Figure of the Week

William Bell (1771-1855) is believed to have been the son of one of the John Bells of Stafford.  He married Elizabeth Ratliff (1775-1847) of Stafford and was very involved in county affairs.  He resided on a farm on the northern edge of Falmouth.  In that town he operated a tavern from at least 1807-1827.  William was the first known tax collector for Falmouth, serving as such in 1811 and 1812  He was also an inspector of tobacco at Dixon’s Warehouse in Falmouth from at least 1830 until 1834 or 1835.  William served as Assistant to the Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia and, as such, certified the county censuses of 1820, 1830, and 1840.  In 1800 he was captain of the Falmouth Company, 2nd Battalion, 45th Regiment of Virginia Militia.  William and his family lived in the Falmouth area until around 1845 when they removed to Montgomery, Alabama.