Australian Royalty: Genealogy of the colony of NSW

James Zadok Bellamy son of William and Ann Bellamy
was born 9 May 1798 and christened 16 Sep 1798

James Bellamy, free, of the parish of Parramatta
and Hannah Singleton, free of ditto
were married in this church by banns
this 15th day of June 1818
by me Samuel Marsden
James and Hannah both made their X marks
in the presence of Benjamin Singleton who signed the register
and Mary Singleton who made her X mark

James, after his first three children were born, wrote to the Governor requesting more land (he had already been granted 60 acres on the southern side of Castle Hill Road, on the west of the present Cumberland National Forest.) In his petition, he stated that he had a number of cattle and horses and required more pasture and was able to support five men off stores. Governor Brisbane granted him a further 60 acres.

In the supplement to the Sydney Herald of 24th October 1831 a government notice dated 14 Oct 1831 announced land grants at South Colah to William Bellamy, one hundred acres, and to John and James Bellamy (William's sons) sixty acres each. William's grant being bounded on the south by the farms of John and James Bellamy.
Quit rent on each portion was to commence on 1 Jan 1827, the amount of William's land being two shillings per acre, and on the other portions one shilling. The grants were promised by Governor Macquarie on 16 Jan 1816.
William's grant was portion 86, lying south of the present (1979) Mildred Avenue and Stephen Street, Hornsby. Portion 87 granted to John Bellamy, and Portion 88, James Bellamy's land, extended southwards to half way between the present (1979) Florence Street and Edgeworth David Avenue.
These three grants appear to have reverted to the Crown as they were advertised in the name of Thomas Hyndes on 1 Oct 1838, at the request of the promisees. The three portions, totalling 220 acres, were transferred to Thomas Hyndes on 15 Jan 1839.
There seems to have been no permanent settlement by the Bellamy family at Hornsby, but the use of the word 'farms' in the description of the grants of John and James Bellamy, suggests that these portions were occupied or worked at some period.
The Bellamy Grants acquired by Thomas Hyndes became part of the 580 acres held by Burns, Withers and Smith (R.B. Smith & Co.).

In 1836 he received the 63 acre Thorn grant which lay to the west of 'Bellamy Farm', making a total of over 280 acres reaching from the present Castle Hill Road to Aiken Road and south of the same road and being in the 'West Pennant Hills Valley'.

James purchased a 60 acre property originally granted to James Reynolds on New Line Road. This land James gave to his daughter Sarah wjen she married James Allen in 1855. He held 60 acres near the present Hornsby Station and another block adjacent to his father's, and a 60 acre one next to his brother John's. These three blocks were sold in 1838.

In 1856 James purchased the Thorn estate in its entirety (it has been subdivided into 20 farms and put up for sale in 1856. In 1830 Governor Darling had promised the land to Chief Constable Thorn of Parramatta as a reward for his part in the capture of two bushrangers. Thorn died in 1838 before the title deeds had passed to him, and so the grant was made on 15th April 1840 to George Henry Thorn, his youngest surviving son, then nine years old).

The whole portion was bought for £900, and when the land was surveyed the area was found to be 723 acres.

In 1858 his son James Bellamy Jr. built his cottage on his portion of the estate. It was located between present day Pennant Hills and Thornleigh (2009).

In 1862, because of the 'natural love and affection for his son' Joseph, and for his better maintenance, livelihood and support' conveyed 70 acres of the 100 acres of 'Bellamy Farm' (which himself he had inherited from his parents) lying 'northwest of the road running through it'. The remaining 30 acres on the south-east side of the road, was left to his daughter May Ann, wife of James Shields.

James Bellamy a widower and farmer aged 76 and born NSW of Pennant Hills was married by H.H. Britten to Martha Martin a spinster aged 26 of Pennant Hills. Parents of the groom were William Bellamy a farmer and Ann Bellamy late Ann Taylor (?). Parents of the bride were Frank Spencer, occupation unknown and Amelia Martin.

James' son Zadok and his wife were living at James' house with James' second wife and Zadoc's step mother Martha at 99 Castle Hill Road.
James' will perhaps tells the story of the difficulties of two families living under the one roof. In his Will, James left this property and house, 'Bellamy's Homestead', together with all his horses, cattle, pigs and poultry, plus 60 acres of adjoining land, to Zadoc. To James Jr., he bequeathed 440 acres of what had been the Thorn grant and to two grandsons, James and William Shields, 24 acres in the Field of Mars when they reached the age of 21 years. To his new wife, Martha, he left £200 and the furniture of two rooms of the house in which they were living.
Three months later he added a codicil dated 22 Dec 1871 by which he left Martha £100, plus their bedstead and bedding. Nearly two years later he added another codicil, revoking the first one. By the second codicil, Martha was to receive £200 and all the bedroom furniture and bedding, china and crockery from the parlour adjoining the bedroom, and the kitchen utensils. The remainder of the furniture was to go to Zadoc. Other items were £15 to the Asylum for Destitute Children at Randwick, £15 for patients at the Parramatta Infirmary, and to the Church of England, Pennant Hills (Carlingford), £15 to increase the stipend of the Minister for three years at £5 per annum, and £25 was to go tot he vestry room at St. Paul's Castle Hill.

DEATHS.
BELLAMY. - March 6, at his residence, Belmount Cottage, Castle Hill, Mr. James Bellamy in the 80th year of his age.

St. Paul's Church of England Cemetery
Inscription:
Sacred to the memory of Hannah Bellamy
who died October 14 1869, in her 69th year
Thou shalt go to thy father in peace,
Thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
"O glorious hour o blest abode
I shall be near and like my God
Nor more shall flesh and sin control
The sacred treasures of my soul"
Also of James Bellamy, who died
March 6 1875 aged 79 years
Transcribed with help from NFHS publication