It is “believed” that our most distant ancestor (discovered so far) was Thomas Bull, Sr. – who first appears in the Brunswick County, Virginia Poll List dated 1748.

His name next appears in Brunswick County, Virginia court records documenting his testimony during May, 1752.

Because we have no evidence of which ship he used to immigrate to the colonies, we have no link to his exact port of origin (although he was probably English). We only know that he arrived in the Virginia Colony from Great Britain in (or about) the year 1721. This lack of certainty is due to the multiplicity of “Thomas Bull” families in the colonies at that same time, many sharing the same ‘given’ names. There was a Thomas Bull from Connecticut who fought as an officer in the American Revolution. There was another Thomas Bull in Accomack County, VA at the same time. The other lines of Bull include the William and Sarah (Wells) Bull, of the Bull Stone House, in Orange County, NY. And a William and Henry Bull (loyalists to King George) in the Carolinas. But there is some degree of certainty that our family line includes the Thomas Bull who made his way to Brunswick County, VA. So it is with him that our story will begin…

On July 12, 1725, Thomas Bull, Sr. married Susanna Harwell (between the age of 17-21) in Brunswick, VA. Susanna was the daughter of Ambrose Harwell (1686-1739) and Elizabeth Browne; who were originally from Lowestoft, Suffolk, England – and had settled in Brunswick, Virginia.

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Thomas Bull, Sr. and Susanna are “believed” to have had the following children:

1. Thomas Bull, Jr. (b. 1726 – d. between 1794-1800 in Halifax, NC, at approx. age 68-74)
2. Henry Bull (b. 1728 – d. 1789 in Johnston, NC, at age 61)
3. Susanna Bull (b. about 1730)
4. Robert Bull (b. 1730 – d. between 1758-1762)
5. Ann Bull (b. about 1732)

We also have records supporting Thomas Bull, Sr. having a son named Robert Bull; as well as Robert's relationship to his grandfather, Ambrose Harwell:

Also on December 27, 1757, records show that Thomas Bull, Sr. sold an additional 99 acres of land to his brother-in-law – Lemuel Harwell (approx. age 51 in 1757).

Some time between 1757-1761, Thomas Bull, Sr. and much of his family moved from Brunswick County, Virginia to Halifax County, North Carolina. Robert Bull selling his land to his grandfather, Ambrose Harwell…. and Thomas Bull, Sr. selling his land to his brother-in-law, Lemuel Harwell, was probably a prelude to moving to Halifax County, NC. It appears that most of the Harwell family was intent upon staying in Brunswick County, VA. There were only a few grants in Halifax, NC before Thomas Bull, Jr. had a survey done on 13 Feb 1761, patented 13 Aug 1761. Thomas Bull, Sr. had a survey done 14 Nov 1761, patented 10 Jan 1762. In the same vicinity, James Hogun (Hogan), the Revolutionary War hero, had a survey done 6 May 1762, patented 25 Jun 1762. This is significant because one of the chain carriers for the survey was Thomas Bull (probably Thomas Bull, Jr. since Thomas Bull Sr. stated in his Will, dated 22 May 1762, that he was “…sick and weak in body…”).

Thomas Bull, Sr.'s son, Henry, also obtained land in Halifax County, but later moved to Johnston County, North Carolina.

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[] The most likely reasons Thomas Bull, Sr. moved the family to Halifax, North Carolina is because (1) it was a new County – created from a portion of Edgecombe County on January 1, 1759, and (2) Halifax, NC was a trade-route crossroads located approx. 74 miles West of the port city of Edenton, NC.

Records show that the first land grant in Halifax County was made to John Alsobroke, who is mentioned as a witness to the “Will” of Thomas Bull, Sr. Alsobroke may have encouraged the Bulls to move to Halifax. The town of Halifax, NC was a crossroads and trading center of the Roanoke valley. The town was located on the south bank of the Roanoke River, just below some falls and rapids, thus making it the head of river navigation. Located along major north-south and east-west roads, the town was the center of commercial activity for back country fur traders, planters, and merchants to move their goods to markets upriver to Virginia or into the back country of North Carolina.

