The war was over but there were still many tensions around the Great Lakes. The fur trade was a
booming business, along with logging and ship building. The British still disputed the boundaries
laid down by the Treaty of Ghent which had ended the war on Christmas eve of the year before. The
Indians had lost more territory and some tribes still regularly raided villages. Just eight short months
ago, Andy Jackson and his group of backwoodsmen with their squirrel-rifles had defeated the
British at the Battle of New Orleans, keeping the mouth of the Mississippi secure for western trade.
The new Country was on it's way toward greatness and Colonel Bellinger meant to keep it that way.
His regiment was the 27th, or the Mohawk Valley regiment, of the New York Militia.Colonel Christopher Bellinger was the son of another Colonel, Peter Bellinger. The father and son were two of thirteen Bellingers who fought in the battle of Oriskany, at Sackett's Harbor, on Lake Ontario, back in 1777, one of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution. The British had had a scheme to quell the rebellious colonies in a three-pronged invasion of New York in order to split the new nation, to divide and then recapture what they still thought of as theirs. They sent three forces toward the Mohawk Valley, one from Fort Ontario, one from the Hudson River and one from New York City. Our boys were holding off the first troups at Fort Stanwix and General Herkimer rallied about 800 us to relieve the fort. We had just crossed the heavy swamp bottom near Oriskany and were climbing the ravine side when the enemy closed in. Somehow they had been warned that we were coming and sent Sir John Johnsons Loyalists and his buddy, Chief Thayendanegea with his Mohawks. General Herkimer's horse was shot from under him in the first hail of fire and a musketball shattered the general's leg. We carried him to a large beech tree and with his sword drawn, he continued to give orders. With musket blasts, bayonet lunges, tomahawk throws, and hand-to-hand combat, the carnage was dreadful. The Indians lost many warriors, abandoning the fight after about eight hours, forcing the Tories to retreat back to the Fort where they found their supplies had been raided while they were fighting us. What Mohawks remained with the British got disgusted and left and the Brits abandoned the siege and returned to Canada. The other two groups of Redcoats never made it this far, one defeated at Sarasota and the other turned south before leaving the city of New York.
Chris and Pete were two of twenty-four Bellingers who served in the Tryon County Militia during
the War of 1812. The family with the most participants of any in northwestern New York.
Occupations before the war included a saddler, a printer, farmers, labourers, and a merchant.
Peter had been a Captain during the French and Indian War and throughout the Revolutionary War. He married General Herkimers sister, Delia in January of 1750. His parents were Frederick and Anna Elizabeth Fox Bellinger and his Grandparents were Johannes and Anna Maria Margaretha Bellinger, the first of the Bellinger line to come to the New World from Germany. Johannes was born in 1566 or thereabouts. To put it in perspective, Columbus found this new world in 1492. The first new world settlement, Jamestown, where John Smith eventually married Pocahontas, was founded in 1606, and the pilgrims set ashore at Plymouth Rock in 1621.
Other families of Bellingers came to the New World later, Theodore and George arrived here
between 1847 and 1871. I'm certain they were related to Colonel Cristopher because they settled
nearby. If indeed, I am from this line of fighting men, I should feel proud. While researching, I
encountered many names of both people and places that brought me a sense of deja-vu. Friends
from my childhood days have the same surnames as members of Colonel Bellingers regiment.
Some of the above mentioned Bellingers lived in Warren, New York, I live in Warren Center,
Pennsylvania. Some lived in LeRay, New York, I spent most of my youth in LeRaysville,
Pennsylvania. I would like to learn more, who was Great-Grandpa's father? Frank Martin Bellinger
was born in Pierpoint, New York, married Alida Minnie Hammond on April 8th, 1900, had 11
children, then died on August 27th, 1935. His sixth son was Burton Ziney Bellinger, my
grandpa.