In Which Mom Discovers Famous Relatives…
I last wrote about Abraham Fulton (my 4th great grandfather) who immigrated to Derry, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in 1772. I am a direct descendant of his son, Abram (my 3rd great grandfather) who was born April 20, 1759. Abram married Jane Coe (my 3rd great grandmother) a widow with 2 toddlers. The 1783 census of Westmoreland County, Huntington Township shows Abraham Fulton, Jr. had 2 horses, 2 cattle, and 4 sheep.
In the same census Abraham Fulton Sr. owned 300 acres, 4 horses, 1 cattle 2 sheep and the amount of tax was 2.2. Warrantees of Land in Westmoreland County1773-1892, Pa. Archives 3S V.26 show Abraham Fulton receiving 200 acres on March 28, 1786. In 1790 First Census of the United States showed that in Derry Township Abraham Fulton had 1 male over 16, 2 free white males under 16, and 3 free white females, and 0 slaves.
Jane Coe was born in Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey on April 20, 1759. Jane’s 1st husband was Matthew Lamb who was massacred by Indians on a military mission along the Ohio River in Ohio. The British and French were fighting for control of the Ohio River which was needed for transporting furs to market. This mission is well documented in history. One of the survivors kept a daily journal of the expedition from the time of their departure. A letter written by General William Irvine at Fort Pitt to General George Washington told him about the disaster. The prisoners were held in captivity by the Indians until the end of the Revolutionary War. A monument to this massacre was erected near the battle site listing the names of the100 men killed including Matthew Lamb.
Jane’s parents were Benjamin Coe (my 4th great grandfather) born about 1709 in Jamacia, Queens City, New York and Rachel Prudden (my 4th great grandmother) born in 1718. in Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey. Benjamin and Rachel were married in 1735 in Morristown, Morris County. New Jersey. Fourteen children were born to this marriage. The Coe and Prudden families were very prominent early American families. The earliest date I have of the Coe family dates back to John Coo, 1340 to 1415.
Benjamin Coe the immigrant was the grandfather Benjamin Coe born 1709. He immigrated from Boxwood, Suffolk, England where he was born on October 18, 1628. He died in 1696 in Long Island City, Queens, New York and he was buried in Hempstead, Long Island, NY. He married Abigail Carman in 1660 in Hempstead, Nassau, New York. The Coe’s were Puritans and probably immigrated to America because of religious persecution.
As a note of interest: Pilgrims and Puritans are not the same. Pilgrims left England without the support of England. Puritans worked within the system and were supported by England with ships and supplies and fought with the British.
Benjamin (born 1709) moved as a child to Hanover, New Jersey. In 1733 his name is listed as one of the seceders from the Hanover Church and soon after he is associated as one of the organizers of the Presbyterian Church of Morristown, New Jersey. Benjamin’s name appears on the church’s corporation charter issued by Governor Belcher in 1756. According to church records of September 12, 1777 Benjamin was dismissed to Redstone Presbytery in Westmoreland County (now Fayette County) Pennsylvania to establish the churches in that area. Benjamin was well known in the Redstone Presbytery as the song leader of the early church. Rachel Prudden died on December 20, 1776 in Morristown, New Jersey. Benjamin moved to the western frontier in 1777 with most of his surviving children including my direct ancestor, Jane Coe.
Benjamin Coe was in his late 60’s and early 70’s during the Revolutionary war years. He served as a private in the Pennsylvania Militia in a ranger unit patrolling the frontier against Indians allied to the British. Benjamin and four of his sons have been recognized as Patriots by the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1783 records of Huntington Township, Benjamin Coe was taxed for 2 horses, 2 cattle, and 1 sheep. After the Revolutionary War Benjamin Coe crossed the Allegheny River and built a stockade on the river named “Coe’s Station” in what is now Tarentum. This was wilderness territory in Indian country. The U.S.census of 1790 lists Benjamin as head of a household of 5 males over 16 and 4 males under 16 which includes families of 2 of his sons. Benjamin was 80 years old at this time.
