Special Collections Research Center
spcoll@wm.eduCarter Harris, Ellen Strong, updated after processing by Matt Anthony.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Preferred Citation:
Charles H. Bell Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information:
Gift
Processing Information:
Minimally processed by Carter Harris and Ellen Strong in 1985. Fully processed Matt Anthony in 2015.
Administrative History:
Charles Heyer Bell was an officer in the United States Navy, who served from 1812-1868. He was born in New York on August 13, 1798. Bell began his naval career as a midshipman under Stephen Decatur during the War of 1812. He also served under Decatur during the Second Barbary War, in 1815. In 1820, Bell commanded a ship involved with the suppression of piracy in the West Indies. His ship capsized in a storm, and he clung to wreckage for 21 hours before being rescued.
During the early 1840s Bell, who held outspoken antislavery views, commanded the brig Dolphin to assist the suppression of the African slave trade, which had been outlawed in 1808. Bell also co-authored a report on the illegal slave trade in West Africa which influenced the antislavery provisions of the 1842 Webster-Ashburton Treaty between the United States and Great Britain. He was given command of the second U.S.S. Constellation in 1855 and led the ship on a three year cruise with the Mediterranean Squadron. Bell was in command of the Mediterranean Squadron when the Civil War broke out, but was transferred to the Pacific Squadron during the war. In 1865, Bell was placed in command of the New York (Brooklyn) Navy Yard, a position which he held for three years. He was promoted to rear admiral on the retired list in 1866, and died in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 1875.
Bell was married to Elisa Smith Swartwout (1799-1890), with whom he had four children: Charles, Henrietta, Frances, and William. Bell also served as the executor for the estate of Samuel Swartwout, Elisa's uncle. In his early life, Swartwout had been involved with Aaron Burr's conspiracies in the West. He later became a fervent supporter of Andrew Jackson, and was appointed the Collector of Customs for the Port of New York by Jackson in 1829. Swartwout was notorious for allegations that he had embezzled over $1,000,000 from the federal government during his tenure as Collector of Customs. He died in 1856.
Bell's daughter, Henrietta, was married to Israel Smith. She died in 1860, and Smith remarried Rebecca Mintern, with whom he had four children: Alice, Eliza, Edith, and Margaret. Israel Smith served as the executor for Charles Bell's estate. Smith died in 1879 in Williamsburg, VA.
Material referenced from The Civil War Naval Encyclopedia, Volume One , edited by Spencer Tucker & William E. White, and Voyage to a Thousand Cares: Master's Mate Lawrence with the African Squadron, 1844-1846, by John C. Lawrence.
Scope and Contents
The collection includes the correspondence, certificates, photographs, accounts, and journals of Rear Admiral Charles H. Bell. Naval journals cover Bell's service in the Mediterranean Sea from 1855-1858. The photographs are a mix of personal and souvenirs, which largely depict men and women from Peru. There is also material related to his role as executor for the estate of Samuel Swartwout. The collection also includes papers related to the Smith family, particularly Bell's executor and son-in-law, Israel Smith, Jr. Of particular note is a broadside of Thomas Jefferson's first inaugural address (given on March 4, 1801) printed on silk by W. Pechin Print.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Correspondence
- Diaries
- Legal documents
- Notebooks
- Photographs
- Scrapbooks
- Smith, Israel, Jr
- Swartout, Samuel, 1804-1867
- United States. Navy--History--19th century
- Williamsburg (Va.)--History--19th century
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Bell, Charles Heyer, 1798-1875
- Smith, Israel, Jr
- Swartout, Samuel, 1804-1867
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Williamsburg (Va.)--History--19th century
Container List
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 1 id264055
Record of births, marriages, and deaths of members of the Bell Family1772-1852Scope and Contents
Record of births, marriages, and deaths of members of the Bell family, 1772-1852, on pages of the New Testament. Including AN, notes on birth dates of children, 1794-1810.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 2 id264060
Military Papers1812-1819
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 3 id264065
Financial Papers1852-1862Scope and Contents
The folder's contents are the following items:
1852 March 20. Mortgage with "The Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company", Essex County, N.J. for $2,000 taken out by Charles H. Bell and Eliza S. Bell.
1857. Tax statement for Orange N.J. for Charles H. Bell for 1856.
1862 July 17-1864 September 15. Account of Charles H. Bell with Robert C. Rogers, the balance being $5,497.00.
1862 December 19. Receipt for two cases of Sonoma champagne by "my friend [Robert C.] Rogers, San Francisco", California.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 4 id264070
Correspondence1797; 1841; 1852-1864Scope and Contents
Folder contents are:
1797 June 11. Alexander Ewing, Charleston, S.C., to Andrew Bell, Merchant, Maiden Lane, New York.
1841 January 5. James Kirke Paulding, U.S. Navy Department, to Commander Charles H. Bell, Commanding U.S. Brig. Dolphin, Coast of Africa.
