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16. Hugh Bell & 17. Martha Watt
1/10/1798, Hugh’s mother died in SC.
1800, No.32:(S) 1800 Census, Fairfield Distr., SC. Hugh m:10<16 .="" o:p="">
By 1814, Hugh married Martha.
1820, (S) 1820 Census, SC, Fairfield Dist., with 2
sons and 2 daughters.
9/3/1825, Hugh’s father died in SC.
1830, (S) 1830 Census, SC, Fairfield Dist. He lives
next to David Montgomery34vi.
1/19/1832, Hugh’s father’s estate settlement audited
in SC. Hugh’s brother Charles was one of the two executors. Hugh dispersed
“164.33:6” (pounds?) from his father’s estate. (S) Original Document.
1/26/1835, Hugh Bell cited in the final accounting of
his father’s will filed by Charles Bell, esq.
1840, (S) 1840 Census, SC, Fairfield Dist. Jane and
husband Wm may be the older children.
11/6/1842, Hugh Bell, William Watt and James
McCreight signed a Petition for the Poor of Fairfield County, SC.
(S) 1843 SC Census, Fairfield Co., Hugh Bell.
1844, They moved to MS. [See births of last 2
children in family.]
1845, Hugh with a household of 3 males and 4 females
lives in Pontotoc County, MS. (S) Pontotoc County Census.
1846, Hugh Bell listed on the Oktibbeha County, MS
tax roll. (S) Oktibbeha County Tax Roll.
7/30/1847, “my daughter Martha Bell wife of Hugh
Bell” named in the will of her father William Watt.
By 1851, Hugh took in a border, William W. Goyen, who
teaches school, and will eventually marry his daughter Sarah.
7/13/1851, Martha’s father died.
7/29/1851, William Goyen writes a letter to his
sister Elvira, “I am now boarding at the house of Mr. Bell, the father of the
beautiful Miss Bell I alluded to some time since. I intend to make a speech to
Miss Bell in good ernest soon.”
10/1851, Hugh Bell named in the accounting of the
estate of William Watt in SC.
3/6/1852, Hugh and Martha mentioned in a letter from
their daughter Nancy to their daughter Isabelle, living in Texas.
8/3/1852, Hugh and Martha mentioned in a letter from
their daughter Susannah to her sister Isabelle Wiseman in Texas.
12/22/1855, From Starkville, Hugh wrote a letter to
his daughter Elizabeth who was in Texas, “Dear Daughter, With grief and sorrow
… poor Susanna’s death. … It was her request that her friends not grieve …
Nancy’s health has improved some … Margaret’s health is very delicate … My
health and your mother’s is about the same … Yours as ever. Hugh Bell.”
5/3/1857, Letter from Starkville by F.A. Ware to
Elizabeth in TX, “… Mr. Bell has been at the door of the grave but is
recovering.”
1857, “Hugh Bell” is listed as an Elder from North MS
in Minutes of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United
States of America, P15.
11/26/1860, Hugh and Martha wrote to Elizabeth in
Texas, “My Dear Daughter … your father is enjoying good health …
Preserved letters: (S) Harry Ransom Humanities Research
Center, The University of Texas at Austin, William Goyen, 1915-1983, Papers.
Children of Hugh and Martha:
i. William
Bell, born 1814 in Fairfield Dist., SC.
1820, William living with his parents. (S) 1820
Census, Farfield Distr., SC.
William married Margaret M.
1844, William remained in SC when the family moved to
MS.
11/28/1853, Letter of William from Fairfield County,
SC, “To Mr. William Wisemann, Dear Brother, … hear that you were well and well
pleased with Texas. … Margaret is very uneasy … children … we have had six born
and only three living … The two youngest – sons. … Hugh … Thomas Edward …”
1881, William died.
ii. Elizabeth Jane
Bell, born 1818 in SC.
1820, Jane living with here parents. (S) 1820 Census,
Farfield Distr., SC.
No.16:(S) 1850 Census.
Jane married Frank Asberry Ware, born 9/28/1811 in
SC.
3/6/1852, See letter of sister Nancy.
3/18/1854, In a letter from Jane’s sister Susannah to
her sister Isabelle in Texas, “… Jane is in the family way also, that is sister
Jane.”
1897, Both Frank and Jane died; buried in Odd Fellows
Cemetery, Starkville, MS.
iii. Nancy
Rebecca Bell, born 1819 in Fairfield Dist., SC.
1820, Nancy living with her parents. (S) 1820 Census,
Farfield Distr., SC.
~1840, Nancy married Wm C McDowell, born 7/30/1814 in
Ireland .
9/13/1847, Wm died; buried in the ARP Church Cem., Starkville , MS
10/29/1850, Hugh is guardian of her children. (S)
1850 census.
3/6/1852, From Starkville, Oktibbeha County, MS,
Nancy B. McDowell writes to her sister Isabelle Wiseman in Texas. “Dear Sister,
I received you kind letter … sorry to know you sufferred so much when you were
confined. We are all well at present but Susannah. She has a rising under her
arm. … Elizabeth is not well. … Jane … has a fine son … weighed 12 pounds …
Nancy Watt … Her proberty divided … Mother is very mch about you … Your father
and mother brothers-and sisters their love …”
12/22/1855, From Starkville, Hugh wrote a letter to
his daughter Elizabeth who was in Texas, “Dear Daughter, With grief and sorrow
… poor Susanna’s death. … Nancy’s health has improved some …”
7/23/1856, Nancy died; buried in ARP Cemetery,
Starkville, MS.
