Name/Title
107th Annual Bull Family Picnic - August 24, 1974Entry/Object ID
002204Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House Association, Bull PicnicScope and Content
This brochure the "Bull"-E-Tins documents the 107th Annual Bull Family Picnic, held on August 24, 1974, at the historic Bull Stone House in Hamptonburgh, New York. The documents provide a blend of family history, administrative reports, and community updates for the descendants of William Bull and Sarah Wells.
Key Historical Highlights
Family Origin: The family traces back to Sarah Wells, who died in 1796 at age 102, leaving 335 descendants. At her death, the family began a record of her 12 children, which grew into a massive genealogical project.
The Genealogy Project: A major milestone was the completion of the first volume of the Bull Family Genealogy. The book cost $30.00 to produce, and the committee was already looking for younger members to begin work on Volume Two.
The Bull Stone House: Built in 1722, the house serves as the family's ancestral seat. A hand-drawn map in the brochure provides directions to the site via Route 208 and the Sarah Wells Trail.
Administrative & Financial Reports
The family operated through several dedicated funds to maintain their history and the Stone House property:
General Fund: Managed expenses like school and land taxes ($1,336 total), insurance ($1,000), and "Picnic Expense" ($914). The leadership noted that income from rents and contributions was barely sufficient to cover rising costs.
Endowment Fund: Held significant investments, with a total value of $31,716.52 in 1974.
Secretary’s Note: Approximately 5,000 envelopes were mailed for the 107th picnic notice, estimating the total family size at roughly 15,000 people.
Leadership (1973–1974)
The association was managed by a dedicated board, including:
President: Dr. Frederick N. Bement
Treasurer: Henry P. Bull
Secretary: Emma J. McWhorter
Vice-Presidents: Michael Brown and John Wheeler Sanford, III
Memorials and Recognition
A significant portion of the bulletin is dedicated to memorials for deceased family members, including a special mention of Dolly W. Booth, the former Family Historian who was instrumental in compiling the family records. The family also noted the passing of George and Corinne Ackerly, who were among the oldest members at 97 years old.
Future Plans
The association expressed a need for modernization, specifically mentioning plans to build a cement block office to provide fireproof storage for family records and memorabilia, as well as improved bathroom facilities for the annual gatherings.