Benjamin (born 1709) was a brother of Moses Coe. In an internet search I discovered that Barbara Pierce Bush is a direct descendant of Benjamin’s brother, Moses Coe. It is through this lateral relationship that I discovered I am a fifth cousin of Barbara Pierce Bush and a fifth cousin once removed of President George W. Bush. 
I also learned that I am an eighth cousin once removed of Winston Churchill. You can imagine my surprise when I searched the internet for information on Benjamin Coe and Barbara Bush’s and Winston Churchill’s genealogy appeared in the search.
Where to begin?
When I began to record the history of my family, it seemed like an overwhelming endless task (and still does). I began this adventure getting educated about how and where to begin. I attended seminars on genealogy taught by the Librarian of the PA Department of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, joined the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society, Ancestry.com and purchased “Family Tree Maker” software. I have also purchased books and cd’s with information on my ancestors. Most of the information was purchased on the internet through book dealers or ebay.
At the seminar I learned it is important to be organized. We were also given important websites and information for obtaining vital statistics, military records, census records, etc. I began by organizing all the information I had collected and stored the information in ½ inch 3 ring binders and labeled the binder with the family name. My genealogy files take up two file drawers. When I go to the library I take the binders of the family I am searching with me, a tablet of paper, pencils, pens and highlighters, and money in case I want to copy information. I learned that when recording your history you begin with yourself and keep each family record on a separate sheet.
This project is like a puzzle or game of “connect the dots”. I copy and save any information I find on websites to my computer and each family has their own folder on my computer. I often print a hard copy of the information and put it in the family binder. It is important to backup your computer to an external hard drive.
When I began the search of the Coe family the only information I had were vital statistics in the records of my ancestors and a statement that Benjamin Coe fought in the Revolutionary War. This shows the value of keeping accurate vital statistics.
Most of the information does not make for interesting reading because the information is usually just statistics. However, you need to have proof of the vital statistics of your ancestors to prove you are related especially for joining the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) or similar organizations. “Family Search” is a great website, but I have found a lot of errors listed for my family so you need to prove the information. Just because it is listed does not mean it is correct.
I am fortunate that my ancestors recorded our family genealogy in published genealogy books. I’m also fortunate that books on the counties where they settled include information on my family. I have also run into dead ends and can’t connect the generations. It is important in your search to know the county where your family resided because records are kept by counties. Boundaries of counties change over time and may have a different name today. So begin your search with name of the county they resided. One thing that amazes me is the number of children born to families in early history. One of my goals is to become a member of “First Families of Western Pennsylvania” through the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society.
The “Family Group Record Form” and other research help can be found at www.familysearch.org. This website is run by the Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints. At the website click on “Research Helps”, click on “Articles” and under “Articles” click on the letter “F”. Click on “Family Group Record Form”
The “Fulton House” built in 1817 in New Derry, PA is the home of the Derry Area Historical Society. Robert Fulton (brother of Abram Fulton and son of Abraham Fulton) purchased this home in 1817 for $25. Robert sold the home to his nephew, James Fulton, for $600 in 1821. James operated an inn and stage coach stop. A wagon shop was housed in the rear stone portion of the building. The historical society’s website is www.derryhistory.org
Isn’t my Mom fun? Isn’t she just full of interesting historical information? Well stay tuned, she’s got more to come….and please leave a comment of thanks for her. She put a lot of work into these guest blog posts and I want her to know how much she is appreciated!
Here is the second of four “Fresh” Quickpages made by Nibbles Scribbles, aka @MrsMandaK on Twitter.
This is my gift to you, not my gift to cyberspace. Please download and tell friends to come here and download. Also, say hi! My mom, especially, is reading the comments!
