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"Richard Bellingham (1592-1672) was a colonial
lawyer, magistrate, and several-time governor of the
Massachusetts Bay
Colony.
Bellingham arrived in Massachusetts in 1634, and immediately fixed his
residence in Boston. He had the character of a sincere Puritan in England,
and often appeared in public as an advocate for their cause.
When the Massachusetts Company was first formed in England, in 1628, and
applied for a charter, he aided them in obtaining it. He had a high
reputation for probity, and proved himself a most upright ruler and
magistrate. His profession was the law, and he must have been very useful in
the early days of the colony.
In 1635, he was the Deputy Governor under John Haynes, who was Chief
Magistrate that year. After the death of John Endicott of Salem, in 1644-5,
he was chosen Governor, and continued in that position for several years. He
was a zealous advocate for civil liberty, and for the exercise of the
political power granted by the charter.
When the commissioners of Charles II came into the colony, to exercise high
judicial authority over the government, he was among their opponents, and
denied their right to interfere between the government and the people, as
being repugnant to the authority of rulers and judges here, chosen or
appointed.
It may be justly said of Bellingham, that he was a suitable Governor for
Puritans and Republicans. He was of exemplary morals; conscientious in
public political affairs, as well as those in which were private and
personal.
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