If you prick us, do we not bleed?

When we write about the past, we are writing about people. We may focus on events. But, intrinsically, what matters is what people think, feel and do. So, in writing about the histories of families there are somethings we might not necessarily share with others. Even at the distance of a few decades, feelings can run strong in a family. There are a few things that I will touch on that may be painful for people. I will certainly give a great deal of thought to if, what and how I say anything.

What I am going to say in this post, is a matter of public record. But, some records are more public than others. I will have to do this a few times over the months ahead. In this case, vital information is involved that may or may not make it more or less difficult for us to find out who our ancestors were. I am hoping such information will help and not hinder.

Why do the members of family go their separate ways? How is it that some seem to be caught between a rock and a hard place? There are at least a dozen answers to this question that come easily to mind. One is about identity. We do not shape our identity by ourselves. Who we are is someone determined by the company we cultivate and keep. Various judgments can be made that will be different at different times and places.

There is a book that is very difficult to get a hold of. I have only been able to get bits and pieces of it over time. If I find a copy for sale, I will buy it immediately. It is titled, A Man Called Sampson, by Rudi and Will Ottery. It has a great deal of information about the Bulmans who were descended from Henry and Wealthea. On page 124, is a sketch of their son, Grisel. I have some other sources that I will refer to shortly. This passage speaks about Grisel and his second wife:

Mary Dick, Grisel's second wife, was the daughter of William Dick and Juliette Peters Dick, both Brothertown Indians. Her parents were witnesses to her marriage. Mary was a teacher and her father was a leader in the Christian Temperance Movement. Grisel was a carpenter. He served in Co. G, 36th Wisconsin Infantry during the Civil War, enlisting on February 26, 1864, and receiving a medical discharge on May 22, 1865. Grisel was left with a hip and kidney disability which resulted from wounds received in battle. He belonged to the Baptist Church and tended to be strict. On Sundays the family always went to church. Their Sunday lunch was prepared the day before because work was not permitted on Sundays. Farmers were allowed to tend their animals, but that was all. After lunch, they returned to church for the afternoon. Grisel and his family lived in the village of Brant in Calumet County, and according to Hazel Dishneau, Brant was very politically conscious. Their Baptist Church moved their meetings from one end of town to the other, depending upon whether Republicans or Democrats won the previous election. Records regarding when and where Grisel was born are conflicting, and we used the date he lists for himself on a government affidavit. This information agrees with affadavits filed by his sister, Almira. Grisel's name appears variously on records, as Griswald and Chris, but he was apparently named after his mother's brother Grisel Sampson. In 1882, the Chilton Times reported that he was building a brick house at Stockbridge, and that he had an accident while cutting wood. Grisel died of pulmonary tuberculosis and is buried at the Gravesville, Wisconsin Cemetery.

He died 24 February 1902.

According to Records Relating to the Kansas Claims of the New York Indians, for which Grisel Bulman filed application #2313 on November 23, 1901, he states that his father, Henry Bulman was "a 1/4 blood Indian and was never enrolled as one of the Brothertown Band." This file also states that his grandmother's name was Jane Bulman and that he did not know anything of his grandfather. In another place, when speaking of Henry Bulman, the information I have says that "his mother was called Jane in some records."

Interestingly, Patrick and Sarah Bulman's youngest daughter was named Abigail Jane Bulman.

If Henry Bulman, the son of Abigail and Jeremiah Bulman, was by descent one quarter Native American, then there are three possibilities: a) his mother had a parent who was Native American, b) his father had a parent who was Native American, or c) each of his parents had a grandparent who was Native American.

If the situation was as stated in the second possibility, then this is not likely to have any bearing on a name change and a potential family dispute. However, if the situation involved the first or third possibility it might. If members of Jeremiah, Patrick and Henry's families were trying to play down any Native American heritage, then it might be necessary for those who wanted to be more open to move on. This might be especially the case, if their father had married twice. It seems more probable, that Abigail had a parent who was a of Native American heritage. For instance, she may have had an association with the Stockbridge Indians in western Massachusetts.

Jeremiah and Abigail's sudden presence in Schenectady among various family members may have precipitated something. He may both have changed his name to Bullman and also had his service papers changed before leaving Lenox, if this is Jeremiah Bulmore. Patrick and Henry might have followed suit out of loyalty to Jeremiah. Benoni may have done so out of decency. This is all speculation. But, it is a curious fact that Patrick has three sons named, from oldest to youngest, Henry, Jeremiah and William. And, that Abigail and Jeremiah also have three sons named Jeremiah, Henry, and William in birth order.

