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 very old stone house in Hamptonburgh, New York. It was built almost 300 years ago by William Bull and Sarah Wells. They were some of the first settlers in this part of New York. What's really cool is that the same family has owned and lived in this house ever since it was built! Today, a person who is a ninth-generation descendant of William and Sarah lives there.
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The First Settlers: William Bull and Sarah Wells
William Bull was a skilled stonemason. He came to North America from England in 1715. 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, New York. She worked as a house servant to help pay for her journey and living costs.
How William and Sarah Met
William and Sarah met while they were both working on a large piece of land called the Wawayanda Patent. This area now includes towns like Goshen and Hamptonburgh. They got married in 1718. This was the first marriage between European settlers in Goshen.
Building Their Home
After they married, William bought 100 acres of land. Building their stone house was a team effort. Sarah helped carry stones to the building site. William, being a stonemason, cut and laid the stones. While they built the house, they lived in a temporary log cabin.
The house took thirteen years to finish. It even survived an earthquake in 1727! The completed house is 40 feet by 40 feet. Its walls are 2 feet thick, making it very strong.
Life in the Bull Stone House
William and Sarah raised 12 children in their stone house. All their children grew up, got married, and had their own families. The house was a safe place for the family. It was even used as a safe haven during the French and Indian War.
William Bull's Other Work
William Bull built many stone houses in what is now Orange County. In 1756, the last year of his life, he finished a stone house in New Windsor. This house is now known as Knox's Headquarters State Historic Site. It was used by American generals during the American Revolution.
The Bull Family Legacy
William and Sarah's children and grandchildren spread out across the region. Other houses built by their descendants, like the Bull-Jackson House and the William Bull III House, are also on the National Register of Historic Places. The family name is even used for the hamlet of Bullville, New York and Thomas Bull Park.
Sarah Wells' Later Life
William Bull passed away in 1755 or 1756. Sarah Wells lived a very long life. She remarried Johannes Miller but later moved back to her Stone House. Sarah died there at the amazing age of 100 years and 15 days! She left behind 335 direct descendants.
To honor her, a road near the house was renamed Sarah Wells Trail. The local Girl Scouts council was also named after her. Both Sarah and William are buried on the property, next to Hamptonburgh Cemetery.
The Bull Stone House Today
The Bull Stone House and its land have always stayed in the Bull family. In 1920, the family created an association of descendants to care for the property. Today, a ninth-generation family member lives in the house as a caretaker.
You can visit the house and take a tour for a small fee. Since 1868, descendants from all over the United States have returned to the house every year for a family reunion. The Bull Stone House has been recognized as an important historical site since 1974. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Dutch Barn
The 120-acre property also has another important historical building: a New World Dutch barn. This type of barn is very old and special, with only a few hundred still existing.
