THE Robert Fulton (1765-1815), American-born artist/inventor who successfully applied steam power to water navigation, brought fame to the Fulton surname. Today, so many Fulton genealogies claim kinship to this man, I refer to him as "Robert Fulton, from whom all Fultons flow."
The first presentation describing Robert Fulton's family was published in 1817 by business associate Cadwallader D. Colden. Colden's summary includes many errors and significant omissions and has been copied for the past 190 years. Sadly, the Colden content has not improved with age.
"The Life of Robert Fulton by his friend Cadwallader D. Colden" (New York: Kirk & Mercein, 1817) states:
"Robert Fulton was born in the town of Little Britain, in the county of Lancaster, and state of Pennsylvania, in the year seventeen hundred and sixty-five; he was of a respectable though not opulent family. His father, Robert Fulton, was a native of Kilkenny, in Ireland. His mother was also of a respectable Irish family, by the name of Smith, established in Pennsylvania.
Robert Fulton, the father, died in seventeen hundred and sixty-eight, and was buried in the cemetery of the first Presbyterian church erected in Lancaster, of which he was one of the founders.
The mother died in seventeen hundred and ninety-nine, on a small farm in Washington County, Pennsylvania, which had been purchased for her by her son Robert, in the year seventeen hundred and eighty-six. This farm he owned at the time of his death, and left it by his will to one of his sisters.
Robert Fulton, the father, and Mary his wife, had five children, three daughters and two sons. Robert was their third child and oldest son.
His patrimony was very small; 'he was fond,' says one of his intimate friends, 'of letting this be known, and was desirous of being considered, as he really was, the maker of his own fortune.'"
* * * * *
Can you discern what is fact and what is fiction in Colden's summary? If Fulton's father died in 1768, why was he signing documents in 1772? What about the other brother? What is the connection to the Fultons living in Washington Co, PA? Who told Colden that Robert's father was born in Kilkenny? And most curious, who first theorized that the grandfather was William Fulton of Kilkenny?
If you're a serious Fulton hunter, I invite you to read along and learn where to drawn the line between fact and fiction. My goal is to correct the record and identify the authentic ancestry of THE Robert Fulton.
The following information is drawn from my original work, "Robert Fulton, tailor, father of the inventor" published in the FULTON FAMILY LETTER, October 1992, Pages 92-107/108, and presented as "Robert Fulton, from whom all Fultons flow" at the 1993 Fulton Family Reunion held at the birthplace of Robert Fulton in Lancaster Co, PA.
Patrice (Fulton) Stark, Lone Tree, Colorado
December 2006
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5 comments:
I've read so many different versions concerning Robert Fulton of steamboat fame. Is there any specific accounts of his life which are more trustworthy than others?
I've never found a genealogy that stands the test of close scrutiny. Cadwallader D. Colden, a business associate of Fulton, published the first account of Fulton's life in 1817, but Colden's information is woefully incorrect.
Colden (1817) said "His father, Robert Fulton, was a native of Kilkenny, in Ireland."
THE Robert's father died at least 40 years before Colden's speech. So, who told Colden "Kilkenny"?
There is no evidence that THE Robert Fulton was ever in Co. Kilkenny, Ireland.
Update: County Kilkenny website includes claim that THE Robert Fulton was born in Callan!
"1765 - Robert Fulton, designer of the first steamship, was born in Callan."
Hogwash! There is ample evidence to prove that THE Robert Fulton was born in Lancaster Co, PA.
[See Co. Kilkenny website at http:// www.rootsweb.com/ ~irlkik/timeline.htm]
Colden (1817) also wrote:
"Robert, the father, died in [1768]."
There are numerous records of Robert Fulton of Lancaster Towne, Lancaster Co, PA, years after this date. He placed multiple advertisements regarding the Little Britain property for sale and in early 1772, signed over title to creditors William West and Joseph Swift. By Fall of 1772, Robert Fulton, taylor, was established in Philadelphia.
With all due respect to Lancaster Countians, Robert Fulton did not die within the country boundaries.
Colden (1817) then said:
"His mother died in [1799].
Fulton contributor, Ann Irwin, located the Will of widow Mary Fulton as well as the Will of her second husband! Robert's mother died after 1800.
While only a minor date correction, 1799 clearly points to Colden's summary.
If you read that Robert Fulton's father (or grandfather) came from Kilkenny, Ireland, and his father died in 1768 followed by the mother in 1799, the source has copied Cadwallader D. Colden.
All of these statements are false.
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