My most distant known ancestor is John Bell who was the father of Andrew Bell. This is based on the Birth Brief given in 1637 in Danzig where this Andrew gives as his father John who was dead at that time already and as his mother Catherine Blair.

This Andrew moved from Scotland to Danzig and had to obtain this Birth Brief when he arrived (it was like a passport today). I have been able to establish from sources in Scotland that John Bell owned at some time a 1/6th of a place called Balmyle in Coupar Angus but sold it very early maybe before 1612. In this birth brief Andrew Bell is given as Andrew Bell of Balmyle so the link there should be basically confirmed. We also know that a Thomas Bell bought this 1/6 of Balmyle originally around 1560 but if he was a grandfather or great grandfather or how he was related to this Andrew Bell is not known. There are known Bells in that area since 15th century but if the are related or how, so far nothing has been confirmed. Some we know by name.

We do not know when John Bell was born or when he died. From Andrew onwards there is a direct link to myself. Of course, you can never be sure, but I know every great great great... grandfather by name since this Andrew. Andrew died in 1682. When he was born, we have not been able to find that out. Guesswork places his birth year sometime around 1610.