George Bellamy ^45,46

   Cause of his death was Bright's Disease (secondary cause - old age).

  General Notes:

George Bellamy's age on his marriage certificate (1 Jan 1848) is given as 21 years. His residence at time of marriage is shown as Ainderby Steeple. His occupation is given as "plate layer". A definition of this term is as follows: PLATELAYER - men who laid and maintained the railway tracks in Britain and the word actually predates railways being derived from the very old "plateways" which existed hundreds of years ago, mainly for moving coal

Page 11, #21 1848 Marriage solemnized at Zion's Chapel in the District of Northallerton in the County of York - First January 1848, George Bellamy 21 years, bachelor, plate layer, residence at Ainderby Steeple, father John Bellamy, labourer and Jane Hodgson, 21 years, spinster, residence Northallerton, father Ralph Hodgson, Joiner.
Married in the Zion Chapel according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the said chapel by me S. G. Butterwick, officiating minister. Witnesses: Thomas Bellamy, Jos. T Robinson, George Dowson. Note at bottom: I certify the above to be a true and correct Copy of an Entry in the Marriage Register Book for Nothallerton District, extracted this second day of December 1863, Edward Hanby, Superintendent Registrar.



"The Bellamys came to Nebraska from Michigan in 1875 and settled in Hall county."

Dayton [Michigan] was organized by the board of supervisors at a meeting held January 6, 1857. It comprised territory taken from Vassar and described as follows, to wit: Township 11 north, of range 10 and 11 east. The first township meeting was ordered held at the house of G. W. Spencer, and James Weaver, G. W. Spencer and William Mead were inspectors of election.

The names of the freeholders in the above described townships are as follows: William Mead, G. W. Spencer, Joseph Crawford, J. P. Weaver, James Hiester, L. Hurd, Geo. Bellamy, Benjamin Docker, Daniel Lynch, M. Shay J. Lynch, Geo. Green, Joseph Green, William Hamilton, John R. Hamilton.

The first town meeting was held April 6, 1857, at the house of G. W. Spencer, in section 83. G. W. Spencer, J. P. Weaver and Wm. Mead constituted the board of inspectors. Fifteen votes were cast, and the following are the names of the officers elected and the number of votes given for each: Supervisor, Lorenzo Hurd, fifteen votes; clerk, Jonas P. Weaver, fifteen votes; treasurer, George W. Spencer, fifteen votes; justices of the peace, Wm. Mead, fifteen votes, David Clinesmith, fifteen votes, Lorenzo Hurd, fifteen votes, Joseph Crawford, fifteen votes; highway commissioners, Wm. Mead, fourteen votes, Dennis Harmon, thirteen votes, Geo. Bellamy, fifteen votes; school inspectors, Lorenzo Hurd, fifteen votes; John Hamilton, fifteen votes; constables, Dennis Harmon, thirteen votes, Geo. Bellamy, fifteen votes; directors of the poor, Dennis Harmon and Joseph Crawford, each, fifteen votes. $250 were voted for highway purposes.


LAND ENTRIES PRIOR TO 1860.
TOWNSHIP 11 NORTH, RANGE 10 EAST

SECTION 22.Jesse McQuigg, August 14, 1855.
Jefferson B. Clark, September 3, 1855.
George Bellamy, October 24, 1855.
George Howdin, October 24, 1855.
Hiram Alesworth, September 25, 1856.
Orrin Aleswortli, September 25. 1856.

The location of Dayton is on the south line of Tuscola County, with Koylton upon the east, Wells to the north, and Fremont to the west. The surface of the country is generally rolling, in places hilly, and the soil varies from heavy clay to sandy loam, giving in different parts nearly every variety of soil. It is, however, generally productive, portions very much so, and none entirely worthless.

The first settlers in the town were Geo. W. Spencer and Joseph Crawford, known as "Little Joe," who came in the spring of 1856. Following them came Daniel Lynch and his sons, Michael and -Jeremiah, Matthew Lewis, William Mead, Henry Rounds, Richard Clark, William and John R. Hamilton, George Bellamy, Benjamin W. Hall, Joseph Green, Michael Shay, Robinson, Rufus Gilliam, David Clinesmith, Lorenzo Hurd, J. P. Weaver, Dennis Harmon, George Green, Stewart Goodell. Settlement commenced in the south part of the town.

