Name/Title
108th Bull Family Annual PicnicEntry/Object ID
000573Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House AssociationScope and Content
The Ancestral History
The Journey of Sarah Wells: In 1712, at just 18 years old, Sarah Wells traveled as an advance agent into the wilderness of Orange County for Christopher and Elizabeth Denne. Accompanied by three Native American guides and two carpenters, she rode 20 miles to the Otterkill near Tusten's bridge to help secure a land patent, quickly establishing a log wigwam for the Dennes' arrival.
Marriage to William Bull: In 1718, Sarah married William Bull, an English stonemason who had emigrated via Ireland. Their marriage was the first celebrated in the Town of Goshen.
The Bull Stone House: In the mid-1730s, William began constructing a permanent stone home. Completed in 1739, the house still stands today and has been continuously inhabited by family members.
Family Legacy: The couple had 12 children, and by the time of their later years, they had 98 grandchildren. Sarah lived to be 102 years old, passing away in April 1796. At the time of the article's publication in 1975, their total number of descendants exceeded 4,000.
The Family Picnic & Reenactment
The Annual Reunion: The gathering brings together hundreds of descendants up to the eighth generation to share old stories, display family mementos, and pass down traditions to younger generations.
Historical Reenactment: The article features a photograph detailing a past 1968 reenactment of Sarah and William's wedding (marking its 250th anniversary). In the photo, Robert Hoppenstedt and Allison Eager portray the couple, while Michael K. Brown acts as the minister. Miss Eager is noted for wearing "The Wedding Dress," a gown crafted by Sarah herself, likely meant for her daughter's wedding.