Thomas McKean Fulton

Thomas McKean Fulton would not have been born in Augusta Co. VA in 1680. Augusta Co. VA. was only first settled by whites in about 1739. Most of the early settlers were Scots-Irish. Early Augusta County, VA records indicate three adult Fulton males there by the early 1740's. These were James, Thomas, and John Fulton. It seems likely that your Thomas McKean Fulton was this Thomas. James Fulton died in Augusta County, VA. with will dated July 18, 1752. He names six sons and three daughters. He mentions a son Thomas who was still a minor. He names his eldest son Hugh and a daughter Elliner. He mentions land next to Samuel Steele. He mentions horses in brought from New England.

From these clues it is my opinion that this James was the brother of Thomas

and John and that they are the sons of Hugh and Ellinor Johnston Fulton of Deriaghy, County Down, Northern Ireland. Hugh and Ellinor's marriage is recorded in the Lisburn Church Register on Feb. 21, 1681. The registers also record the birth of their six children to wit: William, b: 1683 (William's son John also recorded 1709) Robert, b: 1685 Jane, b: 1686 James, b: 1690 John, b: 1692 Thomas, b: 1694

This information is taken form the privately published book "The Fulton's of Lisburn" by Sir Theodore Hope in 1903, who was a descendent of the Lisburn Fulton's through both his mother and paternal grandmother. The conclusions of the American connection are my own.

The family disappears from entries after 1709. 1718 on was a time of great migration from Northern Ireland to America. It is likely the whole family came to America between 1718 and 1730. The book, "Fulton-Hayden-Warner Ancestry in America chronicles the line of Robert Fulton, named as the afore mentioned son of Hugh and Ellinor, who came to Boston, the book says about 1730. It is my contention that Robert's brothers also came and that finding Boston antagonistic to "The Irish", that brothers James, Thomas, and John moved to newly opening lands in Augusta Co. VA. A deposition by Hugh Fulton in about 1800, dates the family as being in Augusta Co. VA by 1739.

I strongly suspect that your Thomas McKean Fulton is the Thomas Fulton, son of Hugh and Ellinor, born in County Down N. Ireland in 1694. On August 17, 1753 in Augusta VA, Thomas Fulton was appointed guardian of William Kinkade, orphan of Thomas Kinkade. Since orphan guardians were usually close family members, this may be a clue to Thomas' wife. She may well have been Margaret Kincade. On November 19, 1755 in Augusta VA. Margaret Fulton submits bond as the administratrix of Thomas Fulton with sureties, John Kincade and Samuel Tincher. It would appear from this that Thomas died in 1755 and his wife was Margaret and that it is likely her maiden name was Kincade.

Questions: What is the source of your information on middle name of your Thomas being "McKean"? Do you have a list of the children of you Thomas McKean Fulton?

I hope this helps. Rich Fulton