The Fulton Family of Stokes County, North Carolina and their origins in Maryland and Pennsylvania

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When Ann, the widow of Francis Fulton of Maryland, moved her family to Stokes County, North Carolina in the years around the start of the Amercian Revolution, she and her second husband Samuel Clark left a paper trail that allows us to trace the origins of this family. Though the original emigrant has yet to be identified, he is certainly of Scots or Scot-Irish origins, probably arriving in the latter years of the 17th century or early 18th century. Though all we have are fragments of the earliest history of this particular Fulton family in American, we have quite a bit of information on the Fultons in Stokes County. This page documents some of that history and its sources.
There are no formal genealogies on this Fulton family and little interest has been show in family history until recent years. The first efforts to write down the Fulton history is the 1968 unpublished work by Elsie Menzel on the Fulton family of Stokes County, NC. In 1991 and in 1995, Nathan Ragan and Mrs. P.F. Stark put together works on the Fulton family; both unpublished. Mr. Ragans focuses on the Fulton family in Pennsylvania and Cecil county, Maryland and Mrs. Stark's work is an extension of the work that Mrs. Menzel started. I owe all these researchers a great debt, since most of my original research has not extended beyond the Fultons of Stokes county. I should add that this work is still in its early stages and that as more work is done, the understanding of the below given facts may change; however, I am confident that the general family tree is correct.

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Alexander Fulton (c1695-1762)

Alexander Fulton of Cecil County, Maryland is the earliest ancestor established by record. His name is virtually forgotten by his descendants in Stokes county; however, public records help us to establish a few facts about his life. I am indebt to the work of Elsie B. Menzel (1968) and Nathan Ragan (1991) for their research and unpublished manuscripts which have helped to establish Alexander as an ancestor. Mrs. Menzel's work can be found at the North Carolina State Archives.
The earliest records concerning Alexander are land records found in Cecil County. Nathan Raglan's survey of these records has found that in 1756 Alexander obtained a parcel in Cecil County, consisting of 107 acres known as "Amory's Satisfaction" [ref: MD Patent Records, liber BC & GS, folio 480]. This land was situated in the region quite close to the Pennsylvania border and it is assumed that Alexander came originally from that Colony. Though Pennsylvania records do not positively identify Alexander in that Colony, but in 1751 an Alexander Fulton is found in Drumore township of Lancaster, PA as are a James and David Fulton. In 1754, Alexander is found in Little Britain Township in Lancaster with William, and James Fulton. In addition to this, Alexander's sons John and Samuel are found in the records of Lancaster and York Counties. The most significant of these documents is John Fulton left a will in Lancaster in 1765 naming a son Alexander and it appears that this same Alexander comes to Cecil County, Maryland and is found on the Fulton's property.
The most important record regarding Alexander Fulton is his will, which was written on the 07th of April 1762 in Cecil County, as Alexander was in ill health. The will was witnessed by William Ewing Sr. and Andrew Porter. The will was proved on the 09th of June 1762 and names his wife Elizabeth and sons John, Francis, and William. Rent rolls in Cecil county also show these sons living in the vincinity of Alexanders with Samuel renting the "Resurvey of Daughterty's Desire"; John owning a farm called "Daughtery's Endeavor"; and Francis retning "Harmon's Ramble". The fate of Alexander's widow is undocumented; however, the following children are idendified as Alexanders:

