Charity Bell
.
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- Name
- Charity Bell
- Birth name
- Charity Lawrence
- Born
- 30 April 1799
Beaver County, Pennsylvania
- Residence
- Millbrook, Ohio, Chatham, Warren, Wooster
- Denomination
- Baptist Obituary
- Died
- 2 December 1868
Chatham, Ohio
- Resting
- Chatham, Ohio
- Partners
- John M. Stout (b.1805–d.1870)
1846–1868 - Simeon Bell (b.1794–d.1833)
1817–1833
- Children
- Minerva Bell (b.1818–d.1860)
- Cordelia Bell (b.1826–d.1916)
- Clarissa C. Bell (b.1831–d.1919)
- Harriet Bell (b.1833)
Spelling Variations
no spelling variations found.
Surnames
Lawrence (maiden name), Bell
Given Names or Nicknames
none
Biographical Sketches
Charity Bell, born on April 30th, 1799 in Beaver County, PA- is one of the very few known female abolitionists in Wayne County whose name has been in the spotlight. She actively participated in the Underground Railroad with her male counterparts, and is one of the commonly known names of Millbrook abolitionists.
Background
Charity Bell's family had migrated to Ohio in the early 1800's. She resided in Wooster for a while, before marrying Simeon Bell in 1817 and moving to Millbrook, Wayne County. After her husband's death in 1833, she was reportedly the owner of the Bell farm. She was widowed at the time when she was a conductor for the Underground Railroad, and played a huge role in the operation in association with the Battles family and others.
Abolitionism
Charity Bell played an integral part in helping fugitives escape through the Shreve-Millbrook route. Her house was used as a station where fugitives were sheltered and fed. The article written by Dr. W. S. Battles on recalling an experience in the 1840's, mentions Bell's name.[1] Not knowing what to do with the sudden arrival of a fugitive family, the first place the Battles family thought of as a reliable shelter was the Bell farm. Even though Charity Bell was not able to shelter them as two US marshals were visiting the farm at that time, there is a clear sense of sincerity and willingness in her words to help with the operation. Her sincerity placed her amongst the well-known abolitionists in the Shreve-Millbrook route, mentioned by several other authors later on as well.
There are advertisements by Isaiah Choate, Bell's son in-law (guardian at that time), of selling the Bell farm in 1843. Since that farmhouse was used as a station, it is uncertain what happened after it was sold.[2] As she got married to John M. Stout and might have moved out of Millbrook in 1846- this leads to the assumption that Bell might have changed the station location to decrease suspicion, and eventually stopped participating completely after she moved to Medina.
Family
- Spouse
- Simeon Bell (1794 - 25 Jul 1833)
- John M. Stout (1805-1870)
- Children
- Minerva Bell Choate (15 Jul 1918 - 14 Jan 1860))
- Cordelia Bell Hatch (3 Jul 1826 - 6 Oct 1916)
- Clarissa C. Bell Dix (7 Jan 1831 - 19 Oct 1919)
- Harriet E. Bell Harris (3 Apr 1833 - after 1878)
- Relatives
- Isaiah M. Choate (April 25th, 1811- April 15th, 1873): son in-law/ guardian
- Isaiah M. Choate (April 25th, 1811- April 15th, 1873): son in-law/ guardian
Vital Records
Birth
April 30th, 1799- Beaver County, Pennsylvania
Marriage
Simeon Bell (1817-1833)
John M. Stout (Jan 22nd, 1846- Dec 2nd, 1868)[3]
Death
Dec 2nd, 1868- Chatham, Medina County, OH[4]
Burial
Chatham Cemetery
Census Records
- Simeon Bell - 1820 US Census Wooster Township, Wayne County, Ohio
- Assumption that Charity and one daughter are residing in household
- Simeon Bell - 1830 US Census Wooster Township, Wayne County, Ohio
- Assumption that Charity, one son, and four daughters are residing in household; 2 known daughters may be Minerva and Cordelia
- Charity Bell - 1840 US Census Wooster Township, Wayne County, Ohio
- Assumption that five daughters are residing with their mother, Charity: Harriet, Clarissa, Cordelia, and Minerva. The name of the 5th daughter is unknown. The one son who was born between 1821 and 1825 is not residing in the household. He may be deceased or living elsewhere. His name is not known.
Places of Residence
- Beaver County, PA
- Warren, Trumbull County, OH
- Wooster, Wayne County, OH
- Millbrook, Wayne County, OH
- Chatham, Medina County, OH
Immigration and Naturalization Records
not applicable.
Court Records
- Guardianship for minor children of Simeon Bell
- Lunacy for Harriet Bell Harris, widow of Elias Harris [12]
Tax Records
unknown
Land Records
unknown
Denomination Affiliations
1st Baptist Church.
Military
none
Occupations
none
Community Involvement
Abolitionist
Educational Services
- unknown
Awards and Recognition
- unknown
Notes
N/A
References
What Links Here
- ↑ Battles, Dr. W. S. "An Interesting Story of the Time When Men Risked Everything for their Liberty" Wooster Weekly Republican April 15, 1886. Wayne County, OH- African American Underground Railroad Lateral Files
- ↑ "Public Sale", Wooster Democrat July 13, 1843. Wayne County, OH- African American Underground Railroad Lateral Files
- ↑ https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/903138273:61378?tid=&pid=&queryId=acaccc653f647b4692249f8bd876900a&_phsrc=kYD57&_phstart=successSource
- ↑ https://search.ancestrylibrary.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=1671&h=513247&tid=&pid=&queryId=acaccc653f647b4692249f8bd876900a&usePUB=true&_phsrc=kYD58&_phstart=successSource&_gl=1*512lp3*_ga*MTgyNTkwMTI5NS4xNjU5MDI2MTc1*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*MTY2MDA2MTg2MC4xNy4xLjE2NjAwNjIwNTMuMA..
- ↑ Wayne County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas Journal 6, Page 468
- ↑ Wayne County, Ohio Probate Court File #B155
- ↑ Wayne County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas Journal 10, Page 477
- ↑ Wayne County, Ohio Probate Court File #B155
- ↑ Wayne County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas Journal 10, Page 477
- ↑ Wayne County, Ohio Probate Court File #B155 and #B179
- ↑ Wayne County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas Journal 10, Page 477 and Journal 14, Page 309
- ↑ Wayne County, Ohio Probate Court File #4431