Holbrook line: Samuel Bullen, Immigrant

We know enough about Samuel Bullen to make us want to know more.  Of course, some of the early information is conflicting, but once we can point to him in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, his information is a little more definitive. So, he was born in either 1617 or 1622, in Redgrave, Suffolk, England, or Botesdale, Suffolk, England.  The two villages are only about two and a half miles apart, so at least we have are pinned down very closely.  Living at either location, Samuel would have been very familiar with St Mary's Church, which was constructed sometime in the late 13th or early 14th century.  There are pictures on Wikipedia of the interior of this building, and they are stunning.  But I digress.

I tend to think Samuel was likely born in 1617 although possibly not christened until 1622, for whatever reason. He was married in 1641 and the 1622 date would make him a pretty young bridegroom for the time period.  His father was likely (don't quote me on this!) John Bullen and his mother Agnes Wiffin.  I'd feel better if I could find the documentation for this myself, but it's been reported early and often.

There is also a bit of confusion the date he came to America.  He was in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1636.  I have also seen him listed as arriving in 1640.  If this is so, then he must have returned to England for reasons unknown, and arrived back that year.  We know he was accepted as a freeman in Boston in 1641, the same year he married Mary Morse, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Jasper Morse, in Dedham, Massachusetts.  Samuel's name is on the Dedham Compact, written in 1636, but it's not clear whether he signed it in 1636 or whether he signed it when he moved to the town. 

Samuel and Mary had at least nine children, some born in Dedham and some after the family had moved (or possibly the town had divided) to Medfield.  I am not sure I completely understand the following but I will give it to you, anyway, in quotes.  It is from an article from Volume 65 of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, page 270, from an article about "The Origin and Development of Conveyancing." 

"Samuel Bullein of Dedham for & in consideration of two cowes sould him granted vnto Thomas Dudley Esq deput Governor his dwellinghouse in Dedham and foure Acres of land within the fence neere adjoyneing to the said house vppon condition that the sd Bullein shall pay unto the sd Thomas Dudley twelve pounds starling at the house of the sd Thomas Dudley in  Roxbury in manner following to wit thirty shillings in good cleane dry wheate the 18 (1) the next comeing and 20s in good butter and 10s in good cheese the 8 (7) 1647.  & so the like sume vppon every eighteenth of march and the like sume of butter & cheese vppon every eight day of 7ber for the three yeares next following provideing at his owne cost a Tubb for the butter and the wheate buttr & cheese to be valued by indifferent men; & if the Cows be not with Calfe then ten shillings to be abated in the first paymt.  This was by mortgage dat7 (7) 1646.  Acknowledged before John Winthrop Gov: the same day."

I've tried to copy this word for word and punctuation for punctuation.  I think it means that our Samuel purchased a dwellinghouse in Dedham and two cows from Thomas Dudley, the deputy Governor, and in return was to pay him wheat, butter and cheese for a period of four years.  Cash was scarce at the time. 

There are suggestions that Samuel may have been a housewright (carpenter) but I've not found that supported, yet.  We can assume that he raised wheat and dairy cows, from the above conveyance. 

We don't know just when Samuel became a deacon in the church.  Almost everyone in town belonged to the church when it was first formed in 1638, but it seems unlikely that he would have been chosen as deacon right away, merely because of his age. 

Samuel and Mary were in Medfield by 1651, but circumstances forced them out during King Philip's War in 1675-76.  At least half of the town was burned by the native Americans, and about 20 colonists were killed.  It is possible that the Bullens had already left for safer ground before the attack.  It's also possible that Samuel, who would have been nearly 60 years old, stayed to try to protect the town.  I've not found his name listed in "Soldiers in King Philip's War" but that list may not include every one who defended his own home town.  Apparently Samuel's children had a hard time of it, too, because Samuel later asked for a reduction in "rates" (taxes) because not only had he lost everything, but he had needed to help some of his adult children, also.

 Samuel and Mary did return to Medfield and rebuilt their home.Samuel died January 16,1692/92 and Mary died February 14 of the same year.  This may explain why his inventory wasn't filed until 1695.  It included books, clothing, feather beds and furniture, 'irons" and a loom, and several pieces of land as well as his dwelling house, totaling 178-02-08.  Two years later, when a division was finally made, the real estate was valued at 131-10-00.

As with many of our immigrants, we can be proud of him, and just as with many others, we can wish we knew more about him.  Imagine coming across the ocean, hoping to find a better life, and later having your home and those of some of your children burned!  There were remarkable people.

Our line of descent is:

Samuel Bullen-Mary Morse
Elizabeth Bullen-Benjamin Wheelock
Benjamin Wheelock-Huldah Thayer
Mary Wheelock-Ebenezer Thayer
Abigail Thayer-Jesse Holbrook
Amariah Holbrook-Molly Wright
Nahum Holbrook-Susanna Rockwood
Joseph Holbrook-Mary Elizabeth Whittemore
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants