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John Bullen, a soldier of the Revolution from Ware, Massachusetts, was a Captain in Shays' Rebellion of 1786-87.
After the Revolution, the farmers in the barter economy of western Massachusetts rose up in opposition to oppressive taxation. These farmers were forced to sell their land at one-half of its worth to speculators from the cash-rich economy of eastern Massachusetts. Daniel Shays, a Revolutionary soldier decorated by General Washington himself, was the leader of the rebellion. He and his like-minded fellows marched through Massachusetts in an effort to prevent legislators from meeting and the courts from throwing debtors into prison who were bankrupted by the excessive taxation.
Any deaths that resulted seemed to have been caused by over-reaction on the part of the authorities. After the rebellion was put down, Shays escaped to Vermont where he was given sanctuary by Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Boys fame. Capt. John Bullen and his family left for Oneida County, New York, in great haste in 1787. Allegedly they were forced to take cover in a thicket so that the Captain's wife, Mary (Whitcomb) Bullen could give birth to their daughter Parmelia in March, 1787. Two men were hung for the crime of participating in the Rebellion before all of the rest received pardons, including Daniel Shays.
The following transcribed newspaper article which appeared in the The Worcester Magazine of 28 February 1787 corroborates the story of Capt. John Bullen’s leadership role in Shays’ Rebellion [emphasis added]:
From a late Northampton Paper.
The CONFESSION of JUDAH MARSH, jun. of WARE, in the county of Hampshire, February 13, 1787.
I desire to take this method to confess my faults to my country. Being a young man in the bloom of life, I was lately chosen an Ensign in the train band of Ware, in a legal manner, though I never received a commission : But being in the midst of people, who were opposed to government, and being urged by my Captain & by several persons, not only in Ware but in a town contiguous, whose knowledge & judgment in publick affairs, I supposed much superiour to my own ; I did, at the desire of the band, go with them, in the capacity of an Ensign, to Springfield, in opposition to government ; after that to Worcester, and lately went with Capt. Shays & his party to Springfield, Ludlow, Chicopee, and Amherst : JOHN BULLEN, of Ware, went as Captain, Joseph Bellows, Lieut.
BULLEN left the company at Chicopee , in marching from Chicopee to Amherst, Bellows was wounded at South-Hadley ; the care of the company devolving on me, I dismissed them at Amherst, and have not joined that party since. I am now fully sensible that I have acted a part contrary to the laws of God, as well as my country, and though I never had a design to shed blood, nor did I imagine the controversy would ever come to shedding blood, yet I have been greatly to blame, in hearkening to bad advice ; and in undertaking in so wicked a cause ; and pursuing it so far as I have done. – I have voluntarily resigned myself to legal authority, and throw myself on the mercy of the community. If my youth and inexperience, or former peaceable and inoffensive behaviour (which I doubt not will be testified by those who are acquainted with me) will be any recommendation to the mercy of my country, I hope they will plead for me. Should my life be spared, which I humbly beg of my country, particularly of the authority, I hereby declare, not only my penitence for past offences, but my sincere & hearty resolution to be a peaceable & good subject to the government of this Commonwealth – and whether my life be speared [sic] or not, I beg the forgiveness of God & an injured community.
JUDAH MARSH.
[Judah Marsh, Jr.'s life was spared. He lived at Ware and even served as Selectman in 1795. He married twice, fathering a son by each wife.]
I would love to hear from other John BULLEN/Mary WHITCOMB [NOT Winslow] researchers and/or descendants who want to share information. Please reply through this list.
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