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                   This electric edition copyright (c) 1995, RG Boyd

                                        Part 2

                                 WILLIAM BULL
 

This individual was born at Wolverhampton, England, February, 1689. In an
account of this early settler we rely upon tradition and the statements of
Sarah Wells, his wife, which were generally know among his immediate
descendants. When he was youg his father left England and located in Dublin,
Ireland, where he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a mason and stone-
cutter. During his minority we know nothing of him--When his apprenticeship
ended, he, with a young friend and fellow mason, contracted to build the arch
of a large bridge which was then in progress of erection in the vicinity of
the city, and had they succeeded it might have established their credit as
good workmen and talented young men; but just as they were closing the arch
and finishing the job, down it tumbled, and with it, the young and bright
prospects of the venturesome builders. Bull was overwhelmed by the unexpect- ed calamity and feeling that future success there was hopeless he at once
determined to emigrate and build his fortune in America, which he had failed
to do in Ireland.

He mustered and counted his money, which amounted to 5 guineas, went down 
tothe dock and on board a passenger ship bound soon for New York, and inquired of the officer on board if 5 guineas was sufficient to pay his passage. The reply was in the affirmative and he forthwith completed his arrangements to leave. When the time came he embarked, having nothing to encumber him him but his clothes, 5 guineas and a few books. When the ship arrived in port Bull
presented himself to the captain to pay his five guineas and go ashore; but
was told it was not enough, and being informed it was all he had, replied that
he must then be sold for the balance. Bull was very much incensed at the trick
put on him by false information in Ireland, and at the indignity so cruelly
about to be inflicted on him, promptly told the officer that he would not be
sold, that he would abide by the ship and return to Ireland, and that if he
had to be a servant it should be there and not in a strange land.

Misfortune had compelled him to leave his country and now when about to
realize his cherished hopes and anxious expectations, it was threatening to
drive him back again and he was in great doubt what course to adopt. But in
this case "his necessity was God's opportunity" who having mercifully held the
winds in his hand during the voyage, now kindly interposed and sent unexpect- ed relief in the person of a stranger.

Just at this time Daniel Cromline who had an interest in the Wawayanda patent
and was about to make a settlement thereon; finding an Irish passenger ship on
port and thinking that he might procure some laborers and artisans there, went
on board and made his wants known to the captain. Proclamation was made
thruout the ship that there was a gentleman on board who wanted to employ some workmen and mechanics to settle a new country and if there were any on board who were willing to engage, to come forward. The proclamation fell upon Bull like a message from Heaven and he felt that he was at least cared for by God and strangers, and his heart was instantly filled with gratitude and his hopes revived. He spoke and said that he was an artisan and laborer and had left Ireland for America thinking he had money to pay his passage; but that falling short and for the deficiency was about to be sold, which he had re- fused to be, he thought of returning to Ireland but if any gentlemman would advance him the money, he would undertake, should his health and life be spared, he should have no cause to regret the kindness. Cromline, pleased with his appearance, prompt and manly bearing advanced the money and they left 
the ship together.
 

page  17

Bull, in company with other workmen, soon went with Cromline upon the patent,
to prepare to erect a dwelling and make a settlement. Bull executed the mason
and the others the carpenter work, and he cut the year of erection "1716" in
the stones of the chimney. The boards of the house were sawed by a whip in a
sawpit and the whole woodwork fastened by wood pins in place of nails.

This at the time and for years afterwards was the largest and best house from
New Windsor to New Jersey. As it was on the traveled route leading into New
Jersey it soon became of great notariety, and being a public Inn was a place
of resort for the country round--This house was known as the "Old Greycourt
House" and was about 5 miles southeast from the log mansion of Christopher
Denn in Hamptonburgh. The structure was honestly built, having stood as a
tenement till 1832--about 116 years which cannot be affirmed of by any other
in the country except the Bull stone house at Hamptonburgh.

At that early day and for many years afterwards, the population was very
sparse in that part of the country and all living within a dozen miles of each
other were near neighbors and kept an intimate and friendly intercourse. As
Christopher Denn was a patentee and Daniel Cromline interested in the patent
both having made settlements and living within six miles of each other, it was
natural and expected that these families would often meet on the most friendly
term.

Thus William Bull who continued to live at the Cromline house, became
acquainted with Sarah Wells, which ripened into love and eventually into
matrimony in the year 1718. The young people of that day had a great deal of
business to do and their offers were sincerely and promply made on the one
side and promply and honestly accepted on the other. What they did was done
quickly as they had no time to spare, and consequently there were no
courtships of seven years standing. Inclination and the demands of a new
country forbade all tampering and procrastination upon such business
transactions.

