Name/Title
Bull Family History, 104th Bull Family Annual PicnicEntry/Object ID
000570Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House AssociationScope and Content
"The Bull genealogy -- from start to finish" by Mildred Parker Seese
This article highlights the monumental effort to document and publish the history of the Bull family of Orange County, recognizing Dolly Booth as the primary driving force behind the project.
Dolly Booth's Contribution: Despite having no formal business or clerical training, Booth acquired a typewriter later in life solely to compile the family's extensive records. Her relentless effort yielded an admirable, professional manuscript spanning more than 200 pages, free of corrections.
Project Completion: Recognizing she could not finish it alone, Booth turned her work over to family historian Emma McWhorter, who typed it again with minor additions. Further polishing and final readings were handled by professional genealogist Ruth Heidgerd, Philip Seaman, and Tom Henderson.
Publication: The genealogy book, which covers the first three generations of the family in America, was nearing print and expected to be ready around Christmas. The family trustees signed a contract with Tom Henderson of Middletown to serve as the publisher and distributor.
"Bull Family Held Its 104th Picnic"
This clipping covers the traditional annual Bull Family picnic held at the historic Stone House of 1722 in Hamptonburgh, which drew approximately 300 attendees.
Genealogy Authorization: At the reunion, the Genealogy Committee was officially authorized to begin publishing The Family Genealogy, a project that had been in conscious preparation for nearly two centuries. Plans were also established to help meet the financial costs of the publication.
Historical Scope: The family lineage tracing began as a memorial list on April 25, 1796, at the funeral of Sarah Wells Bull, listing her 12 children and 335 total descendants at the time of her death. By the time of this article, the number of descendants was estimated to be over 50,000. Previous significant historical compilation efforts occurred in 1810 and in 1840 by Professor Richard H. Bull.
Notable Attendees:
Youngest Present: Scott Euvrar Jr. (14 months old).
Oldest Present: Mrs. Nellie E. Ames of Warwick (95 years old).
The Michael Brown family, who resided in the historic Stone House for 30 years, were also noted.