William Bell

The Reverend William Bell, D.D., writer and philanthropist, was buried in the centre aisle of the nave of Westminster Abbey on 8th October 1816. His unmarried sisters Lucy and Mary were buried with him. His brother John pre-deceased him. When the nave floor was re-paved in 1834 their original gravestone was taken up, as were many others, and replaced with small lozenge stones. His now simply gives his name and date of death. The site is near Robert Stephenson's brass. The original stone read: 

Beneath this stone are deposited the remains of Mrs Mary Bell who died on the 2nd day of April 1814 aged 72 years. Also those of Mrs Lucy Bell who died on the third day of January 1816 aged 89 years. Also those of the Reverend William Bell D.D. prebendary of this Collegiate Church who died on the 29th day of September 1816 aged 85 years

The title Mrs in this case means Mistress as neither sisters were married. Lucy left money in her will to children of her brother John. William was born in Greenwich, son of William Bell and was educated at Cambridge. He was chaplain to Princess Amelia and was a prebendary (clergyman) at the Abbey from 1765 to his death. His residence was Ashburnham House in Little Dean's Yard. Other posts he held were vicar of St Bride's Fleet Street, vicar of Christ Church, Newgate Street in London and treasurer of St Paul's cathedral. He was founder of the Bell scholarships at Cambridge and wrote several works. It is recorded that he was once robbed by the highwayman Sixteen Stringed Jack.

Further reading:

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography