John Bellamy was born in 1839 in Old Cleeve, Washford, Somerset, UK - son of James Bellamy and Elizabeth (nee Stevens).

Mary Anne Thorne was born 25th June, 1839 at Kingswood Stogumber, Somerset, daughter of James Thorne and Jane Thorne (nee Wood).
Her brother, James was born 8th Nov.1844 at Kingswood Stogumber.

When they married 18th April 1866 at the Baptist Chapel, Stogumber Johns address was Newhouse, South Brent, Devon. John was the manager of a slate quarry at South Brent - it may have been called Webber & Co. Mary Annes' address was Yard Farm, Stogumber.

Their daughter, Ada Jane Bellamy, was born at Newhouse, Ugborough, registration district of Totnes, Devon, on 13th October 1867. On her birth certificate her father is the Manager of a slate quarry in South Brent. Ugborough is 5mins from South Brent.
South Brent is 10 mins from Diptford where William and Ann Palmer were living in 1871 census. William Palmer married Anne Bellamy 2Q1863 Williton, (Johns older sister) b.24/8/1834. In 1881 census Ada is with William and Anne. William is a Miller, living in St.Pauls, Bristol.

Sometime after the registration of Ada's birth (7th November, 1867) the small family immigrated to America.- possibly Plymouth to Boston MA, or Bristol to Boston? but so far we have not found them mentioned on any ships passenger list. By 10th January 1869 they were in Bangor Northampton Co.PA where James, their son, was born. They would have had to have travelled sometime in 1868 ( the same year as the Masters family who arrived in Boston 22nd April 1868 - see below)

We have found information on two of their friends who were with them in the 1870 census in Moore Twp. Northampton Co. Pennsylvania. They were:-
Thomas Masters, who emigrated, Liverpool-Boston MA arriving 28/4/1868. Listed age 29 and intended to reside in Bangor, Northampton Co. PA - from his immigration papers.
Henry Williams emigrated, Liverpool-Boston MA arriving 21/10/1869 and according to his filed declaration of intent, intended to reside in Lower Mount Bethal, Northampton Co. PA. This was filed on 18/8/1873.
He and Thomas both filed their Naturalization Petitions to the court in Easton on the same day, 14th June 1880

John and Mary must have first resided in Bangor as their son, James Thorne Bellamy was born 10th Jan 1869 in Bangor, Northampton Co. PA.

The tax records show that in 1869 John Bellamy is working as a slater in Chapmans quarrys Moore Twp. Northampton Co.PA and his tax assessment was $100

The American 1870 census (taken 4th August 1870) shows that Marys brother, James Thorne is also there, he may have traveled with John and family.

They were living together in 1870 in Moore twp. And as Thomas Masters is listed in the tax assessment of that year as owning a house & lot + a cow, tax value $440, they may all be living in his house.
This is the information from the 1870 ( taken 4th August 1870 census:-

John Bellamy age 30 married, occupation Slate maker. Born Stogumber, Somerset, England
Mary Ann Bellamy age 30 wife of above, at home. Born Stogumber, Somerset, England
Ada Jane Bellamy age 2, born Totnes, Devon, England
James Thorne Bellamy age 1, born Pennsylvania
James Thorne, age 24, unmarried, occupation Slate maker. Born Stogumber, Somerset, England
Henry Williams age 26, unmarried, occupation, Slate maker. Born Cornwall, England.
Thomas Masters age 20, unmarried, occupation Slate maker. Born Tintagel, Cornwall,England

1870 tax assessments show John as a slater at Chapmans value $100. Ditto for Henry Williams.
Thomas Masters and James Thorne are both listed as Labourers at Chapmans with a value of $50 each.

In the first quarter of 1871 Nora Annie Bellamy is born in Chapmans Borough - no information or certificates available for births or deaths in PA at this time.
1871 John still works at Chapmans and has a horse, total value $140.
Thomas Masters is not there but James Thorne and Henry Williams are valued the same as 1870.
In 1872 John is still there as a slater with 1 horse and 4 cows. Total Value $310. The other 3 men are not there.
1873 John is still there. Tax assessment as above but plus a mule. Total Value $380.
James and Thomas are missing but Henry Williams appears in Washington Twp.
The 1873 Triannial tax shows John as a Butcher with a carriage + the animals, total value $665
1874 John is listed as a Butcher $400 + 1 horse $30, 1 horse $75, 1 carriage $310m 1 cow $25, 1 cow $30, Total value $765.
James Thorne is also listed as a Butcher $400. Total value $400.
Henry Williams was still in Washington twp. Occ. Slater. Value $400

On 29th May 1875 Thomas Master marries Minerva Albert and Henry Williams marries Caroline Wideman at the Methodist church, Bangor. This is a double wedding, but John and family or James Thorne were not among the guests. Also there is no tax listing for either of them in this year. We assume this is the time that Mary Anne Bellamy died. James Thorne-Bellamy remembered riding with the driver of the hearse that was pulled by 2 plumed black horses. The driver gave him a few coins as he felt sorry for the little boy riding beside him.. James kept these coins on his bedside table till the day he died.