We will detain the reader by asking him to step into the new double log house
of Christopher and Madam Denn and witness the marriage ceremony. Whether male or female, old or young, they are unwortthy to wear the bonds of Hymen 
if they refuse the invitation. We know they will not for it is not a matter of every day occurrence.

Previous to this time Courts of Justice had been established and a magistrate
resided in the neighborhood, who was called upon to perform the marriage
ceremony, there being no priest to do it. Bull was an Episcopalian and wished
to be married according to the forms of that church, but how were the Banns
to be published 3 times to make the contract valid? After long deliberation
they concluded that circumstance altered cases and that 3 proclamations made
in one day were as effectual for all purposes and carry it out in practise,
the guests being assembled and the bride and groom anxiously waiting to know
how it was performed, the magistrate, with a solemnity demanded by the
occasion, took up the book of common prayer and proceeded to the front door of the house and there proclaimed the banns to the trees of the forest, then he
walked thru the hall to the back door and maade a second proclamation to the
cattle and outbuildings, and then again at the front door made a third
proclamation to the wilderness at large. The tres and the forest made no
objection, the cattle did not forbid the banns and the wilderness seemed to
echo back its approbation and consent, whereupon the marriage ceremony was
immediately performed. Though this was a new and hazardous experiment on a
delicate subject, we never heard that its legality was questioned, even by
those who were most personally interested in the matter. Tradition affirms
this to have been the first marriage within the limits of the old town of
Goshen.
 

page 18

                       SETTLEMENT OF HAMPTONBURGH

It will be recollected that Christopher Denn had promised Sarah Wells 100
acres of land for commencing the settlement of the patent, who now being of
age and married, and having chosen a guardian to lean upon and protect her for
life, requested a fulfill of the promise. Without disclosing his object he
advised her "not to be in a hurry about it, that she had married a young
Irishman who might play her some trick and finally leave her; and the title
might as well be left where it was for the present." At this she became
offended, as it cast an unworthy imputation upon her husband, and she replied
that "Bull was born in England and though brought up in Ireland, she did not
know as that made him an Irishman; and that he was as good an Englishman as
himself." Denn manifested no resentment at what she said, and smiling
pleasantly put her off. He told her, however, to go and select 100 acres of
his unimproved land where she pleased, and locate it and it should be securee
for her. This was done and possession taken. Bull, like many of us at this
day, desired to possess land that he could call his own and in place of
settling and making erections on the 100 acres, located on the southeasterly
side of Christopher Denn's lot, then considered wild and unappropriated, and
now designated by the old Bull stone house at Hamptonburgh." On this he
erected his log cabin in 1719 or 1720. The location was a favourable one. The
land was of fine quality and well watered, and on settling called the place
"Hamptonburgh" in honor of "Wolverhampton" in England, the place of his
birth, which it retains. It is proper to say that the title to the 100 acres of
bounty land was made in fee simple to John Bull, the eldest son, which was a
compliment too frequently paid by the partially of the English law.

Bullhead, the village of Hamptonburgh and the residence of Ebenezer Bull,
Esq., the old stone house, are on the 100 acres.

When Denn settled he supposed he located on the patent of Wawayanda, but as
that patent was bounded there by the northwset line, when the new northwest
line came to be run, it cut Denn's settlement off of the patent. His
improvement was secured in this way. By English law at this time he determined
to procure, but dying before he accopmplished it, the patent was issued to his
widow, Madam Denn.

Besides the patent in Walkill, Bull and Gerrad, in 1723, procured one of 2,600
acres, just east of the 100 acres, which was a part of the patent to Captain
John Evans and on this William Bull erected his stone house in 1727, which is
still standing. This building is literally founded on a rock and has a spring
in the cellar. We have recently examined it and found it in good repair, and
barring accidents, likely to stand another 120 years. The house is two stories
of 11 feet each, with a sharp roof, and for a dwelling of that number of
stories is the higest in the county, measuring from the first floor to the
peak. It is wonderful that the building is in the good preservation we found
it, for it has once been riven by a thunderbolt, and while building was rocked
by the vibration of an earthquake.

The family tradition is that before the stone house was erected Bull lived in
a log hut in the vicinity and that while the stone house was building and
nearly completed, about 12 0'clock at night, he and Mrs. Bull were waked up by
a rumbling noise and shaking of the bed and house which they thought an earth-
quake, and Mrs. Bull remarked to him "William we have lost our new house." On
inspecting the building in the morning they fourd a crack, beginning in the
lower part of the first story, at the east end, which extended up thru the
second story.
 
