St Martin, Thompson. BULLEN approx 1812

[caroline_forster]

Hello,

I am working back through my BULLEN ancestors and wondered if somebody could please help me out.

I have JOHN BULLEN on the 1841 to 1881 Census, each time giving THOMPSON ~1795 as place / date of birth. (I am satisfied that this is "my" John Bullen).

Using various online resources I came up with a baptism that seemed to fit:
St Martin, Thompson. JOHN BULLEN 8 Nov 1795. Son of Edward BULLEN and Ann ROLF

I then found baptisms for siblings of John at St Martin, Thompson (basic details as follows):
Margaret 1799
William 1802
Edward Lincoln 1804
James 1806
Susannah 1808
Robert 1810
Ann 1815 - Mothers surname not given on this one, possibly not related.

I am now confused as I've come across a few online trees that throw some spanners in the works and I can't verify the info. They show a "Jonothon" Bullen, born 1812 and therefore seem to presume that my JOHN died before 1812 (for the name to have been "recycled" by his parents). Some even give a baptism for Jonathan at Thompson 21 July 1812 but without evidence.

Can anybody confirm this 1812 (or another) baptism for Jonathan? I have had no luck with this.

I have found a JONATHAN Bullen on the 1841 census at Wretton, Norfolk and an Australian immigration document on which he gives his place of birth as Thompson and says he is the son of Edward (dead) and Ann (living at "Watten" - Watton?).  The Thompson-Edward-Ann combo is enough for me to start questioning things (or get confused!).

Can anybody help with trying to separate my John BULLEN 1795 and Jonathan BULLEN 1812?  I want to be sure I have the correct parents for "my" John before going any further back up the BULLEN-ROLF(e) lines.

I hope this makes sense, (it's my first time posting).

I'm up in Northumberland and happy to reciprocate with some Northumberland Archives lookups as and when I can.

Many thanks,

Caroline Forster

[amondg]

Rule number 1, never ever trust an online family tree, especially one without documentation.

Freereg has Archbishop's transcripts and lists only the children you have mentioned.

I have families with an Eliza and an Elizabeth, so a John and a Jonathan would not be out of line.

Follow your own research, perhaps the original register has a Jonathan baptism for 1812 not found in the AT's.
 

[amondg]

Did your John Bullen marry Charlotte (ADDED Charlotte Woodrow 17 June 1816)

Children
Ann born 7 April 1817 bap. 16 March 1817 at Hingham
Adam born 28 May 1819 bap 22 June 1819 at Hingham
Happy baptized 21 February 1821
Lydia born 30 October 1822 bap same day-- buried 29 May 1831
Happy born 25 November 1824 baptized Hingham 21 Feb 1825
Mary  bap 30 October 1826
Charles bap 8 June 1829.

Charlotte was buried at Hingham 25 May 1835 age 42.

 

[amondg]

Edward Bullen was buried 13 August 1819 age 47 at Thompson

[amondg]

Okay found the Ann Bullen living in Watton in 1851 she is 62 born Wretham a pauper (nurse)

At age 62 she was born 1789, your John was born 1795 this one cannot be your John's mother physically impossible.

There has to be another Edward and Ann Bullen and the others have confused the 2 families.

[caroline_forster]

Did your John Bullen marry Charlotte (ADDED Charlotte Woodrow 17 June 1816)

Children
Ann born 7 April 1817 bap. 16 March 1817 at Hingham
Adam born 28 May 1819 bap 22 June 1819 at Hingham
Happy baptized 21 February 1821
Lydia born 30 October 1822 bap same day-- buried 29 May 1831
Happy born 25 November 1824 baptized Hingham 21 Feb 1825
Mary  bap 30 October 1826
Charles bap 8 June 1829.

Charlotte was buried at Hingham 25 May 1835 age 42.

Hello,

thank you for the quick reply. Yes, I am descended from Ann (eldest daughter of John Bullen and Charlotte Woodrow) through her daughter Happy Duffield who came up to the North East of England.

Of course you are right about not trusting other peoples online trees, I let myself get a bit distracted / tangled by this one!

I had found Ann BULLEN at Watton on 1851 and as you correctly point out she is too young to be my Johns mother. But there is a burial for an Ann BULLEN at Watton in 1856 giving an age of 82, meaning she was born in 1774 and therefore could be the mother of my John. I can't tell if these are the same person with wildly inaccurate remembrance of ages or two different people.

Given that there may have been two Edward & Ann families in the area I wasn't sure whether the burial of Edward in 1819 was from my line or not but the age would fit.

Sadly when it comes to my Norfolk Roots I have to rely on the online resources for now but maybe sometime I'll get to come down and do some "proper" research and can check some original registers.

Can I ask if you are descended from John Bullen and Charlotte Woodrow?

Thanks again for your help, I'll keep working to try and clarify my Bullen line.

Best Wishes

Caroline

[amondg]

No not related just a roots chatter

[amondg]

As Ann Bullen is listed as a pauper in 1851 check the parish relief rolls if they exist for Watton, Wretham, or settlement papers.

Norfolk Record Office may have them, Martineau Lane Norwich. 

[caroline_forster]

No not related just a roots chatter

Thanks again for your help and suggestions.