Folks, This note is about a William Fulton who lived in New Windsor, Ulster Co, NY (current Orange Co, NY) ca 1774 to 1788 with an Elizabeth Fulton nearby and who later appeared in 1800 census in Ontario Co, NY. There is also information about Thomas Fulton in the Ulster Co, NY area. This note is of interest to Pegeen Soare researching Thomas Fulton (1763-1814) in New Windsor, NY and perhaps to Clark and Ernie Fulton researching James Wesley Fulton b 1841 or 1844 in Geneva, NY, d 1923 in Brighton, Michigan (since the William Fulton migrates to Ontario Co and some of his sons migrate to Williamston, MI by 1836). Dear Pegeen, You asked about additional data regarding the entries I found in the National Archives at Wash DC for William Fulton in NY. Sorry it took so long for me to respond, but I had to find the photocopy in order to answer you in detail. Microfilm at National Archives, Washington DC Record Group M881: Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War, New York, Levi Pawling's Regiment. Roll #754 The copy of the card number 37117321 is as follows: ************************************************************ Levi Pawling Reg't N.Y. Militia William Fulton Appears with the rank of _____ on a Muster Roll of Captain James Milliken's Co. of State Troops selected from the Militia of Ulster County for the defense of the State of New York by order of the Convention of said State dated the 16th of July, 1776. Revolutionary War dated Haerlem Aug 26, 1776 Age 19 Co. Enlisted out of _____________ Where born Ireland Trade Labr. Height 5 8 Reg't out of + Complexion X Colour of Hair brown Colour of eyes blue Time of enlistment Aug 2, 17 . Marched Aug 7, 17 . Remarks + X Roll torn ___________________Cass, Copyist ************************************************************ I believe the 19 year old William Fulton b in Ireland (a new piece of information) is the one that Jane Osterberg (96639 Barbara Ave., P.O. Box 2148, Indian River, MI 49749-2148, no email address) is researching. If you recall, in 1774 in New Windsor, NY a William Fulton is a signer of the pledge to support the Continental Congress. Even though the name and geographic location suggest this William is the same person, I am not sure because he would have been only 17 years old as a signer of the pledge. Is that too young ? I do not know. For completeness I am enclosing two more cards I found for a William Fulton who served The Line - Third Regiment as opposed to The Militia - Third Regiment. I have no idea where he fits into this picture. Microfilm at National Archives, Washington DC Record Group M881: Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War,New York 3rd Regiment E-G Roll #699 The copy of the card numbers 35495041 and 39183376 are as follows: ************************************************************ William Fulton pvt, Capt John Nicolson's Co. in the 3d Reg't of New York Forces under the command of Col. James Clinton. Revolutionary War. Company Muster Roll of the organization above for the month of June 28 to Sept 28, 1775. Roll dated Camp at Ticonde- roga Sept 28, 1775. Appointed __________, 17 . Commisioned ________, 17 . Enlisted July 5, 17 . Time since last muster or enlistment_____ _________________________________________ Alterations since last muster or enlistment __________________________________________. Casualities_______________________________. Remarks: _________________________________. J E Douglas, Copyist. ************************************************************ William Fulton (Revolutionary War) Appears on a List of men that belonged to Capt. John Nicolson's Company, who left Montreal Nov 22 and were discharged Dec 31, 1775. List not dated Remarks: ____________________________ Swain, Copyist ************************************************************ Jane Osterberg feels that the Elizabeth is William's mother or an aunt based on her age in subsequent censuses and the fact that she moves with William. But we have been unable to determine who her husband is. A William Fulton marries Martha Crawford 25 Mar 1788 in the New Windsor Pres Church, former Ulster Co, current Orange Co, NY. William appears in the 1790 Town of New Windsor, Ulster Co, NY census and then by the 1800 census he and Elizabeth appear in Seneca Township, Ontario Co NY. William's son Isaac W. Fulton m. Annetje Britt (nickanme Hannah)in Feb 1810 in Hurley, NY, granddaughter of Wyncoops and returned to Seneca with Hannah's Uncle Peter Wyncoop. In 1820 census, Martha is listed as the head of household, so William may have died. Martha died in 1825 and her son Isaac W. Fulton sells the land in Ontario Co, NY in Nov 1825 and by 1836 he appears in Williamston, MI. Here is some background information to help sort out some of the information on the compiled military record. Reference Book: Figliomeni, Michelle P., The Flickering Flame, Spear Printing, Washingtonville, 1976. Page 42. In 1779 Feb Mar Apr Elizabeth Fulton, Margarit Denniston, Mehteable Pride, and Abigal Logan, destitute wives of local soldiery receive wheat from John Nicoll of New Windsor. Reference book: Roberts, James A., New York in the Revolution as Colony and State, A Compilation of Documents and Records from the Office of the State Controller, Vol I, Albany, NY J.B. Lyon Co, 1898, 1904. Page 8: New York, more than any other colony, was the battle-ground of the war, as indeed from its position, it always will be in any conflict with Great Britain. The first forts captured from the Enlgish in the war were Ticonderoga and Crown Point, May 10 and 12, 1775; Page 10: The Militia was called out when wanted, kept as long as wanted, and the soldiers then sent to their homes. Sometimes a regiment or a part of a regiment would be called out half a dozen times in the course of a year, and for half a dozen days at a time, and again it might not be needed in the entire year. Officers and men seem to have served in different organizations almost indiscriminately. At one call, they were in one regiment or company, and at another call, in another regiment or company. It is, therefore, very