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| john_bull [2016/10/02 19:57] – rrandall | john_bull [2017/04/02 21:16] (current) – [John Bull changes the family name to Randal] rrandall |
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| ===== John Bull changes the family name to Randal ===== | ===== John Bull changes the family name to Randal ===== |
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| During ca. 1803, John Bull petitioned the North Carolina General Assembly (in Raleigh) to legally change his surname to “Randal” (his mother's maiden name). The petition also listed his wife (Hanna Harvey Bull – age 27) and their four children; Oney Cypress (age 7), John Leonard “Lenny” (age 3), Jackson Harvey (age 3) and Elisabeth H. (infant). The North Carolina General Assembly ratified the name change on December 22, 1803. In the years afterwards, some of the descendants of John and Hanna Randal added an additional letter "L" to their last name. For example, one of Oney Cypress Randal’s sons was known as Oney Pinkney Randall. However, at that time, if a word or name sounded the same, then the spelling was generally considered unimportant. | During ca. 1803, John Bull petitioned the North Carolina General Assembly (in Raleigh) to legally change his surname to “Randal” (believed to have been his mother's maiden name). The petition also listed his wife (Hanna Harvey Bull – age 27) and their four children; Oney Cypress (age 7), John Leonard “Lenny” (age 3), Jackson Harvey (age 3) and Elisabeth H. (infant). The petition for the name change was introduced into the North Carolina General Assembly on November 21, 1803, and ratified on December 22, 1803. In the years afterwards, some of the descendants of John and Hanna Randal added an additional letter "L" to their last name. For example, one of Oney Cypress Randal’s sons was known as Oney Pinkney Randall. However, at that time, if a word or name sounded the same, then the spelling was generally considered unimportant. |
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| | {{:john_bull_randall:nc_gen_assembly_11-21-1803a.png?direct&500|}} {{:john_bull_randall:nc_gen_assembly_11-21-1803b.png?direct&500|}} |
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| | <WRAP center round box 60%> |
| | **Transcription of pertinent portions of the above document** \\ |
| | ---- |
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| | **LAWS of NORTH CAROLINA ** |
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| | At a General Assembly, begun and held at Raleigh, on the 21st Day of November, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Three, and in the Twenty-eighth Year of the Independence of the said State.\\ |
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| | JAMES TURNER, ESQUIRE; GOVERNOR |
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| | <note>Note: the order of business of the General Assembly was divided into chapters. Each one was for different categories. For instance: Chapter 1 dealt with debts. On page 58 of the proceedings, Chapter CXX begins:</note> |
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| | CHAP. CXX |
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| | An AD’ to alter the names of the persons herein mentioned, and the legitimate thereof. |
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| | Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and it is hereby enacted by the Authority of the same... |
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| | IV. …And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That from and after-the passing of this act, ...that the names of John Bull and Hannah Bull; together with four of their children, Oney Cypress Bull, Lenny Bull, Jackson Bull, and Elizabeth Bull, to that of John Randal, Hannah Randal, Oney Cypress Randal, Lenny Randal, Jackson Randal, and Elizabeth Randal... and they should enjoy all such privileges as they should be entitled to, had they been so called from their nativity. |
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| | Read: three times and ratified in General Assembly 22d day of December \\ |
| | Anno Domini, 1803 \\ |
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| | J. RIDDICK, s.s. \\ |
| | S. CABARRUS. S. H, C. \\ |
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| | Copy, William White, Secretary; |
| | ---- |
| | RALEIGH, PRINTED BY J. GALES, PRINTER TO THE STATE |
| | </WRAP> |
| ==== Why did John Bull change our family name? ==== | ==== Why did John Bull change our family name? ==== |
| Changing one's surname... especially in 1803, is a significant act. And must be justified by a very good reason. While we may never know the reason John Bull changed our family name to Randal (as the petition cannot be found), it is generally believed that he changed his surname because the British moniker "John Bull" was associated with describing "Loyalists" during the period leading up to the "American Revolutionary War" and beyond. With memories of the "American Revolutionary War" still fresh, and renewed threats from Great Britain (leading up to the “War of 1812”), this was certainly reason enough! Much like “Uncle Sam” is a national personification of the United States, “John Bull” was a national personification of the United Kingdom in general, and England in particular, especially in political cartoons.(([[http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/british/britintr.html]])) An oral history of the family, specifically involving the name change, describes how John's wife, Hanna, urged him to change the family name. This is logical because she would have likely had societal concerns being the daughter of a respected Revolutionary War Colonial --- married to a man named "John Bull"! The fact that she married a man named "John Bull" may have been a political embarrassment for her and the Harvey family. | Changing one's surname... especially in 1803, is a significant act. And must be justified by a very good reason. While we may never know the reason John Bull changed our family name to Randal (as the petition cannot be found), it is generally believed that he changed his surname because the British moniker "John Bull" was associated with describing "Loyalists" during the period leading up to the "American Revolutionary War" and beyond. With memories of the "American Revolutionary War" still fresh, and renewed threats from Great Britain (leading up to the “War of 1812”), this was certainly reason enough! Much like “Uncle Sam” is a national personification of the United States, “John Bull” was a national personification of the United Kingdom in general, and England in particular, especially in political cartoons.(([[http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/british/britintr.html]])) An oral history of the family, specifically involving the name change, describes how John's wife, Hanna, urged him to change the family name. This is logical because she would have likely had societal concerns being the daughter of a respected Revolutionary War Colonial --- married to a man named "John Bull"! The fact that she married a man named "John Bull" may have been a political embarrassment for her and the Harvey family. |
