Marsden Bellamy Papers

1850-1969, undated (bulk 1860-1889); 1860-1889
Manuscript Collection #721
Portions of this collection are digitized (1 item)
Print Finding Aid
Request On-site Use
Creator(s)
Bellamy family
Physical description
2.25 Cubic Feet, 5 boxes, consisting of correspondence, wills, deeds, account books, legal documents and estate records
Preferred Citation
Marsden Bellamy Papers (#721), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
Access to audiovisual and digital media is restricted. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

This collection (1850-1969; bulk 1860-1889) of papers belonging to Wilmington, New Hanover County, NC, attorneys, who were father and son and both named Marsden Bellamy, includes wills, deeds, estate and mortgage records, legal briefs, correspondence, insurance policies, account books, loan records, receipts of payment, agreements and other legal records.

Biographical/historical information

Marsden Bellamy was born in Marion, SC, on January 14, 1843. He was an assistant paymaster in the Confederate Navy aboard the CSS RICHMOND during the Civil War, and also served in the 3rd North Carolina Cavalry. Bellamy later became a prominent Wilmington, NC attorney. On December 26, 1866 he married Hattie H. Harllee (birth and death dates unknown), daughter of Dr. Robert Harllee of Marion District, SC. The couple had one daughter, Eliza, who died on June 10, 1874 (aged one year, eleven months and 16 days) and one son, also named Marsden Bellamy. The elder Bellamy died on December 1, 1909 at the age of 66, and was buried at Oakdale Cemetery, Wilmington, NC.

Marsden Bellamy (December 4, 1878-March 1968), the son of the above Bellamy, was born in Wilmington, New Hanover County, NC. The younger Bellamy was also an attorney like his father. He was also a member of the North Carolina State Senate (10th District, 1913), the Freemasons, Elks, Junior Order, and the Redmen. Bellamy's political persuasion was Democrat and religious affiliation Presbyterian. His burial location currently unknown.

Scope and arrangement

The collection consists of the papers of Marsden Bellamy and his son Marsden Bellamy. The inclusive dates of the collection range from 1850 to 1969, although the bulk of the collection is from the period 1860-1889. The papers include various legal documents, including last will and testaments (1888-1927), deeds (1850-1969), agreements (1873-1910), as well as court briefs and claims. Also included in this collection are estate and mortgage records, account books, Marsden Bellamy's personal insurance policies and forms (1869-1891), and various receipts of payment (1854-1938). The great majority of these legal documents concern land and residents of New Hanover County, Wilmington, NC. There are also letters of correspondence to both Marsden Bellamys from various friends, family, and clients (1866-1968). Also included is a deed documenting the sale of 53 named enslaved persons. The enslaved persons were transferred from their previous enslaver John H. Hinder (Administrator for Olivia Cox Eagles) to their new enslaver Thomas Mcllhenny of Wilmington at Smithville, NC Brunswick County on June 11, 1853.

Administrative information
Custodial History

January 9, 1996, 1,031 items; New Hanover County, NC, papers (1850-1969) of Wilmington, NC attorney. Gift of Mr. David H. Scott, Wilmington, NC.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Mr. David H. Scott

Processing information

Processed by Joseph Kenneth Mayner, May 5, 2004

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Descriptions updated by Ashlyn Racine, May 2023

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Metadata Rights Declaration

This record is made available under an Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Creative Commons license.

