Thanks Pat for your reminders... I did this research about 2 years ago and had not followed up about Mr. Tavenner's research since it wasn't my family. When I copied the marriage info, I asked the librarian if he was still alive and doing research (because there are so many volumes of his research in the library) and as I recall, she told me he was at that time. And she said he used court records, family bibles, etc., for his research, but I plan to find out for sure this coming week. If he still lives in Leesburg, I will call him re some of these questions. I will also see if I can find that original deed of Robert Fulton (d.1798). This is an interesting research project and since I live so close to the library, I will pursue some of the questions posed about these Fultons and see what I can find. It may take me a month or so before I can report back, but will give it my best effort! (P.S. - I live in Ashburn - not Auburn!ha - just a typo I know....) Carol (Fulton) Proctor ----- Original Message ----- From: "Patrice Fulton Stark" <pstark@bouldernews.infi.net> To: <FULTON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: March 05, 2000 12:48 PM Subject: Fulton + Wynkoop (Pt 15) > Continuing with the Fulton and Wynkoop family connections... > > Let's review the information we have regarding the Fulton families who were > living in Loudoun Co, VA, between 1765 and 1795. > > This Loudoun County "cluster" is a really good example of a typical Fulton > research dilemma. One man, Robert Fulton, leaves a Will (signed 1792) and he > is immediately assumed to be the father of everyone. > > You remember what ASSUME means, don't you? > > Over the years, many Fulton genealogists have traced their family back to > this general area, and have hit a brick wall. > > Nancy Pruter has been searching for the family of James Fulton who married > Elizabeth McGeorge, served in the War of 1812 at Loudoun Co., and died at > Fultonham, Ohio. > > David Fulton has been trying to prove that Robert Fulton (d 1798 in Loudoun > Co.) is the same man who married Eleanor Wynkoop in Philadelphia in 1755. > While it's a good theory -- no one has surfaced with any proof. (Yet!) > > Celia Snyder has been struggling with another 1755 marriage in Philadelphia, > at the same church, this one between David Fulton and Elisabeth Yerkes. What > is the connection to Anthony Yerkes? Is there a connection between Robert > and David Fulton? Is there a connection to the Middletons at Loudoun Co? Why > was Hester Fulton in Washington Co, VA, in 1803, when she married James > Beaty? > > Connie Balazac, Donna Price, and others, have been literally turning over > every Fulton rock in the land to identify the ancestry of Neal Fulton who > appears in Missouri territory and marries Lucy Harris. Donna recently found > a War of 1812 pay record for "Neale Fulton" in the 57th Regiment of Loudoun > Co, VA. Neal Fulton surfaces in Missouri in close proximity to James and > Hester (Fulton) Beatty. How does Neal fit in to the puzzle? > > Through a stroke of pure luck, and the tenacity of Cox family researcher, > Janelle Bennet, we know that Hugh Fulton of Loudoun County, is the ancestor > of geographically-separated Fultons in Georgia and Indiana. Is Hugh Fulton > who died in 1803 related to Robert Fulton who died in 1798? They both owned > land on the South Side of Catocktin Mountain. > > For well over 50 years, Loudoun County has represented a genealogical brick > wall. Why? > > 1) There are too many Roberts, Hughs, Davids, James, and Williams. > 2) There has been little information available. > 3) Earlier researchers have assumed too much. > 4) All of the above > > If you are new to genealogy research, save this message and read it again in > 10 years. It seems to take about 10 years of frustration before a hard-head > is ready to accept advice. (In my case, it took longer.) > > * * * * * > > "How do you KNOW that?" > > These are the five words you must ask yourself whenever you open your > genealogy notebook, or mouth. My mentor, Birdie Holsclaw of Longmont, > Colorado, is a lovely person who actually enjoys listening to my latest > genealogy puzzle. However, she has a maddening habit of interrupting me with > the same question, "How do you KNOW that?" > > For example, Fulton sleuth Carol Proctor of Auburn, Virginia, dashed over to > the Thomas Balch Library for History & Genealogy and copied Fulton > information from the "Charles Blair Tavenner Collection." (God bless you, > Carol!) She unearthed some great new facts pertaining to our Loudoun County > quest. > > 1) On 6 Feb 1776, Robert Fulton witnessed the Will of Henry Oxley of Loudoun > Co, VA. The Will was proved 13 Oct 1777 by "R. F. Fulton", Brittain Oxley > and Ann Oxley. > > 2) The estate of Robert Fulton (d 1798) was appraised by: Joseph Carr, John > Gibson, Dave Ceaches(?) and Joseph Gore. > > 3) On 29 Oct 1787, David Fulton married Rachel Smith. Robert Fulton attested > to the age of Rachel Smith. > > 4) A Robert Fulton, 1763-1841, is buried in the Leesburg Methodist Cemetery. > > 5) The Will of Robert Fulton, signed 4 July 1836, proved 10 May 1841, > identifies wife Mary, sons David Powell Fulton, Elisha Wynkoop Fulton, > Robert Massie Fulton, John Fulton, William Fulton, daughter-in-law Jane E. > Fulton, and grandchildren, not named. > > 6) On 9 Feb 1826, David Fulton married Phoebe Gibson. > > 7) On 13 March 1827, John Fulton married Jane Taylor. > > Even though I do not have the proper citations for these seven facts, this > information appears to come from public records and should be easy to > confirm. > > * * * * * > > The new facts are great. However, much of the Tavenner information screams > for clarification. "How do you KNOW that, Mr. Tavenner?" > > 1) "Regarding the Robert Fulton whose will was probated in 1798, he > [Tavenner] shows that Robert 'lived in PA until 1775'..." > > **Clearly, this is what we're all eager to prove, but "How do you KNOW > that?" How COULD you know that? > > (a) Does the original land entry state that Robert Fulton came from > Pennsylvania or obtained the land through a grant issued in Pennsylvania? > > (b) Is there a surviving family Bible maintained by a child of Robert Fulton > that states that father was born in Pennsylvania? > > (c) Is there any surviving correspondence written by a child, or even a > grandchild, that states they heard a family member say they lived in > Pennsylvania? > > (d) Can you prove that the near neighbors lived in Pennsylvania before > settling here as a group in Loudoun County? > > (e) Is there a church record showing the acceptance of this family from > another church in Pennsylvania? > > (f) Is there something else? > > Does Tavenner include any facts supporting his conclusion or, is he just > guessing like the rest of us? Fifty years of guessing has built a pretty > solid genealogical "brick wall" here in Loudoun Co, VA. > > Patrice (Fulton) Stark > Lone Tree, Colorado >