I found this well-documented information written by someone on ancestry.com:
Lucy YEOMAN [c. 1760-1797) married John BELLANFANT [c. 1760-1802] about 1780. Lucy was named in her father’s will in 1792. She was devised 2 Negros and their increase by the names of Patt and Jane. Shortly before her father’s death he called his son-in-law John BELLANFANT to his bedside to discuss the Negro Charlotte devised to Elizabeth PRICE.
John BELLANFANT died in early 1802 at which time the Court took charge of his children. At May Court, it was ordered that Joseph BELOFFEN 12 years be bound to Z STRONG… carpenter trade learning as far as rule of (threes).[i] At the same court, Suckay [Susanna] BELOFFEN chose James HAILY for her guardian…[ii] In August 1802 it was ordered that Alexander TATE be guardian to Joseph, Mary [Mourning], Lucy and John BELEFONT.[iii] In the same court Mary P. (Polly) & Elizabeth BELEFENT came into court and chose Alexander TATE their guardian.[iv] In May 1805 it was ordered that John BELLAFONT orphan 11 years old be bound to PEAY till he arrives at the age of 21 years… learning as far as the rule of threes… trade of a shoe maker.[v]
Note: an orphan was appointed a guardian when there is a financial interest at risk – Lucy’s inheritance from her father’s will. The child could still be bound out to learn a trade. There were numerous court appearances and suits related to these children. I have listed only a few.
On August 3, 1805, Polly BELLANFANT married Alexander JOHNSON.[vi] In that same month, it was ordered that John BELLANFANT formerly in the possession of Robert PEAY and Susanna BELLANFANT formerly in possession of James HAILY as guardians being orphans of John BELLANFANT… now to be placed in the hands of Alexander JOHNSON as their guardian.[vii]
Elizabeth [Betsy] BELLANFANT married William SAUNDERS on March 26, 1806.[viii] Her sister Susana BELLANFANT married Achilles WYNN June 13, 1808.[ix]
In May 1808 a commission was appointed “to divide to such of the legatees of Drury YEOMAN (orphans of John BELLANFANT dec’d) as are of age the negro property of said YEOMAN. To wit Jane, her children Alby[?], Sukey and Kate. Pat and her children Abram, Lucinda, Charles, Sam and Edmond.”[x] [These are the slaves Jane and Patt and their increase willed by Drury YEOMAN Senior to daughter Lucy and then to her children proving Lucy was married to John BELLANFANT.]
In August 1808 it was ordered that the division as made by the commissioners to divide the whole number of slaves belonging to the orphans of John BELLANFANT be confirmed…[xi] The division lists the following children: Polly JOHNSTON, Betsy SANDERS, Susanna WYNN. Lucy BELLEFANT, John BELLEFANT, Morning BELLEFANT and Joseph BELLEFANT. The last 4 being minors under 21.[xii]
There are references on the internet which I have not verified that Lucy died at sea while giving birth to her daughter who was named Mourning. They were returning from visiting John’s family in France, his homeland.[xiii] There are also references that Mary Polly and Alexander JOHNSON took her younger siblings and moved to TN. I did not verify this.
[i] Rockingham Co. Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions May 1802 p?? numbers out of sequence
[ii] Rockingham Co. Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions May 1802 p?? numbers out of sequence
[iii] Rockingham Co. Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions Aug 1802 p?? numbers out of sequence
[iv] Rockingham Co. Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions Aug 1802 p?? numbers out of sequence
[v] Rockingham Co. Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions May 1805 p50
[vi]"NC, Marriages, 1759-1979," index, FamilySearch … Alexander Johnson and Polly Bellanfant, 03 Aug 1805;
[vii] Rockingham Co. Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions Aug 1805 p72
[viii]"NC, Marriages, 1759-1979," index, FamilySearch … William Saunders and Elizabeth Bellanfant, 26 Mar 1806;
[ix]"NC, Marriages, 1759-1979," index, FamilySearch … Achilles Wynn and Susana Bellanfant, 13 Jun 1808;
[x] Rockingham Co. Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions May 1808 p??
[xi] Rockingham Co. Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions Aug 1808 p??
[xii] "NC, Estate Files, 1663-1979," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-35516-32362-44?cc=191... : accessed 20 April 2015), Rockingham County > B > Bellanfant, John (1808) > image 2 -6 of 7; State Archives, Raleigh.
[xiii] Just do a simple web search for ‘Bellanfant family’.
