Carey and Nancy Bell
Information comes from census, cemetery and marriage records, and Nancy Bell's slave narrative taken in 1923.
Carey Bell was born in 1832 in Danville, Boyle Co. Ky. the son of Joshua Bell. His wife Nancy was born in May 1835 also in Danville Ky. They were enslaved to the Charles Henderson family. Henderson emancipated them and encouraged them to go back to Africa. He paid for their way to go. So 1854 they were part of the movement to move to Liberia in Africa where they expected to be free. In Nancy's slave narrative, she spoke of the sailing to Africa and how difficult it was. They were only there for two years.
Nancy Bell's Narrative of her Life
They returned to Newport, Kentucky, before the birth of their first daughter.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 2 December 1865, page 2
Newport News-A Severe Accident
"A negro man named Carey Bell, in the employment of Dr. Shaler, was thrown by a horse yesterday, and one of his legs subsequently broken by the animal kicking it."
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 April 1870, page 7
NEWPORT
FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT CELEBRATION-At a meeting of the colored people of Newport, held Tuesday night at the Court house, for the purpose of making arrangements to participate in the jubilee on the 14th inst. Cary Bell and Washington Rippleton were appointed as Marshals for that occasion and H S Lyon and O W Root speakers.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 March 1873
NEWPORT
CAREY BELL, the colored candidate for Market master at the last election, did not receive the united support of his race, only 8 votes out of 50 usually polled by the colored men being given for him. Two white men voted for him.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 May 1875, page 7
NEWPORT
The market house is repairing, the roof looking considerably variegated already. Mr. Cary B Bell, the colored artist in whitewash, has the contract for improving the interior.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 June 1875, page 7
The United Brethren, colored, held an installation on Friday night, the newly elected officers being Charles Johnson, President, and George Wallace, Secretary. After the ceremonies the brethren and sisters, too, adjourned to the dwelling of Cary Bell, where they were entertained. The colored school will give an exhibition two nights a week.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 October 1876, page 7
CARY BELL is soliciting aid from our citizens to enable him to purchase a leg, the old one being entirely worn out and unfit for service. He says the cost of a good leg is from seventy-five to one hundred dollars.
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Children of Carey and Nancy Bell
1. Mary Bell b-1857 in Newport Ky. d-6
May 1887 in Newport; br-8 May in Evergreen Cemetery
2. Bettie E Bell b-July 1859 in Newport Ky. m-Jackson L Emory 28 Mar 1881
in Newport; d-15 Dec 1937 in Cincinnati.
3. James W Bell b-20 Nov 1862 in Newport Ky. d-2 Mar 1922 at 130 Southgate in
Newport; br-6 Mar in Evergreen; m-Matilda Berry 30 Aug 1894 in Newport; d/o Sam
& Sally Berry of Maysville Ky.
4. Clara Bell b-1864 in Newport;
5. Daughter Bell b-June 1866 in Newport; d-2 July 1966 in Newport; br-2 July in
Newport Cemetery
6. Frank Bell b-1867 in Newport; d-28 Dec 1892 in Newport; br-29 Dec in
Evergreen
7. Peter Bell b-Oct 1873 in Newport;
8. Carey Bell b-1874 in Newport; d-4 June 1909 at 120 Southgate St in Newport;
br-7 June in Newport Cemetery in Southgate. He was a steamboat man.
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Children of Bettie E Bell and Jackson L Emory
1. Ida Emory b-June 1882 in Newport. m-Fred
Douglas Bell 23 Aug 1900 in Cincinnati.
2. Bettie Emory d-18 Mar 1893 in Newport; br-19 Mar 1893 in Evergreen
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Carey Bell died 8 May 1884 in Newport and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery. Nancy Bell died 14 July 1932 in Cincinnati and was buried 18 July in Evergreen.