Russell Belden (1776 – 1804) was one of eight children born to Nathan Belden (1736 – 1794) and Abigail Bidwell Belden (1736 – 1818), in East Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut.  He was baptised on 11 Aug. 1776, and would have been 23 when he set foot on the USS CONNECTICUT on 17 July 1799 to take his place as the personal clerk for Capt. Moses Tryon.  Russell entered the new US Navy on 13 June 1799. He served under Moses Tryon and then Richard Derby on board of the CONNECTICUT until May 1801 when he appears to have discharged from the Navy, presumably to return home.

It has been quite difficult to find details of Russell’s life.  It appears that he died at sea in Aug. 1804, age 28, according to the vital records of East Hartford.  No marriage, no issue.  Circumstances unknown.