Key terms
Personal Names
Bellamy, Marsden, 1843-1909
Bellamy, Marsden, Jr., 1878-1968
Family Names
Bellamy family
Topical
Lawyers--North Carolina--Wilmington
Slave bills of sale--North Carolina--Smithville
Container list
Box 1 Folder a Marsden Bellamy , 1866-1875
Box 1 Folder c Marsden Bellamy, 1953-1968
Box 1 Folder d Envelopes From Correspondence, undated
Box 1 Folder e Envelopes From Correspondence, undated
Box 1 Folder f Envelopes From Correspondence, undated
Box 2 Folder a Life Insurance Policies of Marsden Bellamy, 1869-1891
Box 2 Folder b Personal papers of Marsden Bellamy, 1871-1962
Box 2 Folder c Internal Revenue Service License of Marsden Bellamy, 1867
Box 2 Folder d Notes & Accounts of Marsden Bellamy, 1850-1877
Box 2 Folder e Timothy Donlan legal papers, 1873-1926
Box 2 Folder f A. Shrier legal papers, 1888
Box 2 Folder g Daisy R. Mack legal papers , Will of N.W. Mack, 1904
Box 2 Folder h Probate of Will of Rachael A. Wade, 1900
Box 2 Folder i Captain James Macumber legal papers, 1901
Box 2 Folder j Nancy C. Shields Estate Settlement Papers, 1899
Box 2 Folder k Protests for Non-Payment, 1897-1898
Box 2 Folder l The City of Wilmington vs. B.L. Gornta, Complaint Form, 1887
Box 2 Folder m Francis W. Kerchner vs. William J. Potter, Summons, 1875
Box 2 Folder n Lewis N. Barlow vs. Cornelius Wilkinson & others, Report of Sale, 1872
Box 2 Folder o Williams & others vs. Johnston & others, Brief, 1892
Box 2 Folder p Hartsfield vs. Council, Judgment, 1860
Box 2 Folder q S. Van Amringe vs. John D. Taylor Superior Court & Supreme Court Briefs, 1890-1891
Box 2 Folder r H.A. Bagg vs. Wilmington, Columbia & Augusta R.R. Co. Supreme Court Brief, 1890
Box 2 Folder s Sterling Cycle Works (Chicago, IL) vs. M.P. Taylor, Jr. Complaint Files, 1897-1898
Box 3 Folder a Letter to the Members of the Board of Aldermen (Bellamy Case), 1901
Box 3 Folder b State vs. George B. Robeson, Warrant for False Partner & Affidavit, 1882
Box 3 Folder c Deeds for enslaved persons, 1853
Box 3 Folder d Deeds, 1850-1874
Box 3 Folder e Deeds, 1882-1889
Box 3 Folder f Deeds, 1890-1898
Box 3 Folder g Deeds, 1901-1919
Box 3 Folder h Deeds, 1820-1929
Box 4 Folder a Deeds, 1931-1937
Box 4 Folder b Deeds, 1941-1944
Box 4 Folder c Deeds, 1945-1949
Box 4 Folder d Deeds, 1950-1969
Box 4 Folder e Loan Application for Walker Taylor, Citizens' Building & Loan Association, 1903
Box 4 Folder f W. & O. Benefit Fund Account Book, 1921-1939
Box 4 Folder g W. O. & B. Fund Account Book, 1901-1937
Box 5 Folder a S.C.R.A. Account Book, 1940-1949
Box 5 Folder b Laura K. Doscher Loans w/Interest at 4%, 1891
Box 5 Folder c Mortgage Records, 1869-1901
Box 5 Folder d Henry Green to M. Sophia Blossom & Kate C. Shaw Mortgage Papers, 1890-1891
Box 5 Folder e Augustus Williams Account Book, Mechanics Home Association, 1889
Box 5 Folder f Frances D. Penton Account Book, Citizens' Building & Loan Association, 1950
Box 5 Folder g Receipts, 1854-1859
Box 5 Folder h Receipts, 1860-1869
Box 6 Folder a Receipts, 1870-1879
Box 6 Folder b Receipts, 1880-1881
Box 6 Folder c Receipts, 1883
Box 6 Folder d Receipts, 1884
Box 6 Folder e Receipts, 1886-1889
Box 6 Folder f Receipts, 1893-1938
Box 6 Folder g Receipts, undated
Box 6 Folder h Robeson County Claims, 1871-1872
Box 6 Folder i Agreements, 1873-1910
Box 6 Folder j Land Survey - H.A. Colvin, 1872
Box 6 Folder k Clayton Giles Bond For Title, Oleander Development Company, 1927
Box 6 Folder l Rittenhouse Moore Order for Seizure, steamboat (the Robert Turner), undated
Box 6 Folder m Summons before E.H. McQuigg, New Hanover County, 1870
Box 6 Folder n Articles of Agreement, James W. Jackson and wife & George C. Jackson, 1888
Box 6 Folder o A description of the property belonging to John Bradley, undated
Box 6 Folder p Last Will & Testaments, 1888-1927
Box 6 Folder q Insurance Policies & Forms, 1854-1898
Box 7 Folder a Insurance Policies & Forms, 1905-1909
Box 7 Folder b Insurance Policies & Forms, 1910-1941