Washington DC - Genealogy Trails - George Bell Biography

Washington District of Columbia
Biographies

George Bell
1762 -1844
Furnished by : John G. Sharp

George Bell one of the founders of "The Bell School", the first school for African Americans in the District of Columbia.
Introduction: George Bell (1762 -1844)¹ as born enslaved in Virginia; his owner was Anthony Addison a wealthy planter. George Bell married Sophia Browning (1770-1853), a slave of Rachel Pratt who was the mother of the Governor of Maryland, Thomas George Pratt (1804-1869). Very little is know of George Bell's early life or childhood, but he was probably born on the Anthony Addison plantation, not very far from the District of Columbia. We do not know when Bell met Sophia Browning but possibly the two met at a local market or on a visit to one of the nearby plantations. They most likely married, in a slave ceremony, and together the couple had at least seven children² who reached maturity. George and Sophia also may have met African American mathematician and astronomer Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806) when Benneker was with a survey party near their cabin and was measuring the boundaries of the nation's new capitol. George Bell received training as a carpenter, perhaps while growing up on Anthony Addison's estate. It appears that Addison later allowed Bell to work some time on his own as carpenter.³ George Bell continued to work as a carpenter for much of his life. It is unclear where his workshop was located, although most trade's people worked near their homes.⁴ George's wife, Sophia Browning Bell, grew up as slave to Rachel Pratt, and she may have lived on the neighboring plantation for much of her life. Sophia kept a small garden where apparently, with the consent of her owner, she was able to grow produce for her family and more importantly she was able to sell any extra vegetables in the local markets of Alexandria and the District of Columbia. After a time she was able to gather enough money to purchase her husband George's freedom from the Addison's for $400.00. George Bell was later was able to buy Sophia's freedom for $5.00. Sophia Bell's low price, was said to have been based on Sophia being very ill at the time, and Rachel Pratt becoming convinced that Sophia was near death; thus Mrs. Pratt was amenable to grant Sophia her freedom for the nominal sum. Gradually the couple was able to buy freedom for their children,⁵ with the exception of their daughter, Harriet who like her mother was a slave to Rachel Pratt. Mrs.Pratt would not countenance a sale but finally manumitted Harriet in her will some years later. George and Sophia Bell were quickly recognized as leaders in the early African American community of the District. The Bells, like many Black families, were attracted to the Methodist Church and worshiped early on at the Ebenezer Methodist church, on Capitol Hill. The first Methodists were critical of slavery, and as Methodists they held with their founder John Wesley, that there was an essential equality of all believers before God. Over time, however, most white congregants retreated from their earlier egalitarianism and most African Americans resented being confined to the galleries of the church, as they found that the church itself no longer welcoming. It's worth emphasizing that this church segregation process was not unique to Washington, D.C. or to the Methodist Church. Indeed, similar processes were going on throughout most denominations and in most American cities. In the 1820's, George and Sophia Bell along with other Black parishioners, decided the time was right for them to move to another church of their own. As a result, they helped found the Israel Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. In addition to their striving for equality within the church, the Bells were much concerned with education. In 1807, George Bell, Nicholas Franklin and Moses Liverpool announced they were starting a school for Black children. The school which became known as "the Bell school," was the first in the District of Columbia open to free Black children. Bell, Franklin, and Liverpool were most likely illiterate,⁶ yet each knew from their own personal experience how important education was to attaining equality and economic prosperity. George and Sophia Bell are said to have been the school's principal financial supporters. At the time, Nicholas Franklin and Moses Liverpool⁷ worked as ship caulkers at the Washington Navy Yard. The school was led by a white teacher, Mr. Lowe. The Bell School survived for just a few years due to lack of steady funding and the fact that in 1807, the District of Columbia's "free colored" population consisted of only 494 individuals. Thus the small student base probably doomed their venture from the start. Still the Bell family and Sophia Bell's remarkable sister, Alethea Browning Tanner, combined with other daring members of the community and made another try in 1818 with the Resolute Beneficial Society School.⁸ In their announcement for the new school, the sponsors made considerable efforts to placate white fears of the Black population learning to read and write. The sponsors also made clear their policy of never assisting slaves to write any type of communication less they be implicated in assisting slaves to evade capture by forging travel passes and like documents. The Resolute Beneficial Society School eventually succumbed to the shear realities of a segregated society. The District's Black population never gave up and their support efforts along with sympathetic white support, continued to open private schools for black children. By 1840 George and Sophia Bell were most likely semi-retired. They are both enumerated on the 1840 Census for the District of Columbia⁹ as "Free colored Persons". George Bell is listed as over 55 (he was then about 78 years of age). Sophia is also listed as over 55 years of age (she was about 70 years of age). With the couple are two others: one male under ten and one female age 10-24 years; most likely their grandchildren. Living near them is their son, Enoch Bell, and his family. As reflected in his will, George Bell, was able to accumulate property and had some saving to pass on to his wife and children. By the time of his death in 1844, George Bell, could look back on a life filled with achievements and hard work. He and his beloved wife Sophia had managed to obtain, by their long labors and perseverance, and in spite of all obstacles, not only their own freedom, but they had also purchased the manumission of their children and grandchildren. George and Sophia Bell had also in their long and productive lives helped the larger community by sponsoring the first two schools for Black children in the District of Columbia and by their financial support had made it possible for many hundreds of young people to gain access to education. Finally, George and Sophia Bell had contributed and promoted the new African American Methodist Episcopal Church as a place of refuge and dignity for their community. Their impressive legacy was truly "a goodly heritage." All these were honored in their generations, and were the Glory of their times." Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 44: 1 - 15

