Bell

Submitted by edpope on

30.11.1793 at Wrights / 3.2.1794 Mackintosh's (with miss Christie) / 16.2.1794 there (with miss C) / 28.2.1794 at his (with Mackintosh, & miss Christie) / 14.3.1794 Godwin calls on / 1.2.1795 at Foulkes' / 23.11.1795 at Perry's / 30.12.1795 at Newton's (with Christie) / 14.1.1796 there (with Mrs Christie) / 19.2.1796 at Carr's / 5.11.1796 adv at theatre / 10.1.1797 at Carr's / 14.3.1798 on Bath coach 13.12.1799 Dr Bell calls / 19.7.1800 (in Ireland) Dr Bell at Lefanus / 27.9.1804 Bell at H Rowan's (with Curran) / 20.1.1806 4 Bells at Rowan's / 4.3.1806 Bells at Rowans / 20.10.1809  Bell at Curran's / 21.11.1809 Godwin calls on / 16.10.1813 at Curran's / 17.1.1815 Thos Bell at Court of Aldermen / 11.3.1827 miss Bell at Rowbotham's

Maybe John Bell DNB 1745-1831 printer & bookseller, in Strand 1772-83, published Oracle from 1784 (James Mackintosh was foreign editor), published World 1787-9, libel on Foot Guards 7.1.1792, bankrupt 1793, certificate 1797.

Maybe Hugh Bell born Dublin 1750? 1761? son of Alexander & Margaret Bell, merchant in London dissolved partnership with Archibald Redfoord 1782, married 1.11.1782 at Bermondsey Bethia dau of Robert Bell of Blackheath (he d.1806), merchant of Winchester St bankrupt 1783, children Willam born 1786 / Robert / Amelia bapt 1790 of Lambs Conduit St / Louisa bapt 1791 / Henrietta bapt 1793 / Anna Maria bapt 1795 of Putney / Hamilton Arthur bapt 1801. Hugh Bell of 40 Charterhouse Sq arrested on suspicion of high treason 7.3.1798 and discharged same day. Along with George Smith (qv) he went £2500 bail for Roger O'Connor 24.1.1801. At the Old Bailey 3.5.1802 he was one of the friends (along with Mr Higginson, Mr Frederic O'Connor and the Marquis of Thomond) of James Townsend to swear to his insanity as defence against a capital charge of fraud. Moved to Aldersgate St 1804. He died 10.3.1815 Merton, Devon, his will PCC 1815 mentioned wife Bethia, dau Anna Maria, sons Robert and William merchants, nephew Edward Bell, partner Joseph Higginson and friend Johnson Lawson of Coleman St merchant. See Courtenay, Philip who married Bell's daughter Louisa in 1812 and for Bell's inclusion in the list of friends in the will of John Warner, Philip Courtenay's natural or adoptive father.

Dr Bell 13.12.1799 was mentioned as the bearer of the letter to Godwin from James Ballantyne (Bodleian Abinger c5 f11-12) and as an admirer of Godwin, about to set out with the Jamaica fleet. Since Ballantyne's letter was dated 14.11.1799 Kelso, this may have been James Bell, physician to Kelso Dispensary who wrote a gynaecological paper in Medical Facts 1800 but i've found no reference to his appointment to the Navy or his subsequent fate. The Dr Bell in Dublin was quite likely another person, there were Drs Thomas Bell senior and junior in Ireland at the time, among others.

Work notes
Thomas Bell Esq & Thomas Bell jr Esq, Friends to the People 11.4.1792. / Thomas Bell, Broad St Hill, governor of Aldersgate ST dispensary for poor 1792. / Thomas Bell merchant Dean St Soho voted Fox & Tooke 1796 / Signed declaration of Friends to Liberty of Press 1792 James Bell, Robert Bell / Robert Bell 10.1.1793 delegate from 1st Div of London Corresp. Socy to general committee / Robert Bell baker King St Soho voted Tooke 1796 / Boyle's 1792 Rev Dr Bell Deans yard, Westmr, Bell Esq 59 Lambs Conduit St, John Bell Esq 20 Fludyer St

It's probably all available from Ancestry Library edition, and Gale Databases' British Newspapers 1600-1900, mostly by searching on the name Hugh Bell. I'll have a look at my notes and reply further if I find anything useful. Oh yes and London Lives which is free online