Name/Title
Bull Family LegacyEntry/Object ID
000617Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House AssociationScope and Content
Overview of the Bull Family Legacy
The Patriarch: The historic buildings scattered throughout Orange County—including locations like Hamptonburgh, Campbell Hall, and Stony Ford—were largely built by William Bull (an early settler who arrived in America in 1716) or his sons and grandsons.
The Stone Houses: William Bull and his family built several highly regarded stone houses in the 18th and early 19th centuries, which are noted for their architectural beauty, local historical significance, and preservation.
Key Historic Sites Highlighted
The Bull Stone House (Hamptonburgh):
Said to be one of the oldest in Orange County, it was built by William Bull.
The house features incredibly sturdy two-foot-thick walls made of fieldstones and built upon solid rock. It has survived an earthquake and a lightning strike in the 19th century.
It remains a highly visited historic site, and the surrounding property still hosts the famous annual Bull Picnic—a gathering for thousands of descendants that has run for over 200 years.
The Barn: Located on the grounds of the Bull Stone House, this impressive barn is noted as one of the oldest in the county.
Other Notable Houses:
Hill-Hold (in Campbell Hall) and Knox's Headquarters (in Vails Gate) are now operated as museums.
Brick Castle (the home of Amy Bull Crist) was also recently added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Hopewell Presbyterian Church (Thompson Ridge): Built by Samuel Bull (a great-grandson of William), it is considered one of the most impressive churches in Orange County.
Key Figures Mentioned
William Bull & Sarah Wells: William Bull, a stonemason by trade, married Sarah Wells in 1718. Sarah was a prominent pioneer woman of Orange County, celebrated for her "high ideals and remarkable fortitude." A local high school (Minisink Valley area) and a library at the Orange County Community College were named in her memory. Together, they had 12 children, all of whom lived and settled nearby.
Michael Brown: The curator of the Bull Stone House property at the time of the article, who is a direct descendant of William Bull and lived in the house.