My family were the Bells of Woolsington Hall and I have got a far back as Matthew Bell who bought Woolsington Hall - b1677-d 1748 who married Anne (or Jane) Salkeld in 1701 (she was born 1673 and d 1732) but cant find any sign of their parents.
Matthew Bell was of Mersington Berwickshire Scotland and a merchant draper in Newcastle. Ann daughter of Thomas Salkeld of the Side in Newcastle was his second wife, the first being Frances Johnson Jamison or Jennison widow. Their son Matthew was apprenticed initially to Thomas Salkeld Boothman of Newcastle, so probably this was Ann's father. This from the Victoria County History
John Bell probably son of James Bell of Bottle Barns gent, was Sheriff of Newcastle in 1702 Same coat of arms as Bell of Woolsington. Apprenticed Mercer 1/4/1670, adm to Eastland Co 2/12/1682, adm Hostman 19/7/1687, buried St John's June 1716
The Will of Thomas Salkeld, Merchant of Newcastle Upon Tyne dated 6th July 1727 & proved in 1727 is in Durham University Archives
The Will states Thomas Salkeld was of Darras
Francis Salkeld (brother) & Matthew Bell (son in law) where made executors and after settling all debts the estate was to be divided between them. Henry Salkeld eldest son of Francis was left a £50 legacy.
other names mentioned in Will
Ralph Gibson £11/6 Wm Blackett Mabol Coxon - Three silver potts & two silver salt shakers Mr John Shaw Mr Henry Waugh Mr John Brown
Witnesses - Matt Bell, Grace Hindmarsh & Jno Brown
In a later Will for Henry Salkeld, Pewterer of St Nicholas, Newcastle Upon Tyne dated 13 December 1749
Henry Salkeld asks his good friend Matthew Bell to look after the interests of his wife & daughter
Thank you all for your replies - thats loads of interesting information!!! - I only started researching after my grandmother died and found loads of notes my great grandmother had made - everything else I got from the internet or when I joined Ancestory (which has now lapsed) so its great to get some more snippets from the past.
If you want a few more. There were two Thomas Salkelds admitted as freemen in Newcastle; Thos Salkeld son of Thos Salkeld of Newcastle tailor apprentice to Joseph Partis merchant or boothman 10/1/1693 admitted 30/8/1702 Thomas Salkeld son of Samuel Salkeld of Falloden gent apprentice to Thos Askill merchant 28/11/1689 Admitted 5/5/1699. The Salkelds were an old gentry family. Falloden later became the home of Lord Grey the reformer. Bottle Barns is Bothal Barns near Morpeth. Darras is Darras Hall now an exclusive housing estate NW of Newcastle not far from Woolsington