Trull Family
Origins of the Trulls
I have yet to find any clear evidence showing that Trull was originally spelled as Trowell (particularly in the context of this family line), but for what I can find online, it seems to generally be believed that the spelling of the surname changed from Trowell to Trull some time after immigration to North Carolina from England. It appears that the change happened sometime in the mid-to-late 1700s, assuming the two names are indeed related; Joseph Trowell was documented living in Chowan Co., NC in 1721, then the next record I can find for a Trowell/Trull in NC is for a Stephen Trull, reported living in Anson Co., NC in 1790 on the census.
According to Ancestry.com, on the name Trull:
"English (Gloucestershire and Kent): nickname from Middle English trulle 'trollop; strumpet' or from Middle English trol; trulle 'sorcerer; demon'. English: variant of Trowell. German: nickname for a street entertainer or a cheat from a noun derivative of Middle High German trullen 'to juggle' also 'to cheat'. German: from a short form of the female personal name Gertrud (see Trude)."
Ancestry also says of the surname Trowell:
"English: habitational name principally from Trowell in Nottinghamshire named in Old English with treow 'tree' + wella 'well; spring; stream'. It may occasionally come from one or more places similarly named including Trowell in Chipstable (Somerset)."
Ancestry attributes both of these entries to Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022. There is also a Trull village in Somserset, England that may or may not be related to the surname.
From Rootsweb.com
Joseph Trowell & Honer Brian were married the last of October 1683
Susanah Trowell daughter of Joseph Trowell & Honer his wife was borne 9th July 1685
Scans from North Carolina Births, Marriages, Deaths, Flesh Marks & Brands 1656-1739 (pages 13 & 26 - free account required to view)
Allen TRULL I and Stephen TRULL
Stephen Trull was listed on the 1790 census as head of household living in Anson Co., NC. I believe this Stephen Trull was the father of Stephen Jackson Trull (born 1815, the last of 10 children). An Allen Trull was reported on the 1800 census as head of household and living in Anson Co., and there is a Stephen Trull again as head of household on the next line of this record as well; I spectulate that they were brothers, though I don't have any evidence to confirm it.
Allen TRULL II and Mary/Milea "Milly" Price TRULL
On the aforementioned 1800 census that shows an Allen Trull and Stephen Trull as heads of their respective households, Allen Trull's household is noted as having 1 white male under the age of 10 and 1 white male of 16 years, but under 26 years. There are also 2 white females under the age of 10 and 1 white female of 16 years, but under 26 years noted. This suggests that particular Allen Trull (Allen Trull I/Sr.) would have been between the ages of 16 and 25 in 1800. The Allen Trull that married Milly Price (Allen Trull II/Jr.) died Sept. 16, 1847 at 43 years old, according to probate/will records and a death notice published in The Charlotte Journal. This suggests he was born in about 1804, and seems to support that the Allen Trull on the 1800 census is not the same individual who died in 1847.
From the 1800 census (requires a free account to view) for Anson Co., NC. Click the above image to view the full scanned page.
From The Charlotte Journal, Jul 3 1835 - Dec 7 1851 Part II. Death Notices, showing Allen Trull II's death date and age at death.
"The petition of Molly Trull widow & (?) of Allen Trull humbly showeth unto (?) your worship that Allen Trull departed this life about the 15th of September last leaving your petitioner his widow unprovided for."
Click on the above image to see the full scanned document. This is from the start of the first page.
Phone number blurred for privacy.
Pictured above is discussion from the retired Genealogy.com forums. While this is unsourced info, I wanted to share it because it does support the belief that there were father and son Allen Trulls. Charles, who posted these comments, has accurate info on Francis Marion and Hester Trull. I have not researched Solomon Trull. I would be interested in what info Charles has on our family, but sadly I haven't been able to get in touch with him.
Probate records, Allen Trull II's will, marriage records, and a family bible establish Milly (also written as Millie, Molly, Mary, and Milea) Price as the wife of Allen Trull II.
From probate record posted in full here.
From this marriage record (free account required to view) for son Charles E. Trull and his 2nd wife Sarah Fisher. The image above has been cropped - simply click the image to see the full document.
Further discussion from the Genealogy forums. This is the only source I have at the moment for Milly/Milea/Mary Trull's maiden name. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get in contact with the Carrie that posted this, so I haven't been able to actually see the bible she details here. However none of this info contradicts my research, so I believe it must be accurate. I would love to see this bible some day for myself - it's a long shot, but Carrie, if you see this, please do get in touch! I would love to add pictures of the bible to the website.
From the 1850 census for Union Co., NC (free account required to view). You may also simply click on the images above to see the fully scanned pages.
Francis Marion TRULL and Hester Stegall TRULL
Charles "Charlie" Evans TRULL, Rhoda P. Helms TRULL, and Sarah Fisher TRULL
Charles Evans Trull was born in about 1838 to Allen Trull II and Milea "Milly" Price Trull. He married first Rhoda P. Helms on March 17th, 1859. After Rhoda's death on August 22nd, 1898, he then married Sarah Fisher on July 23rd, 1901 in Lincoln County.
Marriage record for
Published in The Monroe Journal on Nov 30, 1909
Robert "Bob" TRULL, Lizzie Medlin TRULL, and Edie Hilton TRULL REID
Robert Chester TRULL and Annie Mae Shuman TRULL
Photo from Ancestry.com (membership required to view)
Photo from my family's personal photo collection.
Marriage record for R.C. Trull and Annie Mae Shuman.
Robert C. Trull's death certificate.
Floyd Augustus TRULL and Claudia Irene Smith TRULL
Floyd Augustus Trull was born 24 September 1919 in Union Co., NC to Robert Chester Trull and Annie Mae Shuman Trull. He was the third of five children: Robert Chester "Pete" Trull (1916-1990), Mary Elizabeth Trull (1918-1918), Grace Mae Trull Allison (1923-1995), and Drucilla Louise Trull Rowell (1929-1984).
Floyd and Claudia Irene Smith married 9 November 1942.
