Before I go to a lot of work, would anyone be interested in an abstract of all the Bells from the Wayne County Tax List? The tax lists are one of the greatest tools we have besides the census. It will give names that the early census records do not give. Some times a man was in and out of the county between the census years and was never recorded any other place that he made a visit to Wayne County, probably passing through or checking it over.

I see the first Bell in Wayne County was William Bell, dated 12 July 1806; 1 male over age 21; 3 horses. By 1807, he had 100 acres on Otter Creek entered by John Brock and patented to Charles Grey. In 1807, William was joined by Francis Bell over 21; no horse and no land. James Bell was added in 1808, living in Elk Spring Valley (married that year to Peggy Troxell); 1808, Silas Bell was on Meadow Creek. Later on, taxes included number of cattle, hogs, carriages, children in house, etc. The cattle list is always important along with the horses. After following a man for years with a few cattle or horses, and suddenly he has more, you can just about bet he may be purchasing oxen, getting ready to leave the county. Many left when the Louisana Territory opened up; gold was found in California and even before that when pioneers began the treks to Oregon Territory. The tax list extends through 1870. The book would be about 100 pages. Because of the constant duplication of names, i.e., William, James Silas, Francis, etc., I will not index the book. /June Bork