Henry Bull

The only history that is to be obtained of Mr. Bull, is extracted from a communication from Major Henry Bull, of Newport, recently deceased; a descendant of the subject of this memoir. Henry Bull, Esquire, one of the ancient Attorney Generals of this State, " was the son of Henry, who was the son of the Henry Bull who was one of the first purchasers of Rhode-Island proper. His father lived in South-Kingstown, but whether he was born there, or at Newport, cannot now be ascertained. He lost his father when he was about six years old, and his mother, sisters and brothers, within a few years after. He was, by his grandfather, committed to the care of his daughter Mary, widow of James Coggeshall. Soon after, his grandfather died, and his aunt Coggeshall brought him up. He was put to the carpenter's trade, at which he worked a few years after he came of age; during which time, he built the house where I now live. This house continued to be his residence, as long as he lived.— The land on which it stands, he inherited from his grandfather, and from whom the estate has regularly descended to me. He owned the Dumplin farm, in Jamestown, and a farm in Narragansett, besides a considerable landed estate in Newport."

"He married Martha Odlin; by whom he had four sons and three daughters. His second wife, was Phebe Coggeshall; by whom he had seven sons and three daughters. His personal appearance was prepossessing—he was nearly six feet high—light complexion and blue eyes—was well proportioned and handsome; and in his manners he was graceful. He was much celebrated for his talents and wit. He had a good common education, for those days. I have heard," says Major Bull, the aged, who had been acquainted with him, relate what he had told them about his law education. "When he made up his mind to practice law, he went into the garden, to exercise his talents in addressing the court and jury. He then selected five cabbages in one row, for Judges, and twelve in another row, for Jurors—after trying his hand there awhile, he went boldly into court, and took upon himself the duties of an advocate, and a little observation and experience there, convinced him, that the same cabbages were in the court house, which he thought he had left in the garden; five in one row, and twelve in another."

"But by whatever means, he acquired a knowledge of the law, he certainly rose to the height of his profession, as a practitioner in the courts of law and admiralty, as the profession stood in his day. He was one of that kind of men, whose on-dits were never forgotten, as long as the generation lasted, which was on the stage of life with him."

"He was occasionally a member of the House of Representatives, from Newport: elected Attorney General in 1.721,—re-elected in 1722, and declined serving. Daniel Updike was elected to fill the vacancy. He was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, in 1728-9—was one of the committee to revise the colony laws in 1728—was one of the committee to conduct and manage the controversy, between the colonies of Rhode-Island and Massachusetts, respecting the eastern boundary.— He was Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, at its first establishment, in 1749."

"He partook liberally of the enjoyments of life— was of an amiable and engaging disposition; and lived to a great age: having been born November 23d, 1687, and dying December 24th, 1771, aged 84."

Source: Memoirs of the Rhode Island Bar, by Wilkins Updike, p. 23-25