And here is the full kit that you can purchase HERE at Digitals:
What fun! I haven’t worked on my genealogy projects for quite a while, but it is fascinating! My husbands family was also from PA. The earliest records we have of them there are from 1680. When you have relatives dating that far back in the US, it is almost impossible to not be related to famous people, isn’t it? One of my husbands ancestore wrote legal documents in PA that eventually were used, in part, in the Constitution of the United States! George Washington camped on their property, and along another branch we have Abraham Lincoln. It is sooo fun, isn’t it? I would love to have access to some of the libraries and the like in PA. I also dream of going there one day, and buying antiques, with the unreasonable dream that they might have belonged to the Longs of long ago. I know the old Mill was still standing a few years ago, and the big house is still occupied, which I think is completely cool!
Now I am inspired to work on this again, and I don’t have the time! What have you done to me! LOL!
WOW!!! Great, inspiring history! TFS
Fascinating account. My family (part of it, anyway) has some roots not far away from yours. I recently inherited a great pile of family records, history books, and antique photos from my family which I am sifting a little at a time. It is an interesting journey, to say the least!
Oh and thanks for the QP, too.
Cyndi – love the quick page. To Cyndi’s Mom – geneology is so interesting. It sounds like you’re having a ball doing the research. My grandma did a little research for our family and found out that we’re first cousins with Sam Houston and third cousins with Alexander Hamilton. Makes history way more interesting. Keep the stories coming!
There was never any doubt that our family was one of the most interesting that is…you are mearly stating the obvious!
So cool Aunt Sue!
Interesting post! I LOVE Winston Churchill. He’s one of my idols. My mom is really into geneology too. It is interesting, but I like letting her do all the work
! Thanks for the gorgeous qp!
Cyndi and Mom…I am just sooooo blessed to have you as part of my Legacy! We are truly blessed by these lessons in geneology and the importance of FAMILY! Thank you for sharing from the heart! Cyndi…you are FOREVER my friend…but more importantly you are my SISTER…which I know for a fact we were seperated at birth!!!! LOL! Love you and your Momma….sooooo special…so dear!
I loved reading all this about your Family and your Famous Ancestors!! It is so interesting doing the Family Tree thing and the things you find out. I found out through my Grandma Evelyn who is my Biological Father’s Mother that we kept in touch with even though I do not remember my Biological Father since my Mom remarried and my Dad adopted my Sister and I when we were 4 and 3. Long Story!! Well anyway found out my Famous Ancestor is Hans Christian Anderson the writer of all those wonderful Childrens’s Stories and my Dream is to be able to go to Denmark before my life is over here on Earth and see that Famous Mermaid Statue in Copenhagen .
Thanks so much for having your Mom share all this information here it has been fun reading it. Also Thanks for the freebie.
Thanks for the great QP! And for the interesting post about the family. Also thanks for the link to Family Search. I’ve heard that they are an invaluable resource for tracing family!
Thank you so much for this Freebie. I want to let you know that I posted a link to your blog in CBH Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, under the Page 4 post on Mar. 06, 2010. Thanks again.
Cyndi, thanks to you and your Mom for the wonderful information being shared on your blog. I have enjoyed reading it and have learned so much. Your family has a fascinating history. My cousin has done alot of research on our family and has only scratched the surface. The resources you have sited will be so helpful in looking deeper.
What an interesting story! I’m just starting to dig into my family tree! Thanks for the links! Thanks for the qp!
Thank you for sharing all you wonderful family history. I have some records of my family, but haven’t been able to really delve into more information. One of these days when my life is a bit more organized I hope to do more. Stories like what you’re sharing help keep me believing that I can eventually get further with it.
Thank you!
Thanks, I love the blogs, Susan, I feel so blessed to now know you! Thanks for sharing so much.. NOW I really need to get organized! Your idea’s really help!
I have not had a keyboard, kids and soda, so I could not post. I loved reading your family posts. Thank you for sharing with us. Such a Blessing.
These genealogy stories are an inspiration. My family has always kept and searched for records. My brother got poison oak from visiting cemetaries in Deleware and Pensylvania. It was like a puzzle to him, and a fascinating hobby. I have all of his records, as well as my mother’s. We are related to ‘Old King Cole’ who was a real person evidently, but can’t find the bridge between the generation from England, and the US.
