Col. Thomas Bull and Ann Hunter
Husband Col. Thomas Bull 1 2
Born: 9 Jun 1744 1 Christened: Died: 13 Jul 1837 1 Buried:
Father: William Bull ( - ) 1 Mother:
Marriage: 28 Feb 1771 3
Other Spouse: Mrs. Lydia Crowell ( -Aft 1937) 3 - 1819 3
Wife Ann Hunter 3
Born: Christened: Died: 1817 3 Buried:
Father: John Hunter ( - ) 3 Mother: Ann [Unk] ( - ) 3
Children
1 F Elizabeth Bull 3
Born: 19 Dec 1771 3 Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: John Smith ( - ) 3
2 F Mary Bull 3
Born: 10 Jul 1774 3 Christened: Died: 7 Nov 1798 3 Buried:Spouse: Alexander Cobean ( - ) 3
3 F Ann Bull 3
Born: 11 Feb 1776 3 Christened: Died: 1850 3 Buried:Spouse: Waters Dewees ( - ) 3
4 F Martha Bull 3
Born: 20 Feb 1779 3 Christened: Died: 12 Mar 1850 3 Buried: Status: TwinSpouse: James McClintock ( - ) 3Spouse: Samuel Shafer ( - ) 3
5 F Sarah Bull 3
Born: 20 Feb 1779 3 Christened: Died: 1817 3 Buried: Status: TwinSpouse: Did Not Marry
6 M Rev. Dr. Levi Bull, D.D. 2 3 4
Born: 14 Nov 1780 - Warwick Twp, Chester Co, PA 3 Christened: Died: 2 Aug 1859 - Warwick Twp, Chester Co, PA 3 Buried: - St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Chester Co, PASpouse: Ann Jacobs (1789-1858) 3 Marr: 1808 3
7 M James Hunter Bull 3
Born: 31 Dec 1782 3 Christened: Died: 17 Oct 1797 3 Buried:Spouse: Did Not Marry
8 F Margaret Bull 3
Born: 7 Feb 1787 3 Christened: Died: Abt 1819 Buried:Spouse: James Jacobs ( - ) 3
General Notes: Husband - Col. Thomas Bull
He, as most young men in colonial times were forced to do, followed for a while a mechanical pursuit, becoming a stone-mason. He was considered an excellent workman, having assisted in constructing a number of buildings of so durable a character that they were still in use a hundred years later. Prior to the Revolutionary war, and also subsequently to it, he was a manager for Potts & Rutter, at Warwick Furnace. Whilst in this capacity he was called into the service of his country, being commissioned lieutenant-colonel of his regiment subsequently to Gen. Wayne's transfer to the regular army. He took the above position upon the promotion of Richard Thomas to the colonelcy. He was attached to the Flying Camp, and was ordered to New York, where, arriving in time for an engagement, he was forced with his men into action, fought bravely, and when he found his superior in command had surrendered he became so incensed that he broke his sword in two. He of course was captured and taken to the "Jersey" prison-ships, where the prisoners, one of whom was the celebrated Col. Ethan Allen, were furnished an allowance of a few grains of corn a day. Remaining here for a short time, they were placed on Long Island, with the privilege of patroling the same. Here they were kept for about twenty-one months and then exchanged. During the engagement above alluded to, while Col. Bull was carrying an order to a subordinate officer, a wounded soldier piteously plead that he would take him up behind him on his horse and save him if possible. Seeing a stump of a tree near by, he told him to get upon it and he would see what he could do for him. When he returned the maimed man had strength enough to obey this friendly command, and, urging his strength to the utmost, he succeeded in the effort, and was borne swiftly in safety to the fort. In time he recovered, and in after-years, when Col. Bull was a member of the Legislature, the door keeper was asked to call him out as a man wished to speak to him. It proved to be his old acquaintance of the battle-field, whose safety had been secured amid the storm of bullets discharged as they neared the fort, and who now came to express his heartfelt gratitude to his preserver.
Another incident occurred during his sojourn on the island. Poorly fed and being hungry, he stopped at the house of one of the Low Dutch residents and asked for something to eat. The old lady in broken English replied, "Oh, we've got poor bread." "What will you give me if I build you an oven?" he said, and, as she hesitated in reply, added, "Send your men for brick and sand, and we will see what we can do for you." The materials being brought he went to work, and in a short time the oven was built. She was pleased, and gave him three silver dollars for the work, whereupon he also was pleased. In telling this story he laughingly said that when the thing became known all the little Low Dutch women on the island came in quest of Col. Bull to build them ovens.
