Susannah Bell Dinsmore
(1761-1807)
Susannah Bell was born in Derry, New Hampshire, to John and Mary Ann Bell. Although she was one of twelve children, only four of the Bells lived to produce offspring. Her brothers, John and Samuel, became involved in state politics and served as governors of New Hampshire. Samuel also went on to serve in the U.S. Senate as an Anti-Jackson Whig. His son, Dr. John Bell was one of James Dinsmore’s closest friends until he died in Louisiana in 1830. Susannah married John Dinsmore and moved to Windham. She gave birth to three sons and five daughters. While all of the sons survived to adulthood, one of her daughters died in infancy and two others died the same day in 1812, perhaps of spotted fever. Susannah died in 1807 from consumption (now known as tuberculosis). The same disease killed her son, Silas, Jr., her brother, Samuel, and her nephew, Dr. John Bell. The Bell family believed they were peculiarly susceptible to consumption.