The name Ballengee probably has its origins in the French word boulanger, the word for baker. The name Ballinger is closely related and may have been changed when these people settled England. The name probably came from France either at the time of William the Conqueror in subsequent migrations. (1)
The father of Ives or Evi Bellangee was shot during the dragonades of Louis XIV, and his wife and children fled for refuge to the caves and forests of their native province where they were concealed for several months until they were able to escape with others, most likely to Dover. (2) This was a time of terrible internal conflict in France. Calvinist doctrine had spread and the reformed, or Huguenots, were being persecuted for their belief. The Catholic king was determined to wipe out the "heresy" and ordered the military to send troops in to lodge in the homes of the Huguenots in the provinces of Poitou and Limousin. The soldier, thus billeted, indulged in such terrorist excesses that even the king disapprovedand finally called a halt to the practice. (3)
Evi emigrated first to England and then to America between the years 1682 and 1690. He was a weaver. He married Christian De La Plaine 10 June 1697. (4) Intentions to marry were declared at a Friends Meeting in Philadelphia on the 25 April 1697. the minutes of the meeting state that he produced a certificate from Virginia. Soon after their marriage they moved from Philadelphia to Little Egg Harbor, N.J. (5)
Ives (Evi) Bellanger's name has been recorded several ways. His Will is indexed under John as the "I" looks like a "J" and the "e" was written like an "o". His son is Evi Jr. in some records and Ives is recorded as James Bellangee in some Great Egg Harbor Friends Records. (6)
According to the will of Ives Bellanger, his children were: Evi, James, Elizabeth, Miscell, Susannah, Nicholas, Joshua, Isaac and an unborn child (likely later named Samuel). For will, see appendix.
SMITH, Evi - born 12 July 1721, Md. Mary. He died 29 Jan 1789. Had children: Henry b. 10 Aug 1749; Martha b. 26 Oct 1752; Robert b. 26 Oct 1752; d. 17 Feb 1802; David b. 26 July 1755; Elizabeth b. 18 June 1757; Jerusha b. 18 Sep 1759; Jonathan b. 17 May 1762; Evi b. 8 Mar 1768; d. 24 Aug 1804. (15)
SMITH, Daniel - b. 22 June 1732. He md Sarah Stevens, (Dau. of John Stevens of Philadelphia) ca 1766. (16)
The second child of Ives (or Evi) and Christian De La Plaine Bellangee was born 25 Jan 1701. In 1724 Evi Belanger, Jr., married out of the meeting . . . This was recorded at Friends Monthly Meeting at Little Egg Harbor. (7) there is also a record of Evy Bellangy marrying Susanna English 18 April 1738 at Cape May. (8) In another record the date for this marriage is 22 April 1751. (9)
The author feels that it is this Evi Bellangee who is the father of Isaac Bellangee (Ballengee) who settled in the 1780s on New River of Virginia. We know from Edward's letter that Isaac's father wa an Evi. the dates would point to this man as being the most logical Evi to be Isaac's father. Perhaps further research in early Virginia or New Jersey records will support this theory.
A valuable tract of LAND, in Great Egg Harbour Township, Gloucester County, containing 75 acres, most part bears a large burthen of fresh grass, and has been mowed many years, lying on Great Egg Harbour river, has a fine stream for a furnace; there is on said land, a large quantity of Iron ore, near three quarters of a mile long, and between 30 and 40 rods wide, but how deep unknown, having dug a considerable depth, without coming to the bottom; the ore has been tried and found to be as rich and good as in any in the Jerseys. It is a very convenient place for a tavern, as it lies on the road from Philadelphia to Egg Harbor. Any person inclining to purchase said land, by applying to the subscriber, living in said township, may be informed of the terms of the sale.
Names of children of Evi and Susanna English Bellangee aare unknown except for a son Samuel. This Samuel may be the unborn child mentioned in Ives's will. The wording is confusing in these records. He is stated as a son of Evi, Sr.
In 1759 Abel Scull mentions land he bought "of Evy Ballenger . . . the cedar swamp at Egg Harbor." (11) This is the latest known record of this Evi Bellangee.
James and Margery had eight children. The will of James Bellangee was dated 9 March 1781 and proved 18 March 1790 at Little Egg Harbor, N.J. He died 3 march 1790.
The first child of James and Margery Smith Bellangee was born 26 March 1729 and died after her husband. She married Gideon Scull in 1750. He was born 16 Mar 1722 and died 6 Dec 1776, the son of John and Mary Somers Scull. (20). They had 10 children:
The second child of James and Margery Smith Bellangee was born 11 apr 1732. She married in 1754 as the second wife to John Ridgway, Sr. Their son, Jacob, became one of the wealthiest men of his time in Philadelphia. John, Sr. was the son of Thomas and Ann (Pharo) Ridgeway of Burlington Co., NJ. The Ridgeway family was from England and among the first English settlers on the west side of the Delaware River. (23)
In 1774 John Ridgeway of Little Egg Harbor two, Burlington Co. in his will said, to "son, John, the plantation I bought of Samuel Bellanger." This will was witnessed by James Ballenger, Jr., Thomas Bellanger, and David Allen. The inventory was made by Thomas Bellanger. (24) This was the spelling of the name as it came down through transcribed records.
John and Phebe had two sons: John and Jacob Ridgeway.
(3) CHRISTIAN BELLANGEE
The third child of James and Margery Smith Bellangee was born 15 Nov 1734. She married Daniel Shourds in 1761. (25)
The fourth child of James and Margery Smith Bellangee was born 13 March 1737. She married in 1761 to John Ridgeway, a nephew of John Ridgeway who married her sister, Phebe.
