By 1860, Bullock's father, George Bullock, was forced to resign his position as County Treasurer due to missing funds. To avoid prosecution in Canada, Bullock's father fled across the border to Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A., leaving his eight children alone in Sandwich, Ontario, Canada. Bullock's mother had died during this time, so the children were left to take care of themselves. And, the property owned by Bullock's father in Sandwich was either seized by his creditors or sold at public auction in 1863, as he had defaulted on his mortgage and other debt obligations.