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John BELLETT

John BELLETT

Male 1779 - 1840  (~ 60 years)    Has 18 ancestors and 8 descendants in this family tree.


 Set As Default Person    

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  • Name John BELLETT 
    Relationshipwith Teresa Ann GOATHAM
    Baptised 1 Aug 1779  St. Michael’s Church, Blackawton, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location 
    • South Hams website - accessed 5 Feb 2012
      Parents shown as John and Susanna
    Gender Male 
    Apprenticeship From 1787 to 1798  Soccum Farm, Halwell, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location 
    Farm work 
    • Apprentice to John Collings aged 8 for 10 years.
      He broke his leg while there, Mr. Collings paid the doctor's bill, he was kept but received no wages. He had food, washing and lodging at Mr Collings'
      Mr Collings sent William Cholwich of Larcombe, farmer of neighbouring estate to go
      to Torbay in pursuit, himself being old and no scholar. Mr Cholwich found John on board "Windsor Castle", the ship having sailed to Torbay. The Admiral asked John and his brother Thomas who had also run away from his apprenticeship whether they wished to return to their masters; presumably they didn't; it is recorded that the Admiral would not free John.

      (The same may apply to Thomas but that wasn't an issue in the examinations and depositions regarding settlement of Sarah Bellett, where this is recorded)
    Military Service From 1798 to 1826 
    Royal Navy - including Napoleonic Wars 
    • According to examinations and depositions regarding settlement of Sarah Bellett (his wife), he ran away to sea aged about 18 or 19, and remained in the navy until a few months before marrying Sarah. This means his period in the navy would have included the Napoleonic Wars.
      He boarded a man of war at Plymouth, serving on board "Windsor Castle".
      Paid off in Portsmouth on £20 per annum pension.
      The service record obtained by Greenwich Hospital School when he applied for his son to be admitted there gives a record of all the ships he served on.
    At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
    Occupation From 1826 to 1840  Dartmouth, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location 
    Fisherman 
    Miscellaneous Apr 1839 
    Applied to Greenwich Hospital for admission of his son 
    • In 1839 John sent a letter then a formal application to Greenwich Hospital School for his son to be admitted there.
    Died 20 May 1840  Dartmouth, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location 
    Cause: Drowned (exhaustion after spending sometime in the water when fishing boat capsized) 
    • I have burial date as 24 May - this was a Sunday - would burials have taken place on Sunday?
      Paper of 30 May says "last Weds" - implies 27th but must be 20th if burial was 24th. While 24th could be mis-reading, the examinations and depositions regarding settlement of is wife Sarah Bellett gives the date as 20 May.

      From Western Times - Saturday 30 May 1840:

      Dartmouth.-Two Men Drowned.-On Wednesday evening last, as two old fishermen of the names of Billet & Bailey, were returning from their day's work, and had just entered Dartmouth harbour, a sudden squally upset their boat; there were no boats near at the time, and Bailey sunk to the bottom and was drowned; Billet was picked up after having been in the water for nearly half an hour, but he was so exhausted and worn out that he died immediately afterwards.

      (The same was in Bristol Mercury of Saturday 06 June 1840 - still said "Wednesday evening last" despite being a week later)

      Sherborne Mercury - Monday 01 June 1840

      Dartmouth.-Melancholy Accident.-On Wednesday last as two fishermen were sailing in the harbour, the boat in which they were, upset in a squall, and immediately sank, when both were drowned.-An Inquest was held the same evening before Richard Anthony, Esq., Coroner, on view of the body John Billet, one of the unfortunate individuals, and a verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned. 

      The copy of examinations and depositions regarding settlement of Sarah
      Bellett in the Devon Record Office (2930A-2/PO 8/19-21  1840 - see transcription in catalogue)
    Buried 24 May 1840  St. Michael’s Church, Blackawton, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location 
    • South Hams website - accessed 5 Feb 2012
      Age given as 60, abode as Dartmouth
    Siblings 2 brothers and 3 sisters 
    Patriarch & Matriarch
    Hugh BELLETT,   b. Est 1675,   d. Jan 1728/29, Blackawton, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 54 years)  (Great Grandfather) 
    Susanna COLE,   bur. 18 Oct 1794, St. Michael’s Church, Blackawton, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location  (Mother) 
    Notes 
    • Although John was living in Dartmouth he was buried in Blackawton. He was not with his family at the time of the 1841 census, and although he could have been away e.g. at sea, this suggest he had most likely died. He was also fairly close to Sarah in age (age as suggested by baptism and recorded in burial entry) 
      All this suggest to me that John, the wife of Sarah and father of the children shown here, was the same John who was baptised and buried in Blackawton.
    Person ID I9429  All
    Last Modified 12 Nov 2018 

