Continuing with the Fulton & Wynkoop family connections... When Robert Fulton Sr. of Loudoun County, Virginia, signed his Will in January 1792, Aaron Sanders was one of the witnesses. In 1823, George Cox of Loudoun County was jailed for debt. He pledged his wife's share in the land of Hugh Fulton as security to get out of jail. The Fulton land was described as adjacent to Aaron Sanders. "Wait -- you never told us about HUGH Fulton!" Like Agatha Christie, I've still got a few clues in my pocket. Hugh Fulton of Loudoun County first appears on the tax records as early as 1765, almost 10 years before Robert Fulton Sr. appears. Here's my source: * * * * * Hopkins, Margaret L. "Index to The Tithables of Loudoun County, Virginia," (Photocopy, unknown publication information), page 28. 1765 Hugh Fulton, Loudoun County 1768 Hugh Fulton, Loudoun County 1771 Hugh Fulton, Shelburne Parish -> John Fulton, Shelburne Parish 1772 Hugh Fulton, Shelburne Parish 1773 Hugh Fulton, Shelburne Parish 1775 David, Hugh, & Robert Fulton, Shelburne Parish 1776 David & Robert Fulton, Shelburne Parish 1777 David & Robert Fulton, Shelburne Parish 1778 David & Robert Fulton, Shelburne Parish 1779 Hugh, Robert, & Robert Fulton Jr, Shelburne Parish 1782 Hugh, Robert, & David, Shelburne Parish 1783 Robert, Robert Jr., & David Fulton, Shelburne Parish 1784 William Fulton, Cameron Parish 1785 William Fulton, Cameron Parish * * * * * -> Note that a John Fulton paid taxes in 1771 and then disappears from the record. In 1776, a John Fulton signed a "Dissenter Petition" at nearby Berkeley County, VA. [Ref: Tylers Historical and Genealogical Quarterly, (Unknown publication information), Volume 18, page 261.] Hugh Fulton of Loudoun County, Virginia What about good ol' Hugh Fulton? He died intestate in 1803. His widow, Susannah, was appointed Administrator of his estate. The Hugh Fulton land (140 acres) was located on the south side of Catoktin Mountain adjacent to Aaron Sanders. Research of Janelle Bennett of Washington State. I have to give special credit to a truly dilligent genealogist, Janelle Bennett. She contacted me about 10 years ago with some exciting information gleaned from the Loudoun County courthouse in Virginia. (Unable to obtain any assistance from the Loudoun County staff, Janelle drove across the country to take a look for herself! She was researching the COX family and, in the process, unearthed a treasure of documents regarding the Hugh Fulton family. You and I would never have found this information -- it is filed under the surname COX! Explanation George Cox married Rebecca Fulton, a daughter of Hugh Fulton. George Cox had many creditors and was thrown in jail. Cox pledged his wife's claim to the "land of Hugh Fulton bounded by Aaron Sanders" in order to get out of jail! Subsequent documents identify 10 heirs of Hugh Fulton! This find was especially exciting for me because I recognized at least two of the heirs -- one famiily living in Georgia and the other living in Indiana! In short, Hugh Fulton fathered 10 children. The first four were born before 1780 by an unknown wife or wives. From the court records: Hugh Fulton, d 1803 1. David Fulton of Switzerland County, Indiana 2. Martha Fulton m Joseph Thomas 3. Catherine Fulton m John Cane 4. Mary "Polly" Fulton m Nathan Wright The last six were children of Hugh and Susannah (Lybough) Fulton: 5. Elizabeth Fulton m Dorsey Jacobs 6. Rachel Fulton m1 Ambrose Maddison, m2 Enoch Kellor 7. Rebecca Fulton m George Cox 8. James Fulton m Sarah Stoneburner 9. William Fulton, unm in 1829 10. Margaret Fulton, unm in 1829 The court records specified that heir David Fulton was a resident of "Switzerland County, Indiana." This was great information for the descendants of this David Fulton -- proving Hugh Fulton of Virginia was their ancestor! I was more excited about the reference to heir "Polly, wife of Nathan Wright". I found their marriage in my massive Fulton collection, they were married 17 February 1792 in South Carolina and David Fulton was the bondsman. I always figured David was her father -- but no, it was her older brother! I excitedly shared all of this information with webmaster of the Wright family webpage several years ago and I keep stumbling over these Wright descendants in Alabama and surrounds. I'm sure it will mean something for another of our research projects. By the way, Mary "Polly" (Fulton) Wright named her first child, David Fulton Wright. Isn't that interesting? David Fulton and his sister Mary "Polly" Fulton were in South Carolina in 1792? Wanderlust? or did they have a disagreement with the step-mother? or did the whole family move south for a spell? I note that Hugh Fulton doesn't appear on the Tax Roll after 1782. Was he tax exempt? The Baptist Connection As a final thought today, I was intrigued by Celia Snyder's information on the Yerkes family of the Manor of Moreland. Especially the connections to the Baptist Church. Most Fultons in America were affiliated with the Presbyterian Church but I have found a few Baptist connections. On 9 December 1764, Hugh Fulton married Rachel Thomas at the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia, Pa. Could this be Hugh Fulton of Loudoun County? He named a daughter Rachel and daughter, Martha "Patsy" Fulton, married a Joseph Thomas. Which may connect to yet another Fulton family intermarried with three members of the Thomas family! Yes, Roberta, this is a very interesting thread we are pulling! Patrice (Fulton) Stark Lone Tree, Colorado