Children:
Martha Jane McDowell, born 2/27/1842 in Fairfield Dist., SC. (S) 1850
Census.
(S) 1880 Census, MS, Clay Co. Farmers, they have 7
children living at home.
Agnes Dorothy McDowell, born 1843 in SC. (S) 1850, 1860 Census.
(S) 1880 Census, MS, OktCo., Starkville . Wm a dry goods merchant; 3
Children.
Elizabeth McDowell, born 1845 in MS. (S) 1850, 1860 Census.
(S) 1870 Census, MS, OktCo., Starkville . “Guion” has a personal estate of
$1000. They have twin sons 8 months old, and an 11 year old slave.
iv. James Watt
Bell, born 1820 in Fairfield Dist., SC.
1820, James living with his parents. (S) 1820 Census,
Farfield Distr., SC.
3/4/1865, From Starkville, a letter of James W. Bell
to his sister Elizabeth Bell Wiseman, “Dear Sister, … I have no doubt you have
heard how father made his will. He left everything to John, Mary, Sarah and
myself. … We have all agreed to make an equal division at mother’s death but
some of them are not willing for that. … They are all mad at poor mother who
had nothing to do with it … I have been attending the place ever since the war
… If they free the negroes there will not be much left as the land is John’s. …
I have been four trips to the war but ninety days is the longest time …”
1877, James died.
v. Isabelle
(Elizabeth) Bell, born 1823 in Fairfield Dist., SC.
Isabelle married William R. Wiseman.
They moved to Texas.
3/6/1852, Isabelle sent a letter from her sister
Nancy. (S) See Nancy.
8/3/1852, Isabelle sent a letter from her sister
Susannah. (S) See Susannah.
vi. John Thomas
Bell (No. 8), born 1828 in SC.
vii. Sarah Martha
Bell, born 1829 in SC.
No.16:(S) 1850 Census.
By 9/9/1851, Sarah married William Goyen.
9/9/1851, Letter of William Goyen, “I am boarding at
Mr. Bell’s and have been since married. You requested me to give you a
description of my better half. She is of medium size, dark hair, black eyes,
and indescribably hansome. She has sweet, mild amiable disposition.”
9/9/1852, Letter of William Goyen, “Dear Cousin … I
have been sick … I can rely to nurse … my sweet and darling wife. Sarah is well
except a bad cold. …”
3/18/1854, In a letter from her sister Susannah to
their sister Elizabeth, “Sarah’s child can nearly walk. She is the crankiest
child I ever saw.”
1864, William joined the confederate army as a member
of Duff’s Regiment, Company K.
5/9/1864, Near Verona, William wrote a letter to his
daughters (which was found on his body after he died in battle.) “Dear Little
Girls … Goodbye my dear little “Bettie” (Martha Elizabeth) and Anna Mae.
6/7/1864, Near New Albany, William wrote a letter to
his wife (which was found on his body after he died in battle.) “My Dear Wife …
We have been on the March two days to meet the enemy. They are at Ripley, and
we expect to fight them today or tomorrow …
6/10/1864, William died as a confederate soldier at
the battle of Brice’s Crossroads.
No.16:(S)1870 Census. A widow, living with her
mother, Sarah “Gayens” has a real estate valued at $1000.
Children by William Goyen:
Martha Elizabeth “Lizzie” Goyen, born 1856 in MS. (S) 1860,
1870 Census.
Anna Mae Goyen, born 1858 in MS. (S) 1860, 1870
Census.
John Bell Goyen, born 1861 in MS. (S) 1870 Census.
[John Bell had a William Leslie Goyen, who had a son John Randle Goyen Sr., who
had a son John Randle Goyen Jr., who had a son Doug Goyen – the source of the
documentation about Martha Watt Bell.]
William Goyen, born 1862 in MS. (S) 1870 Census.
viii. J. G. Bell, born 1830 in Fairfield Dist., SC.
3/18/1854, Letter of J. G. Bell from Starkville, MS,
to William R. Wiseman in Texas, “Dear Brother, … I am well .. no news worth
writing … We received a letter from brother William a few days ago … I must
close as Susana wants to write a few lines to Lizy.”
ix. Mary Elizabeth
Bell, born 10/3/1831 in SC.
No.16:(S) 1850 Census.
Mary married Archibald Miller.
8/3/1852, Mary named in a letter of her sister
Susannah, and identified as having a baby.
3/18/1854, Mary has two children, as given in a
letter from sister Susannah to sister Elizabeth.
10/4/1864, Mary died. 9/13/1864, “… Aunt Mary Miller … died from the
effect of measles. She left five children the younges nearly two year old.” –
letter of Hugh Bell Ware to Mrs. E. I. Wiseman; buried in ARP Cem., Starkville , MS
v. Henrietta Susannah
Bell, born 4/27/1834
in SC.
No.16:(S) 1850 Census.
8/3/1852, Susannah wroter a letter to her sister
Elizabeth Wiseman in Texas. “Dear Sister, … The same fever that uncle James
Watt died with the people are all dying with. Aunt Jane Bell lost both her
daughters. … Aunt Nancy Watt and Billie are both dead. … Mary was up last week
aweaving a piece of cloth. Her baby can walk. … I guess you hear Sarah is
married … But if I don’t marry … Mother thinks the time long to see you. Pappy
says that he will write … John says … H. S. Bell.”
3/18/1854, Letter of J. G. Bell to William R. Wiseman
in Texas, continued by his sister Susannah to her sister Elizabeth, “Dear
Sister, Ma has a very good garden. … Mary has two fine children … Sarah’s child
can nearly walk …”
