My third great grandparents are James Fulton and Elizabeth Thompson. James and Elizabeth Fulton were living in Indiana County in the 1850 census and later moved to Westmoreland County where James died in 1883. Elizabeth died on 21 May 1875 and is buried in Old Salem Church and Cemetery in Derry Township, Westmoreland County. The Fulton family is well documented in the book, "The Fulton family of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, 1712-1772-1940." It is available on archive.org.
Although I knew Elizabeth's maiden name was Thompson from a couple of her children's death certificates, I had no idea who her father was. I had looked at various Thompson wills on Family Search for Indiana and Westmoreland Counties but none gave any clue as to who her father might be. I was in Westmoreland County last summer doing research on another family and decided to see if I could determine who Elizabeth's father was. I checked the 1830 census for Derry Township, Westmoreland County to see if there were any Thompson males of the right age living close to James Fulton, Jr. Robert Thompson was the only Thompson male living near James Fulton, Jr. I checked the probate records at the Westmoreland County Courthouse where there was a partition for Robert Thompson in partition docket 7:276. Partitions are wonderful documents to find since they usually name all living heirs. A petitioner, often a relative, petitions the Court to have the deceased's property partitioned (divided) among the heirs or valued/appraised if it it cannot be partitioned without spoiling the whole.
The partition docket names the widow Jane and five children and one grandchild: Alexander, his eldest son; Willliam, the petitioner; Elizabeth intermarried with James Fulton of Indiana County; Maria intermarried with David Lewis of Indiana County; Jane Thompson; and Jane Wallace, a minor under 14 years of age, the only child of Susan Thompson, deceased, who was intermarried with Samuel Wallace of Derry Township.
Robert Thompson owned land in Derry Township and a lot near New Derry when he died. Alexander Thompson as the eldest son elected to purchase the 145 1/4 acres of land in New Derry for $23 an acre and the lot in New Derry for $52.25. He was to pay his mother interest on $1110.01 during her lifetime, being the valuation of one-third of the real estate. Jane Thompson died sometime prior to 15 April 1860 when the heirs signed a release: Wm. Thompson; James and Elizabeth Fulton; D. W. and Maria Lewis; J. B. and Jane Craig; Alexander Thompson; and also J. C. Wallace.
Robert Thompson first purchased land in Derry Township on 30 May 1801 from Wm. Guthrie for 420 pounds (deed book 8:352). He bought and sold property in Derry Township during his lifetime. He appears in the 1810, 1820, and 1830 censuses in Derry Township and was living in Blairsville, Indiana County in the 1840 census.
The death certificate for Jane Craig, Robert and Jane Thompson's daughter (Ohio death certificate number 62512; available on Family Search), gives her parents' names as Robert Thompson (born Ireland) and Jane Barr (born Westmoreland County).
Robert Thompson died on 20 November 1847 and is buried in Old Salem Church and Cemetery. A picture of his tombstone is available on Find A Grave. He was born from 1770 to 1771 since his tombstone states he was 70 years old. His birth place has been listed as at sea, Ireland, and Scotland in various places.
The parents of Elizabeth Thompson, the wife of James Fulton, are Robert Thompson and Jane Barr. Another petition in Westmoreland County gives the name of Jane Barr's father, Alexander Barr. This will be discussed in a future blog post.
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