George Bell
one of the founders of
"The Bell School",
the first school for African Americans in the District of Columbia.

Introduction:
George Bell (1762 -1844)¹ as born enslaved in Virginia; his owner was Anthony Addison a wealthy planter. George Bell married Sophia Browning (1770-1853), a slave of Rachel Pratt who was the mother of the Governor of Maryland, Thomas George Pratt (1804-1869). Very little is know of George Bell's early life or childhood, but he was probably born on the Anthony Addison plantation, not very far from the District of Columbia. We do not know when Bell met Sophia Browning but possibly the two met at a local market or on a visit to one of the nearby plantations. They most likely married, in a slave ceremony, and together the couple had at least seven children² who reached maturity. George and Sophia also may have met African American mathematician and astronomer Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806) when Benneker was with a survey party near their cabin and was measuring the boundaries of the nation's new capitol.

George Bell received training as a carpenter, perhaps while growing up on Anthony Addison's estate. It appears that Addison later allowed Bell to work some time on his own as carpenter.³ George Bell continued to work as a carpenter for much of his life. It is unclear where his workshop was located, although most trade's people worked near their homes.⁴

George's wife, Sophia Browning Bell, grew up as slave to Rachel Pratt, and she may have lived on the neighboring plantation for much of her life. Sophia kept a small garden where apparently, with the consent of her owner, she was able to grow produce for her family and more importantly she was able to sell any extra vegetables in the local markets of Alexandria and the District of Columbia. After a time she was able to gather enough money to purchase her husband George's freedom from the Addison's for $400.00. George Bell was later was able to buy Sophia's freedom for $5.00. Sophia Bell's low price, was said to have been based on Sophia being very ill at the time, and Rachel Pratt becoming convinced that Sophia was near death; thus Mrs. Pratt was amenable to grant Sophia her freedom for the nominal sum. Gradually the couple was able to buy freedom for their children,⁵ with the exception of their daughter, Harriet who like her mother was a slave to Rachel Pratt. Mrs.Pratt would not countenance a sale but finally manumitted Harriet in her will some years later.

George and Sophia Bell were quickly recognized as leaders in the early African American community of the District. The Bells, like many Black families, were attracted to the Methodist Church and worshiped early on at the Ebenezer Methodist church, on Capitol Hill. The first Methodists were critical of slavery, and as Methodists they held with their founder John Wesley, that there was an essential equality of all believers before God. Over time, however, most white congregants retreated from their earlier egalitarianism and most African Americans resented being confined to the galleries of the church, as they found that the church itself no longer welcoming. It's worth emphasizing that this church segregation process was not unique to Washington, D.C. or to the Methodist Church. Indeed, similar processes were going on throughout most denominations and in most American cities. In the 1820's, George and Sophia Bell along with other Black parishioners, decided the time was right for them to move to another church of their own. As a result, they helped found the Israel Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

In addition to their striving for equality within the church, the Bells were much concerned with education. In 1807, George Bell, Nicholas Franklin and Moses Liverpool announced they were starting a school for Black children. The school which became known as "the Bell school," was the first in the District of Columbia open to free Black children. Bell, Franklin, and Liverpool were most likely illiterate,⁶ yet each knew from their own personal experience how important education was to attaining equality and economic prosperity. George and Sophia Bell are said to have been the school's principal financial supporters. At the time, Nicholas Franklin and Moses Liverpool⁷ worked as ship caulkers at the Washington Navy Yard. The school was led by a white teacher, Mr. Lowe.

