John Bull of Old Radnor, Powys, Wales

Most information on his family I find states no parentage - one states he was possibly the son of Hugh of Shoben
.

Children given as

• 1. Thomas BULL b: 1705 in [Tredyffrin], Chester Co., PA
• 2. Elizabeth BULL b: ABT 1708 in [Perkiomen] .Chester, Delaware, PA
• 3. Richard BULL b: 1714 in [Perkiomen], Chester, Delaware, PA
• 4. Dorothy BULL b: 1716 in [Perkiomen], Chester, Delaware, PA
• 5. William BULL b: ABT 1719 in [Perkiomen], Chester, Delaware, PA
• 6. John Joseph BULL b: 27 MAY 1721 [1732 ] in Pekiomen, now Montgomery co, Montgomery, PA

Information and notations about him as found are:

He was the founder of the Bull family in Pennsylvania, chronicled in the family genealogy book "John Bull and his Descendants 1930"

John Bull of Perkiomen' by Comm. James Bull

John Bull, born in 1674, married Elizabeth — . She was born in 1676 and died November 7, 1736. He died in November, 1736. Both are buried in the churchyard of St. James Episcopal Church at Evansburg, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The places of birth of John and Elizabeth Bull have not been determined and nothing is known of them prior to the date of January 12, 1717, when an agreement was made by him for the transfer of land in Lower Providence Towniship, Philadelphia (now Montgomery) County, Pennsylvania. This land was on Shippack Creek, a branch of Perkiomen Creek.

Came over in 1683 with his son Richard in the "Morning Star" from Whitford Carne, County of Flint, Wales, and took up a large tract of land, some of which is still owned and Occupied by descendants of the same name."
~• partial mapping of a later tract : Either the Col.John Bull or his son John on the 1784 map of the site of Norritown
held by the HSMC in Norritown.

John Bull 1674-1736 from Radnorshire, Wales to Perkiomen,Montgomery Co., PA ca 1700 m. Elizabeth 1676-1735, from THE COMPENDIUM OF FIRST FAMILIES OF AMERICA

St. James Perkiomen - Gravestone Inscriptions - Aged 62 years.BULL, JOHN. New Providence, Philadelphia County. Yeoman. October 30, 1736. November 24, 1736. F.20. Wife: Elizabeth. Children: Thomas, Richard, William, Joseph, Elizabeth and Dorothy. Exec: Elizabeth and Thomas. Trustees: Henry Pawling and Robert Jones. Wit: Mary Teller, John Lewis and Samuel Lewis.

John Bullo, early settler in Pennsylvania, whose place of birth has not been determined, was born in 1674 and died in November 1736

The earliest record of his activities show that he made an agreement for the transfer of land in Lower Providence Township, Philadelphia (now Montgomery) County, PA. The land was along Shippack Creek, a branch of Perkiomen Creek. His farm adjoined that of Henry Pawling who came from Kingston, NY, in 1720, occupying land in the original warrant from William Penn.

John Bull was one of the party of immigrants from Radnorshire, Wales, who settled about Perkiomen & on Shippack Creek. There they formed a Church of England parish, as they were English Church people, & together built the old Church of St. James about 1700............Several years ago the St. James Society was formed by the then living descendants of the Church founders & yearly meetings are held at the Church about the 1st of June.' Note: Ref:' John Bull of Perkiomen' by Comm. James Bull pg. 5

ecclesiastical mixture of early Penn wealthy individuals

The search for the origin of JOHN BULL has been exhaustive through the records of the West Jersey Land settlers of the name, and afterwards in England by the kind assistance of the Honorable Sir William Bull, M.P., and of J. Cecil Bull, Esq., of Angott's Mead, Broomin Green, Stevenage, Herts, both prominent genealogists. It was not then supposed or thought of, that Welsh colonists were Church of England followers, as so many that had been established at Morgan Point, now Radnor, and at Gwynedd were Friends or Quakers, and followers of William Penn. It was found, however, that Edward Lane had invited the Welshmen from Radnorshire in the different Church of England Parishes of the Church of England. Thus various things have served to prove the truth of this discovery, as for instance, the names of the townships of the counties near the original settlement. It was doubtless that Colonel Thomas Bull characterized when he established his home in Chester County and, knowing his grandfather's origin, gave the name of Nantmel, now Nantmeal to that Township.

