Belnap Family Organization

04/29/2026

SNEAK PEAK! The Jesse Belnap and Eunice Hall Family Monument is nearing completion! Here's a preview of the front and back sides. The front honors Jesse and Eunice, paternal grandparents of Gilbert Belnap, and highlights Jesse's American Revolutionary War military service. The back lists the names of each of their 15 children with their birth and death years. The monument's foundation will be poured soon, once the weather along chilly Lake Erie is sufficiently warm. Please join us in Erie County, Pennsylvania and in Kirtland, Ohio on Saturday, June 27, 2026, to honor our shared family heritage and in celebrating America's 250th!

04/28/2026

ONLY TWO MONTHS TO GO! The Belnap Family Monument Dedication and Historic Commemoration is right around the corner! Celebrate America's 250th birthday on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Phillips Cemetery in North East Township in Erie County, Pennsylvania, and later that same day inside the Kirtland Temple in Kirtland, Ohio, as we honor American Revolutionary War soldier Jesse Belnap (1760-1854) and his wife Eunice Hall (1762-1849)--paternal grandparents of Gilbert Belnap (1821-1899). As a memento of this once-in-a-lifetime family history event, those who attend will receive a commemorative "challenge coin" featuring, on the obverse, the names and birth/death dates of Jesse Belnap and Eunice Hall surrounded by the “Great Chain” that Jesse helped construct at West Point. The 15 flat links represent each of their 15 children and the 13 stars symbolize the original 13 United States. On the reverse is the Belnap Family Organization seal. We hope to see you this summer in Pennsylvania and Ohio! And please help spread the word!

03/18/2026

The 2026 Belnap Family Reunion is coming up soon! Make plans now to attend! And help spread the word! Details are attached:

03/05/2026

The Belnap Family Organization is at RootsTech! As one of the oldest and largest family organizations in the United States, the BFO was invited to participate in RootsTech, the world’s largest hybrid genealogy conference. The BFO booth, #1702, is inside the Expo Hall in the Salt Palace. If you are attending this year's RootsTech, please stop by. If joining RootsTech remotely, you can find our official RootsTech Online Expo Hall family association page here:

We are pleased to present the sponsors and exhibitors for the 2026 RootsTech conference. Discover valuable resources to enhance your genealogical journey.

12/15/2025

11/25/2025

SAVE THE DATE! CELEBRATE AMERICA'S 250th ANNIVERSARY! PLAN NOW TO ATTEND!
See the attached letter for more information.

07/23/2025

PARADE WEATHER UPDATE: The weather forecast for tomorrow's Pioneer Parade in Ogden is EXCELLENT--74 degrees at the Parade start time of 9:00 a.m. Celebrate our Pioneer heritage! We hope to see you there!!!

07/21/2025

NEW PUBLICATION! A new graphic novel/comic book on the early life of Gilbert Belnap has just been published and will be released for purchase on July 24, 2025, at the 2025 Ogden Pioneer Days Parade. The first of its kind ever produced on the life of Gilbert Belnap, the graphic novel, which tells Gilbert's story using his own words from his autobiography, covers the time from his birth in 1821 in "Upper Canada" (now Ontario), through his becoming orphaned at the tender age of 11, to his baptism in Kirtland, Ohio, in 1842. The publication is top notch in every way--from the incidents focused on from Gilbert's early years to the details of the line drawings and coloring.

Copies of the publication, "A Healthy Dose of Justice: The True Story of Gilbert Belnap's Self-Served Revenge," may be purchased directly from its creator, Rachelle Hale, fourth great granddaughter of Gilbert Belnap, at the Parade. The "Parade cost" is $25.00 apiece and includes taxes minus shipping. Copies can also be ordered separately through Rachelle's website, plus shipping fees, at scarfsorceress.weebly.com.

Rachelle has had a passion for storytelling since she was a child. She yearns to create tales that inspire, comfort, and entice the wonder of God in the souls of anyone who discovers her art—through her words, pictures, or animations. She lives with her six siblings and loving parents. She says, “My goal is to heal wounded hearts through this talent of creativity that God has granted me. I felt inspired to make a graphic novel about Gilbert's early life because it's a story rarely told, and the imagery and wit of his journal made me realize that history isn't so boring after all. If Gilbert's desire for revenge was enough to make me laugh again and again, I knew I had to draw the story of this hot-headed young man and share that humor with as many as I could."

While not an "official" publication of the Belnap Family Organization, the text and images have been reviewed and approved by BFO officers. A small portion of the sales proceeds from each copy will go to the Belnap Family Organization.

07/18/2025

LATE NEWS FLASH!: Gilbert Belnap descendant Ryan Shupe (of “Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand”) and his family are scheduled to join the Belnap Family Organization's Ogden Pioneer Days Parade entry this coming Thursday, July 24! Ryan, third great grandson of Gilbert Belnap, is a nationally acclaimed vocal and instrumental musician with a style that includes a unique fusion of rock, bluegrass, and country. Also appearing at the Parade: Rachelle Hale, fourth great granddaughter of Gilbert Belnap, who will debut her new graphic novel/comic book on the early life of Gilbert Belnap. Be among the first to pick up a copy at the Parade of this latest publication featuring the life of our common ancestor! (More information on the graphic novel and how to order copies will be shared on a separate post.)

BRING YOUR FAMILY! JOIN THE PARADE! CELEBRATE OUR FAMILY HISTORY!

As a reminder, all descendants of Gilbert Belnap are invited to join after the Parade at the gravesite of Gilbert Belnap in the Ogden City Cemetery for refreshments.

For further instructions on when and where to meet, please contact Cheryl Johnson at [email protected]

07/15/2025

IMPORTANT UPDATE: The Ogden Pioneer Days Parade organizers are allowing children under age 13 to walk in this year's Parade if they are accompanied by an adult! Come as you are or wear Pioneer or Western-wear clothing as we walk in honor of our forebears!

The Parade will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 24, 2025. We are entry #38. Make sure your family branch is represented as we carry flags and banners of our ancestors. (For non-walking participants, we have reserved parking/seating at State Trailer RV Outdoor Supply, 3088 Washington Boulevard--very close to the start of the parade route. Please use Adams or Jefferson and 31st Street to access the parking area.)

All descendants of Gilbert Belnap are invited to join after the parade at the gravesite of Gilbert Belnap in the Ogden City Cemetery for refreshments.

BRING YOUR FAMILY! JOIN THE PARADE! CELEBRATE OUR FAMILY HISTORY!

For further instructions on when and where to meet, please contact Cheryl Johnson at [email protected]

06/16/2025

In celebration of 175 years since the Belnap Family's arrival in Weber County, Utah in 1850, the Belnap Family Organization is looking for upwards of 120 descendants drawn from every branch of the family to walk in this year's Ogden Pioneer Days Parade on Thursday, July 24, 2025!

Large high-quality banners bearing the portraits of each of Gilbert Belnap, Adaline Knight, and Henrietta McBride and their children have been prepared to be carried along the Parade route, along with flags of the countries of the family's origins.

Come as you or wear Pioneer-era clothing and walk proudly in honor of our forebears! And please help us spread the word. Our parade entry is approved and banners and flags are ready to fly. We now need YOU to volunteer to join the Parade!

To participate, please contact Cheryl Johnson at [email protected]

The Belnap Family Organization was created in 1904 to preserve, perpetuate, and promote family solidarity among all descendants of Utah Pioneers Gilbert Belnap, Adaline Knight, and Henrietta McBride and is one of the oldest family organizations in the US.