Edmund Bellinger was the First Landgrave of Tomotley and Ashepoo Baronies in South Carolina, which were established in 1698. This title of Landgrave passed to his son Edmund II. Family tradition states that the title Landgrave was passed down to Edmund III, then Edmund IV, then Joseph Bellinger, then the 6th and last Landgrave being Edmund Cussings Bellinger. However, public recognition of the title Landgrave went out of favor in SC during the mid-1700’s, with the last known Landgrave being created in 1751 (Gov. Daniel Blake). According to https://www.carolana.com/ the only officially recognized Landgraves among the Bellingers were Edmund I and Edmund II.

Edmund Bellinger III married his 1st cousin, Mary Lucia Bull. They married in March of 1742. Mary Lucia was the daughter of Capt. Burnaby Bull and Lucia Bellinger (daughter of Edmund Bellinger I). Capt. Burnaby Bull was born in England and died in 1706 at Ashley Hall, Charlestown, SC. Ashley Hall is a famous plantation still in existence. Burnaby Bull’s older brother was Governor William Bull of SC.

Edmund III and his wife Mary Lucia had nine children, three of which died fairly young or in infancy. The remaining six children lived prominent lives in SC. Edmund III established a plantation at Stony Point which is located near North Charleston, SC and near the town of Fort Bull just across the Ashley River. Edmund died at Stony Point on 12 Sep 1787. His wife Mary Lucia died there in 1796. Edmund III is recognized by the DAR under #A008845 as having supported the Revolution and having provided supplies.

Three of Edmund III’s sons served in the Revolutionary War as Patriots. That included Edmund F. Bellinger IV (DAR #A008846), John Bellinger (DAR #A008854 – a Private), and William Cotesworth Bellinger (DAR #A008860 – also a Private).

My wife Ginna actually descends from Edmund Bellinger III through all three of these sons. Edmund IV was born in 1743 and was her 4xG-Grandfather. John was born in 1745 and was her 4xG-Grandfather. William was born in 1758 and was her 3xG-Grandfather. Therefore that makes our subject, Edmund III, her 4xG-GF one way and her 5xG-GF the other two ways.

The craziness (from a family tree perspective) doesn’t end there, however. I’ve shown how Ginna descends from Edmund III three ways. Now, keep in mind that Edmund III’s wife – Mary Lucia Bull – ALSO descended from Edmund Bellinger I. Therefore, Ginna descends from Edmund I at least six ways.

But… there’s one more way. Edmund Bellinger IV married his cousin also, Mary Cussings. She was the daughter of Lucia Palmer and George Cussings. Lucia Palmer was the daughter of John Palmer and Elizabeth Bellinger – another daughter of Edmund Bellinger I. This family of Edmund Bellinger III and Mary Lucia Bellinger was the nexus for tying Ginna to Edmund I at least seven distinct ways.

Another son of Edmund III was George Bellinger, M.D. He was born 11 Mar 1754 and died after 1810. In 1810 George Bellinger handwrote a three-page document listing the entire Bellinger family tree going back to Edmund Bellinger I. In 1998 or ’99, these papers ended up in the possession of Ginna’s father. In 2024, Ginna and I donated these papers to the South Carolina Historical Society Archives in Charleston, SC. This picture shows Page 1.

Ginna’s father was Charles Carroll Fishburne. Charles lived from 1919-2020. His father (Francis Beattie Fishburne) married a Bellinger (Ann (Anita) Legare Bellinger). She was the G-Granddaughter of William Cotesworth Bellinger named above.

Charles’ grandfather Fishburne (another Charles Carroll Fishburne) also married a Bellinger (Mary Isabel Bellinger). She was the G-Granddaughter of John Bellinger named above.

And, Charles’ 2xG-Grandfather Fishburne (Major Francis Beattie Fishburne) also married a Bellinger (Mary Cussings Bellinger). She was the daughter of Edmund Bellinger IV named above.

Edmund III’s wife was his first cousin, Mary Lucia Bull. As mentioned previously, her father was Capt. Burnaby Bull and her mother was Lucia Bellinger, daughter Edmund Bellinger I.

The Bull family can be traced back to European royalty. See below for more details on that.