph Bell, Professor of Scots
Law at the University of Edinburgh in 1829. More
recently, Alexander Graham Bell was a pioneer in
the development of the telephone.

Although the Bells were a Borders family, there are

others of this name who are of Highland origin, and
in that case, Bell is held to be a Sept of MacMillan."
End of quote.

BELL REFERENCES

Blacks "The Surnames of Scotland" states "The

name Bell was common on the Scotish Border for
centuries and the Belles are included in the 1587 list
of unruly clans in the West Marches. Families of the
name long predominated in the parish of Middlebie,
insomuch that the ‘Bells of Middlebie’ was a current
phrase throughout Dumfriesshire."

J. A. Rennie, in ‘The Scotish People, their Clans,

Families and Origins’ writes on the Lowland Clans.
He states, "In many ways the great families found
on each side of the Border resembled the Highland
Clans. The more prominent Scottish Border families
had chiefs, clan badges, and slogans and wore
bonnet and plaid. On the English side, few families
were as powerful as those of the Scottish Barons;
the families tended to be smaller and more
localized. Families whose chiefs were landed
gentlemen though not possessing baronies included
"Bell."

Ane Act in favours of Johne Erll of Mortoun, Lord

Maxwell his friendis and servantis (Acts Parl., III.,
387), contains the Muster Roll of the Clansmen at
the siege of Stirling in 1585, which resulted in the
capitulation of James VI., and gives a list of forty
Dumfriesshire Bells, including our chief William Bell
called Redcloak and members of other clans
associated with them.

In The Scotch-Irish, Vol II, by Charles A. Hanna,

Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Co., 1968, the
Bells are listed under the heading of Border and
Lowland Clans in 1547 of Annandale. There is also a
listing for Border Clans and Chiefs in 1597 including
the Bells of Annandale. Additional data regarding
Clan status is that in 1596, thirty-seven hostages
were taken from every division of the clans,
including the Bells. (Caledonia, III., 112).

The Bell Family In Dumfriesshire by James Steuart.

Mr. Steuart’s original intent was to record the
pedigree of his maternal ancestors, the Bells of
Crurie, offshoots of the Bells of Crowdieknowe;
however, the gathering of data expanded the project
and Mr. Steuart was invited to submit a paper on
the Bell Family to the Dumfriesshire and Galloway
Natural History and Antiquarian Society. This paper
overflowed its confines and, from the length of the
notes, it was resolved to publish them in book form.
Although Mr. Steuart regarded his work to be only a
"draft" of what a book should be, it is in reality the
only work which characterizes the Bells of Middlebie.

BELL HERALDRY

In general, Bell Arms are "Canting" or "Punning,"

visually allusive to the surname of the bearer.
French Heralds use the old expression, "Armes
Parlantes," or "Speaking Arms." Many examples of
these "speaking" Bell Arms can be seen in Middlebie
and surrounding Kirkyards, carved with varying
degrees of skill on flatstones and headstones. The
same can be found in Argyll also.

BELL TARTAN

Clan Bell, since 1984, has had a tartan named "Bell

of the Borders" and informally called the "Dress
Blue" that is listed by the Scottish Tartans Society
and in Tartan for Me! By Dr. Philip D. Smith. There
is now a second tartan which was acquired when the
Clan Bell International and Clan Bell Descendants
merged. The tartan is named "Bell South." Both
tartans will be registered with the Lord Lyon’s office
at the appropriate time.

OUR GENESIS IN SCOTLAND

Our forebears settled in the southwest of Scotland

not later than the early 1100s, more likely the late
1000s, and became typical Borderers in pursuit of
their survival. They populated the 40 square mile
area now called Middlebie Parish in Dumfriesshire
where more than thirty major families and their
numerous sub-families have been identified. There
is an old Scots saying, "As numerous as the Bells of
Middlebie."

