[1] Wishing to undertake higher education, Bell began studying Latin in April 1788, and later enrolled at the New Ipswich Academy.

[1] Graduating in 1793,[1] Bell proceeded to study law and was admitted to the Hillsborough bar in September 1796,[1] after which he worked as a lawyer in Francestown, New Hampshire.

[1] However, in 1809, due to a severe lung problem which showed the signs of tuberculosis, he was advised by his doctors to take an extended vacation away from the practice of law and to travel, which he did according to The American Quarterly Review; also according to this source, Bell spent parts of several following years traveling to relatively distant areas, primarily on horseback, which gradually recovered his health.

[1] However, the Biographical Director of the Library of Congress says that Bell continued practicing law between 1810 and 1812, moving to Amherst in 1810 and to Chester at those respective times.

In November 1797, Bell married Mehitable Bowen Dana, and together they had six children; four sons: Samuel, John, James and Luther; two daughters: Mary-Anne, and another who died in infancy.