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