John Bell was born in Hagerstown, Maryland on April 20, 1800 and was the eldest child of Peter and Mary Ziegler Bell. He trained under his father and was influenced by other immigrant potters in Hagerstown. He worked for his father's shop until the family moved to Winchester, Virgina in 1824, in 1833 he moved to Waynesboro, Pennsylvanina where he established his own pottery.

For similar examples see Comstock, p. 125 figs 4.129-4.131.