The Bell School survived for just a few years due to lack of steady funding and the fact that in 1807, the District of Columbia's "free colored" population consisted of only 494 individuals. Thus the small student base probably doomed their venture from the start. Still the Bell family and Sophia Bell's remarkable sister, Alethea Browning Tanner, combined with other daring members of the community and made another try in 1818 with the Resolute Beneficial Society School.⁸

In their announcement for the new school, the sponsors made considerable efforts to placate white fears of the Black population learning to read and write. The sponsors also made clear their policy of never assisting slaves to write any type of communication less they be implicated in assisting slaves to evade capture by forging travel passes and like documents. The Resolute Beneficial Society School eventually succumbed to the shear realities of a segregated society. The District's Black population never gave up and their support efforts along with sympathetic white support, continued to open private schools for black children.

By 1840 George and Sophia Bell were most likely semi-retired. They are both enumerated on the 1840 Census for the District of Columbia⁹ as "Free colored Persons". George Bell is listed as over 55 (he was then about 78 years of age). Sophia is also listed as over 55 years of age (she was about 70 years of age). With the couple are two others: one male under ten and one female age 10-24 years; most likely their grandchildren. Living near them is their son, Enoch Bell, and his family.

As reflected in his will, George Bell, was able to accumulate property and had some saving to pass on to his wife and children. By the time of his death in 1844, George Bell, could look back on a life filled with achievements and hard work. He and his beloved wife Sophia had managed to obtain, by their long labors and perseverance, and in spite of all obstacles, not only their own freedom, but they had also purchased the manumission of their children and grandchildren. George and Sophia Bell had also in their long and productive lives helped the larger community by sponsoring the first two schools for Black children in the District of Columbia and by their financial support had made it possible for many hundreds of young people to gain access to education. Finally, George and Sophia Bell had contributed and promoted the new African American Methodist Episcopal Church as a place of refuge and dignity for their community. Their impressive legacy was truly "a goodly heritage."

All these were honored in their generations,
and were the Glory of their times." Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 44: 1 - 15

National Intelligencer
August 29, 1818

A School

Founded by an association of free people of color called the "Resolute Beneficial Society" situated near Eastern Public School and dwelling of Mrs. Fenwick is now open for the reception of free people of color and others that ladies or gentlemen may think proper to be instructed in reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar or other branches of education apposite to their capacity, by a steady active and experienced teacher, whose attention is wholly devoted to the purpose described.
It is perceived that free colored families will embrace the advantages there presented to them, either by subscribing to the funds of the society or by sending their children to the school.

An improvement of the intellect and morality of colored youth being the objective of this institution; the patronage of benevolent ladies and gentlemen by donation or subscription is humbly solicited in aid of the fund thereon being heavy and the means at present much too limited for the satisfaction of the public the constitution and the articles of the association are printed and published. And to avoid disagreeable occurrences no writing are to be done by a teacher for a slave, neither directly nor indirectly to serve the purpose of slave on any account whatsoever. Further particulars may be known by applying to any of the undersigned officers.

WILLIAM COSTIN, President 		          ARCHIBALD JOHNSON, Marshall 
GEORGE HICKS,¹⁰  Vice President 	           FRED LEWIS,¹¹  Chairman of the Committee
JAMES HARRIS, Secretary          	          ISAAC JOHNSON } Committee
GEORGE BELL, Treasurer	        	          SCIPIO BEANS¹² } Committee

N.B. An Evening school will commence on the premises the first Monday in October and throughout the season.

The managers of the Sunday Schools in the eastern district are thus most dutifully informed that a Sabbath day the school-house belonging to the society will be uniformly at their service.

