Francis Bullock (1739-1764)
- Name:
- Francis Bullock
- First name:
- Francis
- Last name:
- Bullock
- Birth date:
- 1739-09-09
- Birth place:
-
Heaton Rhodes, Parish of Bradforth
- Death date:
- 1764-01-30
- Death place:
-
Unknown
- Gender:
- Male
- ML ID:
-
mlper000592
Memoir:
- Archive: Fulneck Archives
- Shelfmark: MemFul Ful/3/101
Francis Bullock was born on September 9, 1739, at Heaton Rhodes in the parish of Bradford, and despite a wild and lively youth, was transformed by a spiritual awakening at Fulneck on Easter Sunday 1761, joining the Single Brethren's House that year and the congregation in January 1763. A brief attempt to serve as cook in Bedford was cut short by consumption, and he returned to Fulneck to spend his final months in a melted, sinnerlike disposition, longing to be taken home by his Savior. He passed away on January 30, 1764, in his twenty-fifth year.
View Transcription of Memoir
1
Ful/3/101 Depd Jan. 30, 1764
The Course of Life of the S. Br. Bullock.
Francis Bullock was born at Heaton Rhodes in the Parish of Bradforth
Sepr the 9th 1739th, and educated in the Church of England, and
learned the Tanners Business. He was of a very lively Disposition
from his Childhood, and also of a Wild Cast, till he got our Savr got, and this carried him thro' his Childrens and
a Hold of his Heart
Boys years without much [inserted above line: any abiding] Concern or Uneasiness of Mind, except
ing at certain Times yet there were certain Times when he was
much distressed & exceeding anxious about himself, & was seized
with such a Fear of being Lost that he knew not what to do with
himself, and this Uneasiness has frequently continued 3 or 4
Days & Nights together, but in Time he always shook it off [inserted above line: again] by one
Means or other, But altho he was so sprightly & had such an
active Soul, he had also something of a bashful Nature, &
[inserted above line: which] probably might prove beneficial for [inserted above line: to] him in many Respects,
for he was preserved pretty much from the Wickedness of the
Times & Places he lived in, notwithstanding the Temptations and
Snares he was exposed to. On Easter Sunday 1761 his Curiosity
led him to this Place, and during the preaching his Heart was
touched by our Savr in a Manner it never had been before, & this
day he looked upon as the Day of his special Call on which our Savr
gave him a special Call to become his property; & from this Day
all his old Matters vanished and departed from him & his Connexion
therewith was broken, and his Concern was, to make his Calling sure.
He then wanted to get acquainted with the Brn, but being an entire
Stranger to them knew not how, but made Application for Permissi=
=on to go to our Boys School for a few Weeks, & this being granted he
frequented the Childrens Meetings, which proved a Blessing to him, &
by this thus he also got an Opportunity to become acquainted with
the Brn, which he esteemed highly. He was rec'd into the Society at the
next Society Lovefeast, but thinking his Call to be to the Congn, he could
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not dispose his Mind to settle any longer in the World, and therefore ear=
=nestly & frequently expressed his Desire to be delivered have the Favour
to live in the Choir House, and which our Savr ??? granted him in the same
Year viz Novr 9th 1761. As we have not his Business [inserted above line: is not carried on] in our Place he was
necessitated to learn something else, & accordingly learned the Wool=
Combing Business. Here in the Choir House the ??? dear holy Ghost taught him by Degrees more and more the Knowledge
The
of himself, however he got also a Confidence in our Savr, and a certain
Assurance that He loved him, and would receive him out of mere Grace
as his property. It was also perceptible to us that our Savr had a particular
Hand over him, and had himself numbered him to his People, & on Jan: 1st
1763 his Right & Title to the Family of our Savr was confirmed to him
by Reception into the Congn. The Spring following he he was sickly
which continued growing upon him till he was obliged to give over
working, and after having rested a little he proposed seeking after
Work at his own Business, thinking it might be best for his Health,
but upon a Representation of the Danger to which he might expose him=
=self, and the Loss he would sustain in not having the continual Opportu=
=nity to have Fellowship with his Brn, he declined it, & begged Pardon. Having
been pointed out by our Savr to go to Bedford be Cook in the S: Brns House
in Bedford, and having, according to Appearance recruited his Strength
a little, he went thither July the 6th 1763. but soon became sick & unfit
to do that Business, & therefore returned to us again Sepr of 8th the same
Year, and was very weak, & it seemed as if his Disorder was a Consumption.
His Father desired the Brn to let him come to his House [inserted above line: wch is near Fulneck] for a While, thinking
that the Circumstances there might be full as suitable for him, & as he
himself had nothing against it, the offer [inserted above line: Request] was considered of & granted,
but he was soon clear that being at his Fathers House would not help him
& that this Sickness was intended for his being taken to our Savr, & which he
rejoiced at. He was then very sorry that he was not in his Choir House, &
that in the Midst of his Brn, & several Circumstances in his Fathers House
were heavy to him, however he cleaved to our Savr, & had him for his Support
& Companion. He was frequently visited, & many blessed Bands were
kept with him. Our Savr manifested himself more fully to his Heart
than ever before, & he spent his Time in a melted, Sinnerlike
Disposition (nor did any Thing give him trouble him so much
as that
3
or that he had not attained to the Enjoyment of the Lords Body &
Blood in the holy Communion with the Congn, but which he often
spoke about and wished for, but which we could not well think
of on Account of his Situation.) During this Sickness which lasted
pretty long, his comfort & Wish was that our Savr might soon come
and take him to himself, & which [inserted above line: he] expressed with a tender Feeling
and many Tears, and not long before his Departure, he broke
out in Converse with our Savr in a very pathetic Manner,
saying, "My dear Savr, I am poor, yea a very poor One, & am
"not worthy that thou shouldst take the least Notice of me,
"but what shall I say? Thou hast accepted me of me, and
"forgiven me all, & hast washed & cleansed me in thy preci=
"=ous Blood; & now I wait with longing for the Hour when
"thou wilt take me to thyself: Come Lord Jesus & take me".
which Desire was granted on the 30th (Jan:) about 8
o' Clock in the Morning, having spent in the 25th Year
of his mortal Life.