Author: BELL, John
Biography:
BELL, John (1758-1833: findmypast.com)
He was born in London, most probably the son of Margaret and John Bell who was baptised in Holborn on 14 May 1758. He went up to St. John’s, Oxford, in 1776, aged 18 (BA 1780, MA by decree 1784, BD 1789, DD 1797). Ordained deacon in 1780 and priest in 1782, he did not immediately undertake parish duties but remained at the college as a Fellow. For reasons unknown he travelled in Portugal with a companion in 1787 and again in 1793. Fugitive Pieces: written in Foreign Parts (1795) consists of 36 pages of travel diaries followed by occasional poems in various forms (ode, sonnet, etc.) including one translated from Italian and others composed in Latin and French. Bell's authorship is confirmed by a letter sent with a copy of the book to the Rev. John Natt of St. John's in 1822, apologising for the long delay in its delivery. Bell's first pastoral appointment was as vicar of Kirtlington, Oxfordshire (1801-3). From there he went to Bainton in the East Riding of Yorkshire (1803-33). Marriage was commonly a reason for giving up fellowships, but his name is so common that it is not possible to find a marriage record; there are no baptisms of children of John Bell at Bainton during his tenure, but he might have had children baptised at the larger church at Driffield, nearby. His only other known publication was Lectures on the Church Catechism (1805), written for his parishioners. In 1828 Bell subscribed to Thomas E. Abbott’s (q.v.) poem The Soldier’s Friend. He died at Bainton on 24 Mar. 1833 and was buried there on 29 May. (findmypast.com 27 Apr. 2025; Morning Post 29 Mar. 1833; Alumni Oxonienses; CCEd 27 Apr. 2025; Victoria College Library PR 4099 B166) HJ