August 29th

Transcription
This transcription was made from a copy of the holographic manuscript of the Last Will and Testament of George Bell, 1845 Box 17, filed in the District of Columbia Orphan's Court (Probate Court). and the original article that appeared in the August 29, 1818 edition of the National Intelligencer The spelling, punctuation and the use of ampersands are those of the original documents. My thanks to Mr. Ali Rahmann Archivist, District of Columbia Archives, for generously providing a copy of the George Bell last will and testament for transcription John G. Sharp July 27, 2008

[Last Will & Testament of George Bell (abt. 1762-1844)]
In the name of God Amen I George Bell of the City of Washington in the District of Columbia being weak of body but of Sound and disposing mind memory and understanding Considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs and thereby be better prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to take me hence Do therefore make and publish this my last will and testament in Manner and form following / First and principally commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body to the Earth to be decently buried Item I give and bequeath to my wife Sophia during her natural life my frame house and lot situated on square numbered Seven hundred and ninety nine ( 799) lot eighteen ( 18) in the City of Washington and after her death I give and bequeath said house and lot to my daughter Margaret Lee Item I give and bequeath to my my daughter Harriet and her children the house in which I now live and thirty three front feet of the lot on which the house stands running back that middle the full depth of the lot it being the south part of lot ten ( 10) in the square eight hundred and forty five ( 845) and fronting on sixth street East Item I give and bequeath to my son Enoch the North part of said lot ten in Square eight hundred and forty five ( 845) fronting thirty one feet three inches on Sixth Street East Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Betsey Simms wife of Basil Sims and her children half of the lot three and improvements thereon in Square Seven Hundred and thirty four( 734) Item I give and bequeath to my son Lloyd his choice of the two houses on Square number seven hundred and ninety seven with the ground attached to the same the other house and ground attached to the same to be sold after my death by executors hereinafter named and the proceeds after paying the cost and expenses of sale to be appropriated to the payment of my debts funeral expenses and the legacies hereinafter mentioned and should there be a balance remaining in the hand of executors the balance to be paid over to my wife Sophia Item I give and bequeath a legacy of five dollars each to the following named Grand Children Mary Jane Mary James and Marcellinus Children of my Son James Bell deceased which legacy shall be paid to them respectively at my death by my executors Item my personal property I give and bequeath to my wife Sophia and Lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint Basil Simms¹³ and Frances Datcher¹⁴ to be the executors of this my last will and testament hereby ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament revoking all others by me heretofore made and confirming this In testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty four Witnesses as to George Bell¹⁵ James Marshall his J. Carberry¹⁶ George X Bell {SEAL} James A. Gordon mark Signed sealed and delivered and declared by George Bell the above testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto James Marshall J. Carberry James A. Gordon District of Columbia Orphans Court Washington County to wit : } January 21, 1845 this day appeared James Marshall & James Carberry the subscribing witnesses to the forgoing last will & testament of George Bell late of Washington County aforesaid deceased - & Severally made oath on the Holy evangels of almighty God that they did see the Testator therein named Sign & Seal his will ( by making his mark thereto) that he published pronounced & declared the said will to be his last will & testament that in so doing he was to their apprehensions of sound & disposing mind memory & understanding that they together with James A. Gordon the other subscriber witnessed respectively subscribing their names as witnesses to this will in the presence & at the request of the Testator & in the presence of each other- Ed N. Roach I have examined the Will of George Bell. It is clearly good description of real Estate and description of several pieces of property in respective courses appears to me quite sufficient If Lloyd Bell has by any art or declaration made his choice under the desire to him, the authority of the Executors to sell the other cannot be questioned - Having sold they must apply the proceeds of sale first ot payment of his funeral expenses; the residue they must retain until the period has elapsed where there are to make a distribution. They must then pay his debts, and the legacies left in his will, and the balance they must pay over to his widow. All the personal estate having been left by the will to the widow, will carry with it bills, debts, notes and everything else - After having paid the debts and legacies they should take from the widow a release and that will enable them to close their account - They are entitled to commission on the sales of the real estate, and on the full amount of the personal both property and notes and for this purpose they should be able to satisfy the Court on the sum total. Jos Bradley 21 Oct 1845

[Last Will & Testament of George Bell (abt. 1762-1844)]

