Joseph Bull arrived in Sydney Cove in 1821 as a convict. He died as a free man in 1871, leaving an estate valued at £14,000. (Over AUS $2 million in today’s money).
This is his story, and the story of his daughter, Sarah, and her husband, Dr Michael Perry.
JOSEPH BULL
Joseph Bull, framework knitter, was born 3/11/1797, son of Thomas Bull (woollen manufacturer) and Sarah Bull, Leicestershire, England, and – according to some accounts of his life – fought alongside his father in battle of Waterloo, losing the thumb of his left hand in battle.
Joseph was convicted at Leicestershire Quarter Sessions England in 1820 for “Felony” and sentenced to 7 years. He departed England 29/3/1821 on board the ship “Adamant”, and arrived in Sydney Cove on 8/9/1821, as prisoner number 485/1959. He was then sent to Windsor NSW, where he served under William Clarke, district of Wilberforce.
At Windsor courthouse on 6/10/1825, having been “honest, sober, industrious, and served faithfully”, Joseph was granted a “Ticket of Leave” and became a free settler.
On 11/1/1837 Joseph Bull and Elizabeth Dowie (from Scotland) were married at St Andrew’s Church in Sydney.
Joseph started a grocery business in the early days of Goulburn, became a licensed Auctioneer and Postmaster at Goulburn, co-founder of business firm Bull and Woodward, warden at St. Saviours Church, elected member of various committees including Goulburn Hospital, Fire Brigade, Agricultural Society, The Goulburn School, and Goulburn Railway.
He died from “Apoplexy” (a stroke) on 10/6/1871, aged 73 years, leaving a large estate (mainly in property). Elizabeth died 21/6/1877 aged 61 years. They are buried together at St. Saviour’s Anglican Cemetery Goulburn.
Joseph and Elizabeth Bull had owned the colonial villa “St Clair”, in Sloane Street Goulburn, which is now home to the Goulburn District Historical Society.
They had 9 children, but only three survived, namely Joseph, Thomas and Sarah.
SARAH BULL
Sarah Bull was born in Goulburn in 1854, and married Dr Michael Perry in 1869. They had 3 children, including Stanley Edward Athelstane Perry, Sue Perry’s great grandfather, in 1882.
DR MICHAEL PERRY
Dr Michael Perry was born in 1845 in Harwell, Berkshire, England. He came to Australia at age 20.
While in England, Dr Perry held the office of Home Surgeon at the Great Northern Hospital, London. He also had charge of a Smallpox Ward at St Luke’s Hospital, London, at the age of 19.
He was a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (M.R.C.S) and qualified to practice as an apothecary – an early version of a pharmacist, by holding (L.S.A.) Licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries.