Name/Title
Stories of Sarah Wells Bull stone House Indian Bush Robert Jackson houseEntry/Object ID
001949Tags
Sarah WellsScope and Content
Sarah Wells was a protégé and servant of Christopher Denn and Madam Denn of Staten Island and was sent by them to their patent of 2000 acres, which is located in what is now the Towns of Goshen & Hamptonburgh.
Sarah was accompanied by two Carpenters, three Indians, 2 pack horses, 2 cows with bells, 2 dogs, 2 Irish Brahams [Brahmans?], various dishes, provisions, and other utensils. She left in May on a sloop and sailed up the Hudson to New Windsor, there on cow and horse alike were packed the belongings of this 16 year old maid who was to be the first White Woman to be married in the town of Goshen in 1718 when she married William Bull.
Sarah received a gift from Christopher Denn of 100 acres of land, which was a reward for her having lived on his Wawayanda Patent of 2000 acres. She and her husband Wm Bull built the first stone house there in 1722, said to be the third oldest house in the State.
This house still stands a monument to their ability and has always been owned or farmed by some of their descendants. 'Tis now owned by The Bull & Sarah Wells Association and annual picnics are held each year on the last Wednesday of August. Three and four hundred direct descendants of William and Sarah attend.
The Stone House at Hamptonburgh, built by Wm Bull & Sarah Wells in 1722, in addition to being built on a rock, covered a spring, which furnished the water for the household. This spring is enclosed in a closet, ^covered by a box which is still there ~~the box that was placed over the spring is still there.~~ This furnished water in case of an Indian attack.
Stephen Bull a great great Grand Son of Wm Bull drained this spring that he might blast out a large ledge of rocks & have space for a dining room, since then, water has been brought in from an outside spring and a well.
The legend of a hiding place in the garret to evade the Indians, is of interest to many and is located in a dark place in the Garrett.
The barn, which is constructed of such massive timber ^that one wonders how they were ever put in place, was built previous to the house. In one of these large beams is a deep notch or recess cut out. In this space the family jewels, in fact any valuables, were placed for safe keeping. ~~On one of the higher beams~~ The beam is high up and consequently inaccessible. A thief would hardly find it. All children of the present generation are carefully taken high in the barn and shown this secret hiding place for jewels at least once a year.
Across Crystal Run there is a farm once owned by Hon. Judge Slaughter, now owned by Mr Albert Wicks. There is a spring on this farm known always as "The Indian Spring." Around it still can be found the stones that were part of an Indian hut.
Daniel Butterfield lived on farm joining the Slaughter farm and for some cause the Indians became offended by the Butterfields, and for revenge sought to murder them. One day one member of the family saw a bush in part of a grain field. It seemed unusual to see a bush there, so after watching it for sometime, he saw it slowly but surely moving towards the house. The watcher informed the other members of the house and they made preparations for an attack. One took his gun and watched from an advantageous position. The bush kept steadily moving towards the house and him. After a time the bush came within gun range, when the white man took careful aim and knocked over the bush and the Indian too, killing the Indian.
Robert Jackson’s Home on the Goshen-Montgomery Road.
The beautiful stone house built by Thomas Bull in 1769 on the road leading from Goshen to Montgomery, has a legend worth repeating. It seems this family of Bulls was ardent "Loyalists," and perhaps sheltered those who were Tories and British spies. At any rate, a party of Revolutionary Officers came to search the house.
Mrs. Bull showed them through, opening the various doors etc, but when she came to one door she hesitated and said there was nothing on the other side and didn’t open it, till one insisted, then she opened it and as they stepped through she slammed the door on them, being anxious to rid herself of the unwelcome visitors. They found to their dismay the door was an outside door and they were out in the cold well tricked by the lady.
The officer in his wrath broke in the panel of the door with his musket. The shattered panel can yet be seen in this stately old house.
Sarah Wells ride on the Colt.
At the bend of the Wallkill where the Heffner family now lives in the town of Montgomery, a daughter of Wm Bull & Sarah Wells lived. Her name was Esther. She married John Miller. One day Sarah Wells and daughter Eleanor, rode down to see Esther on horse back. Sarah riding the old horse and Eleanor the colt. A severe thunder shower delayed their departing for home till dark.
In spite of the entreaties of the Miller family, to remain over night, Sarah called for her horses and chose the young one for herself to ride and Eleanor was obliged to ride the old one. Eleanor inquired of her venerable mother, Sarah; who was 100 years old at the time of this incident, "Why do you choose the young horse to ride home at night, when the old horse has carried you so well during the day light?"
Sarah replied, "the young horse has better eyes to see the path and will not stumble in the dark and perhaps fall because he is sure-footed."