In the name of God Amen
I George Bell of the City of Washington in the District of Columbia being weak of body but of Sound and disposing mind memory and understanding Considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs and thereby be better prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to take me hence Do therefore make and publish this my last will and testament in Manner and form following / First and principally commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body to the Earth to be decently buried Item I give and bequeath to my wife Sophia during her natural life my frame house and lot situated on square numbered Seven hundred and ninety nine ( 799) lot eighteen ( 18) in the City of Washington and after her death I give and bequeath said house and lot to my daughter Margaret Lee Item I give and bequeath to my my daughter Harriet and her children the house in which I now live and thirty three front feet of the lot on which the house stands running back that middle the full depth of the lot it being the south part of lot ten ( 10) in the square eight hundred and forty five ( 845) and fronting on sixth street East Item I give and bequeath to my son Enoch the North part of said lot ten in Square eight hundred and forty five ( 845) fronting thirty one feet three inches on Sixth Street East Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Betsey Simms wife of Basil Sims and her children half of the lot three and improvements thereon in Square Seven Hundred and thirty four( 734) Item I give and bequeath to my son Lloyd his choice of the two houses on Square number seven hundred and ninety seven with the ground attached to the same the other house and ground attached to the same to be sold after my death by executors hereinafter named and the proceeds after paying the cost and expenses of sale to be appropriated to the payment of my debts funeral expenses and the legacies hereinafter mentioned and should there be a balance remaining in the hand of executors the balance to be paid over to my wife Sophia Item I give and bequeath a legacy of five dollars each to the following named Grand Children Mary Jane Mary James and Marcellinus Children of my Son James Bell deceased which legacy shall be paid to them respectively at my death by my executors Item my personal property I give and bequeath to my wife Sophia and Lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint Basil Simms¹³ and Frances Datcher¹⁴ to be the executors of this my last will and testament hereby ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament revoking all others by me heretofore made and confirming this

In testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty four
Witnesses as to George Bell¹⁵

James Marshall 					      his 
J. Carberry¹⁶  					George X  Bell  {SEAL}
James A. Gordon 				      mark

Signed sealed and delivered and declared by George Bell the above testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto

							James Marshall   
							J. Carberry
							James A. Gordon

District of Columbia Orphans Court Washington County to wit : } January 21, 1845 this day appeared James Marshall & James Carberry the subscribing witnesses to the forgoing last will & testament of George Bell late of Washington County aforesaid deceased - & Severally made oath on the Holy evangels of almighty God that they did see the Testator therein named Sign & Seal his will ( by making his mark thereto) that he published pronounced & declared the said will to be his last will & testament that in so doing he was to their apprehensions of sound & disposing mind memory & understanding that they together with James A. Gordon the other subscriber witnessed respectively subscribing their names as witnesses to this will in the presence & at the request of the Testator & in the presence of each other-

						Ed N. Roach

I have examined the Will of George Bell. It is clearly good description of real Estate and description of several pieces of property in respective courses appears to me quite sufficient

If Lloyd Bell has by any art or declaration made his choice under the desire to him, the authority of the Executors to sell the other cannot be questioned -

Having sold they must apply the proceeds of sale first ot payment of his funeral expenses; the residue they must retain until the period has elapsed where there are to make a distribution. They must then pay his debts, and the legacies left in his will, and the balance they must pay over to his widow.

All the personal estate having been left by the will to the widow, will carry with it bills, debts, notes and everything else -

After having paid the debts and legacies they should take from the widow a release and that will enable them to close their account -

They are entitled to commission on the sales of the real estate, and on the full amount of the personal both property and notes and for this purpose they should be able to satisfy the Court on the sum total.

				Jos Bradley 
					21 Oct 1845

See also : Biography and Last Wiil & Testament of Sophia Browning Bell

Endnotes

¹ Much of the above information regarding George Bell, Sophia Browning Bell and their remarkable family is derived from District of Columbia, Department of Education, Special Report of the Commissioner of Education on the Condition of Public Schools in the District of Columbia, submitted to the Senate, June 6, 1868, and to the House, with Additions June 13, 1870. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1870,
See pages 195 - 198. The Special Report published in 1870 is notable for its candor and that individuals who knew the Bell and Browning families apparently provided much of the information used in this report. The last wills and testaments of both George Bell and Sophia Browning Bell are also useful as they contain valuable insights into the Bell family's economic situation and are also useful l to establish the number and names of their surviving children and grandchildren. Their wills were filed in the District of Columbia Orphans Court (Probate Court) see Bell, George1845 Box 17, and Bell, Sophia 1853 box 22.