The first school was taught in a log school-house in the southwest corner of the town.

The year 1857 was known in Dayton and adjoining towns as the "year of famine": In addition to other causes, the woods and fields swarmed with chipmunks, mice and other vermin which destroyed the crops, devouring the corn, and even digging up, carrying away and destroying the potatoes. So great was the destitution among some of the settlers that even starvation would in some cases undoubtedly have resulted, had it not been for relief sent in from more favored localities.

As late as 1858 the country was yet but poorly supplied with roads, only the north and south center road being cut out through the town, though others had been surveyed. Most of the supplies came from Lapeer, it being impossible to reach Vassar by team, costing for bringing in about three times the first cost. N. D. Phelps, who came in February, 1858, for three years packed all his supplies from Vassar, his, usual load being fifty pounds. On one occasion, having worked five days twelve miles below Vassar, he walked to Vassar in the forenoon, ate his dinner, and taking fifty pounds of flour on his back, walked home through the woods, carrying his load sixteen miles, with but one or two rests. Now few, if any, towns in the county have better roads than Dayton.

The 1900 Census to the "Nebraska Soldiers and Sailors Home" lists George Bellamy as an inmate.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS HOME
In 1884 the bill providing for the establishment of a soldier's home was passed. In April, 1887, the home was located three miles north of Grand Island on lands purchased by the citizen. The corner-stone was placed October 20, 1887, by then Governor Thayer, and a gala day was enjoyed by the community and the entire country for miles around. The building was dedicated June 26, 1888.
The principal building of the institution is 160 feet long and 90 feet wide, and with the stone basement is four stories high. A high stairway of stone, 10 feet wide, leads to the main entrance. Broad hallways run through the center from one end to the other on each floor. The lower or basement story contains a storeroom, dining room, smoking room, and an extensive kitchen. On the second floor are the headquarters, commandant's consultation room, large library, parlors, dining rooms. The third and fourth floors are used for sleeping rooms, a veteran's wit having christened the fourth floor the hurricane deck. Several smaller buildings are used for sleeping quarters (my note: two are still standing and in use, they're called the McKinnley buildings). A number of cottages have been built around the grounds and are assigned to the married couples mainly. The power house and laundry, stables, and numerous other buildings are scattered about the grounds.

Farming operations are carried on upon the 640-acre tract, which are of no small proportions. Very good crops are raised and the produce forms a valuable addition to the larder and assets of the Home. The Home has been an asset to Grand Island, in no manner insignificant from a financial viewpoint. A considerable portion of the government and state appropriations for the institution and of the pension money received by the inmates is spent in Grand Island.


TODAY AT THE NEBRASKA VETERANS HOME
Most of the original buildings are gone, except for the McKinnley buildings. But a walk out to the north of the main building will give the visitor an idea of how the "Home" used to look. Part of the original main street is still visible. The parade grounds to the south are filled with trees and beautiful flowers in the spring and summer.
The "Old Soldiers Home" went by "The Home" for several years. Shortly after the turn of the century it was renamed Burkett. That is when the town bustled with people and excitement. But, as Grand Island grew, especially to the north, the small town of Burkett was absorbed. Today the Home is filled with WWII veterans and their wives, or widows. There are more and more Korean War veterans residing there and even some Vietnam veterans.

There is a small cemetery to the west of the Home known as Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Any veteran, or veteran's wife, who dies at the Veterans Home is eligible to be buried at the cemetery.

The Home has a long history, starting with the Civil War veterans, through every other American conflict. It is something Grand Island can be proud of, knowing that our veterans have a place to go, where they are treated with respect, and can enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Home.

Appearing next to the George Bellamy family in the 1851 Canadian Census is another Bellamy family:
John Belamy, farmer, born England, Church of Eng., age 28
Jane Belamy, born Ireland, age 28
Mary Belamy, born Canada, age 6
Sarah Belamy, born Canada age 6
Rebecca Belamy, born Canada, age 2

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census, 1841, Laughterton, Kettlethorpe, Lincolnshire, England. Census 638 - 1841 Laughterton, Lincs. FHL British #0438765
Bellamy
John 45 Ag. Lab. Yes - born in county
Ann 40 Ditto
John 20 Tile maker Ditto
William 15 Ditto
George 12 Ditto
Sarah 8 Ditto
Charles 6 Ditto
Catherine 4 Ditto
Elizabeth 2 Ditto
Henry 8 months Ditto

• Immigrated to US, 1849. ⁵⁰

• lived in Canada.