Francis Fulton

Little is know of Francis Fulton beyond his will and land records. Marriage bonds establish that he married Ann Matthews on the 17th of March 1757 as recorded in the Parish records of St. George in Cecil County. This is his earliest record. Though there are several Matthews families in this area of Cecil County and recorded in the parish register; probate records clearly show that she did was not closely linked to these families. Land records in Cecil county indicate that Francis owned a small tract of land known as "Harmon's Ramble" which bordered his father's farm and ran along the Octororo Creek. This land was first rented and then in 1767 he purchased the land from Harmon Husband. P.F. Stark's research has also established that Francis ran a ferry across the Susqehanna River known as "Bald Friar's Ferry". In 1771, Francis died leaving a will. His will was made due to his poor health and is dated the 29th of August 1770. It was proved on the 15th of March 1771 and names his wife Ann and children. After some difficulty sorting out the deed to "Harmon's Ramble", Ann patented two other tracts of land called "Fulton's Desire" and the "Addition to fulton's Desire" [ref: MD Patents, BC&GS, 45 Folio 281]. Ann appears to have rented these farms. On the 09th of December 1773, Ann purchased part of her father-in-laws farm "Amory's Satisfaction" and sold "Harmon's Ramble" to Thomas Love. These farms totalled between 75 and 100 acres of land. On the 25th of September 1775, Ann and her second husband Samuel Clark seell land called "Fulton's Rocks" and she renounces her dower's right to her first husband's estate. Sometime between 1775 and 1785, Ann, Samuel Clark, and the Fulton children move to Stokes County, NC. Ann's children remained the owners of Francis Fulton's remaining property in Cecil County and in 1792, Robert and Francis Fulton of Stokes County, NC renounce their claims on any land sold by Ann and Samuel Clarke that was once owned by Francis Fulton [ref: JB 2 folio 66-67, Cecil Co., MD]. This records is the final proof that helps establish the Stokes-Cecil connection. Ann Clarke is believed to have had issue by Samuel, a son named Samuel Clarke Jr. His age based on Census records tend to corroborate the fact he was born during Ann and Samuel's marriage. Not much has been researched concerning Samuel Clark's land holdings in Stokes, though deeds indicate he was a neighbor to Joseph Winston an influential patriot in Stokes County. The Clarke farm ran along Mill Creek. In 1788, Samuel Clarke is appointed guardian for Robert Fulton and this has been suggested to signify that Ann had died. Little is known of the Fulton children in Stokes. Robert was a blacksmith and appears to have been in and court records show him out of trouble, starting in 1800. By 1814, he either left the region or died. A court case dated 1803 names a wife "Margaret" who may be a second wife. It is believed that Robert married first Elizabeth McAnally whose tomb is in the McAnally graveyard. The McAnally connection would have placed Robert under the wing of a the wealthy and policially influential Capt. Charles McAnnally who was Elizabeth's grandfather. McAnally is found in the county records as having indentured orphans to train for surveying. Knowing that the McAnally's had a blacksmith and wheelwright business, it is possible Robert was indentured into the McAnally's household. Francis Fulton put down more stable roots and it is his descendants that make up most of the Fultons in Stokes today; he is sketched below. The life of Elizabeth Fulton is also documented by the court records. After Samuel Clarke's death in 1800, she is turned over to the guardianship of David Dalton who petitions the Clarke estates for money for Elizabeth. On the 07th of March 1814, Elizabeth Fulton is declared "non compis" or non compis mente, suggesting her to be mentally ill or disabled and unable to care for herself. At this time, her guardianship is assigned to a Leana Fulton which may be Elizabeth's child born out of wedlock; Robert Hutchins posts the bond. Leana sues Dalton for money. In 1818, the guardianship is changed again to Willis Pitkinton whose bond is backed by the Daltons. In 1823, a tract of 9.75 acres is purchased for Elizabeth to live on and is found as the head of household in the 1820 census, living with a woman who is believed to be Leana. Leana does appear in tax records up to 1824 and no records are found concerning either woman after 1835. There is a marriage bond dated 1835 between an Elizabeth Fulton and Peter Irions with Francis Fulton as bondsman; perhaps this is Elizabeth or Leana; however, it seems unlikely with probable age that both women would have been at that time. The children of Francis & Ann (Matthews) Fulton are:
CLICK HERE FOR FAMILY GROUP SHEET.

Francis Fulton, the younger

Francis Fulton is the son of Francis & Ann (Matthew) Fulton of Cecil Co., MD. He is the ancestor to most, if not all, of the Fultons in the Stokes County region. Despite his role as patriarch of the many Fulton families in the region, almost no oral history concerning this man or his children have been discovered. Most of the information on Francis and his children are compiled from public records and newspapers. As mentioned in the section on Francis Fulton of Cecil County; Francis, the younger is established as Fulton's heir by the renunciation of his claims upon the former Fulton property sold by Samuel Clarke and Fulton's widow Ann Matthews.
Unlike his brother and sister, Francis Fulton of Stokes County seems to have lived a fairly quiet life as a farmer in the Meadows district of Stokes county raising a large family. Francis first appears on the NC tax lists for 1792, establishing the year he turned 21. Francis had married two years earlier to Mary Word, whose parentage and origins are unknown, but there is some evidence she may be connected to the "Ward" family. There are several Word/Ward famlies, but no record had clearly established a connection to any of these people. One scenario for the obscurity of her birth may lie in an early Surry County record where Elizabeth Ward on the 30th of May 1768 "did commit the heinous crime of fornication", perhaps indicating a base born child [ref: File GR 92.325.1, Surry Co. Loose Papers].
Stokes County tax lists show Francis Fulton with 200 acres in 1792 and 231 acres in 1793. In 1794 the State granted him land on Widow's creek, Zelphey's Island Creek, and Rocky Branch. In 1806, Francis' holdings are increased to 330 acres and in 1838 480 acres. His land is believed to have been located betweent he present Stokes roads 89, 1707, and 1711 in the Meadows district. The only indication of slave owning is in the 1840 Census where one female slave is polled in the household. Francis wrote his will on the 04th of August 1847 and it was proved in March Court of 1849; his wife Mary had died by the writing of the will and her absense in the 1840 census suggest her death pre-dating 1840. I am indebt to Prof. Rachel Rawls for compiling most of the information on the descendants of Francis Fulton as well as her own origial research on various Stokes families. The children of Francis & Mary (Word) Fulton are: CLICK HERE FOR FAMILY GROUP SHEET.

Samuel Fulton

Samuel Fulton is the son of Francis & Mary (Word) Fulton. His large family and his accumulation of wealth before the Civil War made him and his children notable figures in the Stokes and Surry county region. Samuel's obituary in the "People's Press" of Salem provide the best source for his vital statistics. No tombstone or family Bible has surfaced to give us any more detail on his birth. Little is recalled about him or his life among his descendants; however, a letter in his hand survives.
Samue Fulton was the first in his family to amass large holdings of slaves and to be involved in large scale tobacco manufacturing. His success in the tobacco market is evident by the high level of education his children seem to have recieved and by the social status his children held in the region. A letter written by Samuel on the eve of the Civil War shows himself to have been literate with a strong hand, but evidence of minimal education.
Samuel's rise to wealth is first evident in the tax records of 1840, when he is found with 600 acres in the Sauraton District, and anothe 299 acres with a total value of $3,500.00 and seven taxable slaves. By the eve of the Civil War Samuel is atxed on a farm of 385 acres valed at $3,460 and is taxed on 15 slaves valued at $5,800. The industrial Census of 1850 shows Samuel as a Tobacco Manufacturer producing 11,750 lb. of processed tobacco annually; making him the 5th largest producer in the county. However, Samuel's wealth was not founded on solid ground. With the advent of the Civil War the inablity to pay back debts, by war's end he was left with a modest farm of 250 acres with 125 acres of improved land, 2 horses, a mule, 2 milk cows and 2 cattled generating a fair income for the time, but by far lower than pre-Civil War times.
Samuel married twice, first to Nancy Redman, daughter of Abraham & Catherine (Brown) Redman of Louisa County, Virginia. The Bible of Samuel's son Wilson Fulton provides Nancy Redman's death date. Samuel's second wife is Martha "Patsy" Hill the daughter of merchant Joel & Mildred (Golding) Hill. Martha was much younger than Samuel, in fact, her brother Isaac had married Samuel's daughter. Samuel had issue by both wives. CLICK HERE FOR FAMILY GROUP SHEET.

Wilson Fulton

Wilson Fulton is the eldest son of Samuel & Nancy (Redman) Fulton of Stokes County, NC. By evidence of his various business activities, Wilson like his brother Winston Fulton was an ambitious man and a community leader. Wilson married the daughter of Stokes County planters James & Elizabeth (McAnally) Davis of Red Shoals area along the Dan River. James and his brother William Davis were two of the wealthiest men in the county and the marriage no doubt both socially elevated Wilson as well as providing him with economic resources through his father-in-law. Wilson and Mary Ann had a large family and though tax records show a small farm in the Beaver Creek District of Granville, Wilson probably lived in Danbury where he owned a store, ice house, and tanyard. Before 1860, Wilson built a large brick house in the middle of Danbury of two stories in addition to a large cellar and attic. The Fulton's residence in this house was not long, since in the late 1860s, Wilson sells his property and moves his family to Ellis County, Texas. CLICK HERE FOR FAMILY GROUP SHEET.

© 1998 mahard@sfcep.corp.ge.com