SOME DESCENDANTS OF RICHARD BULLOCK
OF REHOBOTH, MA

© Copyright 2001 by Virginia Deagan. However material on these pages may be freely used for personal research. Please contact me before using the material on other web pages.

This is the line of Richard Bullock that I descend from. I have some information on the other families in this file and will be glad to share anything I have with others who are interested in this family. Feel free to let me know of any corrections or additions to this family. I have an extensive list of sources and will be glad to provide them to anyone who has ancestors in this family. E-mail to Ginny Deagan (NEW E-MAIL:[email protected])


1. Richard Bullock was born 16 July 1622 in England. His parents are not known. He was married at Rehoboth, Bristol County, MA. 4 August 1647 to Elizabeth Ingraham. Elizabeth was born about 1629. She is said to be the daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Wignall) Ingraham and a descendant of Sir Arthur Ingraham of Watertown, MA. but no proof has been found of this. She was the mother of six children. Elizabeth died at age 30 on 7 January 1659/60, shortly after the birth of her sixth child, Hopestill. On 21 July 1660, Richard married Elizabeth Billington, daughter of Francis and Christian (Penn) Billington and granddaughter of John Billington who arrived in New England on the Mayflower. The Billington family was described by Gov. William Bradford as "ye profanest family" and John Billington received the distinction of being the first man hanged in the Plymouth Colony for committing a murder.

Richard Bullock 's ancestry has never been satisfactorily proved in spite of research by many people. He first appeared in Rehoboth, Plymouth Colony, in 1644 when he purchased the lot that had been set aside for the Governor. The lot was valued at 200 Pounds. Richard was only about 22 years old at the time, if we accept the statement he made in testifying on a matter regarding the estate of Alexander Winchester in 1648. It is thought that Richard was born in Essex, England in 1622. There is no satisfactory proof of his parentage. It has also been said that he came to America with two older brothers, Henry and Edward in 1635 and that since he was not yet 21, stayed with or near them until he received his patrimony when he came of age.

Considering the fact that 200 Pounds was a large sum of money for such a young man at that time and that he apparently had a good education since he was chosen to be a town clerk, it would seem that his family in England were of a substantial class. It has also been said that Richard came first to Rhode Island and associated with Roger Williams, also with no proof.

Richard Bullock's home lot was along the road leading to the common opposite the lot of Rev. Samuel Newman. During his lifetime, Richard was given additional lands. He drew rights in the "Great (Seekonk) Plain " in 1644 and in 1647 he was allotted the rights of Nathan Pratt's land after Mr. Pratt left Rehoboth. In June 1653 he was one of 49 residents who were allowed to draw meadow lands and in 1658 he again shared in a drawing of lands in the northern part of the town. On 1 October 1661 he was given "soo much land at the watersyde, against the end of his lott as should be judged to be convenient to sell". In 1666, he also shared in the division of the Wannamoisett lands.

Certainly, Richard was a farmer as were most of the men of that time, but in addition, he was the Town Clerk of Rehoboth from 1659 to the time of his death. Colonial records show he was made a freeman in May 1646 but do not state his residence. As town clerk, he was paid a salary plus an additional amount for each birth, marriage and death record that he inscribed. He appeared to be an honorable citizen of the town. He took the Oath of Fidelity in 1656. In 1662 the records show that he was appointed to serve on a committee regarding liquor and powder shipments and that on June 8, 1664 he was chosen to collect the "Assize" tax.

The Plymouth Colony licensed Richard Bullock to keep a ferry at Palmer’s River on 1 March 1664. This allowed him to ferry horses from Rehoboth across the Pawtucket (Blackstone) River to the Providence Plantation of Roger Williams. It appears that he already had a ferry and this allowed him to build a horse ferry in addition. He also was granted the right to sell liquor "to strangers and passengers but not to town dwellers ."

Richard died 22 November 1667 at Rehoboth. Books were listed among the items on his inventory along with a pewter spoon, arms & ammunition, and 3 blankets as the items with most value. Livestock consisted of "2 yearlings, 2 steers, one heefer, one horse and 6 cows". He had dairy vessels with beer barrel and was owed 23 shillings from Richard Bullock. [This could not have been his son, Richard who was born shortly before he died, therefore, there must have been another Richard Bullock in New England area at that time, possibly the Richard who was listed in Newtown, Long Island was this other Richard Bullock.

The largest part of the estate went to the oldest son, Samuel and deciding that debts due from Richard's estate were satisfied, on 29 October 1670, the Court gave widow Elizabeth, the remaining cattle from Richard's estate, stating that she had "with care and industry, brought up divers smale children since the death of her husband and still is careful and industrious to bring them up, some of them yet being smale". She was given three cows and a mare that were left from the estate.

Children of Richard and Elizabeth (Ingraham) Bullock: All born at Rehoboth, MA.

  1. Samuel Bullock , b. 19 Aug 1648. Marr. #1, 12 Nov 1673, Mary Thurber ; #2, 26 May 1675, Thankful [Rouse]. Died 10 Mar 1717/18 in Rehoboth, MA.


  2. Elizabeth Bullock, b. 9 Oct 1650. Marr. 6 Dec 1671, Caleb Eddy of Swansea.


  3. Mary Bullock, b. 16 Feb 1652. Marr. Richard Haile/Hale, Sr. . Died 15 Feb 1730 in Swansea, MA.


  4. Mehitable Bullock, b. 4 Apr 1655. Marr. John West. Died February 15, 1729/30 in Swansea, MA.


  5. Abigail Bullock, b. 29 Aug 1657. Marr. July 25, 1677, Obadiah Bowen, Jr. Died September 10, 1704.


  6. Hopestill Bullock, b. 26 Dec 1659. Marr. 6 Nov 1682, Joshua Lombard.

    Children of Richard and Elizabeth (Billington) Bullock:


  7. Israel Bullock, died young.


  8. Marcy Bullock, b. 13 Mar 1662. Died 19 Mar 1663.


  9. John Bullock, b. 19 May 1664. Marr. 29 Jan 1695, Elizabeth Barnes. Died bef. 10 July 1739 at Barrington, RI.


  10. Richard Bullock, b. 15 Mar 1666. Was on Capt. Samuel Gallup's Company of Provincial Troops in an expedition against Canada in 1690 and is thought to have taken sick and died on that expedition.