The spelling of the name seems to have varied with

the recorder of the event as it ranged from Bel,
Bellis, Belle, Beall, Beal, Beale and Bale to Bell. We
have found many families whose name has been
spelled Bell who have changed the spelling to Beall,
Beal and Beale. The genealogical histories of many
show both spellings in the family tree. In one early
document, the scribe spelled Bell four different
ways. He was going to get it right no matter what!

The Act of 1587 provides proof that we are a Border

Family. During the 16th century, the appellation
Clan began to be used in other than the Highlands.
The list under "Elleventh Parliament of King James
the Sext, xxix of Julij, 1587," gives the name of the
Clan and indicates that even down to that date the
Bells were under Patriarchal Chiefs rather than
Feudal Superiors. The Act was passed "for the
quieting and keeping in obedience of the disorderit
and subjectis inhabitants of the Borders, Highlands
and Isles" and contains "The Roll of the Names of
the Landislords and Baillies of Landes dwelling on
the Bordoures and in the Hielandes, quhair broken
men hes dwelt and presently dwellis. To the quhilk
Roll, the 95 Acte of this Parliament is relative." Then
follows, "The Rolle of the Clannes that hes Captaines
and Chieftaines, quhom on they dependes, of times
against the willes of their Landes Lordes, alsweill on
the Bordoures, as Hielandes, and of sum special
persons of Braunches of the saidis Clannes, West
Marche, Scottes of Eusdaill, Beatisonnes, Littles,
Thomsonnes, Glendunninges, Irvinges, Belles,
Carrutheres, Grahames, Johnstones, Jardines,
Moffettes and Latimers." (Reference APS, III, p
466).

THE CLAN BRANCHES

In the 1600s, Middlebie Parish encompassed

approximately 40,000 acres and was populated by
31 major Bell families.

The Albie branch of the Bells, Pennersax Parish, was

of considerable importance in the district and quite
possibly among the first Bells to hold land, prior to
1300, in what became Middlebie Parish in 1609.
From this branch of the clan sprang the holders of
Blackethouse, Godsbrig (of Scotsbrig), Auldhall,
Satur and Land.

There were also Bells in Gilsland on the English side

of the Border that had close ties with their Middlebie
cousins.

The Scottish Branches of the Clan and their old

locations are:

Cowholm in Half-Morton Parish 

Pennersax in Pennersax Parish 

Kirksleights in Hutton and Corrie Parish 

Curre in Corrie Parish 

Laverhay and Poldeen in Wamphray Parish 

Clynts in Ecclefechan Parish 

Kirkconnel in Kirkpatrick-Flemming Parish 

Albie (including Satur) in Pennersax Parish 

Auldhall and Land 

Blackethouse in Pennersax Parish 

Godsbrig and Scotsbrig in Middlebie Parish 

Dunnabie in Carruthers Parish 

Neuk or Broadlea in Pennersax Parish 

The Hill or Middlebiehill in Middlebie Parish 

Castlebank in Ecclefechan Parish 

Middlebie Tenants 

Crowdieknowe in Carruthers Parish 

Minsca and Torbeckhill and Carruthers in Carruthers

Parish 

Whitcastles and Whiteknowe in Corrie Parish 

Crurie in Eskdalemuir Parish 

Stockbriggs in Middlebie Parish 

Nether Albie in Pennersax Parish 

Between-the-Waters in Carruthers Parish 

Hotts in Carruthers Parish 

Water of Milk in St Mungo Parish 

Winterhopehead in Carruthers Parish 

Skellyholm (now Glenholm) in St Mungo Parish 

Milton and Newhall in Tundergarth Parish 

Tundergarth Tenants 

Rammerscales in Dalton Parish 

THE BELL’S FIRST LAND BY PARCHMENT

On 6th March 1426, King James I confirmed a

Charter granted by the then deceased Archibald,
Earl of Douglas, Lord of Galloway and Annandale
(who died in 1424), to William Bell, "pro ejus
servitio et benemeritis dicto comiti impensis," the
lands of Kircconveth, otherwise called the
Fleminglandis in the Lordship of Annandale, which
had fallen to the Earl through the death of John de
Carrutheris without heirs, to be held by the said
William Bell and his heirs of the Lord of the lands of
Luce in fee (Reg. Mag. Sig., 1424-1513, No. 85.).
This was Kirkconnel, possibly the Bells first land by
parchment rather than by sword. The old site of
Kirkconnel was on the left bank of the Kirtle River.
Old Kirkconnel was burned during the Great Plague
and only the cemetery remains. The property is now
owned by the Maxwells and renamed Springkell.

