Name/Title
"The Origin of The Bull Family Picnic"Entry/Object ID
002290Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House Association, Bull PicnicScope and Content
"THE ORIGIN OF THE BULL FAMILY PICNIC"
This is the title of a paper found in one of the Treasure Chests at the Stone House. Perhaps it might be opportune to report the contents of this paper.
"In the County papers of the Summer of 1868 appeared the following notice.
'To the descendants of William Bull and Sarah Wells. There being nothing to mark the graves, save a common field stone of these distinguished early settlers of Orange County, some of their descendants thought that a becoming monument should be erected in their memory. In order that all of their descendants may have an opportunity to help in this matter, a subscription book has been opened. Those desiring to help may forward their donation to Miss Amy Bull, Hamptonburgh, Goshen, P. O. N. Y.'
Other members of the family prominent in this affair were Dr. Kerr Bull, Prof. R. H. Bull, Jesse Bull of Oxford Depot, Lewis and Alfred Booth, Harrison Mills, who presented in 1870 a flag to the society, and others no doubt that are not known to the writer.
The occasion of the dedication of the monument was made a basket picnic, and on Friday, September 18th, 1868, more than a hundred descendants gathered on Lookout Hill near the Hamptonburgh Church, and also near "Heards Tavern" where in old stage coach days the horses were changed on the trip from Goshen to Newburg. This was also a great meeting place for cattle drivers.
It was here that hung the old tavern sign of a bulls head with an inscription composed by Peter Bull, of Purgatory, but he called his farm Paradise for he said "You have to pass through Purgatory to reach it."
'Herdsman Stop - Here's Bull's Grazing ground Since the year 1718 Behold the Bull While he scraped the sod, By turns a victim, yet Egypt's God — Who drags the plow, To mould the cultured fields Makes hills and dales A fruitful harvest yield'
From 1868 to 1883 the picnic was held annually at the same place, with one exception which was in 1882, when the meeting was at Thompson Ridge. In 1884 Mrs. Gouge gave the use of the grove at Campbell Hall, and finding this grove the most convenient in every way, it has been held there ever since."
Of course these picnics are now held at the Stone House after its acquisition by the Association.
It is noteworthy that the family has been fortunate in having a pictorial record of its early Picnics for Uncle Samuel Weeks was a friend of Charles Fredericks, an early photographer in New York City and a contemporary of William Brady who photographed the Civil War. Mr. Fredericks spent much time as a guest at the Stone House and took many pictures of the family, most of which may be seen at the Stone House, including a photograph of the location of Lookout Hill which shows the Church and the Tavern mentioned above as well as the Monument for Sarah and William Bull. This picture hangs in the living room of the Stone House. Lookout Hill was planted to evergreens several years ago.
Prof. Richard A. Bull, mentioned above, started to keep the family records and genealogy many years before the first picnic and he kept them until his death in 1892. Thereafter Stevenson B. Walsh kept the records and upon his death Dolly W. Booth has been the Family Historian and Genealogist. Then the family was most fortunate when one of its members wrote a History of Orange County published in 1846. This History was written by Samuel W. Eager who says on page 454 of this History "Sarah Wells. — The reader will permit us to change somewhat the subject of remark, and introduce him to a young female acquaintance, a relative of the writer, and whom he saw in 1796, at the advanced and venerable age of 102 years, when he was but 6." Needless to say this History is replete with stories in which the family is involved and with the early genealogy of the family.
To preserve this collection of family data, it has been the endeavor of Dolly W. Booth to publish in book form the Family Records. She has completed five generations of the family. She has enough information to complete two more generations within the next year. To publish such a book requires an initial outlay of perhaps $5,000. Since 1955 your Treasurer, Henry P. Bull, has been depositing contributions received by him for such purpose in a Genealogy Fund in a savings account and has at this time more than $1500 available. It would be wonderful if within the next year contributions could swell this account to an amount which would prompt publication. You may send your contributions to our Treasurer at 12 Roberts Street, Middletown, New York.