 

page 19

This was plastered up and the house finished, and the seam is very observable
at this time. Indeed there has been no time since built, when it was not
there. We had heard of this tradition and mentioned it to several persons, but
no one gave it credence. While examiming it a few days since, our doubts of
its truth were suggested to Mr. Ebenezer Bull who said "Samuel thee need not
doubt it for I will prove it to thee." He walked to his library, took down a
book and referred us to the page which contained the evidence. The book was 
a reprint in 1826 of an old work entitled "The life and travels of Samuel Bownes in 1726 and 1727." Bownes was an English Quaker and came out to travel and visit friends in the colonies and while here attended the yearly meetings thru New England. In September, 1727 he was attending the yearly meeting at Cockset in Rhode Island, which lasted three days. Speaking of the conclusion of the meeting he says: "This evening as I was going to bed about 10 O'clock at night there was an exceeding great earthquake, that made a noise like driving carts or wagons on an uneven causeway; it continued about 2 minutes to the great surprise of the people. It was felt about 1,500 miles as 
was afterwards computed, and was thought, by calculation was not quite three hours going that space."

This we think established the truth of the family tradition beyond even a
reasonable doubt.

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 preceed3d 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 1 and 2 O'clock PM and succeeded by a lighter one at 4PM Its course
was from East to West.

The shingles which covered the house were oak staves, pretty wide and laid
well to the weather. They curled up by 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 1767 or 1768,
and the scars then made are visible today.

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 groud 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 halfway 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 mutually bearing each others' burdens and found the child safe and still tethered to the
bedport.

Such times made men and women fit to be the fathers and mothers of a free and generous people.

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.
 

page 20
 

During the French and Indian War which commenced in 1756 and ended in 1763, and just before the commencement of the Revolution, this old house was used as a fort and place of refuge for the inhabitants of the beighborhood for miles round and especially at night.

Though this was known, the house was never attacked, not an inmate for the
time molested in any way. The good services performed by this ancient
building, in these 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 meaning of the word "Hampton" is said to be 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 in
1694 and died April 21, 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 the "Burying Hill."

A large area of the land owned by this early settler is still in the possession of his descendants.

     Children of William Bull and Sarah Wells--when born--to whom
     married--and the number of children and grandchildren at the
     time of her death in 1796.

Name       Born              Married                                GC     GGC    GGGC

John      May  3, 1721      Miss Holly, Goshen, NY           12      61     4
William   Mar 13, 1723      Miss Booth, Hamptonburgh      6      15     -
Sarah     Sep  1, 1725      Charles Booth  "    "                  8      23     3
Thomas    Dec 27, 1727      Miss Kerr, of Florida            12      22     -
Isaac     Nov 17, 1729      Miss Muliner, L. Britain             6      21     -
Esther    May 29, 1731      John Miller, Montgomery         8      18     6
Mary      Feb  3, 1733      Benj. Booth, Hamptonburgh      10      17     -
Margaret  May  1, 1736      Mr. Horton, Goshen                  7       7     -
Catherine May 24, 1738      James Faulkner, Walkill          7       2     -
Ann       Nov  4, 1740      William Eager, Neeleytown         10      17     -
Richard   May 29,           Miss Budd, E. Division                  5       6     -
Elinor    Mar  4, 1745      Heenry Weller, Montgomery        7       3     -
                                                TOTALS                          98     212    13
Total number of descendants........................................................335
 

William Bull                           Sarah Bull
Sarah Wells...John Bull...Isaac Bull...Francis Bowman

Henry Bowman...Mary
Ann Clark...George
            Hannah
            James
            William...Emily Robbins
                   ...Edith Elizabeth
                                                            Ella Bowman
Sarah Hoffman
John Bowman...Harriet...Elizabeth...Francis (Frank) Bowman..Henry Bowman
                                    m. Blanche Harris
 
 

page 21

It is said by those who are best acquainted with a knowledge of this family
history that Mrs. William Bull (nee Sarah Wells) aided with her own hands in
the building of the old stone house at Hamptonburgh by carrying stones and
mortar to the workmen in a leather apron worn for the purpose.

In accordance to the English custom the old stone house at Hamptonburgh was
given to Jihn as he was the oldest son.

Harriet Bowman
Ira Lounsbury...Howard Lounsbury...(drowned)
                Florence Lounsbury...Florence L..Clifford S.

