He was born at Axminster, Devon, on 21 February 1819, the son of Philip Pulman (1791–1871), who married Anne Rigney (1818–1885).
Pulman was in early life organist at Axminster parish church and wrote for local newspapers.
For some years he was editor of the Yeovil Times, and on 10 March 1857 he set up a paper called Pulman's Weekly News and Advertiser, the first in Crewkerne.
It was a fisherman's description of the district through which the River Axe, noted for trout, flows, and it contained histories of the towns and houses on its banks.
He married at Cattistock, Dorset, on 12 December 1848, Jane, third daughter of George Davy Ewens of Axminster.