• Naturalization, 1849. ⁵¹

• Census, 1851, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo County, Canada West (Ontario), Canada. George Bellamy, Laborer, born England, Church of England, age 24
Jane Belamy, born England, age 24
Margaret Belamy, born England, age 3
William Belamy, born Canada, age at next birthday 1

page 95

• land Entry, 24 Oct 1855, Tuscola Co., Michigan. Section 22, TOWNSHIP 11 NORTH, RANGE 10 EAST

• Elected town constable, 6 Apr 1857, Dayton, Tuscola, Michigan, USA.

• Census, 9 Jul 1860, Dayton, Tuscola, Michigan, USA. ⁵² George BELLAMY, (couldn't read age) farmer, $1100 real estate value, $150 personal property value, born England
Jane BELLAMY, 32, F, W, Domestic, born England
William BELLAMY, age 9, M, W, born C.W.
Margaret A. (couldn't read age) F, W, born England
George BELLAMY, age 7, M, W, born C.W.
John BELLLAMY, age 4, M, W, born C.W.
Susannah BELLAMY, age 2, F, W, born Michigan

• Enlisted in Army, 9 Aug 1862, Juniata, Tuscola, Michigan. ⁴⁸ 23 Michigan Infantry, Company D; residence of George Bellamy shown as Indian Fields age 36

physical description at time of enlistment is as follows: Height 5' 9" , complexion, dark, color of eyes blue; color of hair brown; that his occupation was farmer; that he was born Oct. 24, 1828 in ??? (can't read) England

• Battle of Resaca, 15 May 1864, Resaca, Georgia. ⁴⁸ Wounded by enemy shell causing a rupture in right side

• Mustered out of Army, 28 Jun 1865, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. ⁴⁸ he was the oldest man in the company

• Residence, 1866-1875, Bay City, Bay, Michigan, USA. ⁴⁸

• Census, 14 Jul 1870, Portsmouth Twp., Bay Co., Michigan. ²⁷ BELLAMY, George, age 40, m,w, farmer, value of real estate $15,000, value of personal property $3,000, born England
BELLAMY, Jane age 43,f,w, keeping house, born England
BELLAMY, William age 19, working on farm, born Canada
BELLAMY, John, age 15, at school, born Canada
BELLAMY, Susan, age 12, at school, born Michigan
BELLAMY, Elmer, age 8, born Michigan

• Moved to Nebraska, 1875, Hall Co., Nebraska. ⁴⁸

• Residence, 1875-1903, Hall Co., Nebraska. ⁴⁸

• Census, 8 Jun 1880, South Loup Twp, Hall Co., Nebraska. ^28,29 #52 BELLAMY, Elmer, W,M,age 18, boarder (with Doyer family), single, farmer, born Michigan, father born England, mother born England
#56 BELLAMY, George, W,M, 52, married, farmer, born England, parents born England
BELLAMY, Jane, W,F, 53, wife, married, keeping house, born England, parents born England
BELLAMY, John, W,M, 24, son, single, laborer, born Canada, parents born England
#57 HURD, Gilbert, W, M, 38, married, farmer, born Ohio, father born Connecticut, mother born Ohio
HURD, Margaret A., w,f, 31, wife, married, keeping house, born England, parents born England
HURD, Jane, w,f, 9, dau., at school, born Michigan, father born Ohio, mother born England
HURD, Artie M, w,f, 6, dau., at school, born Michigan, father born Ohio, mother born England
HURD, Gilbert, w,m, 1, son, born Nebraska, father born Ohio, mother born England

• Residence, 1903-1910, St. Paul, Howard County, Nebraska. ⁴⁸

George married Jane Hodgson, daughter of Ralph Hodgson and Susanah Fletcher, on 1 Jan 1848 in Northallerton, Yorkshire, England.⁴⁴ (Jane Hodgson was born in Jun 1826 in Northallerton, Yorkshire, England, christened on 1 Jul 1827, died on 10 Sep 1886 in Grand Island, Hall, Nebraska, USA ⁴⁸ and was buried in 1886 in Cameron Cemetery, Cairo, Hall, Nebraska, USA ^53,54.)