A NEW APPROACH.

Bullard Genealogy Narratives

The Bullard Life and Times Genealogy Narratives are more than lists of names and dates.  It is a vibrant story of geography, history, culture and politics.  It puts into context the lives of the Bullard descendants and provides intimate insight into their daily lives. The Bullard Narratives (Volume I, Joseph Bullard; Volume II, John Bullard Sr.; Volume III, Isaac Bullard and son Henry Bullard; and Volume IV, Paris Bullard) covers the Bullard family line from the 1730’s to 1936.  The Narratives are family stories of six generations of Bullards who originated in Northern Ireland (Scots-Irish), settled in the Northern Neck of Virginia then moved to western North Carolina and eventually migrated over the Blue Ridge Mountains into eastern Tennessee.  This was a period of turbulent times in American history beginning with the European migration, Revolutionary War years, the Antebellum period, the Civil War, and the emergence of the United States as a world power. 

 Combining Genealogy and History

Genealogy investigation is usually confined by researchers who take great pains to accurately record and list descendant names, birth dates, marriages, and deaths . . . a sort of one-dimensional compilation of facts and some trivia.  The Bullard Narratives take it one step further.  It crafts and inter-weaves the how, when, why and where of their life and times. From raising families, planting crops, fighting Indians, serving on juries, etc., the Bullard Narratives give the reader a sense and understanding of their surrounding environs. Maps are used extensively to give the reader a sense of place and geographical orientation.  Comments, pictures and observations based on sourced materials are included to bring the Narratives to life.  As the Narratives unfold, celebrated personalities and relevant historical events are intertwined with the story.  Sources have been researched and are cited in end notes or footnotes. 

Puzzle

Collecting information and evidence from the past is difficult.  Names mentioned in early historical documents are misspelled or are no longer legible. Other records (including bible records) have been burned or lost. TVA reservoirs and dams have flooded old homesteads and graves. Some of the verifiable past is irretrievably gone. However, one can ask questions from the evidence that is at hand and like a puzzle, piece together a chronological, multi-dimensional story.  The Bullard Narratives are such a puzzle.  Some of the pieces are missing, but the story lives on.

Reader Involvement

Readers are invited to contribute to the Narratives by offering their corrections, additions, and comments.  Sourced documents and facts are welcome.  The more input from readers and shared information, the more complete the Narrative.  It is a living document to be read, amended, and updated. The author encourages readers to start their own genealogy Narrative.  If relevant, copy excerpts from the Bullard Narratives and place it in your own family story.  Draw maps to show a sense of place.  Don’t be afraid to add family lore or oral history.  Do whatever it takes to bring your descendants to life.  A Narrative can start and end at any point in time.   (i.e. Joseph Bullard lived from ~1732 to 1788, but, the bulk of his Narrative is told from 1775 to 1790.)  All four Volumes of the Bullard Narratives are available on the Internet in PDF files gratis.  With the advent of Internet search engines and PDF file search tools, a reader can scan in seconds, a person's name or key word from the 200+ page document.  The Narratives have complete lists of every person named in sourced documents. Some genealogists abbreviate sourced materials in order to highlight their own descendants.  This hinders the sharing of information.  For example, in the Bullard Narratives, not only are the Bullard names highlighted on a jury list, but all jury names are included.  A reader researching a specific name can easily find their descendant.   It can illuminate a reader’s genealogy puzzle piece that was previously unknown or missing.  Such a process extends genealogy research for the benefit of all.