Continuing... Another installment in the ongoing saga of ... "Who are the Fulton ancestors of Clark and Ernie Fulton?" In our previous episodes, we have learned that two groups of Fultons, one from Pennsylvania and the other from New York, came to Ontario County, New York, prior to 1800. The Pennsylvanians It does not appear that Clark and Ernie are connected to the Pennsylvanians. Of the three brothers, John, Hugh, and James, John settled over at Lincoln (now Gorham) in 1807 and is still living there at the time of the 1810 and 1820 census. John Fulton has a large family and that is clearly another research project. Hugh Fulton (1764-1846) and James Fulton (1769-1849) stayed in Seneca Township and are buried in the Presbyterian Church cemetery. Hugh was a possible ancestor to Clark and Ernie but was eliminated when it was discovered that he had no son named James. James Fulton (1769-1849) was never a candidate as he did not have a son of the proper age in 1820. Joseph Fulton (1782-1862) was also eliminated because he had no males in his household in 1820. (By the way Roberta, I agree that Joseph Fulton, (1782-1862) is too old to be the son of Hugh and Rebecca (-?-) Fulton, well -- he's clearly too old to be the son of Rebecca, (b 1775). Where does Joseph (b 1782 in PA) fit in? Again, this is another research project.) By 1850, there were only three Fulton households left in Seneca Township, all connected to the Pennsylvanians. Joseph H. Fulton, wife Clarissa, and two children (Son of Hugh) James S. Fulton, wife Margaret A., and four children (Son of Hugh) Joseph Fulton and wife Isabella (Son of ???) By 1850, the descendants of the New Yorkers are gone. The New Yorkers After reading the REAL 1800 Census (and finding the extra John "Foulton") we learned that the New York contingent started with three Fulton households, widow Elizabeth Fulton (with 1 male age 10-16), William Fulton and family, and John Fulton, newly married with 1 male under 10. The 1825 indenture between the heirs of William Fulton and Philip Gregory, identified all of William's children proving he did not have a son named Joseph D. Fulton. None of William Fulton's sons appear in later Seneca Township census indexes (1830, 1840, 1850). However, we do know that William's oldest son, Isaac W. Fulton, settled in Michigan before 1840. Remember? Clark & Ernie's ancestor, James Wesley Fulton, died in Brighton, Livingston County, Michigan. Through the process of elimination, we know that Joseph D. Fulton is the only Fulton living in Seneca Township in 1820 that could be the ancestor of Cornelia M. and James Wesley Fulton. We have only three choices. Are Clark & Ernie descendants of: (1) The Pennsylvania Fultons (NO) (2) The New York Fultons (MAYBE) (3) A Gypsy wagon train with no connection to either group (MAYBE) Before I accept the Gypsy wagon train theory, I want to eliminate the young male living with Elizabeth Fulton in 1800. But I can't, because this male could easily be Joseph D. Fulton. What? How did you figure that? According to the 1790 US Census, Elizabeth Fulton was the head of house and there were two males "under 16" living in the household. Male1, under 16 born bet 1775 and 1790 Male2, under 16 born bet 1775 and 1790 John Fulton (p 494) in the 1800 US Census is age 20-30, born between 1770 and 1780. He could be Male1 living with Elizabeth in 1790. In 1800, this John Fulton is living with a female 20-30 and a male under 10, born 1790-1800. John Fulton looks like a newlywed to me and the young male in this household is too young to be Joseph D. Fulton. What became of this John Fulton and his family? That's another research project. In 1800, Elizabeth Fulton was still listed as the head of house and there was one male "10-16" living in the household. I think it is likely that she died between 1800-1810 and the male living in her household moved in with one of his relatives in the area. Joseph D. Fulton, first appears in the 1820 census, age 26-45 (b between 1776 and 1794). His age is consistent with Male2 living in the Elizabeth Fulton household in 1790, and Male1 living in the Elizabeth Fulton household in 1800. Using the age ranges for both census years, we know that the male in this household was born between 1785 and 1790. 1820 Joseph D. Fulton, 26-45 (b 1776-1794) 1830 Joseph D. Fulton, 40-50 (b 1780-1790) 1840 Joseph Fulton, 50-60 (b 1780-1790) All evidence suggests that Joseph D. Fulton was born between these years. Where was Joseph D. Fulton living in 1810? That's hard to say and will require more research. If he was born between 1785 and 1790, then he came "of age" (age 21) between 1806 and 1811. There may not be any Will for widow Elizabeth Fulton because there is no evidence that she owned land (Elizabeth Fulton does not appear as a grantor in the Deed Book Index.) Conclusion? Clark & Ernie Fulton appear to be part of the New Yorkers who came to Ontario County before 1800. Their ancestor James Wesley Fulton, b 1841, and his sister Cornelia M. Fulton, born 1837, are the children of a James Fulton who married around 1835. By the process of elimination, Joseph D. Fulton is the only resident of Seneca Township in 1820 that could be the ancestor of James Fulton. Joseph D. Fulton died tragically in 1842 and his family disappears from the county shortly after that time. This would explain why the young children of James Fulton (Male1 b 1836-1840, Cornelia M., and James W.) did not share the name of their grandfather in oral traditions. (I'll bet the fireworks story was handed down, though.) Is the information I've presented considered "proof?" It depends upon the lineage society you are trying to join. It's true, we have not yet located marriage, birth, death documents. However, the weight of the evidence supports our conclusions. This is what is called a "preponderance of evidence" proof. It could use some more refinement, but I'll leave that to the descendants. There are still many questions to answer. Clark & Ernie asked one question. Now there are 10 or more questions in all different directions. That's what is so maddening about genealogy, or is that why genealogy is so addictive? Whenever you finally identify one ancestor, it's hard not to say, "but who was his daddy?" Patrice (Fulton) Stark Lone Tree, Colorado