1852 March 23. James Wilson, Clerk, New Jersey Supreme Court, certifying that he has found no judgement in the court against Charles H. Bell. Includes deeds dated 1814 May 5 and 1851 March 24 pertaining to a parcel of land in Orange, N.J., as well as a mortgage dated 1851 March 24, and a statement by John R. Weeks dated 1852 March 19.
1855 February 22. James Cochran Dobbin, Navy Department, to Captain Charles H. Bell, U.S. Navy, New York. Encloses commission of Bell as Captain in the Navy.
1861 October 21. Albert Barnes, Philadelphia, to Charles H. Bell.
1863 March 27. William Fason, Navy Department, to Commodore Charles H. Bell, U.S. Navy, Panama.
1864 February 2. Donohoe, Kelly, and Co., San Francisco, California, to Admiral Charles H. Bell, Commandant's Office, Navy Yard, New York.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 5 id264075
Estate of Samuel Swartwout1867-1869
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 6 id264080
Estate of Samuel Swartwout1874 April - December
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 7 id264085
Estate of Samuel Swartwout1875 October - November
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 8 id264090
Backing and several pages of notebook belonging to Charles H. Bell25 April [18]20Scope and Contents
Backing and several pages of a notebook belonging to Charles H. Bell, "presented by his young friend Augi van Amringer, N[ew] York, 25th April [18]20." 1p. MsV.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 9 id264095
Commonplace book of Margaret Smith1829-1833Scope and Contents
Commonplace book of Margaret Smith, [Albany, N.Y.], containing poems and essays by her and her friends. 45pp. MsV.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 10 id264100
"Gems of Sacred Poetry" belonging to Henrietta Smith1845Scope and Contents
Gems of Sacred Poetry, published by Saxton and Kelt, N.Y., 1845, given to Henrietta Smith Bell [by] her affectionate sister Fannie. 128pp. PV.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 11 id264105
Memorandum book of Charles H. Bell1847-1850Scope and Contents
Memorandum book of Charles H. Bell, including notes on ships, officers and workmen, and articles left in store at the [illegible] Navy Yard, 14 June 1850. 33pp. MsV
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 12 id264110
Private journal of Charles H. Bell11 July 1855 - 30 January 1857Scope and Contents
Private journal of Charles H. Bell, Captain of the U.S.S. Constellation, describing vessel and navigations conditions, sightseeing and conditions ashore, and desertions and court martial on his ship and others as the vessel sailed from Norfolk, Va. to and around the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. Included on the itinerary were the Azores, Gibraltar, [La] Spezia, Messina, Mahon, Genoe, Marseilles, Cadiz, Malaga, Palma, Piraeus, Athens, Constantinople, Smyrna, Alexandria, Cairo, and Geezah. 226pp. MsV.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 1 id264010
Private journal of Charles H. Bell10 January 1857 - 29 June 1858Scope and Contents
Private journal of Charles H. Bell, Captain of the U.S.S. Constellation, describing navigation conditions, sightseeing, and conditions ashore as the vessel sailed around the Mediterranean Sea. Included on the itinerary were Alexandria, Messina, [La] Spezia, Carthage, Tunis, Mahon, Algiers, Lisbon, Cadiz, Tangier, Malaga, Cartagena, Barcelona, Marseilles, Toulon, Genoa, Naples, Caserta, Palermo, Elba, Pianosa, [unintelligible], Corsica, Gorgona, and Genoa. 143pp. MsV.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 2 id264015
Daily Pocket Diary used as a memorandum by Charles H. Bell1859-1860Scope and Contents
Daily Pocket Diary, 1859, used as a memorandum by Charles H. Bell, including list of commissioned and warrant officers and others attached to the Gosport Naval Station at Norfolk, Va., 1859; notes on the deaths of his three children, 1860; and a list of birth and death dates of Bell and Smith relatives.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 3 id264020
Memorandum book1866-1874Scope and Contents
Memorandum book containing statement of account with R.C. Rogers, San Fancisco, Calif.; list of registered bonds; estate of Samuel Swartwouth (1874), 14pp. MsV.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 4 id264025
Memorandum book1873-1877Scope and Contents
Memorandum book containing private account of Israel Smith, 1873; Accounts of Charles H. Bell with National Bank of New Jersey, 1875-1877. 13 pp. MsV.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 5 id264030
Estate of Charles H. Bellcirca 1870-1899
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 6 id264035
Bound volume8 October 1883Scope and Contents
Notebook containing "Notes on English Literature" by Edith M. Smith. 137pp. MsV.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 7 id264040
Smith Family Papers1900-1929Scope and Contents
Israel Smith was married to Charles Bell's daughter, Henrietta, who died in 1860. Smith also served as Bell's executor.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 8 id264045
Notebook containing depictions of British naval signalsundatedScope and Contents
Notebook containing watercolor paintings of British naval flags and descriptions which include the appropriate salute due each flag, with W[illia]m D. Bell's name inside the front cover. 16 pp. MsV.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 9 id264050
EphemeraundatedScope and Contents
Newspaper clipping of an article copied from the Hartford Times discussing the status of the U.S. Navy under Secretary [Isaac] Toucey; German language card for the word "Fisch;" Advertisement for B.A. Fahnestock's Vermifuge for sale by H.T. Jones, Williamsburg, Va.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 10 id265505
Postcard scrapbookundatedScope and Contents
Scrapbook containing postcards of scenes in Frances, Italy, and England as well as photographs of French kings and queens, and a program of the "Celebration at Jamestown, 13 May 1897," directed to Ms. R[ebecca] M[intern] Smith, Williamsburg, Va., in an envelope with a view of the college yard. 70pp. MsV.
