John (Bellomy) Bellamy (abt. 1700 - aft. 1784)

Born about 1700 in Fluvanna Co., Virginia [uncertain]

Husband of Mary (Unknown) Bellamy — married about 1717 in Virginia

Husband of Susanna (Chastain) Robinson — married about 1750 in Virginia

Descendants

Died after 1784 after about age 84 in Fluvanna County, Virginia [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Connie Graves [send private message] and Rodney Williams [send private message]

Biography

The proper spelling of the surname has not been established. The commonly used traditional use is Bellamy. Descendants of this man often favored the variation Bellomy or used the spellings interchangably.

The origin of John Bellamy has not been proven although he has been connected by many researchers with a John Bellamy who was born about 1677 in Devon, England. Whether he is the same John Bellamy believed to have immigrated before 1717 to Henrico Co., VA. has not been established by documentation. We do know Dorothy Pleasants received 463 acres of land in Henrico County, Virginia in 1717 for importing ten persons, among them John Bellomy. ^{[1] [2]}

One of the first documents mentioning John is in the estate settlement for John Woodson of Henrico County, Virginia. Payments (in tobacco) were made to John Bellime (sic Bellamy) in 1716 and 1717.^[3] Also in 1717 Benjamin Woodson deeded land on Indian Graves Creek in Henrico County, Virginia to John Bellime (sic Bellamy).^[4]

In the will of John Bellamy the clerk misspelled his name "Belleman" or "Bolomon" but in the inventory the name was spelled "Bellamy". The will dated 1729 was witnessed by Dr. William Cabell and Richard Burke and names a wife and three children: John, Mary, and Judah.^[5] Depositions from his daughters, named in the will spelled the name "Bellamy". The depositions show they did not choose to live with the widow Mary Bellamy but chose instead to reside with Dr.William Cabell and his wife Elizabeth Burke. This may indicate they were the daughters of an as yet unknown but previous wife of John Bellamy. The widow of John Bellamy married Samuel Thompson as shown by court documents when the underage son of John Bellamy, also named John Bellamy, sued his step-father Samuel Thompson over the inheritance he should have received according to the will of John Bellamy. The lawsuit of John Bellamy Jr against Samuel Thompson was dropped in 1732 when John Jr sold his inheritance. ^[6][7]

Birth location was originally Henrico, Virginia, United States.

Early Life

The early life of John Bellamy II is difficult to trace because he grew up in Albemarle County, Virginia and some of the county records were burned during the Revolutionary War. A few Albemarle County records from the 1740's survive and quite a few of those records are lawsuits involving John Bellamy.^[8]

Marriage

John Bellamy II probably had two or more wives. This is based on the birth dates for his children. The oldest children were born as early as the 1730's while the youngest child (Sally) was born after 1763 because she was still underage in 1784 when she married. ^[9]

One of the wives (if there were two or more) was Mary and there is documentation for her existence in Albemarle County, Virginia Court records. John Bellamy and his wife MARY were involved in a lawsuit with Robert Napier and his wife, also named Mary, in 1746. ^[10]

The second wife was might have been Susanna Chastain. Susanna reportedly married first James Robinson who died about 1748. Then she married John Bellamy. So her second marriage to Bellamy date wise would make her his second wife. There has been no documentary proof offered to substantiate the marriage. Certainly Susanna Chastain who was reportedly born about 1705 could not be the mother of Elizabeth Bellamy, born after 1763, the youngest child of John Bellamy II.

Which wife (if there were two or more) the children of John Bellamy II belong to has not been proven.

Land Records

The earliest land record for John II shows he owned 186 acres on the branches of Bold Branch of Ballenger's Creek in 1760. A plat of the area shows it was adjacent to property owned by Peter Jefferson (the father of Thomas Jefferson). ^[11]

Military

John Bellamy II provided provisions for the army during the American Revolution as shown in public claims filed with the state of Virginia. In 1781 & 1782 he supplied 2 bushels of wheat and a carriage. ^[12]

Death

John II resided on his Bold Branch Creek farm which became part of Fluvanna County, Virginia when it was created in 1777 from Albemarle County. He died about 1784.^[13]

Disclaimer

Personal knowledge of Rodney Williams He believes one of the spouses of John is incorrect and Mary Susannah (Chastain) Bellamy should be removed. Also he believes John's birth has been found in London, England Christening record showing John and twin brother Gibson sons of John Bellamy and Mary Baker. However, a link to this data has not been provided.

Sources

1. ↑ The Virginia Land Office Patents No. 10, 1710-1719, p. 329 (Reel 10).Patent
2. ↑ Nugent, Nell Marion, Robert Armistead Stewart, and Colony of Virginia. 1934. Cavaliers and Pioneers. Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1800. Richmond, Va: Dietz Printing Co. Vol 3, p 193, Patent Book No 10.
3. ↑ The Edward Pleasants Valentine papers. 1927. Richmond, Va: Published by the Valentine Museum. Vol 3, p 2008
4. ↑ Henrico Co., VA Deed Book--, p 232 dated 3 Mar 1717
5. ↑ Will of John Bellamen of St James Parish, Goochland Co., VA, dated Mar 25, 1729, recorded 17 June 1729. Names wife, son John, daughters Mary and Judah. Witnesses: Richard Birk, William Woodson, and Elizabeth Cabbell. Inventory of John Bellomy submitted to Court Aug 5, 1729, Goochland Co., VA.
6. ↑ Goochland County, Virginia Wills and Deeds, 1728 - 1736, abstracted & compiled by Benjamin B. Weisiger III, 1983.p.35 [p.336] Deed 19 Jun 1732 - sale of land from John Bellermy of St. James Parish to Sanburn Woodson of same, 120 acres in same, on north side of James River at a place called Head of Indian Grave, bounded by Maj. John Woodson, Robert Woodson, Samuel Allen, John Sutton Farrar, decd., Recorded 18 Jul 1731
7. ↑ Bellamy, Joe David. 2005. The Bellamys of early Virginia. New York: iUniverse. p 5,6
8. ↑ Bellamy, Joe David. The Bellamys of Early Virginia. Virginia Beach, Virginia: Bellamy House Publishing, 2005. p 7-11
9. ↑ Bellamy, Joe David. The Bellamys of Early Virginia. Virginia Beach, Virginia: Bellamy House Publishing, 2005. p 102,103
10. ↑ Albemarle County, Virginia Court Order Book, 1744 - 1748, 10 Oct 1746.
11. ↑ Grundset, Eric. 1998. Land lying in the county of Albemarle: Albemarle County, Virginia surveyor's plat books, volumes 1, part land 2, and volume 2, 1744-1853, [and 1892]. Fairfax, Va: E.G. Grundset.
12. ↑ Abercrombie, Janice L., and Richard Slatten. 1992. Virginia revolutionary "publick" claims. Athens, Ga: Iberian Pub. Co. Vol II, p 411, 413. Note: Library of Virginia--Explanation of certificate:Title Belamy, John, Place of residence: Goochland County. Note Certificates: 1. Note Lists: I, p. 4; II, p. 2.
13. ↑ Fluvanna County, Virginia Chancery Court #1784-001, Benjamin Bellamy v John Bellamy, filed 4 July 1784, dismissed August 1784

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