Judge of the Supreme Court of Connecticut
The Honorable John Bulkeley was the son of Rev. John Bulkeley and Patience Prentice Bulkeley (daughter of John and Sarah Prentice). John was born in Colchester on 19 Apr 1705.
He married (first) Mary Adams Gardner (widow of Jonathan Gardner and daughter of Eliphalet Adams and Lydia Pygan) on 29 Oct 1738 in Colchester. They had the following children recorded at Colchester:
1. Lydia, b. 21 Oct 1739, m. Capt. Robert Latimer on 25 Jun 1761 in New London, CT. One child, Robert, baptized on 19 Dec 1762.
2. Mary, b. 22 May, 1741, d. 1 Jun 1741
3. John, b. 20 May 1742, d. 13 Nov 1742
4. Mary, b. 15 Nov 1743, m. George Buttolph Hurlburt on 13 Oct 1765. George was a 1757 Yale College graduate. No children.
5. Eliphalet, b. 8 Aug 1746, m. 16 Sep 1767 Anna Bulkeley of New London, CT
6. Lucy, b. 2 Aug 1749, m. Capt. John Lamb, a sea captain who gave service at sea during the revolution and died 4 Mar 1804 of a wound received in a shipwreck on the coast of Spain. Lucy was still living on 1 Sep 1807 when she was granted administration but it is not known when she died.
His wife Mary died on 24 Jan 1750 in Colchester.
He married (second) Abigail (Marsh or Hastings) on 16 Apr 1751. They had the following children in Colchester:
1. Capt. Charles Bulkeley, b. 22 May 1752, d. 12 Jan 1824 in Granville, N.Y., m. (first) Betsey Taintor, (second) Prudence Welles Bulkeley (widow of Maj. Edward Bulkeley).
John died 21 Jul 1753 in Colchester at age 49.
Administration on estate of Hon. John Bulkeley was granted to his widow Abigail Bulkeley, and to Epaphras Lord, 5 Dec 1753. His estate was divided 4 Apr 1757, between his widow Abigail, his sons Eliphalet and Charles, and daughters Lydia, Mary and Lucy.*
*Memoranda of all the inscriptions in the old burying ground at Colchester, Conn., Frank E. Randall
Additional info:
John graduated from Yale College in 1725. He studied law, was a judge of probate for about 10 years and "held many important offices of trust". He was colonel of his regiment in the militia.**
** Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut, Vol 1, Beers J. H. & Co.
Inscription
Coat of Arms with Motto, "By the name of Bulkeley".
The Honorable John Bulkeley Esq'r of Colchester, who for a Number of years was a Great Honour to an Uncommon variety of Exalted Stations in Life. Morte Subitanea Corripuit Julii the 21st A:D 1753 Anno AEtatis Suce 49. Belov'd and fear'd for vertues Sake, Such vertue as the Great doth Make.