John BELLINGER, born ca 1830 Herefordshire, England was married in 1870 to Mary Ann BOWDEN (nee COUSINS), born 1832, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, daughter of Charles COUSINS and Sarah NEWMAN. Mary Ann was the widow of John BOWDEN who died in 1866.

John BELLINGER, farmer of Bruk Bruk with 2 school-aged children and shown as living 1 mile NE of Carapook was one of the signatures to the 1875 petition aimed at establishing a new school at Carapook. Mary Ann COUSINS (1834-1912). Mary Ann, a widow was originally married to John BOWDEN in 1857, Geelong and they had 3 children, Catherine Cooper b.1860, Phoebe Jane b.1862 & John George b.1864. The last two were born at Muntham.

John BELLINGER and Mary Ann COUSINS had the following family:

1. Samuel James Edward BELLINGER b. 1871, Bruk Bruk, Vic, m. Elizabeth LANDT
2. Frederick Charles BELLINGER b. 1873, Bruk Bruk, Vic, d. 1875
3. Sarah Ann BELLINGER b. 1875, Bruk Bruk, Vic m. John MARSH
4. Harriet Elizabeth Jane BELLINGER b. 1877, Bruk Bruk, Vic m. Joseph Henry LOWE

John BOWDEN, born 1829 Wiltshire, England was married in 1857 in Geelong to Mary Ann COUSINS), born 1832, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, daughter of Charles COUSINS and Sarah NEWMAN.

John BOWDEN died in 1866 and was buried in the Sandford Cemetery.

John BOWDEN and Mary Ann COUSINS had the following family:

1. Catherine Cooper BOWDEN b. 1860, "Pollackdale" Station, Vic, m. John NEWELL
2. Phoebe Jane BOWDEN b. 1862, "Muntham" Station, Vic, d. 1875
3. John George BOWDEN b. 1864, "Muntham" Station, Vic, m. Annie SATCHELL
4. William Henry BOWDEN b. ca 1867, "Muntham" Station, Vic, m. Alice Adeline LAMPARD