THE BELL/DOUGLAS RELATIONSHIP

Charles Davidson Bell's Memorial of the Clan of the

Bells tells of the relationship of the Bells and the
Douglas on Scotland’s border in those early days.
The Bells were never a Sept but retainers of and
allied with the Great House of Douglas by blood as
well as friendship. They generally accompanied any
of the Douglas in their expeditions and invasions
into England and the Bells of Kirkconnel, being
valiant men, were always sent upon the most
hazardous enterprises.

When William, 8th Earl of Douglas, set out for

London in 1451 to foment a rebellion against the
Scottish Crown, Thomas Bell of Kirkconnel went with
him and his name was included in the Letter of Safe
Passage. After the murder of William, his brother
James, 9th Earl of Douglas, attempted to avenge his
death by armed opposition to King James II.
Betrayed by almost all his allies, but not the Bells,
the 9th Earl lost at Arkinholme on 1 May 1455. The
Earl escaped to France, but his possessions went to
the victors and the Bell Family, it is said, forfeited
Kirkconnel to the Maxwells. The Bells of
Blackethouse did not lose their lands. After the fall
from power of the Black Douglases, records how
that the Bells of Dumfriesshire were ever more
turbulent. In 1484, the forfeited 9th Earl of Dougas
returned to Scotland with a small Army of 500 men.
He rested at Bell’s Castle on the eve of the Battle of
Kirtle.

THE CHIEF OF THE BELLS

History records that all Bells throughout the

kingdom acknowledged Bell of Blackethouse for their
Chief. The Bell relationship was acknowledged, even
by English Bells, especially when a coat of arms was
introduced by using the Bell characters in the
chevron. William Bell of Blackethouse, who died
about 1628, was undoubted Chief of the Surname
and is believed to have used the principal coat of
arms of the Family, viz. Azure, three bells, the crest,
a hand holding a dagger, paleways proper, with the
motto, "I beir the bel."

THE 16TH CENTURY

The border area where Scotland and England meet

was overpopulated in 1500s, and as a result there
was a scarcity of land, jobs and food to sustain the
ever growing numbers of Borderers. Like other
families in this impoverished land in the border area,
the Bell Clan began to break up and re-settle
elsewhere. While many a hearty Bell remained in
their beloved Border homeland, economic reality
forced thousands of other Bells to migrate to diverse
locations throughout Scotland and overseas.

One group of Bells migrated to the Glasgow area for

a time and then continued to Argyll where they
settled, apparently in two factions. One faction
affiliated with the Campbells. Records confirm Bells
worked for the Campbells in various capacities. Of
the second faction, there is no valid history.

THE 17TH CENTURY

During the 17th century, there was a great exodus

from the family lands in Dumfriesshire. Many of the
Clan crossed to the Ulster Plantation in Northern
Ireland, which opened in 1610, but later sailed for
the New World.
The Union of the Crowns and the authority of the
reformed church virtually ended the Border reiving.
Population growth and great poverty provided the
impetus for emigration.

Even so, there were still some who were restless

under the new conditions, and so the boldest
Reivers were brought in on the side of law and
order.

In 1622, William Bell, called Redcloak, Chief of the

Bells, was chosen by John Murray of Lochmaben,
with nine others to act as a Border Guard on the
West March. In 1624, the Earl of Annandale chose
Redcloak to help in the same way.

After the devastating War of Independence,

residents of the Marches were forced by
circumstances to return to primitive living. It was in
this environment that our Bell forebears character
was hammered out on the anvil of survival and
tested. Our ancestors used to number their horses
in the hundreds and their cattle and sheep in the
thousands. The Bells of Middlebie were quite well
known, especially for their fighting skills.

