Stephen Bell probably was born during the mid eighteenth century.

By 1775, he had married Albany native Elizabeth Kidney. Their sons were baptized in the Albany Dutch church in 1776 and 1781.

During the War for Independence, he served as the jailer in Albany - tending to prisoners of war under orders from the Albany Committee and the Commissioners for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies. From 1777 to the end of the war, his name frequently appeared in the records and accounts of both wartime organizations. Afterwards, he was accorded a land bounty right in conjunction with the first militia regiment.

In 1790, his houseold included several children and was listed on the Watervliet portion of the first Federal census. In 1800, the Watervliet census configured his household with only a man and a woman each over forty-five years of age.

In 1801 and 1802, his widow was receiving poor relief. She died in 1828!

Sources: The life of Stephen Bell is CAP biography number 950. This sketch is derived chiefly from community-based resources. Perhaps he was the son of "public whipper" John Bell! We seek defining information on his origins.