John Bush was born in Craven County, North Carolina on June 21, 1752. A resident of Johnston County, Bush served with 8th North Carolina Regiment of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. In 1780 Bush was acting as the county clerk when the freeholders court heard a case involving Jenney. Jenney was found guilty of poisoning Lewis Bryan, Bush's brother-in-law. Bush later moved to Wilkes County, Georgia, where he died on April 10, 1805.