John returned to England with the children. So far we have not found them on any passenger lists.The tax assessment was done by 30/4/1874 with any appeal to be lodged by 22/5/1874 - so John and the children would have left America for England after 30/4/1874, and was away on 29th May1875 when his friends were married. John left the children with relatives and said he was going back to get things sorted out and sold up and then he would be back. They never heard from him again although there was a Bellamy family bible that had newspaper cuttings in from either Easton or Bangor PA newspapers. This unfortunately went missing around 1956 and no-one remembers what the papers said. It could be it was reports of the deaths of Mary Anne and John ??? ...

1876 (tax date 30/4/1876) John Bellamy is in Bangor. The tax assessment says ‘Gent’ 1 horse, Total value $500. - Thomas Masters is living in Bangor and Henry Williams is living in Upper Mount Bethal. Maybe John is staying with, or visiting his friend Thomas Masters? No sign of James Thorne.

After this there is no further sign of John Bellamy or James Thorne.

In the 1881 UK census Ada Jane Bellamy is aged 13 living with William (age 46 born Luxborough) and Annie Palmer (age 45 born Old Cleeve, Washford. Ada is listed as their ‘Niece’.

They are all living at Flour Mills, Seveir St. St James & St.Paul Out, Bristol. William Palmer is a Miller.

Norah Annie Bellamy is aged 10 living with James Dyer age 50 a carpenter and his wife Elizabeth Thorne aged 49(older sister of Mary Anne) and their 2 sons at 35 Alfred St. St. Pauls, Bristol. Norah is listed as ‘Niece’.

James Thorne Bellamy is aged 11 Living in Washford at the Post office with James Bellamy age 38 and his wife Jane Thorne (sister of Mary Anne who married James’s brother John Bellamy) aged 38. James T. Bellamy is listed as ‘nephew’.

On 4th June 1886 Ada Jane Bellamy dies at York Villa, Sussex Place Bristol aged 18 of Phthisis pulmonalis (TB) which can be complicated and exacerbated by stone/slate dust. On her death certificate her father occupation is ‘slate trimmer’ (deceased).

The 1891 census shows that Norah Annie has moved out of the Dyers ( his wife Elizabeth died 6th Aug. 1887) only James and his son James plus his other son John, his wife and 4 children are living together. In 1901 she is working as a cook in Croydon for Mr. Marchant a lacemaker. In 1911 Norah is with her Uncle and Aunt, William and Annie Palmer at 14 Shaftesbury Avenue, Ashley Road Bristol. She marries a Rev.J.E. Corp (listed as a farmer in the census records)on 1st Oct. 1919 at the United Methodist Church, Eastville Park Bristol. Her cousin, Julia Isaacs was a witness. She died on the 4 th July 1935 at Barton St.David. She had no children.

In 1891 James Thorne Bellamy is at 22, High Street, Taunton St Mary, Taunton, visiting his fiancé Alice Dorse, a school teacher. James is listed as a railway signal porter age 22. Alice is 23, but later that year Alice marries David Lock in Taunton Dec.1891 (5c 618) and moves to Cardiff.
James marries Mary Jane Chapman on 13/10/1897 at Old Cleeve Church. They had 3 children, James Herbert William Bellamy (28/3/1898 – 23/9/1976) Norah Ada Bellamy (20/8/1899 – 1992) pictured below. Cynthia was stillborn.

On his marriage certificate, his fathers (John Bellamy) occupation is listed as ‘Butcher’ and that he is deceased. So somehow they knew he was dead in 1897 or perhaps they just assumed.

1901 census shows James T.Bellamy age 32 married and living in Washford.
He dies on 24th January 1911 aged 41 - the verdict was suicide. He could never understand why his father never came back for them. He always wanted to go off to America and look for him and find out what happened to him, but unfortunatley his wife didnt want to leave her mother. So he never found out.

John evidently died in America, after the 1876 tax assesment and before the 1877 tax assesment
If anyone reading this can help find where John and Mary died and are buried, or any other information to add please email me...merlin7835@aol.com......... thankyou

They had 2 children, born in America. Amy Blanche Thorne born in Kalamazoo Michigan in 1873, and Winfield William James Thorne born 8th Feb. 1875 somewhere in Pennsylvania - date from his service records which don't state, where in PA he was born.
Pennsylvania did not require any official birth registration until 1893. However, after his birth the family returned to the UK - they may have accompanied John Bellamy and his children.

