An Act for the Relief of Mary Bell, John Bell, Joseph Bell, Isaac Bell, Anna Bell, Leonard Bell, and Alexander Bell: WhereasJohn Bell, (negro), late of Dover Hundred Kent County and State of Delaware Departed this life possesed of a clear personal estate amounting to about two thousand Dollars and seized in his demesne as of fee of and in certain Lands and tenements described in a Deed from Ezekiel Lincoln and wife to the said John Bell his heirs and Assigns dated the third day of January in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty seven and recorded in the recorders Office at Dover in Book N, vol 4 folio 40 & 41. And whereas the aforesaid John Bell departed this life intestate and without issue born en lawful wedlock (if his marrige with a certain Mary Anderson was void) or other Kindred capable of taking or inheriting his said personal and real estate as heirs at law and the same has or may by reason of the premises escheat to the state and ?? wholly lost to his family Therefore. Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Delaware in General Assembly mit [?] that all the right title interest claim and demand of the State of Delaware by escheat right of escheat or otherwise of in and to all the personal estate of the aforesaid John Bell deceased ? And the same is hereby givin and Appropriated to Mary Bell with whom the aforesaid John Bell deceased lived and cohabitated as his wife and the children of the said John Bell. To wit John Bell, Joseph Bell, Isaac Bell, Anna Bell, Lena Bell and Alexander Bell in the following proportions that is to say to the said Mary Bell one third part thereof and the Residue equally to the said John Bell, Joseph Bell, Isaac Bell, Anna Bell Lenard Bell and Alexander Bell. Section 2. And be it further enacted that all and singular the right title interest property Claim and demand of the State of Delaware by escheat the right of escheat or otherwise of in and to the lands and tenements mentioned in the preamble to the Act of which the Aforesaid John Bell deceased was seized at the time of his death or to which he was entitled in remainder reversion or otherwise be and the same is hereby given granted to and vested in the ^said children of the said John Bell deceased mentioned in the first section of the act their heirs and assigns forever subject to an estate for her own life in one third part thereof in the aforesaid Mary Bell to whom the aforesaid life estate his hereby given and granted, J.W.F. Jackson, Speaker of the House of Repr’s January 24th 1859 M.R. Carlisle, Speaker of the Senate, Passed at Dover

I do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true Copy of An Act of the General Assembly of the State of Delaware titled an Act for the relief of Mary Bell John Bell Joseph Bell Isaac Bell Anna Bell Lenard Bell and Alexander Bell passed at Dover January 24th 1859, the same having been by me compared with the Original roll on file in my Office. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my Office at Dover this fifth day of February in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine. Edward Ridgely. Sec’y of State.

I received this Instrument to record this eleventh day of February A.D. Eighteen hundred and fifty nine. Geo Ralston Rec.

A true Copy recorded and compared with the Original. Attest Geo Ralston Rec.

“Kent, Delaware, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C37X-F3MF-L?view=explore : Feb 13, 2026), image 247 of 722; .

Image Group Number: 008577818

Transcribed 12 Feb 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky