Return to Fayette County, Kentucky

Bullock Family

Working with Bullock genealogy is proving to be a little more difficult than I would have thought. A number of Bullock researchers have responded to my queries. Without exception they have been gracious and generous. The problem I am encountering is that their research is in conflict. I am sure each person feels their version is correct but it's impossible for all of them to be right.

I'll begin with something we all seem to agree upon. Ann (Anne) Waller from Spotsylvania County, Virginia married a gentleman named James Bullock. Ann was the daughter of John Waller (1701-1776) and Ann Carr (1711-1777) She was the granddaughter of Colonel John Waller, founder of the branch of the Waller family known as "Endfield."

Ann was probably James Bullock's second wife. Most records indicate he was married to Rebecca Wingfield before he married Ann. Some of the records I have show descendants of Rebecca with the given name of WALLER. This makes no sense whatsoever except for one possibility we'll discuss later.

Rebecca probably died about 1770-73. At some point in time after that, Ann and James moved to Fayette County, Kentucky. It's reasonable to assume James would have with him children from his first wife Rebecca. Stepmother Ann had children of her own but I cannot begin to determine which is which.

Remember, all members of this little family, children and adults, were named Bullock. People with the surname Waller moved into Fayette County in 1786. There is the possibility some of these new Wallers married Bullocks within the next one or two generations. This is why I said two paragraphs earlier there was ONE way Rebecca Wingfield's descendants could end up with the given name of WALLER in a very legitimate manner.

The above is somewhat complex and will take some work to get straightened out. I am a Waller researcher and to a great extent do not care about the Bullocks before one of our Waller women married into the family. A Bullock researcher however, still has a big problem in addition to the above.

"Which" James Bullock did Ann Waller marry? I don't wish to sound critical but a lot of the information I have received would have required two and possibly even three generations of men named James Bullock. If a serious researcher can shed some light on this I would be very appreciative.

I'll give some examples as to why I am confused.

We tend to place more credence in DAR applications than we do in the work of the average genealogist. I think we are correct to make this assumption. These ladies were aware their application for membership to "Daughters of the American Revolution" was going to be scrutinized by a review board which at times could be highly critical. That said, let's look at an application by Maria Gray.

It's obvious Maria Gray believed her James Bullock was born in 1760 and married Ann Waller. Let's compare her record to the following email I received from a Bullock researcher.

"Are you familiar with the work of Mary Aker?  In a monograph at the Kentucky Historical Society, I found information about James Bullock and his wife (2nd) Ann Waller.  The following is a quotation.

James Bullock, 7th generation 1735-1813
1st wife Rebecca Wingfield  2nd wife Ann Waller

"Dr. J.J. Bullock, grandson of James Bullock, in quoting family history, called him James Jr., but no legal document or official records name him as such.  The Va records proved he was legal heir of Edward Bullock, d. c. 1759.
His tombstone in the Lexington, Kentucky cemetery, gives birth date Feb. 23, 1735; death June 29, 1813."

I am certainly NOT making an argument in favor of the DAR record. Just because the ladies were trying to be careful does not mean they were correct. I have no idea who Mary Aker is or was, but because her comments are on record at the "Kentucky Historical Society" a lot of genealogists will accept them at face value.

There are other examples of conflicting genealogies but not much can be gained by my belaboring the point. As I stated earlier, my interest is in Ann Waller and all of her descendants. I can comfortably leave it up to Ann's descendants to figure out which James Bullock she married.

I would appreciate any information that can be posted to this page.
email Ali

Please consider a donation to help keep the Waller pages on line. The Waller Family pages will be preserved here for as long as we can keep it going. Thank you. Ali.

I have had horrible allergies and sinusitis for years and this is the only thing that has helped me out. I highly recommend it! The Neti Pot...click on this banner:

Sign My Guestbook View My Guestbook

---

~ Ali ~ Nurses~ Credits~ Roy~ Tim~