It was Edward Lane who came over via Jamaica in 1684 and settled on land, five hundred acres, bought by his father from William Penn in England, but it was long after that, when he had acquired more land, he invited occupation by settlers. Besides the regular purchase he obtained a patent for twenty-five hundred acres on the Perkiomen, and otherwise by later purchase added to his domain. At the time of his death in 1710 his property extended from the Perkiomen at the Shippack Creek to the Trappe. This information was kindly furnished to Mrs. Reinold Knipe of Norristown, Pennsylvania, and in the paper of S.W. Pennypacker on the Lane, Richardson, and connecting families on file with St. James Society of Evansburg, Pennsylvania, of which Mrs. Knipe is Secretary. Further information about the land can be found in the Hall of Records, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Edward Lane was a very actve settler, and one of his activities was the building of a hotel on the Perkiomen in 1701, now standing in Collegeville, and called the Bridge Hotel.

John Bull was one of the party of immigrants from Radnorshire, Wales, who settled about Perkiomen and on Shippack Creek. There they formed a parish, as they were English Church people, and together built the old Church of St. James about 1700. This log building was later burned and all records were lost. The present Church was built on the original site, and the village of Evansburg, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, has been built near it. The graveyard of the Church contains the remains of many of the original settlers and their descendants. Several years ago the St. James Society ws formed by the then living descendants of the Church founders, and yearly meetings are held at the Church about the first of June to renew the old associations of their ancestors. At these meetings many historic facts have been brought to light. This historic old shrine has the extremest interest for Chruchmen and antiquarians. For over two hundred years it has ministered and still ministers to the spiritual needs of the countryside. The services of the Church of England were held here as early as the year 1700. A log church was erected soon after, which was replaced by a substantial stone church in 1721. The old Vestry Book bound in vellum and bearing the coat-of-arms of Queen Anne, is still preserved. The old Bible and Prayer Book bears date of 1723, and many interesting relics of past generations abound. A Parish School was established and flourising as early as 1734 and the Masters catechised the children on Sundays - a veritable Sunday School. (The church was used as a hospital during the Revolution) ††, and many soldiers of Washington's army are buried in the churchyard. The Parish, with its many activities, is now a striking example of how a country church may serve a community.

†† : it should be noted that during the Revolution the offficial services of this parish were largely suspended, the Loyalist Rev. Currie having resigned. See also Vol. III of the Journals of Rev.Henry Melchior Mühlenberg and the timeline on the geni project devoted to this volume.

In the early part of the 18th century the first record of a Bull appears in Montgomery County in the agreement dated January 12, 1717, when an agreeent was made by him for the transfer of land in Lower Providence Township, Philadelphia (now Montgomery) County, Pennsylvania. This land was on Shippack Creek, a branch of Perkiomen Creek, and a part of the original warrant of Edward Lanes. The farm of John Bull adjoined that of Henry Pawling, who moved from Kingston, New York, in 1720, occupying land obtained in the original warrant from William Penn.

The will of John Bull is recorded in Will Book F, page 19, No. 630, at the City Hall of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and names his wife and children. It was signed October 30, 1736, and was proved November 24, 1736. It is also recorded that he owned land as early as 1700.

In Buck's history of Montgomery County, page 99, John Bull is noted as a resident of Lower Providence in 1734. John Bull's will dated October 13, 1736, is a matter of record. He left his property to his wife and children. He is buried at St. James Episcopal Church Cemetery, Evanston, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. His gravestone is marked as follows: "Here lyeth the body of John Bull, who died November 1736. Aged 62 years." And that of Elizabeth Bull has the inscription: "Here lyeth the body of Elizabeth Bull, who dyed November 7, 1736. Aged 60 years."

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Came to America with his siblings, settling first in Gloucester County, New Jersey between 1686 and 1698. Some later moved to Pennsylvania about 1700. John Bull's land was on Shippack Creek, a branch of Perkiomen Creek. He was part of a party of immigrants from Radnorshire, Wales (led by Edward Lane)who formed a parish and built the old Church of St. James about 1700. This log building was later burned and all records lost. The present church was later built on the original site in 1721 and the village of Evansburg was built near it. many of the original settlers are buried in the churchyard, including the Bulls. Source: "John Bull of Perkiomen" by Commodore James H. Bull.