THE 18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES

Both the 18th and 19th centuries saw a continuing

exodus from the Family lands of Dumfriesshire.
Many Bells went to foreign lands where they
continued to live in concert with the clan ways they
practiced in Scotland. Bells were found living in
Germany, Russia, Italy, Australia, New Zealand,
Canada, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, the Netherlands
and what is now the United States.

During the expansion of the Empire, many Bells

joined the British armed forces, such as John Bell
descended from the Bells of Minsca, who fought at
the battle of Waterloo. Others simply moved to the
cities to enter the learned professions.

Descendants of the Bells of Blackethouse provided a

Surgeon Extraordinary to the Sovereign, two
Presidents of the Royal College of Surgeons, various
Sheriffs, and men and women of Letters. Two
Baronetcies were offered, and respectfully declined;
the first out of a non-belief in primogeniture, the
second because the potential heir had predeceased
his father.

Scottish literature of the early fifteenth century and

later, indicates that Scottish citizens by the name of
Bell were by then separated into two classes, viz:
those who preserved the Clannish form of
government and were referred to in political
documents as Clan Bell of the West Marche, and, the
other class which was found scattered all through
Scotland and England paying little attention to
Clannish organization but successfully indulging in
literary, scientific and military pursuits.
THE CASTLES OF MAR

The "Castles of Mar," namely Midmar, Fyvie, Castle

Fraser, Cragievar and Crathes Castle, were built by
a prominent family of Bell masons, headed by
Master Mason George Bell whose "signature" is
inscribed right into the walls of the castles. The
castles are located outside of Aberdeenshire,
Scotland (Grampian Highlands - N.E. quarter). They
are some of the finest examples of French influenced
architecture based on the "Z-Plan." In actuality,
they are baronial dwellings, not castles, but no one
refers to them as such in this day and age.
Cragievar castle was featured as the logo for Philip
Morris cigarettes for years.

THE BELL SEPT OF MACMILLAN

Confusing to many is the Bell Sept of Clan

MacMillan. Of much later origin than Clan Bell, and,
according to the MacMillans, the Bell Sept of Clan
MacMillan possibly originated in Glen Shira at a
settlement called Badokennen near the head of Loch
Fyne in Argyllshire, far north of the border Bells. For
many years, tartan purveyors told Bells their tartan
was MacMillan. This has caused great confusion over
the years, to the detriment of Clan Bell, as many
have wrongly believed themselves to be MacMillan
Sept Bells simply because of the tartan.

THE ULSTER PLANTATION IN NORTHERN IRELAND

In 1610, when the Ulster Plantation was opened, a
good number of Bells were encouraged to journey to
the new "land of opportunity." A standard to assist
in determining Bell origin for those Bells in North
America is whether or not your ancestors came
through the Ulster Plantation in Ireland.

A certain portion of Scotland was expressly excluded

from the "privilege" of sharing in the Ulster
experience as it was made a condition that the
colonists, both of higher and lower ranks, must have
been "born in England or the inward parts of
Scotland." This restriction was specifically designed
to exclude all persons in Argyllshire and the Isles.
The MacMillans and their Bell Sept were of
Argyllshire.

Nine "major" Bell families are identified as having

lived in Ulster. Of them, it is said that between 1707
and 1729 approximately 500 Bell families emigrated
from Ulster to North America where they flourished.

COUNTRIES WITH CLAN REPRESENTATIVES

Clan Bell is represented in the following countries:

Argentina, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Chile,
England, Honduras, Ireland, the Netherlands,
Northern Ireland, Norway, Scotland, South Africa,
the United States and Uruguay.

"We owe to ourselves, our country and posterity the

duty of collecting and publishing such information
and records concerning the Bells as may exist or
become available. Pride in family history must be
encouraged for it tends to strengthen the moral
obligations, elevate the individual character,
broaden our patriotism and give each a sense of
Clan/Family history and pride." UNQUOTE