The William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House Association Board of Directors
Board members are elected by the Membership of the Association for three-year terms. The Board is divided into three classes of four members so that each year, the terms of only one class of four Board members expire at the August Annual Business Meeting (held at the annual picnic.) If you are a member of the Association, you will cast a vote for Board members during the Business meeting at the annual reunion. If you want to serve on the Board or on a committee, please contact President Lyle Shute at [email protected]
The board's 2025 meeting schedule is as follows:
- Jan 11th
- April 5th
- June 21st
- August 2nd (Annual Picnic)
- October 4th
Barbara Sylk, President
Barbara Sylk is a 9th Generation Line of John Bull descendant. Her grandmother, Cora Bull Schwarzwalder, was raised in the town of Monroe, and on a Sugar Loaf Mountain farm in Orange County. Because of her grandmother and mother’s deep roots with the Bull Stone House, Barbara and her family have long attended the Annual Picnic. Barbara become active with the Association in 2016. Her background is in the visual arts, and she has a Masters Degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Barbara has worked as a teacher, in arts conservation, building management, and had an art gallery in addition to being a artist. She has been actively involved in many not-for-profit organizations as a committee member and as a trustee in the Philadelphia area where she has resided for many years. Barbara is married with three children and has lived near Philadelphia for many years. She is very much looking forward to becoming more knowledgeable about all things “Bull”! 
Linda Bull – Archivist, Chair of HIC, Secretary
Linda Bull became a member of the Bull family in 2005 upon marrying Albert C. Bull a 9th generation line of John descendant. She is retired as an Archivist Records Management Specialist with the New York State Archives. Linda and Al live in Walden, New York. In 2008, Linda was appointed as the Chair of the Historic Interpretations and Collections Committee and elected to the William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House Association Board. Linda was born in Pontiac, Michigan and raised in Romeo, Michigan. She graduated from Oakland University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and received a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Colorado at Denver. 
Bill Roe
Bill is a 8th generation descendent in the Line of Mary. He begins his first three-year term August 2021. He is a resident of Sullivan County, N.Y., and grew up with the Bull Family as part of his life. His late father was Chet Roe, an active member of the family association. 
James Sorrell
James Allen Sorrell is a 9th generation descendant in the lines of John, Thomas & William. Born in Middletown and currently living in Ohio; Jim has long been immersed in the family tradition and has two past presidents in his immediate family; grandfather (Henry P. Bull Esq.) and mother (Mary Jane Bull Sorrell). Jim has two sons and two grandsons being brought up to understand and appreciate what it means to be a part of this amazing legacy. After 47 years in the trades he is currently Production Coordinator for a Design Build Remodel firm in Columbus OH and will try and bring that experience to bear in his involvement with Buildings and Grounds.
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Lyle R. Shute –Treasurer, Immediate Past President
Lyle R. Shute is a 9th Generation Line of Mary descendant, and has resided in Orange County, NY for over 55 years. Currently, Lyle lives with his family in Campbell Hall, NY. He has proudly served as President of the Association for 9 years and has over 20 years of service as a board trustee in various roles. Many of Lyle’s immediate family have been involved in the William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House Association, most notably, his great grandfather, Hamlet Roe – a past President of the Association, and one of the founders of the Association in 1921. Professionally, Lyle is owner of a consulting engineering firm in Goshen, NY. He is a licensed professional engineer, LEED certified, and specializes in sustainable, high performance building systems design. Lyle is actively involved in the community, serving on various non-profit boards, and with the Town of Hamptonburgh. Doug Stainton, Vice President
Doug was born in the old Goshen Hospital, and he grew up in Rockland County, NY. He is of the line of Mary, 9 th generation. He and his wife, Julie, live on the lovely waters of Yankee Lake (Sullivan County) and spend their winters on Jekyll Island, GA. After working many years at various community banks and local credit unions in the Hudson Valley he is now happily retired. His great grandfather, Hamlet Roe, was one of the founders of the Association in 1921 and his Uncle Chet Roe was a past President. He can remember his mother, Martha (Jane) Carpenter Siegriest, laboriously typing and mimeographing addendums to the Blue Book for the Association. His mother is very proud that she has blue ribbons for both being the youngest baby and oldest cousin at the picnic. I always had an interest in history and as a child I would avidly read the Blue Book, fascinated by how our common ancestors were part of the great events of American history. I feel it is my turn to help preserve our common legacy. 
Betsy Harris –
Betsy Harris is 10th Generation Line of Thomas and lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband. They have 2 daughters and 3 grandchildren in nearby suburbs. Having volunteered on the Picnic Committee since 2018, I love stepping up and helping out where needed. Judy Wood was my first contact a few years before, and was also great at encouraging me to get involved, and I found everyone so welcoming. From William and Sarah, on down my line, we’ve all volunteered our time in our communities, of which I am very proud! I first heard about the Bull Family from my Great Grandmother, Ada Gardner Caughlan, who was born and raised in Middletown, NY. She left the area in 1907 when she married and moved to Washington State. The connection to the Bull Family was somewhat removed by distance, but I asked her, and then my grandfather to talk about this branch of the family history growing up and am hoping to bridge the gap for future generations. We’re over 130,000 family members strong, and each of us has something to offer to keep this legacy alive for generations to come. 
Marc Nozell
Marc Nozell is an 9th generation Bull family member in the line of John. After graduating Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute he moved from New York State to New Hampshire. He has been working in the technology field, including Compaq and Hewlett-Packard and is currently with Red Hat Software, Inc. His is the President of the Merrimack Historical Society and a board member on The New Hampshire Challenge (NH's source for informing the disability community) He is on the BSH Historic Interpretations and Collections Committee leading the Bull Archive Project to digitize, transcribe and organize all the documents we have accumulated over the centuries. He credits his late grandmother Olive Ann Smith BULL Nozell for infecting him with the genealogy bug, for which is he grateful. With his wife, they have contributed six descendants to the Bull family tree. |
