WILLIAM BELLINGHAM, Gun Plain Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan

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History of Allegan and Barry Counties, Michigan, with Illustrations and 
Biographical Sketches of their Prominent Men and Pioneers.
Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co.  1880.  Press of J. B. Lippincott & 
Co., Philadelphia.

William Bellingham was born March 20, 1800, in the town of Rutherfield, 
Sussex Co., England, where his ancestors had resided for more than a 
century, and being what is called in England small farmers.  His 
father, Joseph Bellingham, at one time owned a small farm, which he 
sold, and then rented a large farm, which he was working at the time 
William was born.  They were men in moderate circumstances, but always 
bor characters which were above reproach.  William grew to manhood on 
the farm in Sussex County, going to what was called a charity-school, 
and which was kept by his uncle.  His father paid his schooling, 
although it was called a charity-school.  Arrived at his majority, he 
started out in life for himself, at one time working his father's farm, 
then taking a farm, which he continued to work until he emigrated to 
America in 1833.  Prior to that time his brother-in-law had emigrated 
to America, and sent back such glowing accounts of their farm and home 
in the New World that Mr. Bellingham resolved to cast his fortunes in 
the same country, and with his wife and children left England in the 
spring of 1833.  They landed in New York, from whence they went to 
Troy.  Their money being exhausted, they stopped in Troy, where Mr. 
Bellingham worked in a market-garden, while his son, William A., then a 
lad of eight years, worked in the market mornings, receving sixpence a 
morning for his services, which consisted in calling out in his English 
way, "Here's where you get your nice inyans and lettuce," which 
attracted much attention and a good deal of merriment.  In August they 
came on to Detroit, where they again found themselves out of means, 
save a half-dollar.  The family and goods were located in the street, 
where they were to stay until Mr. Bellingham and William A. could walk 
to the brother-in-law's (Mr. John Young), in Washtenaw County.  As they 
were about to set out, a stranger came to them and asked what they were 
doing in the street.  On being told that it was for want of means to do 
and better, he at once invited them into his house, to stay until Mr. 
Bellingham returned.  They then invested their half-dollar in crackers 
and cheese, and set out aout four o' clock in the afternoon for 
Washtenaw.  That night they slept in a straw-neck and the next day 
reached their destination.  William A. and his cousin returned for the 
family, whom they found with the kind stranger, who refused to take any 
pay for his kindness.  They found Mr. Young, like the most of the early 
settlers, the owner of a farm and scarce anything else.  They remained 
with him a short time, then went by themselves, Mr. Bellingham working 
at whatever he could get to do, mostly ditching.  He finally got enough 
ahead so that he bought of the government forty acres in the town of 
Lima.  To this he added eighty acres, all of which he traded for the 
west half of the southeast quarter of section 15 in Gun Plain township, 
Allegan Co., and on which he located in 1844, and where he resided 
until his death, Nov. 2, 1878.  His farm he cleared and improved and 
enlarged to three hundred and twenty acres.  He was a Democrat, and 
held the offices of justice of the peace and township clerk.  Was a 
member of the Baptist Church.  He was highly esteemed by his neighbors 
and fellow townsmen, and is spoken of as one whom to know was to admire 
and respect.  Mr. Bellingham was married Jan. 18, 1819,  to Miss 
Phillis Powell, who was born March 28, 1800.  There were born to them 
the following children: Catherine, born April 9, 1822; William A., born 
Nov. 19, 1824; Ellen, born April 20, 1827; Ruth, born Nov. 19, 1829; 
Esther, born May 9, 1832; Ann, born Sept. 28, 1834; Sarah, born July 7, 
1838; and Orpha, born Jan. 6, 1843, --the two last being born in 
America.  Mrs. Bellingham died Jan. 2, 1844.  Sarah, married July 4, 
1853, Ralph Richmond, who was born in Twinsburg, Portage Co., Ohio, 
Feb, 22, 1828.  Their union has been blessed with two children, viz:  
Lucy, born Sept. 25, 1859, and Ernest, born Oct. 15, 1869.