Page 17
History of Orange County
Towns of Goshen, Hamptonburgh and Chester
Page 17
Earthquakes were more frequent in New England at the early settlement of the country than of late years. They were experienced in 1627, 1638, 1663 and 1670. The shocks generally proceeded from the East to the West, as in the instance referred to. In May, 1804, a shock was felt in the city of New York, between one and two o'clock, p. m., and succeeded by a lighter one at 4 p. m. Its course was from East to West.
The shingles which covered this house were oak staves, pretty wide and laid well to the weather.
They curled up by the action of the weather, so that each butt would hold a pint of water.
The house was struck by lightning when Daniel Bull of Monroe, the father of Ebenezer, was a small boy, about in 1767 or 8, and the scars then made are visible to-day.
When Bull first settled at Hamptonburgh there was no mill, nearer or more convenient than Madam Brett's, at the mouth of the Fishkill, in Dutchess county, and his grain for a few years was ground there. His custom was to shoulder his bags and carry them there and back, which usually consumed two days. On one occasion he went and did not return at the usual time, and Mrs. Bull fearing some accident had befallen him, tied her infant to the bed post and went off to meet him. She met him some half way to New Windsor, trudging homeward, tired and weary with the weight of his load. He had been delayed in crossing the river, but in other respects well, and they returned with lighter hearts, Such times made men and women fit to be the fathers and mothers of a free and generous people. May their descendents never degenerate in mind or body.
From the erection of this house till the commencement of the Revolution, it was surrounded by an Indian population, which though it committed occasional aggressions upon the white settlers, left the Bull family in. comparative safety.-The members of the family had performed many kind offices for the Indians in the vicinity, and they insured its safety.--During the French and Indian war which commenced in 1756 and ended in 1763, and just before the commencement of the war of the Revolution, this old house was used as a fort and place of refuge for the inhabitants of the neighborhood for miles round, and especially at night. Though this was well known, the house was never attacked, nor an inmate for the time being molested in any way. The good services performed by this ancient building, in these and other respects, have their proper influence on the mind of Mr. Ebenezer Bull, its present owner, who takes a just pride in the repair and preservation of the structure. The etymology of Hamptonburgh we have partly stated under the name Hampton, in the town of Newburgh, and said it meant “house or residence on a hill.” To that is added in this case the Saxon “burg,” a village or borough. The whole meaning “a village, town or borough on a hill. ”
William Bull died February 1755, aged 66. Sarah Wells, his wife, was born April 6th, 1694, and died April 21st, 1796, aged 102 years and 15 days. They were buried in the family yard at Hamptonburgh, in the grounds he gave for the purpose, and known as “Burying Hill.” A large quantity of the land owned by this carry settler is still in the possession of his descendents.
CHILDREN OF WILLIAM BULL AND SARAH WELLS--WHEN BORN-TO WHOM
MARRIED-AND THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND GRAND CHILDREN AT HER DEATH IN 1796.
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Names.
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Born.
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Married.
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G.C.
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G.G.C.
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G.G.G.C.
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John,
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May 3 1721,
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Miss Holly of Goshen,
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12
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61
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4
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William,
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March 13, 1723,
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“ Booth of Hamptonb'h,
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6
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15
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Sarah,
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Sept'br 1, 1725,
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Charles Booth do
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8
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23
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3
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Thomas,
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Dec'r 27, 1727,
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Miss Kerr of Florida,
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12
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22
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Isaac,
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Nov'r 17, 1729,
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“ Mulliner of L. Britain,
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6
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21
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Esther,
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May 29, 1731,
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John Miller of Montgomery,
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8
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18
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6
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Mary,
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Feb'ry 3, 1733,
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Benj. Booth of Hamptonb'h
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10
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17
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Margaret,
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May 1, 1736,
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------ Horton of Goshen,
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7
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7
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Catharine,
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May 24, 1738,
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James Faulkner of Walkill,
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7
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2
|
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Ann,
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Nov'br 4, 1740,
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Wm. Eager of Neelytown,
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10
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17
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Richard,
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May 29, 1743,
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Miss Budd of E. Division
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5
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6
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Ellinor,
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March 4, 1745,
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Henry Weller of Mont'y,
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___7
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___3
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____
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|
|
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98
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212
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13
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It will be seen from this table, that the children of these early settlers were in number,
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Their Grand Children,
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12
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Their Great Grand Children,
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98
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Their Great Great Grand Children,
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__212
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Total,
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335
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Measures have been taken, within a few years past, to ascertain the number of the descendents of these person, and though we are not prepared to state the aggregate here, at this time, yet we have no doubt the number is at present as many thousands, as this is hundreds. The first two generations had a large capital to start on, and the increase since, from generation to generation, has been with a tremendous ratio. It may be questioned, if there is a family in the State, that exceeds it in the number of its descendents.