Gen. John Bull

A Patriot of the American Revolution for PENNSYLVANIA with the rank of COLONEL. DAR Ancestor # is A016786

5th Battlalion Pennsylvania Associators

The 5th Battalion of Associators, led by Col. John Bull, included Associator Companies of Providence, Worcester, and Limerick townships. These companies were among the "Flying Camp" Companies.

One of the Companies is listed below which was of Providence Twp.:

5th Battalion, Colonel John Bull, dated Dec. 10, 1776 Capt. John Edwards, Lt. Arnold Francis, Ensign Samuel Roberts
Sergeants: William Nelson, Samuel Skeen, Emanuel Custer. 4

4 PA AR, Sixth Series, Vol. I, p. 807.
Another item — which shows proof of this company’s service and, no doubt, their being part of the Flying Camp is the following advertisement:

Perth Amby [Amboy], Aug. 29, 1776. "Thirty-six Pounds Reward. Deserted from Capt. Edwards company in the 5th battalion of Philadelphia county militia, commanded by Col. John Bull, now laying at Perth Amby in N.J., the following persons viz.: Thomas Vanderslice, Cadwalader Jones, Joseph Shambough, Andrew Bell, Abram Skeen, William Groves and John Schrack; all well made straight young men, about (or pretty near) six feet high; also John Bryn a thick well set fellow; John Balthust, of a swarthy complexion; Jacob Taney and George Hyh, all formerly associators; and living in New Providence township; where it is suspected they have now gone. The two first mentioned, deserted in Philadelphia three weeks ago, and the rest went altogether east. Whoever takes up and secures said deserters so that they be brought back again, shall receive the above reward or eight dollars for each pair, by John Edwards, Captain"

Perth Amby [Amboy], Aug. 29, 1776. "Deserted from Capt. Jacob Peterman’s company of associated commanded by Col. John Bull on the 24th inst. John Harple, sergeant bon. p.c. 5 ft., 8, hair fair, 18 yrs. Peter Shunk, p.c. 6 ft. dark brown hair, dark com. lusty made, a wheelwright, 25 years. Francis Shunk, p.c., 5 feet 10 inches, has dark brown hair, dark complex. a Tanner 29 years. John Harple, p.c. 5, 8 black hair, swarthy com. Cordwaner 25 yrs. Christian Dull, p.c. 5, 11 dark brown hair, 30 years of age, cordwaner. They all went off with the rifle shuts, and took their clothing with them. Whoever takes up &c., three pounds each." 5

5 Bulletin of the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Volume XI, No. 1 (Fall 1957), p. 71.

http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/montgomery/stjamesperkiomen/revw.html

• held several large properties .. see timeline (1776)

• One of the best known of our "St. James" soldiers was Col. John Bull, son of Thomas Bull and Elizabeth (Adams), who served both as a Continental Soldier and as an "Associator".
His record as a Continental Soldier began in 1775:
Bull, John (Pa). Col. 1st Pennsylvania Battalion, 25th November, 1775; resigned 22d January, 1776; Colonel Pennsylvania State Regiment, 2d May, 1777; resigned 17th June, 1777; Adjutant-General of Pennsylvania, 17th June, 1777 to close of war. (Died 9th August, 1824.)2.
 ◦ 2 Heitman, Francis B., Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army During the War of the Revolution April 1775, to December 1783, Reprint of the New, Revised, and Enlarged Edition of 1914., With Addenda by Robert H. Kelby, 1932, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1967, p. 131. • 
His time as an Associator, Commander of the 5th Battalion, fills in the dates not listed above:
Commodore James H. Bull gives this account of Col. Bull’s service during that time: ◦ 1776, July 4th to about January, 1777. John Bull, Colonel of a Battalion of Associators in the County of Philadelphia ("5th" in his commission, "6th" in "Archives"), by appointment of the State Assembly. These were new organizations for home defense without pay unless called into the field, and when enlisted were sent to Amboy, N.J. for brief service in watching the British on Staten Island till more permanent troops were organized. As Bull’s civilian positions kept him busy in Philadelphia, the Council of Safety gave him leave of absence only from August 17th to September 15th in order to be with his battalion in the field. Arms and ammunition being still scarce, their weapons included pikes and tomahawks." 3 • 
 ◦ 3 Record of the Descendants of John and Elizabeth Bull Early Settlers in Pennsylvania, Commodore James H. Bull, January 1919, Appendix, p. 317: "List of Military Commissions Held by Colonel John Bull". • 
The 5th Battalion of Associators, led by Col. John Bull, included Associator Companies of Providence, Worcester, and Limerick townships. These companies were among the "Flying Camp" Companies.
One of the Companies is listed below which was of Providence Twp.: 
5th Battalion, Colonel John Bull, dated Dec. 10, 1776
Capt. John Edwards, Lt. Arnold Francis, Ensign Samuel Roberts
Sergeants: William Nelson, Samuel Skeen, Emanuel Custer. 4
 4 PA AR, Sixth Series, Vol. I, p. 807.

(Emanuel Custer being a direct ancestor of George Armstrong Custer of the Battle of Little Big Horn fame)

for names of slaves

see: Jan 9 1778 in ''Journals'' of Mühlenberg