True, if I am correct, Jeremiah and Abigail also have a John who may have been named after a grandfather. It is also true that Henry has no sons named Jeremiah or Patrick. Yet, children do die at infancy. And, sometimes people wish to forget. Sometimes they do not even want to know in the first place.

In one of those chance Internet "meetings", I found the following information:

I am one of a group working on an official history of the Wisconsin 23rd Regiment . Prescott B. Burwell enlisted on 13 Aug 1862 at Sun Prairie, Dane Co., WI & discharged 9 Mar at Sun Prairie, WI. He enlisted (2) on 9 Mar 1864 into the 36th WI Infantry and was wounded & Prisoner of War at Cold Harbor, VA. He d. of wounds, a prisoner at Richmond, VA on 28 Jun 1864. He m. Harriet L. Monford who m. ( 2) to William Franklin Bulman.

I responded and gave what little extra information that I had. One thing I pointed out was that Grisel Bullman was in Company G, 36th Wisconsin Infantry, and that he was William Franklin Bulman's cousin. Burwell was a captain in Company F. Even though their company's were in the line side by side according to James M. Aubery's book The Thirty-Sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry published in 1900, I doubt that they knew one another. However, Aubery was a Lieutenant in Company G and had this to say about Grisel on page 35:

We had in our regiment quite a number of Indians (half breeds), who were the best of soldiers. They were intelligent, robust, athletic, ready for a wrestle or any game which might be proposed. In my company (G) was one by the name of Gris Bullman, a finely-proportioned fellow, very quick; none in the whole camp was his equal in a wrestle. The whole regiment was composed of a splendid type of western men--farmers, lumbermen, merchants, mechanics, clerks and teachers; the first named predominating.

The following is an account of the battle in which Grisel is wounded in 1864 (p.171):

October 27.--At 6 o'clock in the morning arrived within a short distance of the enemy's line, near Hatcher's Run. Lieutenant Ripley with Company A was ordered forward to develop the enemy. Deploying the company in front of the brigade he drove in the enemy's pickets and captured their rifle pits. Heavy skirmishing continued until noon, when the enemy's main line was found. The Thirty-sixth was formed in line of battle, with the Second and Third Brigades on the right and the Third Division in the rear. At 3 o'clock the enemy in heavy force charged the Third Division, causing it to break, thus cutting off all communications with the rear. Seeing the perilous condition, Captain Fisk ordered the regiment to face by the rear flank, fix bayonets and charge, which was handsomely executed, striking the enemy on their flank, doubling up their line and causing them to break and run. A large number were captured, with one stand of colors. The number of prisoners captured was greater than the regiment's whole force. The casualties to the regiment were 12 wounded and missing. This is a glorious victory for the Thirty-sixth, as it no doubt saved the whole division. Casualties are:
Wounded.--Corporal Grisel Bullman, Martin Hoffman, Smith D. Weldon, Company G.

Given Aubery's description of Grisel as a wrestler, he must have been well and truly in the thick of it that day. He would later make sergeant.

This is the military history of Prescott B. Burwell from page 394:

PRESCOTT B. BURWELL enlisted August 13th, 1862, in Company A, Twenty-third Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers; first-sergeant; second-lieutenant Company I, Twenty-third, not mustered.

Commissioned captain Company F, Thirty-sixth, March 9th, 11864; mustered March 23rd, 1864; wounded and prisoner June 1, 1864, at Turner's Farm, Va. Died June 26th, 1864, in Libby Prison, Richmond, Va., wounds.

Aubery thought him a brave man.

After marrying William Franklin Bullman in Walworth County half way between Prescott B. Burwell's family at Sun Prairie and various Patrick and Sarah Bulman daughters near East Troy, Walworth County, did she find out that Grisel was William's nephew? Did she discover William's Native American heritage? In any case, she does leave him and, then, lives in California for some time having married another man. Perhaps, William just was not what she was looking for in a man; it is a complicated business, this living.

By the way, Sarah was still alive at this point and the place of the wedding also is on the railway line from Waukesha. Was Sarah living with her eldest daughter, Elizabeth, at this point in the Sussex-Lisbon area where Patrick was buried in 1866?

A great deal of this is speculation of course. But, we have all seen this sort of thing play out before us many times. I think it highly plausible. However, I am only using this as a hypothesis for guiding my further researches.

Shylock's speech and, then....Portia's: