Looking for info on James Bell, born c1794. He married 2nd to Catherine Hodge on 29 Dec 1836 in Madison Co. He had a nephew John Bell of Hall Co. who married Jane Thompson on 15 Nov 1838 in Madison Co. According to "Sketches of the Early History of Madison County, Georgia" by Rev. Groves H. Cartledge, Jim Bell left his 2nd wife (Katie Hodge) to take up and run off to North Carolina with Mrs. Thompson, the murderess. [Mrs. Thompson is Frances Penn "Franky" Berryman who married William Thompson in 1830. William was shot & killed in 1842, and two slaves were found guilty of the murder. Franky was also arrested for murder (of whom?) but no further record has been found about her case]. This is probably James Bell and Franky on the 1850 census in NC: 1850 Census Cherokee County, North Carolina Murphy Town, Page 24 James Bell - 56 - Blacksmith - NC Francis Bell - 38 - NC John Bell - 17 - NC Melissa Bell - 17 - NC Caroline Bell - 16 - NC Nancy Bell - 15 - NC Eliza A. Bell - 14 - NC Elizabeth Bell - 11 - NC Minerva Bell - 9 - NC Giles Bell - 3 - NC Melissa, Nancy, Eliza A., Elizabeth and Minerva are actually Thompsons, children of William and Franky (Berryman) Thompson. Are John and Caroline the children of James Bell by one of his earlier marriages? Is Giles Bell the child of James Bell and Franky (Berryman) Thompson? By 1860, at least two of Franky's children (Elizabeth and Minerva) are back in Madison & Hart County, GA. In 1880, Giles Bell is in Fannin Co, GA, married with 2 kids. Does anyone know what happened to James Bell, Frances, and the other children after 1850? Jeanne Arguelles ejarguelles@msn.com