Evelyn Sell wrote: >"Ruben Sell" born 1804 >Married July 1289 in Stokes Co (Marriage Bond & Caleb Johnson >was bondsman) was he related? or just good friends. >Catherine Bodenhamer born in Rowan Co. Daughter of George >and Barbara Weir Bodenhamer. etc. I can't identify Ruben's parents either, but just wanted to point out that there are two possible SELL families in this area - the Quakers SELLs, as Evelyn mentioned in her original message, and the German SOELLE family. With that link to the BODENHAMERs, and Davidson county, also the JOHNSON link, I wonder if maybe Evelyn's are the latter. James Jurney has some information on the SOELLE family in his book on the Butner family, p. 73. The early Soelles were Mennonites who did not practice child baptism, and records of births of children are therefore scarce. Jurney quotes Mrs. Carolyn Cell Bakow of Venice CA that three brothers, Heinrick, Dirk, and Martin Sellen came from near Crefeld on the Ruhr and settled in Germantown PA in 1683, 1688, and by 1700, respectively. By 1744 Adam and wife Sarah [it's not clear whose son he was] were living in Conewago, York Co. PA. Aaltje Soelle stated in her memoir that she moved from Germantown to Conewago, and it is believed that Adam was her father. Jurney also quotes Rowan Co. deed records, Deed Book 1, p. 5-8, William Linvil to Adam Sills 587 acres on North bank of Yadkin River, 15 June 1753. Part of this tract was sold to Mathias Sapenfield 4 Oct. 1754, and part to Henry Boyer 6 June 1765. Adam was baptized into the Moravian Church at the Hope Congregation. Adam and Sarah's daughter Aaltje Soelle (1724-1804) married Christopher ELLROTH or ELROD. They had a big family, many of whom stayed in the Stokes/Forsyth/Davidson county area, and there are a considerable number of links between the later ELRODs and the JOHNSON family, especially around Clemmons NC. The DOUTHIT, WAINSCOTT, and RIDDLE families are also multiply intertwined with these folks. Elizabeth Harris [email protected]