² The surviving children are: Lloyd, Rachel Ann, Enoch, Margaret, Harriet Betsey and James. James Bell apparently died young and his parents George and Sophia took a special interest in his children. The names of the children are derived from the last wills and testaments of George and Sophia Bell and the District of Columbia Free Negro Registers 1821 -1861 volumes 1 & 2 by Dorothy S. Provine, Heritage Books, Bowie, Maryland 1996. See in particular Volume 1 page 204 and Volume 2, pages 65-66

³ See the Diary of Michael Shiner
for further information on how African Americans were able to earn their freedom "working out" in the District of Columbia during the years prior to the Civil War.

⁴ George Bell is sometimes referred to with Nicholas Franklin and Moses Liverpool as working for the Navy Yard as a caulker, yet there is no documentation to support this, it is unlikely that he ever worked at the Yard as a carpenter since blacks were confined, almost exclusively, to the caulking and blacksmithing trades. Bell though may well have worked as caulker at the Yard, since all labors and mechanics at WNY were per diem labor. Here and at Ebenezer Methodist Church he may have come into contact with Nicolas Franklin and Moses Liverpool.

George Bell is listed as "(col'd man) carpenter, 6e btw D and Es" in The Washington Directory 1822 by Judah Delano publisher William Duncan, Company Washington DC.

⁵ Two of the Bell son's ran away from their owner Rachel Pratt, yet George and Sophia Bell, were somehow able to purchase their son "running" that is to buy the young men free prior to their capture by the sheriff or slave catcher from the Pratt family. The National Intelligencer for June 19, 1809 contains the reward notice for James Bell (also Jim Beall)

"Ranaway -Jim, mulatto lad; his father lives in Washington City near the Navy Yard by the name of George Beall, who served his time with Mr. John Addison jr & a Mother , Sophy, who I sold to her husband a few years past they have relatives in Baltimore.
Rachel Pratt, Prince Georges County Maryland"

⁶ For more on Nicholas Franklin and Moses Liverpool were both ship caulkers, working a hard and demanding trade at the Washington Navy Yard but paid the same rate as their white counterparts $1,75 per day see
1808 Reduction in Force - Washington Navy Yard

⁷ Moses Liverpool a caulker was active in the Black community and was one of the sponsors of the Bell School. An Apprentice Indenture of Moses Liverpool's apprentice Thomas Dunlop is at:
Apprentice Indenture of Thomas Dunlop

⁸ The National Intelligencer article, of August 29 1818, regarding the Resolute Beneficial Society School, reflects that some white families within the District of Columbia looked favorably on the school. This period of good will lasted to the Nat Turner rebellion after which restrictions on the movement of the District's Black population grew ever more restrictive.

⁹ The 1840 U.S. Census for the District of Columbia page 130.

¹⁰ George Hicks owned four lots in the District of Columbia and paid taxes on each. Free Negroes In the District of Columbia 1790-1846, by Letitia Woods Brown , Oxford University Press, New York 1972 p.153. George Hicks was also active in the Methodist Church and helped other Black pay for their manumission see Woods p. 117.

¹¹ This is probably Frederick Lewis, listed in the 1822 Washington Directory as "Lewis, Frederick, (col'd man) ass't messenger navy dept."

¹² Scipio Beans is listed in the 1822 Washington Directory as "Beans, Scipio, (col'd man) carpenter , s side As btw 1 and 2e Cap Hill"
Frances Datcher, is listed in the 1822 Washington Directory as "Datcher, Francis, ( col'd man) messenger, In btw 15 & 16 w" Francis Datcher owned four lots in the District of Columbia and paid property substantial taxes. See, Free Negroes In the District of Columbia 1790-1846, by Letitia Woods Brown , Oxford University Press, New York 1972 p.152 .

¹³ Basil Simms operated a rope walk on First Street near Pennsylvania Ave. George Bell most likely knew Basil Simms through their attendance at the Ebenezer Methodist see Special Report 1870 page 219.

¹⁴ George Hicks left the Ebenezer Church the same time as George and Sophia Bell Special Report 1870 page 219.

¹⁵ The exact date of George Bell's death is unclear but his death must have been sometime after his will was signed on 29 October 1844 and before the beginning of will probate proceedings on 21 January 1845.

¹⁶ James Carberry, Inspector of Timber, Washington Navy Yard was the brother of Thomas Carberry (1791-1863), Mayor of Washington DC 1822-1824. In 1844 Thomas Carberry was made Justice of the Peace for Washington County.

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