Thomas Bull (c. 1605 – October 12, 1684), also known as Captain Thomas Bull, was an early settler in the Connecticut Colony who is counted as one of the founders of Hartford, Connecticut.[2][3]
Bull arrived in Hartford in 1636, having accompanied Thomas Hooker. He served in the Pequot War of 1637, and in 1653 he was appointed lieutenant of a company raised to fight the Dutch. During the Pequot War Lieutenant Bull, rescued Arthur Smith from Mistick Fort after being severely wounded.[4] Bull was hit with an arrow shot into a hard piece of cheese in his pocket, having no other defence. Which may verify the old saying, "A little armor would serve if a man knew where to place it".[5] For his service in the Pequot War he was granted a large tract of land near the Niantic River in what is now the town of East Lyme, Connecticut.[2]
Connecticut-New York boundary disputeedit
Coat of Arms of Thomas Bull
In 1675 Captain Bull was in command of the Connecticut Colony militia at Fort Saybrook at the mouth of the Connecticut River when Sir Edmund Andros Governor of New York attempted to take possession of the Connecticut Colony for the Duke of York. Dutch claims had originally extended as far east as the Connecticut River, but these claims had been ceded in the 1650 Treaty of Hartford, and reduced to a boundary line 20 miles (32 km) east of the Hudson in 1664. York's territorial claim did not acknowledge these, and Andros announced to Connecticut authorities his intentions to reclaim that territory (which included Connecticut capital, Hartford) in early 1675. Connecticut's leaders pointed out the later revisions to Connecticut's boundaries, but Andros pressed his claim, arguing that those revisions had been superseded by York's grant. Andros used the outbreak of King Philip's War in July 1675 as an excuse to go by ship to Connecticut with a small military force to establish the duke's claim.[6] Andros came ashore, had a brief conversation with the fort commander was rebuffed, and read his commission.[7]
[Thomas Bull] was in command as Saybrook, when Governor Andros attempted to gain the place for his master, the Duke of York.When a clerk of Andros insisted upon reading the patent, Captain Bull commanded him in a loud voice to forbear, and then read the protest. Governor Andros, pleased with his bold and soldier-like appearance, said, "What's your name?" He replied, "My name is Bull, sir" "Bull", said the Governor, "It's a pity that your horns are not tipped with silver."[8]
Andros turned his boats around and left Connecticut. This was the full extent of Andros' attempt to claim the territory, but it would be remembered in Connecticut when later attempts were made to assert New York authority.[9] The Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford records that, "the bravery and wisdom which he displayed in his resistance to Andres greatly endeared Capt. Bull to the people of the colony as a gallant and intrepid officer".[2]
Legacyedit
Thomas Bull on the Hartford Founders Monument
John Winthrop, governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony described Thomas Bull as "a godly and discreet man".[10] Thomas Bull died in October 1684. He was interred alongside his wife, Susannah Bull, in the Central Congregational Church burying ground in Hartford, CT. His monument there reads, "Here lyeth the body of Capt. Thomas Bull, who died October 1684. He was one of the first settlers of Hartford; a lieut. in the great and decisive battle with the Pequots at Mystic May 27th 1637; and Commander of the Fort at Saybrook in July, 1675, when its surrender was demanded by Major Andros".[11]
Referencesedit
^Manwaring, Charles William (1904). A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records. Hartford, CT: R.S. Peck & Co., Printers. pp. 281–283.
^ abc"The Founders of Hartford: Bull, Thomas". Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford. 2006. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
^Barbour, Lucius Barnes (1977). Families of Early Hartford, Connecticut. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company. pp. 96–97. ISBN9780806307640.
^McBride, Kevin (ed.). "Who's Who of the Pequot War". Battlefields of the Pequot War. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
^Mason, John (1901). Trent, William Peterfield; Wells, Benjamin Willis (eds.). Colonial Prose and Poetry: The Transplanting of Culture, 1607-1650 (Vol 1). New York, NY: Thomas Y. Crowell & Co. pp. 140–155.
^Brodhead, John Romeyn (1871). History of the State of New York (Vol 2). New York, NY: Harper & Brothers, Publishers. pp. 279–281. OCLC 1383698.
^Fiske, John (1903). The Dutch and Quaker Colonies in America (Vol 2). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. p. 47.
^Whittemore, Henry (1894). History of Montclair Township, State of New Jersey: Including the History of Families who Have Been Identified with Its Growth and Prosperity. Montclair, NJ: Unigraphic. p. 228.
^Fiske, John (1903). The Dutch and Quaker Colonies in America (Vol 2). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. p. 204.
^Parker, Edwin Pond (1892). History of the Second Church of Christ in Hartford. Hartford, CT: Belknap & Warfield. pp. 56.
^Cutter, William Richard (1922). American Biography: A New Cyclopedia (Vol 11). New York, NY: American Historical Society. pp. 91–92.
