Name/Title
Aug 30, 1918 Bull PicnicEntry/Object ID
000440Tags
Bull PicnicScope and Content
Aug. 30. 1918
[Article Text]
THE BULL FAMILY PICNIC
Marker Unveiled to Commemorate Wedding of William and Sarah.
Fair skies and weather of ideal coolness lured on Wednesday to the Bull picnic, not only a large number of the descendants of William Bull and Sarah Wells, but many others not related to the family, members of historical societies, Daughters of the American Revolution and others interested in the early history of Orange County's pioneers.
By the courtesy of Horace Green and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Green, who were given a hearty vote of thanks, the picnic was held on the lawn and porches of the home under the shade of noble trees.
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on ground hallowed as the first home on the Wawayanda patent.
At noon a goodly company enjoyed a basket picnic and reunion, many coming from a distance, among them the President of the State Bank at Ann Arbor, Michigan, William Jesse Booth, and his wife. The guest of honor was Judge William Bull, of Stony Ford, the oldest namesake of William Bull, first.
At two o'clock the business meeting was called to order and the people were welcomed by the president, Hamlet S. Roe. The usual reports of the secretary and treasurer were given. The committee on the marker gave a full report of their investigations and historical research in order to locate the first cabin site and to have the inscription correct.
The following officers were elected: President, Miss Margaret C. Cocks; vice-presidents, Miss Dolly Booth and Harry C. Bull; secretary, Mrs. Mary Myers; treasurer, Miss Mary Wheeler; executive committee, Harriet Slaughter, Jesse Bull, Willard Bull, Whitfield Bull and Barlow Bull.
The program opened by the singing of the "Star Spangled Banner," led by the family chorus, William S. Mould, director, with piano and violin music.
Miss Margaret Cocks gave a sketch "Two Hundred Years Ago," depicting the wedding of Sarah Wells and William Bull, after which all sang the "Tribute to Sarah Wells," written by Mrs. Clara Burtland Bull.
The presentation of the monument was made by Harry Bull, chairman, and it was accepted by the president, H. S. Roe, who asked his successors to keep it sacred, that it might stand unmolested for two hundred years, and be honored by all the descendants.
William H. Tremper, of Middletown, sang a solo. Ebenezer Bull, of the Old Stone House, told of the picnics of the past and his wife read the minutes of the picnic held in 1867. Mr. Bull has the remarkable record of having been present at all these gatherings.
The Honor Roll, containing 88 names of members of the family now in the service of their country was read by Miss Dolly Booth, who has two brothers on the roll. The memory of Sarah Wells and William Bull was never more fittingly honored than by these young men and women who are giving their service and their lives for their country, and to save their sacred homesteads from the desolation of a foreign foe.
After the roll call Mr. Tremper sang "Keep the Homes Fires Burning." The marker was then unveiled by Sarah Wells Bull, daughter of Ebenezer Bull, Jr., of Stony Ford, and William Bull, son of John S. Bull, of Newburgh, both members of the seventh generation. The flag used was presented to Judge Wm. Bull, on his 80th birthday by his grandsons. The monument is situated on the line between the highway and field, below the Green home- [Line cut off]
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stead. It marks the spot where Sarah Wells lived when she first came to the patent and the committee were fortunate enough to locate several feet below the surface the hearth stone of the original cabin, and to find a shoe buckle, piece of a clay pipe and other articles. The granite marker bears this inscription:
"Sarah Wells, the pioneer maid of the Wawayanda Patent, first located here in May, 1712. She was the first white woman and her marriage to William Bull the first wedding ceremony in the town of Goshen."
On the reverse side is the date, 1918, and the words: "Erected by her descendants."
The committee on the marker was composed of Harry Bull, Albert C. Bull, Willard Bull and Jesse Booth.
"God Be With You" was sung in conclusion, and we thought of the president's words as he opened the business meeting, of those who were with us a year ago and now with life's perils around them in foreign lands. May they be protected until we meet again, and may we all prove worthy. On this fiftieth picnic we realize as never before the debt we owe to our ancestors-the pioneers who made possible for us the freedom and happiness no other nation has ever known.Relationships
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