The first permanent settlement in North Carolina, Edenton is the “mothertown” of the State. Originally incorporated in 1715 as “The Towne on Queen Anne's Creek,” and later as “Ye Towne on Mattercommack Creek” and, still later as “The Port of Roanoke,” the spot was named Edenton in 1722 in honor of Governor Charles Eden. In 1728, Edenton was established as the colonial capital of North Carolina, and the home of the Royal Governors. Edenton soon became the cultural and economic capital as well. Hundreds of ships made the town a regular port of call, offloading food, goods, and slaves and shipping the prolific agricultural products of the region to European ports.

By 1776, the American colonies were preparing for war with England. And the first official action by any province in America for independence from England took place at the Fourth Provincial Congress of North Carolina at Halifax. The Congress, in part, “Resolved, that the delegates for this Colony in the Continental Congress be empowered to concur with the delegates of the other Colonies in declaring independency…” three months prior to the signing of the “Declaration of Independence” at Philadelphia, PA. These “Halifax Resolves,” were adopted by the 83 delegates present at the North Carolina Congress on April 12, 1776.

Halifax became a recruiting center for Continental soldiers, a battalion headquarters for the state militia, and a powder magazine and supply depot for the armies. An arms factory, called the “Public Works” factory began operations, where armorers, blacksmiths, carpenters, tailors, wagoners, and wagon-makers produced articles needed by the Revolutionary soldiers.

Robert Bull's son, Ambrose served in the American Revolutionary War as a Private under Captain Roach. Revolutionary War soldiers were not paid for their service until it ended. They received land grants, with the amounts of land being proportional to their rank and length of duty. Ambrose served for six months or less; and received 300 acres for his service.

[] Remembering that Ambrose Bull had been an apprentice surveyor for James Hogun (Hogan) before the war, Ambrose’s eldest son was named in his remembrance; James Hogan Bull (June 23, 1780 – Aug. 25, 1840). Thomas Harvey (aka Hervey – whose daughter Sarah Harvey would later marry Thomas Bull Sr's grandson, John Bull), served with the state militia as a Colonel. State militiamen were generally recruited for short terms, 3 months or 6 months at a time, so that they could return to their plantations and keep them operating. Col. Harvey had to hire a substitute to replace him in one of his commissions toward the end of the war, as is learned from a letter written on March 8, 1780 to Gov. Caswell by Gen. Isaac Gregory: “Col. Thomas Hervey being drafted to march the Militia that was drafted in July and December last, he being in such a bad state of health at present it is out of his power to march with them, and he is very desirous to do every thing in his power, hath employed Mr. Benj. Dillen as substitute in his place… Col. Hervey was drafted about 8th or 10th of Dec. last.”

Except for the disruptions of the Revolutionary War years (1776-1781) daily life in Halifax County remained stable from 1760 to 1840. The population of Halifax Co. varied little – and most of the people were descendants of English colonists who had moved southward from Virginia. [Source Information: http://www.beakleydavisgenealogyhomepage.net/William_harvey.html)

[] Considering the relationship between James Hogun and the Thomas Bull family, since James Hogun lived in Hobgood, NC, it is likely that Thomas Bull, Sr.'s family lived nearby.

Thomas Bull, Sr. signed his “Will” (thomas-bull-sr_will.pdf) on May, 22 1762 and filed it in Halifax County Inferior Court during April 1763.

In it, he mentions his wife, Susanna, his daughters Susanna and Ann, his sons Thomas and Henry, his son-in-law Thomas Bates, and his daughter-in-law Rachel, and her heir, who received a bequest of 5 shillings. No mention was made to Robert, but because he specifically includes his “daughter-in-law Rachel, and her heir”, this indicates that Robert died between Dec. 27, 1757 (when he sold the 150 acres) and May 22, 1762 (when Thomas signed his will). Also, referring to Rachel's “heir” indicates that she and Robert had a child (“believed” to be Ambrose Bull (b. Abt. 1750 – d. March 27, 1789), named in honor of his Grandfather, Ambrose Harwell).

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A typed abstract of Thomas Bull Sr.'s will appears in “Abstracts of North Carolina Wills & Testator Index”, Book #975.6, pp. 133.

Additional Information:
Descendants of Thomas Bull, Sr.
Descendents of Robert Bull (Son of Thomas Bull, Sr.)
Descendents of James Hogan Bull (Son of Ambrose Bull, Grandson of Robert Bull, Great Grandson of Thomas Bull, Sr.)