James Thorne and family next sailed from Gravesend, London on the Camperdown as assisted immigrants to Nelson in New Zealand.
They left Gravesend on 14th April 1876 and arrived at Nelson NZ 4th July 1876.

James had a Butchers shop in Sydenham, Christchurch. He seems to have had a few problems in NZ from articles found in the newspapers. He died 16th Nov.1917 in Tuarangi House Netherby NZ. (an old mens home). He was buried in a paupers grave on 17th Nov. 1817 in Ashburton cemetery.

Timeline of the life of James Thorne:

Born  8th Nov. 1844 Stogumber
1851 age 6 living in Stogumber
1861 age 16 in 2 places at same time: Both census sheets say born 1844 stogumber but one is definitely him.
1870 In Chapmans PA James Thorne, age 24, unmarried, occupation Slate maker. Born Stogumber, Somerset, England tax value $50
1871 James Thorne valued $50 the same as 1870.
1872 not in chapmans - dont know where he was.
1873 In Kalamazoo Minnesota - or at least Grace is.  Amy born
1874 9th feb. married in Cuyahoga cleveland ohio
1874 30th April tax info: butcher total value $400 (John Bellamy tax value $795)
1875 James and John are both missing- not at their friends wedding 29th May 1975
1876 April 14th James and family left Gravesend for NZ (John in Bangor (tax date 30/4/1876)tax assessment stated 'Gent' 1 horse, total value $500)    
1876 July 4th, James and family arrived Nelson NZ
1880 2nd sept. advert in paper for missing sheep - apply James Thorne, butcher, Manchester st. south.
1881 on NZ electoral roll as a butcher
1886 departed from Lyttelton NZ for Melbourne Australia. Arrived 30th Dec. 18months deed of separation granted to his wife.
1890 - 10th sept. newspaper report: He had come back from Australia and was threatening to strike his wife & threatening to shoot her on the second day. Evidence taken showing the couple had been married about 17yrs
and that they had been separated by deed in 1886. James had to give a surety of £20 and his own surety to keep the peace for 6mts and pay court fees.
1891 July 11th admitted to Christchurch hospital.
1896 - 24th Sept. newspaper report: Charge of assault. James Thorne arrested on warrant, charged with assaulting his wife, and a Mrs Simmonds on Sept18th and threatening to kill his wife on sept.23rd
Sentenced to 2months imprisonment with hard labour.
1897 Grace died of pnemonia at Christchurch hospital on 23rd June 1897 and was buried at Papanui cemetery Christchurch.
1905 4th April - admitted to Ashburtons home for old men. He left on 16th May.
1917 died 16th November at Tuarangi house Netherby (an old mens home). Buried in paupers grave the next day.
The Will of Lily Grace Thorne:
This is the last Will and Testament of me Lily Grace Thorne, wife of James Thorne, butcher, unemployed, of Kilbride Cottage, Windmill Road, Sydenham, Nr. Christchurch, in the colony of New Zealand. After payment of all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses, I demise and bequeath all my teal and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever situate to be divided equally between my two children, Amy Blanche Willey, wife of Josiah Alfred Willey at present residing in Cox's road, and to Winfield William James Thorne residing at present in Montreal street south sydenham. I hereby appoint Josiah Alfred Willey executor of this my Will etc.etc. This Will was written 3rd March 1896. It went to probate after she died. She had everything in her name and left nothing to her husband. Probate was granted to Josiah, the executor, on the 30th June 1897. The estate value was just under £1200.

Amy Blanche Thorne married Josiah Alfred Willey on 19th April 1992 in Christchurch. They had three children. Laura Grace, Geoffrey Lisle and Jack Arthur. Amy died in 1905 in Timaru and is buried in Timaru cemetery. She was only 32. Winfield married Elizabeth Jane Johnson on 12th Feb 1896 in Christchurch. He was a printer and died 11Nov.1948 in Aukland. They divorced by mutual separation 5th Nov.1821 as reported in the Evening post on 19th NO.1921. Winfield proved his wife had given birth to an illegitimate child. granted decree nisi. Winfield and Elizabeths children were Albert Winfield, Leslie Seymore, William Henry Robert and Lily Grace who sadly died in 1908 aged 3. She was a twin of Leslie.
Its still a mystery about what happened to John Bellamy after he returned to America. The 1876 tax assessment entry for John indicates he was a resident through the assessment date of that year in Bangor, which was in April . The $500 assessment value referred to the value of his profession and taxable assets. The term "gentleman" usually applied to someone of means who was not required to work for a living. As this tax assessment shows, his only assets at that time was $500 and one horse.

IT WOULD REALLY HELP IF I COULD FIND John Bellamy or James Thorne ON ANY SHIPS LIST TO PROVE WHAT YEAR THEY RETURNED TO ENGLAND & THEN JOHN GOING BACK TO AMERICA