Onesimus Bell (1738 - 1826)

Born 12 Jun 1738 in Southold, Suffolk, New York Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Anna (Cossart) Bell — married 14 Jun 1759 in New Jersey

Husband of Eleanor (Blachley) Bell — married 1813 in Washington, Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died 18 Apr 1826 at age 87 in Morgan Township, Greene, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Oneximus BELL is said to be a son of John BELL who, on 2 Dec 1732, witnessed the will of John COLVER, Sr. (1640-1733) of "Black River", Hunterdon County (now Morris Co.), New Jersey. John COLVER, Sr. was an early leader of the Colverites (aka Shakers) a branch of the Rogerenes a religious sect founded in 1674 by John Rogers (1648–1721) of New London, Connecticut. "Rogers was influenced by the Seventh Day Baptists and the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and opposed the established Puritan church in New Enland. Rogerenes initially held to a Seventh Day (Saturday) Sabbath, but over the years began to regard each day as equally holy. Their disdain for Sunday worship often brought them into sharp conflict with their neighbors. Increasingly they adopted a Pacifist stance, including war tax resistance, which further brought them the ridicule of the larger community. Some of the Rogerenes left Connecticut and migrated to New Jersey settling in parts of present-day Morris County. One such group settled in what is now the Landing section of Roxbury Township, New Jersey near Lake Rogerine, then known as Mountain Pond in about 1700. Another smaller group of Rogerenes in about 1734 settled on the eastern side of Schooley's Mountain near present-day Hackettstown, New Jersey." The BELLS and related families of LAWRENCE, COSSART (COSAD) and DRAKE may have come under the influence of the Colverites. See: Chambers, Theodore Frelinghuysen, THE EARLY GERMANS of NEW JERSEY, pp.201,261. also FAG #50563381

Onesimus (BELL) married first, 14 June 1759, in New Jersey to Anna (COSART) KEARNZ, born 21 Nov 1734, New Jersey, daughter of Jacob and Anna (COX) COSSART and widow of unknown KEARNZ. .^[1]

The will of John BELL of "Roxbury" dated 22 Jan 1778 and probated 6 Jan 1780 named brother Onesimus, otherwise known as Simeon, friend Aaron STARK, and three sons and one daughter, none of whom were 21 years of age. See Theodore Frelinghuysen Chambers, THE EARLY GERMANS OF NEW JERSEY, pp.261, During the American Revolution, Onesimus BELL served as a quartermaster at Morristown, N.Jersey. Certificate of Service No.1296 dated 27 Oct 1780, Adjutant General, Trenton, NJ; Daughters of the American Revolution ROSTER OF REVOLUTIONARY ANCESTORS OF THE INDIANA D.A.R. (1976), v.I,p.46; D.A.R. Natl #364896; ROSTER OF REVOLUTIONARY ANCESTORS OF THE INDIANA D.A.R. (1976), v.I,p.46; S.A.R. Natl. #101319 supplemental; Onesimus BELL married second, late in life, to Eleanor "Nellie" BLATCHLEY. The will of Onesimus BELL was dated, 4 January 1819, at Morgan township, Green County, Pennsylvania, and probated, 17 July 1826. He "old and infirm" mentions or provides for (in order given): Five children of son Joseph, deceased, $500 in a year; Children of son Nathaniel, deceased, as they come of age; Son Simeon; Children of daughter, Elizabeth CASE, deceased; Grandson, Samuel CASE; Children of daughter, Sarah DRAKE, deceased; Son Jacob.... & for his 2d son Simeon or Onesimus; Son Aaron....his daughter Eliner; Daughter Anna LAWRENCE; Daughter Phebe BLATCHLY; Children of son, John, deceased; "...wife that is deceased...;" "...wife that is now..." Son Aaron and grandson Daniel were named administrators, and were to see to the gravestone of Onesimus BELL's (first) wife, "the mother of the forgoing children." Witnesses were Samuel LAUSE and Daniel HEATON (or EATON). Burial: Cox Cemetery, Clarksville, Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage: "U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900," Source number 3607.000, Source type Electronic Database, Number of Pages 1, Submitter Code JJ2, Ancestry Record 7836 #90326, Onesimus Bell marriage to Anna Cosad in 1759 in NJ.
2. ↑ [[1]]

• Source: Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 18 August 2018), memorial page for Onesimus “Simeon” Bell (12 Jun 1738–18 Apr 1826), Find A Grave Memorial no. 137040136, citing Cox Cemetery, Clarksville, Greene County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by William DeCoursey (contributor 46613311) .