Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Bell, John Gray
BELL, JOHN GRAY (1823–1866), bookseller, was the son of Thomas Bell, d., 1860 [q. v.], house agent and surveyor of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He was born at Newcastle 21 Sept. 1823, and married, in 1847, Dorothy Taylor of North Shields. In 1848 he went to London, and began business as a bookseller. He removed to Manchester in 1854, where he successfully followed his trade during the remainder of his life. He died there 21 Feb. 1866, aged 43. Bell was an earnest student of antiquarian literature, collected topographical books and prints, and issued many interesting trade catalogues. In 1850 he commenced the publication of a valuable series of 'Tracts on the Topography, History. Dialects, &c., of the Counties of Great Britain,' of which about sixteen came out, including original glossaries of Essex, Gloucestershire, Dorset, Cumberland, Berkshire. In 1851 he published ' A Descriptive and Critical Catalogue of Works, illustrated by Thomas and John Bell.' This was compiled by himself. Another of his works was a genealogy of the Bell and other families, printed for private circulation in 1866, and entitled 'A Genealogical Account of the Descendants of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster,' &c.
[Notes and Queries, 6th ser. vi. 611, vii. 78; Bell's Descendants of John of Gaunt, 1866.]