                                                       Josephine Marie
                                                       Genevieve Carrie
                                                       Charles Henry
                                                       Geraldine Martha
                                                       Harriet Elizabeth
                                                       Clifford Lounsbury
                                                       Susan Eileen
                                                       Clarence  Higby
                                                       Lloyd Taylor
 
 

page 22

                         BOWMAN FAMILY (EXTRACT)
 

      CHILDREN OF FRANCES AND SARAH BULL BOWMAN
 

(a) Hannah Bowman          Born 12/5/1821 Monroe, Orange Co., NY
                           Died 12/27/1823 "        "

(b) Henry B. Bowman        Born 9/27/1823 Monroe, Orange Co., NY
                           Married 8/30/1852
                           Died 11/5/1869 Elmira, NY
                           Wife EMILY L. SHEELY Born 10/30/1823

(c) Joseph Bowman          Born 5/2/1825 Monroe, NY
                           Died 9/6/1831 Horseheads, NY

(d) Ann Bowman             Born 12/7/1827 Monroe, NY
                           Married 12/24/1850 Horseheads, NY
                           Died 6/15/1878 Eureka, KS
                           Husband: WILLIAM J. CLARK
                           Born 6/10/1828 Near Belfast, Ireland
                           Died 10/19/1898 Rogers, Ark.

(e) Sarah Mellissa         Born 19 Feb 1833 Horseheads, NY
      Bowman               Married 7 May 1851
                           Died 25 Nov 1904 Elmira, NY
                           Husband: GEORGE W. HOFFMAN
                           Born 9 Feb 1822 Elmira, NY
                           Died 18 Feb 1907 Elmira, NY

(f) John Springstead       Born 4 June 1836 Horseheads, NY
       Bowman              Married 21 Nov 1860
                           Died 27 Nov 1894 Brady, Mich
                           Wife: ANN C. THORN
                           Born 15 June 1837
                           Died 11 May 1883
 

                               SIXTH GENERATION

                      CHILDREN OF ANN & WILLIAM J. CLARK

(a) Francis Bowman Clark   Born 14 Oct 1851 Horseheads, NY
                           Married 15 Sept 1875 Breesport, NY
                           Wife: CLARA B. KINSLEY
                           Born 18 Jan 1854 NY NY

(b) Eugene Irving Clark    Born 24 Mar 1853 Horseheads, NY
                           Married 11 Mar 1874 Breesport, NY
                           1st Wife: SARAH HARDING
                           2nd Wife: EMMA M. KRAFT
                           Born 16 Oct 1860
                           Married 6 Sept 1880 Wichita, Kansas

(c) Joseph Duane Clark     Born 27 July 1855 Horseheads, NY
                           Married 20 Oct 1880 Eureka, Kansas
                           Wife: MILDRED C. JACKSON
                           Born 27 Mar 1860 Alford, England
 
 

                                       page  23

(d) William Henry Clark    Born 16 Sept 1857 Horseheads, NY
                           Married 2 Mar 1886
                           Died 20 Jan 1905 Nevada, Missouri
                           Wife: ANNA SEYMOUR
                           Born 16 July 1869 Orange County, W. Virginia

(e) Sarah Jane Clark       Born 13 Dec 1859 Horseheads, NY
                           Married 16 June 1880 Eureka, Kansas
                           Died 24 Feb 1905 Norwalk, California
                           Husband: ROBERT G. RAVENSCROFT
                           Born 9 April 1847 Banscomming, Maryland

(f) John Milton Clark      Born 10 Dec 1861 Horseheads, NY
                           Married 22 June 1892
                           Wife: ABBIE BELLE JORDAN
                           Born 6 Oct 1869

(g) George Hoffman Clark   Born 13 Jan 1865 Horseheads, NY
                           Married 1 July 1884 Severy, Kansas
                           Wife: CORA JORDAN
                           Born 16 Nov 1859 Central City, Iowa
 

                            SEVENTH GENERATION

     CHILDREN OF FRANCIS B. CLARK and CLARA B. KINSLEY CLARK
 

(a) Joseph E. Clark        Born 11 Sept 1876 Horseheads, NY
                           Married 20 Sept 1899 Eureka, Kansas
                           Wife: FLORENCE STEWART
                           Born 23 Jan 1880 Eureka, Kansas

(b) Henry Bowman Clark     Born 23 Sept 1878 Reece, Kansas
                           Married 20 July 1901 Kansas City, Missouri
                           Wife: LENA OLIVE LYNN
                           Born 31 Mar 1879 Livonia, Michigan
 

              CHILDREN OF EUGENE I. CLARK and EMMA M. KRAFT CLARK

(a) Julliette Hanna Clark  Born 20 Jan 1882 Greenwood Co., Arkansas
                           Married 28 June 1911 Owosso, Michigan
                           Husband: JOHN H. KING
                           Born 18 Jan 1879 Shiawassee Co., Michigan

