[A reader has identified the woman and man in the photo originally posted here as her great-grandparents, Thomas and Frances Applewhite Artis, not Cromwell and Charity Bullock. I have removed the photo for this reason. — L.Y.H., 21 January 2021.]
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In 1866, Cromwell Bullock and Charity Farmer registered their 17-year marriage with a Wilson County justice of the peace.
In the 1870 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farm laborer Crummell Bullock, 49; wife Charity, 45, farm laborer; and children Nathaniel, 14, Crummell, 12, Caroline, 9, Milly, 6, Peter, 4, and Harry, 2.
In the 1880 census of Auters Creek township, Edgecombe County: Crumell Bullock, 62, farmer; wife Charity, 49; and children Crumell Jr., 22, Carolina, 19, Milly, 17, Peter, 13, Harry, 11, Jessie, 9, Dempsy, 7, and Leer, 5.
Per her grave marker, Charity Bullock was born 12 January 1833 and died 26 December 1893. She was buried in Bullock family cemetery in Edgecombe County.
In the 1900 census of Otter Creek township, Edgecombe County: farmer Cromwell Bullock, 70; wife Fanner, 57; and stepchildren Priscilla, 19, and Benny, 17.
On 3 June 1903, Crummel Bullock, 70, of Edgecombe County, married Polly Wootten, 55, of Saratoga township, daughter of Reuben [illegible] and Gatsey Moore, in Saratoga township, Wilson County.
Cromwell Bullock made out his will in Edgecombe County on 29 October 1907. Per its terms: (1) to wife Pollie, the cleared land of the Pollie Edwards tract and permission to use all the wood and lightwood off that tract; ten barrels of corn; a cart and gear; a set of farming tools; a horse and buggy; 1000 pounds of fodder; 200 pounds of wheat; a sow and pigs; three still chairs; kitchen furniture; tubs, buckets, wash and dinner pots; (2) to children Cromwell Bullock, Millie Scarborough, John Bullock, Nathan Bullock, and Lea Moore, $50 each; to granddaughter Charity Edwards, $25; to children Peter Bullock, Jesse Bullock, Dempsey Bullock and Caroline James, all his real estate, and son Harry Bullock to have the house in which Henry and Lea Moore were living; (3) all moneys for minor heirs to be deposited in Wilson Savings Bank until child reaches age twenty.
In the 1910 census of Otter Creek township, Edgecombe County: on Fountain Road, Cromwell Bullock, 84, and wife Poly, 54. Cromwell reported that he had been married three times.
On 9 February 1910, Harry C. Bullock, 43, of Edgecombe County, son of Cromwell and Charity Bullock, married Ida Vines, 24, of Edgecombe County, daughter of Jesse and Matilda Carney, at the Edgecombe County Courthouse.
On 6 October 1919, in Pitt County, Cromwell Bullock prepared a codicil to his will to note that his children had already been deeded the tracts of land set forth in the earlier document.
In the 1920 census of Otter Creek township, Edgecombe County: Crumwell Bullock, 105, and wife Pollie, 88.
Cromwell Bullock died 26 January 1920 in Township No. 9, Edgecombe County. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1815; was married to Polly Bullock; and was born in Plymouth, N.C. Peter Bullock was informant.
Polly Bullock died 2 February 1920 in Township No. 9, Edgecombe County. Per her death certificate, she was about 80 years old; was married to Crumwell Bullock; was a farmer’s wife; and was born in Edgecombe County to Howell and Gatsey Moore. Dempsey Bullock was informant.
Peter Bullock died 30 April 1938 in Township No. 9, Edgecombe County. Per his death certificate, he was born 1874 in Wilson County to Cromwell Bullock and Charity Farmer, both born in Wilson County [the Bullocks lived in the area where Wilson, Edgecombe and Pitt Counties meet near the town of Fountain, and their various birth places and residences are attributed to all three counties]; was married to Fannie Bullock; was a farmer; and was buried in Bullock cemetery.
Harry Bullock died 4 November 1942 in Township No., 9, Edgecombe County. Per his death certificate, he was born 16 April 1873 in Wilson County to Cromrall Bullock and Charity Farmer, both born in Edgecombe County; was single; and was buried in Bullock cemetery.
Dempsey Bullock died 18 November 1946 in Gardners township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 9 April 1873 in Pitt County to Cromwell Bullock and Chariety [last name unknown], both born in Pitt County; was married to Marina McNair Bullock; was a farmer; and was buried in Bullock cemetery near Fountain, N.C. Informant was Carlas Bullock, Stantonsburg.
Photo courtesy of Ancestry.com user algorham1.
It appears from this picture that Charity was a Negro and Cromwell was white. Correct? So laws against miscegenation did not prevent them from marrying?
Cromwell was not white.
I see from the information above, that Cromwell’s Will shows he left $50 to his son John Bullock and $25 to his granddaughter Charity Edwards. John Bullock was identified as Jerry Bullock son and Charity Bullock Edwards was Jerry’s granddaughter in the 1880, 1900 census. John was reported to be Cromwell’s Nephew, not his son. Could John Bullock have been raised by his uncle Jerry? See census 1880, 1900 of Jerry and Martha Bullock children. If this is true then, Cromwell is my Great Great Grandfather and Jerry is my Great Great Grand Uncle.
Hi Vern. I don’t know. John is called “son” and Charity “granddaughter” in the will, and I have no further info.
Can you direct me to the original will? Thanks.
His will can be found at Ancestry.com.
My great grandmother’s name was Charity Bullock, she married Robert Edward’s. She owned inherited land in Fountain, NC. Just wondering if she was the same person. She was mother to Learah, James Adam, Hannah, and Rebecca. She died shortly after child birth of a daughter named Channie who also died shortly after birth. They lived in Fountain.
I don’t recognize this Charity Bullock Edwards. My Charity Bullock Edwards married Stephens Edwards and had 17 children. She died in 1950.
No he was black (lighterskin)
I have the same photo that is pictured in this article as identified by other names, It the picture and names authentic? .
Thanks for the comment. The photo is authentic. As for the identification of its subjects, I have no personal knowledge, and rely upon the person who contributed the photo. What names do you have for the man and woman and do you have a direct source?
The names of the persons pictured in the photo are Thomas Artis and his wife Frances Applewhite. My mother passed the picture to me in the 1970’s and identified them as her grandparents.
Thank you for the correction. I’ll remove it from the page and so note.
Update made. Thanks again!