Samuel Bullen

• BIRTH 1622 England
• DEATH 16 Jan 1692 (aged 69–70) Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA
• BURIAL Vine Lake Cemetery, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA, PLOT Grave #368, MEMORIAL ID 30823812, Photos by Bill Boyington

Biography

Samuel Bullen must have been born in England, but the place, date, and parentage remain unidentified despite considerable research effort. Suggestions for location include Redgrave, Suffolk, where his wife Mary Morse was born; the Dedham in County Norfolk; and Northumberland, where many Bullens lived then and some still live. The most common guess for his birth date is 1616/7. Alternatively, his gravestone says he died aged 70 on February 14, 1691/2, which calculates to birth in 1621/2. [2]

Samuel Bullen (or Boleyn, according to the English spelling) was at Watertown in 1636; was one of the signers of the Dedham compact; took the freeman's oath in 1641; owned a house there in 1646. The Town of Medfield, Massachusetts, was carved out of a portion of Dedham in 1649. Samuel Bullen was one of the signers of the town's Agreement. He was chosen as part of a committee to help lay the line between the two towns as well as laying the highways in the new town. His tombstone, erected by his descendants about a century after his death, declares that he was "the first European with a family in this town." [5]

It is certain that his house was built prior to November, 1651. It stood a few rods north of Philip Street, opposite the house of F.D. Hamant. His buildings were burned by the Indians; and he removed for a while to Sherborn, and became a tenant of his [wife's] brother, Daniel Morse. In 1679 "Samuel Bullen, late of Medfield," sent a petition for favor as to his rates, he having suffered losses in the time of the war, and having been obliged to aid his "necessitous children." He returned to Medfield, and rebuilt soon afterward. He was one of the selectmen here in 1682, and was chosen deacon prior to 1689. His house was standing as late as 1798. Besides other outlands, he had a "divident" on the east side of Mount Nebo, in the region now known as "Goudy." He married in 1641 Mary Morse (8). He and his wife both died in 1691.[2]

Div. of jis est. made 24 June 1697, to sons Samuel and Joseph and the other heirs, viz. Mary Clarke, John Bullen, Elisha Bullen, the children of Elizabeth Wheelock, the children of Ephraim Bullen, children of Meletiah Fisher; and Bethia Colburn. Watertown MA Dedham, MA His tombstone, erected by his descendants about a century after his death, declares that he was "the first European with a family in this town." Dedham, MA proprietor Medfield MA It is certain that his house was built prior to Nov. 1651. It stood a few rods north of Philip Street, opposite the house of F. D. Hamant. His buildings were burned by the Indians, and he removed for awhile to Sherborn, and became a tenant of Medfield, "sent in a petition for favor as to his rates, he having suffered losses in the time of war, and having been obliged to aid his" neces - 2 AGE 74-75 [6]

Notes

Disputed Parents
A Samuel Bullen (abt.1591-) of Redgrave, co Suffolk and wife, were previously attached as parents. The family group also included a sister, Mary Bullen (1620- ). As there is no supporting documentation, the connections to those profiles have been removed.

Another source has: “ DEACON SAMUEL BULLEN “BULLEYNE” (Jr.) was born around 1617 in England. He was the son of Samuel Bullen and Elizabeth (maiden name unknown).” Evidence needed to support as child of of Sir Samuel John Bullen, II & Agnes Bullen

Inscription
Original marker:
"SAMUEL BULLEN
HUSBAND TO MARY
BULLEN DYED AGED
70 JAN. 16 1691/2"

"In memory of
Dean. Samuel Bullen
who died Janry. 16th
1692. Aged 70
Years. He was the
First Europian who
Setled in this Town
with a family."

Graveside Detail
Memorial marker was erected by his descendants a century after his death:

Genealogy

Spouse
Mary Morse Bullen 1620–1692 m. 10 August 1641, Dedham, Massachusetts [7]

Children (*born at Dedham[8][9], **born at Medfield:[10][2]

• Mary, born 20 July 1642; married Ephraim Clark in 1669; died 1726.
• Samuel, born 19 December 1644; married Experience Sabin; died 1736. No issue.
• Elizabeth, born 3 February 1646/7; married Benjamin Wheelock in 1668.
• John, born 1648, baptized 22 April 1649; married Judith Fisher in 1683; died 1703.
  • Joseph, born 6 September 1651; married Abigail Sabin in 1674; died 1704. No issue.
  • Ephraim, born 18 July 1653; settled in Sherborn; died 1694.
  • Meletiah, born 15 September 1655; married Josiah Fisher of Dedham in 1679, d. 1693
  • Elisha, born 26 December 1657, married Hannah Metcalf in 1683; died 1736.
  • Eleazar, born 26 April 1662; died 3 May 1662.
  • Bethia, born 1 August 1664; married Benjamin Colburn, d. 1694

References

[1] Ancestral File Number:<AFN> FP9T-8M1 NAME Deacon//

[2] WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jan 29 2016, 12:52:35 UTC https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bullen-66

[3] *https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30823812/samuel-bullen

Sources

[4] Author William S. Tilden, Publication: Boston, George Ellis Publishers, 1887, pp 84, 507, 508. - Author Charles H. Pope, Publication: 1900, Boston (for death and residences)

[5] Tilden's History of Medfield (1887):

GEDCOM Source

[6] Novak, Jane Ann - Genealogy Collection and Correspondence Jan Novak Genealogy Collection and Correspondence Jane Ann Novak Y Y

[7] Packet of Genealogy prepared for Morrill family reunion; July, 2003 3 1 May 2004