(b) Nellie Emma Clark      Born 24 May 1888 Wichita, Kansas
                           Married 27 Aug 1913 Owosso, Michigan
                           Died 12 June 1937 Owosso, Michigan
                           Husband: TIMOTHY M. CARMODY Shiawassee County

(c) Eugene Edward Clark    Born 6 April 1892 Kansas City, Missouri
                           Married 27 June 1917 Merrill, Michigan
                           Wife: AGNES FLEMING
                           Born 15 Sept 1890 Merrill, Michigan

(d) Cecilia Ann Clark      Born 12 Nov 1902 Saginaw Co., Michigan
                           Married
                           Husband: PATRICK DEAN Born in Saginqaw, Michigan
 

    page 24

              CHILDREN OF EUGENE I. CLARK and SARAH HARDING CLARK
 

(a) William Elisha Clark   Born 9 May 1876 Horseheads, NY
                           Married 15 Nov 1899
                           Wife: ALMEDA McDOUGALL
                           Born 24 June 1880 Saginaw Co., Michigan
 
 

 CHILDREN OF WILLIAM ELISHA CLARK and ALMEDA McDOUGAL CLARK
 

(a) Joseph William Clark   Born 09 May 1901 Brady, Michigan

(b) Doris May Clark        Born 19 Mar 1904 Brady, Michigan

(c) Irving Clark           Born    Feb 1908 Lakefield, Michigan

(d) Milton Clark           Born    Feb 1912 Lakefield, Michigan

(e) Edgar Clark            Born    Feb 1914 Lakefield, Michigan
 
 

page 25

                       A HISTORY OF OUR ANCESTORS,
                   WRITTEN BY SAMUEL SCANTLEBURY AT CHICAGO,
                             2ND MONTH 10TH, 1873.
 

Christopher Wray, son of Edward and Sarah Wray was born in Brigg, Lincoln-
shire, England, 7th month, 24th, 1774 and died 7th month, 11th, 1843 in New
York. Hannah Rountree nee Wray was the daughter of Christopher Wray and Betty Wray nee Bowman. The Wray's were of a Scottish family of some distinction, the elder branch of which Sir Cecil Wray is, or recently was the head. Christopher Wray and family emigrated to America in the year 1818.

Betty Wray was the daughter of Henry Bowman and Sarah Bowman nee Ellis, his
wife. She was born at Ubberly, Staffordshire. The Ellis family moved from
Birby in Yorkshire to Sherman's Lodge near Leicester. Sarah Bowman nee Ellis
lived for some time in Sheffield.

Henry Bowman was born at One Ash, County of Derby, about 20 miles from
Sheffield. One Ash is the name of the Homestead, a farm of 1000 acres in a
"ring fence." The land belonged to the Duke of Devonshire, but the Bowman
family lived there many generations.

Henry Bowman, the eldest son left the ol;d homesteadand went to live at
Cotswall in Staffordshire, leaving the old place in possession of his brother
Ebenezer Bowman.

Henry Bowman emigrated to America and settled in Orange County, New York in
the year 1805.

                                   CHILDREN
 

Henry Bowman was born at One Ash        01 Apr 1731
Betty Bowman was born at Ubberly        30 Jun 1732
Joseph Bowman                           31 Dec 1782
Hannah Bowman                           04 Nov 1785
Ann Bowman            at Catswall    05 Oct 1787
Francis Bowman                           01 Oct 1789
Roger Bowman                             08 Nov 1791
Martha Bowman                            31 Oct 1793
Mary Bowman                               16 Oct 1795
Rebecca Bowman                          03 Jun 1798
 

Henry Bowman died at Catswall, England aged 70   18 Dec 1801
Betty Wray Bowman        New York                 70   06 Jun 1802
Joseph Bowman  Castle Donnington, England   75   02 Feb 1859
Hannah Carpenter Orange Co., NY                  77   29 Mar 1862
Ann Cromwell  Orange Co., NY                         79   30 Jan 1866
Francis Bowman  Chemung Co., NY                   84   04 Jan 1872
Roger Bowman  Dutchess Co., NY                     84   08 Apr 1876
Martha Palmer  Minneapolis, Minn                    84
Mary Pearsall  Orange Co., NY                         84
 

Henry Bowman Sen. was born in the year 1754 died in Monroe, Orange County, NYin 1820. His wife Sarah Bowman was born in 21 Oct 1757 and died in Monroe 30 April 1844. They are laid in a quiet spot in Monroe, marked only by 
a saltestone which is probably crumbled to dust long ere this.

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