Does anyone have details about the BELL famiy mentioned in books 1-12 of land records, namely William Bell with sons William Harrison and Zachariah? The land record was actually a "gift of deed" involving transfer of personal effects to sons and daughters. I noticed a couple of land transactions involving brothers William and Zachariah Bell in 1775 Craven Co., SC. I recall that William Bell of the 1800 and 1810 Edgefield Co., SC, censuses was born 1756 to 1765. Thus, he might not yet have been 21 years old in 1775 (for a land transaction). Does his age matter? Would 1756 (age 19) have been good enough? It makes sense that the family was located elsewhere before 1785, and the SC population was largely located along the coast until that time. I'm not sure about the William Bell of the 1790 Edgefield Co., SC, census. There were two men over 16 with none under. Zachariah Bell was on a 1762 record of Craven Co., SC, and he bought land in 1769 in Mecklenburg Co., NC. A Genforum posting stated he was in Lancaster Co., SC, of the Camden District, but I'm not sure if that was fact or surmise. Was Zachariah born about 1741 and William H. born about 1756? Or, was there an older Zachariah? There was even a Zachariah Bell who died in 1843 in Hall Co., GA. I don't know if there's a connection. The William Bell who left the "gift of deed" in 1793 Edgefield Co., SC, was obviously the father of William H. and Zachariah and several daughters. So, was he born around 1715 or so, given Zachariah's age? That would make him about 78 in 1793. Similarly, William Bell (presumably this Wm. H.) of 1800 had three boys, one born 1784 (prob. Stephen) and two born 1790-1800 (William Jr. and __?__). But, his boys were gone by 1810. William Bell (Jr.) was up to 26 years old in 1810 and living next door to Barbara Bell. At first, I thought Barbara Bell was William's widow ... maybe still possible if a second wife. But, I noticed a 1787 Edgefield land record which she witnessed under her former name of Barbara Schildknect / Shellknit. That sounds Pennsylvanian, if you will. When the document was finally finalized, it is noted she was now Barbara Bell. I think Stephen was born before 1787 ... 1784 in fact. He was 26-44 in 1810 (with four sons) and -- if he was William's oldest boy -- he was 10-16 in 1800 as well. Stephen's first children were Catherine and Burrell, born in 1802 and 1803 (followed by William in 1805), so 1784 would be about the youngest he could be, practically speaking. Burrell had a son named Stephen born in Conecuh Co., AL, in 1834. I think I am beginning to piece the puzzle together correctly at long last, but if someone else has worked on this group, I would appreciate some help.

I don't know when the Bells of NC and/or New Acquisition SC relocated to Edgefield District, but think that I can identify Barbara Schildknecht Bell. Several Schildknecht households arrived together in Charleston in Jan 1765 with a large group of Palatine immigrants on three ships: the Dragon, the Union and the Planter's Adventure. They were sent to settle the new Londonborough Township (first called Belfast) in SW Edgefield District, and most of them remained in that location. One of the households was that of Georg Schildknecht (b. 15 Oct 1727 in Rottenacker, Donaukreis, Württemberg, and his wife Catharina (b. ~1736). The 350-acre grant says that they arrived with 4 children. There were several young Schieldknights in the group, but no clear way to identify which ones belonged to which household. At any rate, George and Catharina also had several children born in SC. Their son Henry Shelnut (1769-1849) left an Edgefield will signed 10 Feb 1849, recorded 7 Apr 1849. Henry and his wife Mary (reportedly a Bell) had no children. His heirs included his brothers and sisters (or their survivors). One of the heirs was Barbara Bell; Henry Shelnut also left a bequest to his nephew Robert Bell. Since Barbara had the Schildknecht surname in 1787, she was probably his sister, and therefore an SC-born daughter of George and Catherine Schildknecht. Most members of the Schildknecht families and their neighbors of Londonborough and Cuffeetown Creek were active Loyalists who took refuge in Nova Scotia after the war. That had been their intended destination anyway, but the captains landed them at Charleston. The apparent siblings of Henry Shelnut either did not leave SC or else returned there. The family names listed on the will are Peggy Weaver, Betsy Dorris, Barbara Bell, William Shelnut and Andy Shelnut "or the heirs of each of the above named persons." On ages for land transactions, it was more common for a purchaser to be at least age 18, but it was not necessary. Some people made purchases (or received grants) at younger ages. I think that the head-of-household grants awarded to 13-year-old orphan girls (who arrived with that 1765 Palatine expedition) were perhaps a record! ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Ozment" <johnozment@hotmail.com> To: <scedgefi@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 12:59 PM Subject: [SCEDGEFI] 1793 BELL: Gift of Deed > > Does anyone have details about the BELL famiy > mentioned in books 1-12 of land records, namely > William Bell with sons William Harrison and Zachariah? > The land record was actually a "gift of deed" involving > transfer of personal effects to sons and daughters. > > I noticed a couple of land transactions involving brothers > William and Zachariah Bell in 1775 Craven Co., SC. > > I recall that William Bell of the 1800 and 1810 Edgefield Co., > SC, censuses was born 1756 to 1765. Thus, he might not > yet have been 21 years old in 1775 (for a land transaction). > Does his age matter? Would 1756 (age 19) have been good > enough? It makes sense that the family was > located elsewhere before 1785, and the SC population > was largely located along the coast until that time. > > I'm not sure about the William Bell of the 1790 Edgefield Co., SC, > census. There were two men over 16 with none under. > > Zachariah Bell was on a 1762 record of Craven Co., SC, > and he bought land in 1769 in Mecklenburg Co., NC. > A Genforum posting stated he was in Lancaster Co., SC, > of the Camden District, but I'm not sure if that was fact or surmise. > > Was Zachariah born about 1741 and William H. born about 1756? > Or, was there an older Zachariah? There was even a Zachariah Bell > who died in 1843 in Hall Co., GA. I don't know if there's a connection. > > The William Bell who left the "gift of deed" in 1793 Edgefield Co., SC, > was obviously the father of William H. and Zachariah and several > daughters. So, was he born around 1715 or so, given Zachariah's > age? That would make him about 78 in 1793. > > Similarly, William Bell (presumably this Wm. H.) of 1800 had > three boys, one born 1784 (prob. Stephen) and two born 1790-1800 > (William Jr. and __?__). But, his boys were gone by 1810. > > William Bell (Jr.) was up to 26 years old in 1810 and living next door > to Barbara Bell. At first, I thought Barbara Bell was William's widow ... > maybe still possible if a second wife. > > But, I noticed a 1787 Edgefield land record which she witnessed > under her former name of Barbara Schildknect / Shellknit. That > sounds Pennsylvanian, if you will. When the document was > finally finalized, it is noted she was now Barbara Bell. > > I think Stephen was born before 1787 ... 1784 in fact. > He was 26-44 in 1810 (with four sons) and -- if he was > William's oldest boy -- he was 10-16 in 1800 as well. > Stephen's first children were Catherine and Burrell, > born in 1802 and 1803 (followed by William in 1805), > so 1784 would be about the youngest he could be, > practically speaking. Burrell had a son named Stephen > born in Conecuh Co., AL, in 1834. > > I think I am beginning to piece the puzzle together > correctly at long last, but if someone else has worked > on this group, I would appreciate some help.