William Bull Sr. (1683 - 1755)

Born 1683 in Berkeley County, Province of Carolina

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 21 Mar 1755 at about age 72 in Granville County, Province of South Carolina

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Linden Holder [send private message]

Biography

Hon. William Bull, of Ashley Hall and Sheldon, Esq., J. P., was a member of the Commons House of South Carolina, 1706-1719, &c; served as captain in the Tuscarora and Yemasee wars; was colonel of the Berkeley County regiment; Commissioner of Indian affairs, 1721; and Lord Proprietors' Deputy in 1719. He stood loyally by the Proprietors, but was, nevertheless, en the change of government, appointed a member of the King's Council for South Carolina, 1721 -1737, and from his experience and knowledge of the affairs of the country and the Indians was appointed co assist Gen. Oglethorpe to settle Georgia, and, Feb. 9, 1733, (on a site said to have been suggested by him)

Mr Oglethorpe and Coll. Bull marked out the Town of Savannah (whose principal street perpetuates his name).

Col. Bull became President of the Council on Mr. Arthur Middleton's death, Sept. 7, 1737, and on Lt. Gov. Broughton's death, Nov. 22, the government devolved upon him. He was appointed Lieutenant Governour June 3, 1738, and governed the Province with ability, tact and courage till 1744. In his time the Province suffered war, pestilence and famine; in 1738 was menaced by the Spaniards, French and Indians and afflicted by small pox and crop destroying droughts; in 1739 a servile insurrection and yellow fever; in 1740 war with the Spaniards and a dreadful fire in Charlestown. But Gov. Bull overcame all difficulties; his influence kept the Indians quiet; he suppressed the insurrection and raised forces against the Spaniards, and his administration was one of the most successful and popular the Province had ever had. Col. Bull was commissioner under the Church act, 1706, and was reappointed 1745 (when he was the only surviving commissioner) and was commissioner of Prince Williams' parish, the church of which he did much to erect.

Gov. Bull, besides the estates received from his father, obtained large grants in the Province and settled the fine Sheldon estate. His home in Charlestown was the brick mansion (late Miss Hayne's) at the N. W. corner of Meeting and Ladson streets, erected on the lot N? 270 granted his father in 1694. (Now owned by H. H. Ficken, Esq.)

He was born at Ashley Hall April, 1683; m., 17 —, Mary, dau. of Richard Quintyne Esq. She d. 19, March, 1738." He d. at Sheldon, March 21, 1755.

Will and Inventory

William Bull of Granville County made his Will in April 1750. He lists his considerable properties, both in Charles Town, on the Ashley River, and in Granville County. His plantation on the Ashley River was left to his son William. His plantation called Sheldon in Granville County was left to his grandson Stephen Bull [son of his deceased son Stephen]. He also made bequests to his daughter Mary Henrietta, his daughter Elizabeth Drayton, his grandson William Bull, and his grandsons William and Charles Drayton (sons of John Drayton). He mentions his sons-in-law Thomas Drayton and John Drayton.^[1]

Inventories of his estate were taken at Sheldon plantation and his plantation in St. Andrews Parish [Ashley Hall]. The inventories list 138 slaves by name, 107 at Sheldon and 31 at Ashley Hall.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Will of William Bull "South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-J89W-MN?cc=1919417&wc=M6N4-XZ9%3A210905601%2C211509901 : 21 May 2014), Charleston > Wills, 1752-1763, Vol. 007 > image 362 of 613; citing Department of Archives and History, Columbia.
2. ↑ Inventory of William Bul "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-JZ18-2?cc=1911928&wc=MPP1-K6X%3A190562801%2C190562802%2C190652701%2C190560104 : 21 May 2014), Charleston > Probate Court, Estate inventories > 1753-1756 > No File Description Available > image 204 of 301; county courthouses, South Carolina, and South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia.

"The Bull Family of South Carolina" (which appeared in volume 1 (January 1900) of The South Carolina Genealogical and Historical Magazine at pages 76 to 90. The South Carolina historical and genealogical magazine (1900)

William Bull, Sr. President of the Council and Acting Governor of South Carolina Province 1737 to 1743 http://www.carolana.com/SC/Governors/wbull.html