Name/Title
86th Annual Bull Family Picnic - August 26, 1953Entry/Object ID
002182Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House Association, Bull PicnicScope and Content
This set of documents is a four-page program and historical bulletin for the 86th Annual Bull Picnic, held on Wednesday, August 26, 1953. The event was a gathering of the descendants of William Bull and Sarah Wells, prominent early settlers of Orange County, New York.
The publication serves as both an event guide and a genealogical record, detailing the family’s history from 17th-century England through the mid-20th century.
1. Historical & Genealogical Narratives
A significant portion of the bulletin is dedicated to documenting the lineage and movement of the Bull family:
Origins: The family traces back to Peter Bull of Wolverhampton, England (1619–1646). His son, John Bull (baptized 1645), was the father of William Bull (1689–1755), who is the primary ancestor of the American branch.
The Bull Stone House: The family center is the "Bull Stone House," built in 1722 in Hamptonburgh, NY. It is located on the Sarah Wells Trail near Goshen, NY.
Expansion & Migration: The text describes how the family "scattered widely" from Orange County. Branches moved to the Monroe area, Bullville (founded by Thomas Bull), and eventually as far as California (Alpheus Bull, a '49er), Michigan, Iowa, and Canada.
A Personal Sketch: A detailed memoir written in 1883 by Sophia Bull Bell is included. She describes the hardships of her parents, Moses Bull II and Dolly Moore, who lived in an "unfinished log cabin" in the primeval forest of Orange County in 1796. She emphasizes their deep religious faith and the settling of their estate in 1856.
2. Association Business & Tributes
The bulletin updates members on the status of the William Bull and Sarah Wells Family Association:
The Late E. Myron Bull: The Association mourns the loss of its Treasurer, who died on June 4, 1953. He had served since 1943, following his father’s death.
Genealogical Work: The Family Historian, Miss Dolly W. Booth, notes that while records for the first few generations are solid, there are many "gaps" in the later 1800s. She lists several surnames (e.g., Booth, Bush, Conning, Earle, Felter, etc.) and requests descendants of these lines to provide information.
Gifts & Endowments: Several bequests are noted, including $500 from the late Harry A. Hawkins. A mahogany sofa was also donated to the Stone House in memory of Miss Hilah Bodine Terbell.
3. Financial Statement (July 1952 – June 1953)
The Association maintained two primary funds:
General Fund
Starting Balance: $811.31
Receipts: $1,154.68 (primarily from contributions and rent)
Disbursements: $526.54 (Insurance, Picnic expenses, Taxes, and Maintenance)
Closing Balance: $1,439.45
Endowment Fund
Total Value: $5,986.57
This fund was bolstered by dividends, interest, and specific memorial bequests ranging from $5 to $500.
4. 1953 Picnic Schedule & Officers
Lunch & Supper: Families were expected to bring "basket luncheons." Grace was said at 12:00 PM, and a supper was held for those who had to work during the day.
Official Meeting: Held at 2:00 PM to elect three managers.
Leadership:
President: Rev. Charles Beattie Thompson
Secretary: R. McLeod Jackson
Residents at the Stone House: Mr. and Mrs. Louis E. Brown
