![]() |
Per A. Godejord |
My name is Per Arne Godejord, and I was the appointed Clan Bell International representative for Norway, from 2002 - 2012.
Clan Bell was one of the eight great riding
families of the Scottish Border since the early 1100s, and were retainers of
the Great House of Douglas and also allied with the best border
families through blood and friendship. Their land holdings were
extensive, and to survive, they engaged in the "rieving" of the period
and participated in many battles against the English. Declared "unruly"
by the Scottish Parliament, many of the Clan emigrated to the Ulster
Plantation after 1610. After William Bell, called Redcloak and Chief of
the Clan died in 1628, the chiefship became dormant, and without
leadership, the Bells ceased to exist as a viable clan.
In 1990,
the process of having a petition written for Douglas Bell, C.B.E., was
undertaken. Regretfully, Douglas died in 1993 and his son Benjamin
became the Chief Apparent of the Clan. Benjamin's petition, for reasons
unknown to Clan Bell International (CBI), has not been completed and
submitted to the Lord Lyon's office. Meanwhile, CBI in the United States
continues to represent the Clan world-wide with a coordinated network
of 20 International Representatives, each representing the Clan in their
own country. Clan Bell International is a charitable nonprofit
organization of Scottish descendants and friends of Family/Clan Bell
dedicated to the study of Bell genealogy and Scottish history and the
perpetuation of family tradition. (Source: The web page of Clan Bell International)