Bull Stone House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bull Stone House
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The Bull Stone House in 2007
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| Location | 183 County Route 51, Campbell Hall, NY |
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| Nearest city | Middletown |
| Area | 120 acres (48 ha) |
| Built | 1722 |
| Architect | William Bull and Sarah Wells |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001287 |
| Added to NRHP | July 18, 1974 |
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The Bull Stone House is a historic stone house in Hamptonburgh, New York. It was built in the 1720s by William Bull and Sarah Wells. They were early settlers in Orange County, New York. This house is special because the same family has owned and lived in it for hundreds of years. Today, a person from the ninth generation of the Bull family lives there.
Contents
The Story of William and Sarah
How William and Sarah Met
William Bull was a stonemason, someone who builds with stone. He came to North America from England in 1715. He worked for a merchant named Daniel Crommelin. Sarah Wells was an orphan who arrived in the area in 1712. She was just sixteen years old. Sarah was the first female settler in Goshen. She worked as an indentured house servant. This meant she worked for someone for a set time to pay off a debt.
William and Sarah met while they were both working. They were helping to settle a large area of land called the Wawayanda Patent. This area now includes towns like Goshen and Hamptonburgh.
Building a Family and a Home
William and Sarah got married in 1718. This was the first marriage between European settlers in Goshen. William bought 100 acres of land next to Sarah's master's property. Building their home was a team effort. Sarah helped carry stones to the site. William cut and laid the stones. They lived in a temporary log cabin while they built the house.
It took thirteen years to finish the house. It even survived an earthquake in 1727! The completed house is 40 feet square. Its walls are 2 feet thick, making it very strong.
Life in the Stone House
William and Sarah raised 12 children in the house. All their children grew up, got married, and had their own families. The house was a safe place during the French and Indian War. No battles were fought on the property itself.
William was a busy stonemason. He built many stone houses in Orange County. In 1756, he finished a stone house now called Knox Headquarters. This house was used by American generals during the American Revolution.
Sarah Wells lived a long life. William died in 1755 or 1756. Sarah later remarried but moved back to the Stone House. She died there at the age of 100. She left behind 335 direct descendants! A road near the house is now called Sarah Wells Trail in her honor. A local Girl Scouts group was also named after her.
Both Sarah and William are buried on the property. Their graves are next to Hamptonburgh Cemetery.
The Bull Stone House Today
The Bull Stone House and its land are still owned by the Bull family. In 1920, the family formed an association. This group helps to preserve the house. Today, a ninth-generation family member lives there. They act as the family caretaker.
You can take a tour of the house for a small fee. Descendants of William and Sarah come from all over the United States. They have a family reunion at the house every year since 1868. The house has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974.
The 120-acre property also has another important old building. It is a New World Dutch barn.
