Bellingham was certainly brought up in London and apprenticed to a jeweller, James Love, at the age of fourteen, but two years later was sent as a midshipman on the maiden voyage of the "Hartwell" from Gravesend to China.
Bellingham was certainly born in St Neots, Huntingdonshire and later brought up in London where he was apprenticed to a jeweller, James Love, at the age of fourteen. Two years later he was sent as a midshipman on the maiden voyage of the "Hartwell" from Gravesend to China.