difficult to keep trace of them on different pay-rolls or "pay-books", as they were sometimes called. Page 11: Counties were divided into districts, and the colonel of the regiment in each district... was required to see that every male between the ages of sixteen and fifty was entrolled. Later the age limit was extended to sixty. If an "able-bodied man, he must serve when "warned" under penalty of fine and imprisonment; Page 195: lists Col. Levi Pawling as the Ulster County 3rd Regiment Page 191: lists Col. James McClaghry (sic) as the Ulster County 2nd Regiment During the Revolutionary War 1776-1783, Ulster Co, NY included the northern half of curent day Orange Co, all of Sullivan Co, and parts of Greene and Delaware Co. Reference Book: Heidgerd, Ruth P.,editor, Ulster County in the Revolution, A Guide to Those Who Served, A Project of Ulster County Bicentennial Commission, 1977. Page 98 states the following Ulster Co entries are generally speaking, "home base" for the Ulster Militia regiments: 1st - Kingston, Saugertes, Woodstock, Hurley 2nd - Newburgh, New Windsor, Mamakating 3rd - New Paltz, Marbeltown, Rochester, Wawarsing 4th - New Marlborough, Plattekill, Shawangunk, Montgomery Barbara Smith Buys, Dec 1976, provides the following valuable explanation about military forces in New York State during the Revolutionary War. There were of three kinds: The Line, The Levies, The Militia. 1) The Line: These regiments were in "continental service" and were under General Washington. There were 4 line regiments established and a 5th one added later. Additionally there was an organization of the "Green Mountain Boys" and there were regiments of artillery, as well in the continental service for N.Y. 2) The Levies: These were drafts from different militia regiments. They could be called to serve outside the state during the term for which they were raised. 3) The Militia: The Militia could only be called out of the state for 3 months service. Militia regiments were designated by the name of the Colonel and the County and they also had a number in the county. These men were called out when needed and kept as long as needed. Sometimes a whole regiment or a part of a regiment would be called out for numerous tours of duty during the year. Sometimes these men served in one regiment or company and at another call in another regiment or company. It is difficult therefore, to keep track of them. However, the general rule was this: a geographic area as, for example, King's District, was divided into "Beats". The 1779 tax record for this area shows there were 8 "beats" in King's District, Each "beat" had a captain of militia and the men of his militia company came, except in rare exceptions, from his "beat". Each militia company was divided into a certain number of classes - maybe 4 or 6 men to a "class", - 4 seems to have been the usual number. This was for the purpose of raising the levies, when required, since a certain number of men, - 1 seems to have been the usual number, would be raised from each class, either by volunteering or by conscription. Microfilm at National Archives, Washington DC Record Group M881: Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War, New York, McClaughry's Regiment, NY Militia. Roll #751 The copy of the card number 37??4562(too faint to read) is as follows: ************************************************************ McClaughry' Regiment. N.Y. Milita Thomas Fulton Appears with the rank of Corpl. on a Pay Roll of capt. James Humphrey's Company of Militia in Col. James McClaughry's Regiment, ordered into the service by his Excellency Governor Clinton to re-inforce the garrison at West Point, under the command of Major Moses Phillips, with eight days provision, on the 20th day of June, 1780, to serve eight days, inlcuding the day of their march and the day of their return home, both days included, Revolutionary War, dated April 12, 1790. Commencing June 20, 17 . Ending June 29, 17 . No. of days in service 9 Pay per month (pound sign) 2-18-0 Pay due (pound sign) 0-17-3 Rations at 2s 8d per ration 9 Amount of rations 1-4-0 Amount of pay and rations (pound sign) 2-1-3 Remarks:_________________________________ Ward, Copyist. ************************************************************ Perhaps this is your Thomas Fulton, since this regiment come from the New Windsor area and your Thomas would have been about 17 years old in 1780. I find it interesting that the pay date in 1790. If this is correct, he had to wait almost ten years before getting paid ! In Roberts' book on page 11 regarding NY state paying its soldiers, it mentions that as late as 1784, the large majority of soldiers were still unpaid for their services in 1776-7-8-9-80-81-82. So the pay date of 12 April 1790 for services in June 1780 is probably accurate as opposed to being a transcription error, which was my original impression until I found out the late pay information in the reference book. By the way, the online information for the National Archives at URL http://www.nara.gov/genealogy/ greatly helped me to prepare for this trip. I have never done military research before and knew nothing about the archives. This web site enabled me to thoroughly plan my one day at the center from how to travel, the hours, what I had to do first (get a reader's card and an assigned seat, check indexes (knew what floor, cabinet, drawer to find the rolls), submit requests for unmicrofilmed packets first since there is a two-hour wait for retrieval, get a copy card, research miliarty books, then do microfilm research. So reading the information at the web site helped me to maximize my research time at the archives. So many archives and libraries are now providing this very useful information online - I highly recommend taking advantage of it before making the trip. If you cannot make the trip, you can submit request forms and ask the staff at the archives to retrieve, copy and mail to you the items found. Roberta R. (Fulton) Hirth Harriman, New York 10926 FULTON web page at: http://www.frontiernet.net/~elisa96/hirth/fulton.htm