Jared Belding

     Jared Belding was born on 3 March 1786 at Saint John, Saint John Co, New Brunswick.¹ He was the son of Daniel Belding and Mabel Bristall. Jared Belding was baptized on 3 July 1786 at Saint John, Saint John Co, New Brunswick; Baptised by Rev. Richard Samuel Clark, the first resident clergy of Gagetown, NB, who was in Saint John by May 1786.² He died after 13 January 1814; Jared must have died after January 1814. There was a notice in the Royal Gazette and Newfoundland Advertiser concerning the schooner "Bellisarius" available for freight or passage out of St. John's, bound for Halifax. Jared Belding was listed as Master, and the schooner was then lying at Messiers Parker, Bulley, Job and Company's Lower Wharf; It would be ready to sail about the 22nd since part of her cargo was already engaged, and if the wind was good. She was reported to have good accomodations for passengers.³
     He was a Freeman enumerated as "Gerrard Belding" in 1807 at Saint John, Saint John Co, New Brunswick. Jared Belding was an active ship's master, and several accounts of his sailings can be found. One was in 1808, and has been transcribed as an attachment.⁴ According to notes written on the family history by Frederick Thompson of Chance Harbour some years ago, Jared drowned at sea, and was unmarried. Another note from a family member (name lost over the years) indicates he married a Margaret Hepburn, but no proof has been found.⁵