BELLAMY MANSION MUSEUM
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

Bellamy Birthdays

2/1/2015

0 Comments

 
While there were no Bellamy children’s birthdays in February, grandmother Harriss was born on the 27th of this month in 1802. Mary Priscilla Jennings, daughter of George Jennings and Charity Johnson, married William James Harriss in 1820. William became a respected physician, prominent citizen and mayor of Wilmington; he and Mary had eight children, the eldest of whom was Eliza.
In the same year that Eliza married John Dillard Bellamy (1839), Dr. Harriss died at the age of 42. Mary was just 37 with seven children under age 15 still living in their home on the corner of Dock and 2nd Streets. And so the newly wed Eliza and John moved in and added four more children to the already bustling household serviced by 14 slaves.
Picture
The gravestone for "Mother" in Oakdale cemetery reads: Mary P. Harriss sweetly fell asleep in Jesus. She was 77 years old.
Grandma Harriss remained a daily presence in the lives of the Bellamy children even after Eliza and John moved out in 1846. Their new home where they bore six more children was across the street in the former residence of Governor Benjamin Smith. The couple moved again in 1861 to the mansion on Market Street where the last of the Bellamy children was born.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    About Us

    The museum offers tours, features changing exhibits, and provides venue space for weddings and special events.

    503 Market Street
    Wilmington, NC 28401
    910.251.3700
    Tours:
    Tues - Sat 10am- 4pm
    Sunday 1pm- 4pm

    Categories

    All
    Events
    Mardi Gras
    News
    Restoration

    Archives

    February 2020
    January 2020
    March 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    July 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    February 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.