April 18, 2024
thomas, bull, pennsylvania, politician, pennsylvania, politician, pennsylvania, politician, thomas, bull, south, dakota, politician, thomas, short, bull, australian, politician, bull, 1605, october, 1684, also, known, captain, early, settler, connecticut, colo. For the Pennsylvania politician see Thomas Bull Pennsylvania politician For the Pennsylvania politician see Thomas K Bull For the South Dakota politician see Thomas Short Bull For the Australian politician see Tom Bull Thomas Bull c 1605 October 12 1684 also known as Captain Thomas Bull was an early settler in the Connecticut Colony who is counted as one of the founders of Hartford Connecticut 2 3 CaptainThomas BullBornc 1605Great BritainDiedOctober 12 1684Hartford CTNationality EnglandOccupation s Army OfficerMerchantSpouseSusannah BullChildrenThomas BullDavid BullRuth Bull BoardmanJonathan BullAbigail BullJoseph BullSusannah Bull Bunce 1 Contents 1 Pequot War 2 Connecticut New York boundary dispute 3 Legacy 4 ReferencesPequot War editBull arrived in Hartford in 1636 having accompanied Thomas Hooker He served in the Pequot War of 1637 and in 1653 he was appointed lieutenant of a company raised to fight the Dutch During the Pequot War Lieutenant Bull rescued Arthur Smith from Mistick Fort after being severely wounded 4 Bull was hit with an arrow shot into a hard piece of cheese in his pocket having no other defence Which may verify the old saying A little armor would serve if a man knew where to place it 5 For his service in the Pequot War he was granted a large tract of land near the Niantic River in what is now the town of East Lyme Connecticut 2 Connecticut New York boundary dispute edit nbsp Coat of Arms of Thomas BullIn 1675 Captain Bull was in command of the Connecticut Colony militia at Fort Saybrook at the mouth of the Connecticut River when Sir Edmund Andros Governor of New York attempted to take possession of the Connecticut Colony for the Duke of York Dutch claims had originally extended as far east as the Connecticut River but these claims had been ceded in the 1650 Treaty of Hartford and reduced to a boundary line 20 miles 32 km east of the Hudson in 1664 York s territorial claim did not acknowledge these and Andros announced to Connecticut authorities his intentions to reclaim that territory which included Connecticut capital Hartford in early 1675 Connecticut s leaders pointed out the later revisions to Connecticut s boundaries but Andros pressed his claim arguing that those revisions had been superseded by York s grant Andros used the outbreak of King Philip s War in July 1675 as an excuse to go by ship to Connecticut with a small military force to establish the duke s claim 6 Andros came ashore had a brief conversation with the fort commander was rebuffed and read his commission 7 Thomas Bull was in command as Saybrook when Governor Andros attempted to gain the place for his master the Duke of York When a clerk of Andros insisted upon reading the patent Captain Bull commanded him in a loud voice to forbear and then read the protest Governor Andros pleased with his bold and soldier like appearance said What s your name He replied My name is Bull sir Bull said the Governor It s a pity that your horns are not tipped with silver 8 Andros turned his boats around and left Connecticut This was the full extent of Andros attempt to claim the territory but it would be remembered in Connecticut when later attempts were made to assert New York authority 9 The Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford records that the bravery and wisdom which he displayed in his resistance to Andres greatly endeared Capt Bull to the people of the colony as a gallant and intrepid officer 2 Legacy edit nbsp Thomas Bull on the Hartford Founders MonumentJohn Winthrop governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony described Thomas Bull as a godly and discreet man 10 Thomas Bull died in October 1684 He was interred alongside his wife Susannah Bull in the Central Congregational Church burying ground in Hartford CT His monument there reads Here lyeth the body of Capt Thomas Bull who died October 1684 He was one of the first settlers of Hartford a lieut in the great and decisive battle with the Pequots at Mystic May 27th 1637 and Commander of the Fort at Saybrook in July 1675 when its surrender was demanded by Major Andros 11 References edit Manwaring Charles William 1904 A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records Hartford CT R S Peck amp Co Printers pp 281 283 a b c The Founders of Hartford Bull Thomas Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford 2006 Retrieved 21 June 2015 Barbour Lucius Barnes 1977 Families of Early Hartford Connecticut Baltimore MD Genealogical Publishing Company pp 96 97 ISBN 9780806307640 McBride Kevin ed Who s Who of the Pequot War Battlefields of the Pequot War Retrieved 21 June 2015 Mason John 1901 Trent William Peterfield Wells Benjamin Willis eds Colonial Prose and Poetry The Transplanting of Culture 1607 1650 Vol 1 New York NY Thomas Y Crowell amp Co pp 140 155 Brodhead John Romeyn 1871 History of the State of New York Vol 2 New York NY Harper amp Brothers Publishers pp 279 281 OCLC 1383698 Fiske John 1903 The Dutch and Quaker Colonies in America Vol 2 Boston MA Houghton Mifflin p 47 Whittemore Henry 1894 History of Montclair Township State of New Jersey Including the History of Families who Have Been Identified with Its Growth and Prosperity Montclair NJ Unigraphic p 228 Fiske John 1903 The Dutch and Quaker Colonies in America Vol 2 Boston MA Houghton Mifflin p 204 Parker Edwin Pond 1892 History of the Second Church of Christ in Hartford Hartford CT Belknap amp Warfield pp 56 Cutter William Richard 1922 American Biography A New Cyclopedia Vol 11 New York NY American Historical Society pp 91 92 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Bull amp oldid 1189997875, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
