Samuel Wesley Bullis, born about 1817, was the son of Benjamin Bullis and Martha Elizabeth Adams Bullis (as indicated on the NC marriage certificate pictured). His first two wives were local Wilkes County women, the second being a daughter of Stephen Bumgarner, a Bullis family neighbor. Samuel was also the bondsman at his brother, J. Basil Bullis' 1840 wedding.

Oct 6, 1842, Wilkes County, NC: Buhson, Saml W. & Limera Teashill, James W. Nicholls, bondsman.

Oct 1, 1850, Federal Census, Subdivision 4, Washington County, Tennessee: Mira Bullus 26, Saml W. Bullen 35- farmer- cannot read/write, James E. Bullen 6, Nancy A. 5, Sarah M. 2, Ruth (Luke) 9 mths)

Jul 29, 1860, Federal Census, Mooresburg, District 12, Hawkins County, Tennessee: Samuel Bullis 46, farm laborer, cannot read or write, personal property $300, lives with wife Mirah 41, James 17-farm laborer, Nancy 15, Mariah 13, Luke 11, Mary 9, Eliza 7, Wm 4, John 1; four oldest children attended school in past year.

Jul 7, 1864, Wilkesboro, Wilkes County, North Carolina: J.S.W. Bullis enlisted as a private in the 5th Regiment Senior Reserves, Co. K (also known as Capt. Adolphus Rousseau's Company)- for period of "the war" by Pool. (Rousseau was Register of Deeds Wilkes, NC 1865-1866)
Sep 27, 1864: J.S.W. Bullis 47 yrs, height 5'10", complexion- fair, hair- dark, eyes- blue, ocupation- farmer; listed as a Private on the muster roll- 5th NC Senior Reserves, Co. K (Capt. Adolph Russau's Company)
Very little is known of the North Carolina Senior Reserve Units. A total of 5,618 men were enrolled in 8 units, according to D. H. Hill, in Confederate Military History. In the Fifth North Carolina Infantry Regiment Senior Reserves there were 1,100 soldiers, according to Hill. The regiment was formed in the Summer of 1864. Most of the companies served as prison guards in Salisbury, North Carolina. Few of the men actually wanted to be in the service, and most were AWOL by the time the muster roll was prepared on Feb 28, 1865. (Info found at: wwwresearchonline.net/nccw/unit48.htm)

Jan 2, 1865: S.W. Bullis deserted the 5th Senior Reserves, Co. K
(His wife Lemira died toward the end of January 1865, so Samuel would have good reason to be AWOL from his regiment.)

Sep 24, 1867-Wilkes County-"at the Cross Roads near James Faws", Samuel W. Bullis married Nancy Caroline Bumgarner. The Bumgarner family was not happy about the marriage because he was an older man with grown children. Saml & Nancy moved to Hawkins County, TN.

Jun 22, 1870, Federal Census, Rogersville, District 11, Hawkins County, Tennessee: S.W. Bulles 51, working on farm, cannot read or write, married to 2nd wife Nancy Caroline Bumgarner Bullis from Wilkes, NC who is 7 mths pregnant, son John (12), daughters Margaret (8) & Rebecca (1) live in household.

1872: Samuel & Nancy had 3 children after they moved to Tennessee. She died a few days after the birth of their third child. Samuel was unable to care for the infant, so he sent the baby to live with family in Sullivan Co.; Rebecca went to live with her brother Jn M. Bullis.

May 12, 1874, Union County, TN: Samuel W. Bullis married his 3rd wife, Matilda C. Gibson, who out-lived him. Samuel died shortly after this marriage; Matilda married again and adopted Samuel's young daughter Hester.