Another circumstance he used to mention was that before his capture he found one of his men, Micajah Posey, famishing from want of food and exposure to the weather. Having no great supply of medicine at hand, he procured some gingerbread, softened it with water, forced it down his throat, and thus saved his life. This man returned to his home in the neighborhood of Warwick Furnace, and lived there until he became an old man.
After his return from the service of his country in the field Col. Bull continued in the iron business, managing the Warwick Furnace, as before, and turning out forty-two tons of pig-metal per week with a small charcoal furnace, the ore being then of fine quality and the wood first growth. This was a great run of metal, considering that a furnace of equal capacity later would yield but little more than one-half this quantity.
Shortly after the battle of Brandywine a portion of the government troops retreated to the neighborhood of the Furnace, where they remained for some days, the officers of highest grade in the mean time visiting the mansion-house, where they were hospitably entertained by the gallant colonel's noble and patriotic wife.
Prior to leaving the employ of the Warwick Company, Col. Bull bought from them a large tract of land on the head-waters of the south branch of French Creek, where he built a grist- and saw-mill, blacksmith-shop, etc., and upon which he erected a fine mansion, to which he retired, and there resided many years. The property passed into possession of his son, Rev. Levi Bull, and later was the residence of Col. Thomas K. Bull, a son of the latter.
While improving his private property Col. Bull was yet largely engaged in business plans. He acquired, and held until within a few years of his death, nine-sixteenths of an interest in Joanna Furnace, on Hay Creek, Robeson township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, which interest he disposed of to Judge Darling, of Reading, about 1831.
Col. Bull was a member of the convention which framed the constitution of 1790, and also a member of the convention which ratified said instrument. He was a representative of Chester County in the Assembly for many years. Of course he was a man of mark in those early days of our history. Fitted by nature with a strong, vigorous frame, a tall, majestic mien, and a stentorian voice, he seemed formed to command. Resolute and determined in war, he was an excellent manager and a successful business man. Active and enterprising, he gave many a young man employment, and failed not to help the poor and the friendless. His counsel was often asked, his advice taken, and many profited by it. An instance is given: A few miles from him lived a man of moody spirit, morose and ill-grained, who called to see the colonel, and complained of want of success. He was advised to quit the neighborhood and remove to the central part of the state, where it was thought an opening presented for business. Taking the advice kindly he removed, and became an iron-master, prospered, and grew rich. Probably about 1830 he paid his last visit to Chester County, met his old friend and adviser, and after a pleasant interchange of social feeling they parted to meet here no more.
About the year 1810 or 1812, Col. Bull became interested in a project which enlisted the feelings of many of his fellow-citizens in the northern part of the county, viz., the construction of a turnpike-road through the same. This road was designed to run from the Lancaster turnpike, near the Warren tavern, to the base of the Welsh Mountain, near Morgantown; thence by another company to the Blue Ball, and thence by still another to Lancaster, via New Holland. Associated with Col. Bull in projecting and carrying on this work were Michael Gunkle, John Malin, Mr. Bowen, of the Ship, Isaiah Kirk, Ephraim Allen, and others. The State aided the road by a subscription of stock, but of course, in the end, fared as did other stockholders. Not proving a paying concern the organization was kept up for a time, but after the lapse of twenty-five or thirty years, the tolls taken being insufficient to maintain it, the road was abandoned as a turnpike and declared a public highway. Unfortunate as a speculation, the road was nevertheless regarded by those who lived along its line as a great advantage to the neighborhood through which it passed, and the public spirit and enterprise of the projectors were fully appreciated.
Under an act of Congress, passed a few years before his death, Col. Bull received a pension of $575 per annum, awarded him for his services in the Revolutionary war.
He was a sincere believer in the Christian religion, and a vestryman of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, in the Great Valley, worshiping therein when convenient, as he lived many miles therefrom. Upon the ordination of his son, Rev. Dr. Bull, to the ministry he assisted in building and supporting St. Mary's Church, in East Nantmeal (later Warwick) township, and became and continued a member thereof till his death. He also joined in the temperance reformation a few years before his death, even foregoing, for the sake of others, the moderate use of wine, to which, as a beverage, he had been accustomed. His declining years were peaceful, and gently he descended to the tomb in a good old age "as a shock of corn fully ripe in its season." [HCC 1881, 489]
1 J. Smith Futhey & Gilbert Cope, History of Chester County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Louis H. Everts, 1881), Pg 489.
2 William Henry Egle, History of the County of Dauphin in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Everts & Peck, 1883), Pg 559.
3 J. Smith Futhey & Gilbert Cope, History of Chester County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Louis H. Everts, 1881), Pg 491.
4
John E. Alexander, A Record of the Descendants of John Alexander (Philadelphia, PA: Alfred Martien, 1878), Pg 32.
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