The fifth child of James and Margery Smith Bellangee was born 4 Dec 1739. She married in 1772 to Benjamin Haines of Evesham Twp., Burlington Co., N.J.
The sixth child of James and Margery Smith Bellangee was born 30 March 1742. She married in 1767 to Job Ridgway, the brother of John who married her sister, Susanna. Ruth's son was Amos Ridgway who married Mercy or Mary Hubbs 23 Feb 1800. He died before 1813. (25, 26)
The seventh child of James and Margery Smith Bellangee was born 7 July 1744. He married Grace Engle of Evesham, Burlington Co., NJ. They moved to Genessee Co., NY. The Quaker records show that they received a certificate to Mt. Holly Monthly Meeting in 1796 and in 1800 were granted a certificate back to Evesham Monthly Meeting. Then in 1803 they moved to Concord Monthly Meeting. No children. (27)
The seventh child of James and Margery Smith Bellangee was born 7 July 1744 and died 27 July 1816 at the age of 72. He and James Jr. were twins. He married Mary Barton 5 June 1775. (28)
Thomas witnessed the will of James Eldridge of Evesham Twp. Burlington Co., in 1760 with Joshua "Ballinger" (29) He witnessed the will of John Garwood 22 Feb 1752 in Evesham Twp. (30) They had six children of whom Margery was one.
The daughter of Thomas and Mary Barton Bellangee married James Willets 18 Feb 1813. James was born 8 June 1783 and died 27 March 1847. He was first married to Phebe Bartlett. Margery had no children. (31)
The fourth child of Ives and Christian De La Plaine Bellangee. Joshua Bellangee (also spelled Ballengee and Ballingaer in these records) was involved in a number of probate actions from about 1750-60. He inventoried the estates of Benjamin Allen in 1753, Joseph Butcher in 1760, Benjamin Crispin in 1753, Samuel Eves of Evesham Twp. in 1759, Wm. Gard in 1752, john Gosling in 1756, Nathan Haines in 1751, james Lippincott in 1760, Samuel Lippincott in 1759, Peter Phillips in 1760, Wm. Sharp, Jr. in 1760, Joseph Stokes Sr. 1757. He witnessed the wills of Dorothy Heulings 1758, Jospeh Hopewell 1754, and James Eldridge in 1760. (32)
Joshua of Evesham Twp., Burlington Co., NJ made his will 4 May 1761 and it was proved 22 June 1761. In the will he names his wife, Naomi, sons Thomas (the eldest), Zacheus, and Enoch, and daughters Charity and Martha. The will was witnessed by Abraham Leeds, Agnes Hewlings, Enoch Roberts. (33)
The only child we have any further information about is Zaccheus Bellangee. He married Hope Lippincott, the daughter of Benjamin Lippincott. (from will of Benjamin, 34)
The seventh child of Ives and Christian De La Plaine Bellangee. Isaac witnessed the will of Edward Barton in 1753. (35)
The eighth child of Ives and Christian De La Plaine Bellangee. Virkus has record of a Samuel Ballinger who came from Birmingham, England before the American Revolution and settled in Burlington Co., NJ. He was a Quaker and had children. (36)
"The son of Evi, Sr. and brother of James Sr. md 1745 Alice (daughter of Joseph Parker, Sr.) at the Friends Monthly Meeting of Little Egg Harbor. They removed to a distant locality." (12, 13)
1. John Ballenger. THE BALLENGER FAMILY OF OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA. 1956. Grady Woodfin Ballenger, Publ Seneca, S.C., p. 1.
2. Information furnished by Doris Ballengee from work in the National Archives. The only reference given was "Poitou".
3. Will & Ariel Durant. THE AGE OF LOUIS XIV. Simon and Schuster. 1963. New York, p. 69-72.
4. Wm. Wade Hinshaw. ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN QUAKER GENEALOGY. Edward Bros., Inc. 1938. Ann arobr, MI. Vol. II, p. 458.
5. Poitou
6. James W. Hook. SMITH, GRANT AND IRONS FAMILIES OF NEW JERSEY'S SHORE COUNTIES INCLUDING THE RELATED FAMILIES OF WILLITS AND BIRDSALL. 1955 by Author, p. 4.
7. E. M. Woodward and John F. Hageman. HISTORY OF BURLINGTON AND MERCER COUNTIES, NJ WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MANY OF THEIR PIONEERS AND PROMINENT MEN. 1883. Everts & Peck. Philadelphia, p. 339.
8. ARCHIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY. First Series, vol. XXII. Marriage Records, p. 18.
9. Stanley H. Craig. CAPE MAY COUNTY, NJ. MARRIAGE RECORDS. 1931. By author. Merchantville, NJ., p. 3.
10. Wm. Nelson, editor. ARCHIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, First Series, Vol. XXV. The Call Printing and Publishing Co., Peterson, NJ., p. 461.
11. ARCHIVES OF NEW JERSEY. Abstract of Wills, Vol. 4, p. 377.
12. Woodward, p. 339.
13. A.C. Parker. PARKER IN AMERICA: 1639-1910. 1911. Buffalo, NY.
14. Will of Robert Smith, Gloucester Co., NJ. File #893 H. in Secy of State's Office, Trenton, NJ.
23. George Norbury Mackenzie. COLONIAL FAMILIES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Vol. VI. Genealogical Publishing Co. Baltimore. 1966. p. 350.
26. ARCHIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY. Series 1, Vol. XXXIX, CALENDAR OF WILLS, Vol. X, p. 32.
32. ARCHIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY. First Series. Vol. XXXII of CALENDAR OF WILLS, Vol. III, p. 11, 49, 81, 104, 110, 125, 132, 138.
36. Frederick A. Virkus, IMMIGRANTS TO AMERICA BEFORE 1750. A - B+ Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, p. 144.