    Father John BELLETT,   bap. 8 Jun 1752, St. Michael’s Church, Blackawton, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location,   bur. 11 Nov 1800, St. Michael’s Church, Blackawton, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 48 years) 
    Mother Susanna COLE,   bur. 18 Oct 1794, St. Michael’s Church, Blackawton, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location 
    Married 17 Jun 1776  St. Michael’s Church, Blackawton, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    • From DFHS - entry shows there are notes in PR; not seen
      Bellett, John to Cole, Susanna
    Family ID F4620  Family Group Page  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 [ - ? - ],   d. Bef 1826 
    Married Bef 1826 
    • When John's widow Sarah was examined for settlement purposes after his death she mentioned him having been married before, but no name was given.
      John's first wife lived in Plymouth while married to him.

      On FamilySearch (on 11 Mar 2012) there are 2 marriages which could be that of John and his first wife:

      20 Feb 1810 at Saint George, East Stonehouse, Devon to Sarah Moore

      24 11 1817 at Stoke Damerel, Devon to Mary Bellet - this entry shows John as a mariner
    Last Modified 12 Nov 2018 
    Family ID F4655  Family Group Page  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Sarah ("Sally") MUGFORD,   b. Abt 1786, Moreleigh, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location,   d. Jun Q 1875, Totnes Reg Dist, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 89 years) 
    Other Partners: Andrew BECK  m. 13 Apr 1814 
    Married 29 Nov 1826  St. Saviour’s Church, Dartmouth, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location 
    • From Dartmouth Archives:
      From PR entry (image on FMP, viewed 7 Sep 2018)
      John BELLETT of Blackawton and Sarah BECK.
      He signs. Wits; Sally Clowter and Mary Mugford

      (DFHS CD shows date as 26, Bellitt, John to Beck, Sarah)
    Children 3 children 
    Last Modified 7 Sep 2018 
    Family ID F2113  Family Group Page  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map Click to hide
    Link to Google MapsBaptised - 1 Aug 1779 - St. Michael’s Church, Blackawton, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth (if installed; see link below to install)
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Fisherman - From 1826 to 1840 - Dartmouth, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth (if installed; see link below to install)
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 29 Nov 1826 - St. Saviour’s Church, Dartmouth, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth (if installed; see link below to install)
    Link to Google MapsChild - Mary Ann BELLETT - Abt 1827 - Dartmouth, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth (if installed; see link below to install)
    Link to Google MapsChild - John BELLETT - 7 Jan 1830 - Dartmouth, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth (if installed; see link below to install)
    Link to Google MapsChild - Elizabeth BELLETT - Abt 1834 - Dartmouth, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth (if installed; see link below to install)
    Link to Google MapsDied - Cause: Drowned (exhaustion after spending sometime in the water when fishing boat capsized) - 20 May 1840 - Dartmouth, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth (if installed; see link below to install)
    Link to Google MapsBuried - 24 May 1840 - St. Michael’s Church, Blackawton, Devon, England See the place on a map and other information about it - if available (many more will be in time); also all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth (if installed; see link below to install)
     = Link to Google Earth (if installed; see link below to install) 
    Pin Legend Address Church or Cemetery Military service or death Hospital Small location Town / City County, state or province Country Registration District Place of education Court Property Not Set

  • Sources 
    1. [S199] Blackawton - St Michaels Church - m/f images, St. Michael’s Church (Blackawton, Devon), Marriage of John BELLETT and Susanna COLE 1776; DE/REG/57869/1-16 m/f 10 (Reliability: 3).
      "Banns of Marriage between John Bellett and Susanna Cole were published on the 14th the 21st & the 28th Days of April 1776 by me Thoms Adams Vicar
      No 143
      The said John Bellett of this Parish Woolcomber and the said Susanna Cole of this Parish Spinster were Married in this Church by Banns this Seventeenth Day of June in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Six by me Thoms. Adams Vicar.
         This Marriage was solemnized between Us      { John Bellett
      { The mark of / \\ Susanna Cole
        In the Presence of   {James Roope
      { Thomas Hyne"
      (Thomas Hyne was a witness at many around this time and was probably the Parish Clerk)