Notes for Humphrey Belt

Notes for Humphrey Belt

Humphrey Belt came to Maryland by 1663 with John, Ann, and Sarah Belt, apparently from Virginia. The foundation of the BELT genealogy was published by Christopher Johnston in the Maryland Historical Magazine some eighty years ago. The family is also covered in Elise Jourdan's Early Families of Southern Maryland Vol 1, Revised, and Robert Barnes'

!From pages 213, 214, and 215 of "The Hall Family of West River and Kindred Families":
Humphrey BELT, born 1615, married Anne - - -, son, John BELT, married Elizabeth TYDINGS, daughter of Richard. Charity BELT, daughter, married James MILLIKEN. Baptized 1703. Died 1740.
On June 23, 1623, Humphrey BELT, aged 20 years, sailed from Gravesend, England, for the Colony of Virginia, on the ship America under protection of William Clarke.
!Copy from "Licenses to go Beyond the Seas" found in England, and printed in Hotten's List of Emigrants. "23 June 1635. These underwritten names are to be transported to Virginia imbarqued in the America, William Barker, Mr. P. Cert. from the Minister of the town of Gravesand of their conformitie to the orders and displine of the Church of England." Among the fifty or more names found was the signature or "Humphrey BELT" and his age as twenty years.
On September 29, 1636, William Clarke was granted 450 acres of land in Henrico County on the Appotomax for the transportation of nine persons, among whom was Hunphrey BELT.
Various deeds and conveyances show that Humphrey BELT located in Lower Norfolk Co., Virginia where Puritan thought was strong and where the exodus to the Severn River in Maryland began in 1649.
Humphrey BELT purchased from Henry Nicholls 150 acres of land in Lower Norfolk County which had been patented by Nicholls on August 10, 1646. He later sold this land to Thomas Cartwright, who sold to Abram Thomas, who sold to Thomas Watkins. These various transactions are all shown in Patent book no. 5, page 569, at the Virginia Land Office at Richmond.
The plantation of Humphrey BELT lay on the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River as is shown by the following patent to Thomas Cartwright. The latter recieved on December 1, 1652, in Lower Norfolk Co., 300 acres of land "near the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River beginning at miles end of John Porter near the main swamp running west by south by Humphrey BELT's.
On June 8, 1654 Humphrey BELT received 220 acres of land lying in Linhaven Parish, Lower Norfolk County "beginning at Thomas Matin's Creek, running along by Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River adjoining to Goldsmith's land and by Mr. Sidney's land" for transportation of five persons to Virginia, namely, Mary Craggs, Randall Hewett, John Cooper, Simon Robinson and George Gay."
From circumstances Humphrey BELT married in Virginia and became the father of several children. His wife is generally referred to as Anne, but insofar as this research was conducted, no proof has been found for the authenticity of the statement.
Sometime after the year 1654, Humphrey BELT and his family migrated to Maryland and settled in Anne Arundel Co., presumably in the vicinity of South River. On June 30, 1663, he appeared at His Lordship's Land Office in St. Mary's City and proved his rights to 200 acres of land for his own emigration and transportation of three members of his family. The following is an exact copy of the original warrant:
"30 June 1663, Humphrey BELT Enters Rights for himself, John Belt, Anne Belt, and Sarah Belt, and demands land Vizt. 200 acres. Warrant to Surv. Genl. to lay out for Humphrye BELT 200 acres. Return 30 December next".
It is noted that Humphrey BELT did not name either Sarah or Anne as his wife, so therefore it is possible that his wife had predeceased him and that Anne and Sarah were both duaghters. John Belt, the son of Humphrey, was born in Lower Norfolk Co., Virginia, and brought to Maryland by his father at a date prior to June 30. 1663.
He was early engage as a cooper as is shown by his first purchase of land. On June 14, 1675, "John BELT, of Anne Arundel Co., Cooper" purchased from Micheal Offley 101 acres of land being part of a tract of land containing 171 acres called "Friends Choice," situated on the ridge of the Patuxent River. On April 20, 1679, John BELT at the home of George Yate in Anne Arundel County swore to the fact that Richard Mascall at the time of his departure from the Province in the year 1673 was in possession of 230 acres of land then lying in Baltimore County but now in Anne Arundel County known as "Mascall's Rest." At this time John BELT signed his name.
On April 29, 1685, John BELT, "Planter" purchased from Thomas Lightfoot and Rebecca his wife of Baltimore Co., 300 acres of land, being a portion of two tracts of land called "Exception" at the head of Gunpowder River which Belt had resurveyed into "Belt's Prosperity."
On Feburary 2, 1687, John BELT was named as one of the overseers of the estate of Richard Tyding, of Anne Arundel County. At this time Richard Tydings mentioned his second daughter, Elizabeth, then under the age of sixteen years. While no absolute evidence has been found so far as this research was carried out, to prove that John BELT married his daughter Elizabeth circumstances are quite strong.
John BELT dated his will May 13, 1697, it being proved November 17, 1698, in Anne Arundel County. He bequeathed personal property to his second daughter, Charity, at marriage or the age of sixteen. After devising tracts "Velmead" and "Belt Proeperity" to his sons and making personal bequests to his older daughters, he named his wife Elizabeth the executrix and bequeathed her the residuary estate.
The will was presented before the Deputy Commissary of Anne Arundel County on November 18, 1698, and attested to by John Tidings, Charity Jordan, Ann Smith and Thomas Hogs. The inventory, appraised at 525 pounds 17 shillings 9 pence including six slaves, was filed in court on June 4, 1700. The estate was appraised by Thomas Stockett and Daniel Mariarite. On July 25,1701, Elizabeth Belt, the widow of John BELT, married John Lamb, Merchant of Anne Arundel County. On December 14, 1703, Elizabeth Lamb brought her four children by John BELT to All Hallow's Church and had them baptized, among whom was her daughter, Charity Belt.
John Lamb, husband of Elizabeth, died testate in Anne Arundel County during the year 1715. The will of Elizabeth Belt-Lamb, was dated August 1, 1737, and proved in Anne Arundel County on December 14, 1737. She divided her estate among the surviving children of both marriages, one of whom was her daughter "Charity Mulliken." and also among her several grand-children. I am not tracng this line down any further as it merges into the Mulliken line with the marriage of Charity Belt and James Mulliken.
This information is from the notes of Mr. Harry Wright Newman.