- Mixed Materials Oversize_Box: 3 Oversize Folder: 1 id265370
Certificates1840-1863
- Mixed Materials Oversize_Box: 3 Oversize Folder: 1 id265140
Certificate of Appointment as a Commander in the U.S. Navy24 September 1840Scope and Contents
Certificate of appointment of Charles H. Bell as a commander in the U.S. Navy. Signed by Martin Van Buren, President of the United States and [James] K[irke} Paulding, Secretary of the Navy.
- Mixed Materials Oversize_Box: 3 Oversize Folder: 1 id265385
Certificate of Appointment as Commander in the U.S. Navy5 January 1841Scope and Contents
Certificate of appointment of Charles H. Bell as Commander in the United States Navy. Signed by Martin Van Buren, President of the United States and J[ames] K[irke] Paulding, Secretary of the Navy.
- Mixed Materials Oversize_Box: 3 Oversize Folder: 1 id265395
List of Promotions and Appointments13 September 1841Scope and Contents
Army and Navy Chronicle Extra. List of Promotions and Appointments.
- Mixed Materials Oversize_Box: 3 Oversize Folder: 1 id265390
Diploma from U.S. Naval Lyceum1 June 1848Scope and Contents
Diploma of charles H. Bell from U.S. Naval Lyceum, certifying his election as a Resident Member.
- Mixed Materials Oversize_Box: 3 Oversize Folder: 1 id265375
Certificate of Appointment as a Captain in the U.S. Navy16 February 1855Scope and Contents
Certificate of appointment of Charles H. Bell as a Captain in the U.S. Navy. Signed by Franklin Pierce, President of the United States and J[ames] C[ochran] Dobbin, Secretary of the Navy.
- Mixed Materials Oversize_Box: 3 Oversize Folder: 1 id265135
Certificate of Appointment as Commodore in the U.S. Navy21 February 1863Scope and Contents
Certificate of appointment of Charles H. Bell as a Commodore in the U.S. Navy, on the retired list. Signed by Abraham Lincoln and Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy.
- Mixed Materials Oversize_Box: 3 Oversize Folder: 1 id265140
- Mixed Materials Oversize_Box: 3 Oversize Folder: 2 id265400
Silk Broadside of Thomas Jefferson Inaugural Speech[1801]Scope and Contents
Speech of Thomas Jefferson, delivered at his Inauguration, March 4, 1801. Printed as a broadside on silk by W[illiam] Pechin, Print., [Baltimore, MD.], 12.5" x 14.75" Image is available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/scrc/4679704532/
Contains 82 photographic prints from the mid- to late-nineteenth century. Most of the prints comprise pages disbound from an album. Photographs are a mix of personal portraits and souvenir photographs, mainly from Peru. Included are photographs of African-Americans, South American indigenous peoples, and women wearing indigenous clothing and veils. Also included are photographs of men in military unifrom, including a group of African-American soldiers, and engravings of ships. People identified in photographs include: Mrs. Mendes; Mrs. Jerningham; Mrs. Roborg; Mrs. Morales; Mrs. Valdivillo; Capt. Bloomfield; [Fernando] Bolivar, nephew of Gen. [Simon] Bolivar; Mrs. Ortiz; Mr. and Mrs. McKeller; Gen. Castilla of Peru; Mrs. Sartorious; Mrs. G. Low; and Governor [Frederick Ferdinand] Low. Other identifiable photographs are of [Bassett Hall, Williamsburg, VA]; the ship U.S.S. Idaho; a caricature entitled "The Reliable Gentleman" and [Lake Toxaway, NC].