Name/Title
125th Bull Family Annual PicnicEntry/Object ID
000626Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House AssociationScope and Content
Overview of the Event
The Milestone: The Bull family celebrated their 125th annual family reunion with a picnic at the historic Bull Stone House homestead in Hamptonburgh, Orange County, New York.
The Homestead: The 270-year-old stone house, built in 1722, stands on 120 acres and is still owned and maintained by the family (with a cousin residing there as caretaker).
Attendance: The event usually draws around 500 people, though this particular year's turnout was slightly smaller (around 300 people) due to rain. The family database tracks roughly 23,000 living descendants of the original ancestors.
Historical Roots
The Founders: The lineage traces back to William Bull and Sarah Wells, who was famously Orange County’s first white settler. She blazed a trail into the wilderness in 1712 with native guides at just 16 years old to establish the settlement.
Legacy of Longevity: When Sarah Wells died in 1796 at the age of 102, she reportedly left 323 direct living descendants.
The Bull Family Association: The William Bull Family Association operates as a non-profit group that maintains the historic house and grounds, organizes the annual reunions, and manages a massive genealogy database.
Core Themes & "Family Values"
Defining Family Values: For the attendees, "family values" translates to a profound sense of belonging, historical continuity, and accountability. It is symbolized by keeping a 270-year-old house intact rather than treating family history as a temporary political talking point.
The "Bull" Traits: Family members jokingly and proudly reference common ancestral traits, particularly being strong-willed, having "bull-headedness," and possessing a sharp sense of humor to balance it out.