 
Senate Resolution No. 1437
 
BY: Senator BONACIC
 
        COMMEMORATING the 150th Annual Bull Family Reunion
 
  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative Body recognizes that the heritage of the
State of New York has been strengthened by the quality and character  of
its families and their commitment to the values upon which the State was
founded; and
 
  WHEREAS,  In  recognition of these family values, and in accord with
its long-standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative  Body
to  commemorate  the  150th  Annual  Bull  Family  Reunion to be held on
Saturday, August 5, 2017, in the Bull Stone House in  Hamptonburgh,  New
York; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The Bull Family traces its roots to William Bull and Sarah
Wells, who were among the founding families of Orange County, New  York,
in  1722;  William Bull, the son of Peter Bull, immigrated to America in
1715, after learning the trade of stonemasonry in Dublin, Ireland; Sarah
Wells was an indentured servant who sailed on a sloop from New York City
with enough provisions to establish a home in Otterkill with the promise
of 100 acres to be given to her; and
 
  WHEREAS, In 1716, William Bull, the builder of Grey Court for Daniel
Cromeline, an original owner of the Wawayanda Patent,  was  granted  100
acres  where he built his residence called Hamptonburgh, in honor of his
birthplace, in 1722, currently known as The Bull Stone House; and
 
  WHEREAS, In addition, William  Bull  was  granted  2,600  additional
acres  by  King George of England in 1723 and an additional 500 acres in
1724, where his son Thomas built Hill-Hold in 1769, now an Orange County
museum; and
 
  WHEREAS, William Bull and Sarah Wells were  married  on  August  25,
1718,  as  the  first recorded marriage in the Town of Goshen; together,
they were the  proud  parents  of  12  children,  five  sons  and  seven
daughters; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  Bull  Stone House and the only example of a New World
Dutch Barn are still standing in Orange County; the house  is  a  living
museum  that, along with the barn, is listed on the National Register of
Historical Places; and
 
  WHEREAS, Upon the death  of  Sarah  Wells,  a  family  memorial  was
written   listing  her  12  children  who  bore  98  grandchildren,  212
great-grandchildren  and  13  great-great-grandchildren,  totaling   335
descendants; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Today,  descendants  of  William  and  Sarah  and their 12
children still gather in reunion every year since  1868  at  the  Annual
Bull  Family Reunion and Picnic; typically, more than 300 family members
attend the picnic from all over the United States and Canada; and
 
  WHEREAS, The Bull Family maintains  the  best  traditions  of  those
earliest  Bulls,  whose  family bonds promoted their care of each other,
 
and of their neighbors and friends, as is reflected again in this  150th
Anniversary family gathering; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  Bull  Family  has over the last centuries maintained,
honored, and cherished those ideals, principles and  basic  freedoms  so
fundamental to our American heritage; and
 
  WHEREAS,  As the Bull Family joins for a reunion in testament to the
bond of  family  unity,  it  honors  its  illustrious  past,  its  proud
heritage, and its promising future; now, therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 150th Annual Bull Family Reunion, and  extend  the  best
wishes of the people of New York State upon this memorable occasion; and
be it further
 
  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Bull Family.
Commemorating the 150th Annual Bull Family Reunion

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