Anyway, what I found most interesting is the organizing tips. My brother died in 1983, and mom in 1998, so of course, the internet wasn’t the great source it is today. Really helpful info. Thanks!
Love the Shine on freebie as well. Thanks much!
Hi,My name is Don Coe. I am one of your distant cousins from Kansas City. I am a direct descendant of Benjamin Coe ,the Immigrant,son of Robert Coe the Puritan. I have been studying our family tree for the past five years, and it is never ending. I am a member of The Sons of the American Revolution, and have documented fifty six members of our family having fought in the Revolutionary War.
At least six members were killed,and numerous were teenagers. One named Icabod,was only twelve and served as a fifer in the front lines in many battles. Our family’s fought in every war this country’s ever had. If you want to see some other famous Coe’s, log on Facebook, and type in Carl Robert Coe,who’s a authour that wrote the book, “The Coe Families of Maryland and Virginia .” Scan down the page until you find ” The Coe Hall of Fame’. Click on it and then click each pic to bring up a bio of that person.
Hi, my name is Charleen Schuster. I guess we are probably somehow distant cousins also. I am also a descendant of Benjamin Coe, who married Abigail Carman, who’s father was John Carman and Florence Fordham, who’s father was Rev. Robert Fordham. It was a few years back when I found out that Barbara Bush would be my 9th great aunt. What a shock that was to find out. Some of my relatives on my father’s mother’s side are: Rev. James Carman who married Margaret Duwys, their daughter was Phebe Carman who married Issac LaRue. the LaRue’s go clear back to the first king of France. Francis I. We are also related to the Buzan’s that also came from France. But most of my ancestors are English. On my father’s fathers side I am related to Anthony Taylor who came to America from England in 1635. My family fought in every american War, Many in the Revolutionary War. Here are some of my great grandparents names: Fordham,Carman,LaRue,Buzan,Boone, Bond,Johnson,Wickware,Pickett.
Case, McCoy,Welch,Pringle. My father fought in World War II in the Thunderbird Division of the Army. He was shot in the leg Italy, but still ended up at the Dachua Concentration Camp in Poland when the Thunderbird division rescue the Jews there. We have royal blood that goes all the way back to Charlemagne(Charles the Great) 742-814.
I have been researching my genealogy for about 20 years. My mother was really into it and when Robert E. Johnson wrote the book “Scattered Leaves” which is the genealogy of the Bond of “Earth) On the Bond-Crain side it take us all the way back to America also, relatives that were involved in the Boston tea Party. Two signers of the Declaration of Independence, George Walton and James Wilson. First governor of Illinois, Shadrack Bond. Like you I would never have now all this if books like: Six Generations of the LaRues, Scattered Leaves, The Family history of Anthony Taylor had not been written that documents all my families. We are also a distant cousin of Daniel Boone, who’s father was Squire Boone, and Grandfather was George Boone II and George Boone I.
I hope this doesn’t sound like I am braggine, it just shocks me to find out all this information about my families.
Hi, my name is Charleen Schuster. I guess we are probably somehow distant cousins also. I am also a descendant of Benjamin Coe, who married Abigail Carman, who’s father was John Carman and Florence Fordham, who’s father was Rev. Robert Fordham. It was a few years back when I found out that Barbara Bush would be my 9th great aunt. What a shock that was to find out. Some of my relatives on my father’s mother’s side are: Rev. James Carman who married Margaret Duwys, their daughter was Phebe Carman who married Issac LaRue. the LaRue’s go clear back to the first king of France. Francis I. We are also related to the Buzan’s that also came from France. But most of my ancestors are English. On my father’s fathers side I am related to Anthony Taylor who came to America from England in 1635. My family fought in every american War, Many in the Revolutionary War. Here are some of my great grandparents names: Fordham,Carman,LaRue,Buzan,Boone, Bond,Johnson,Wickware,Pickett.
Case, McCoy,Welch,Pringle. My father fought in World War II in the Thunderbird Division of the Army. He was shot in the leg in Italy, but still ended up at the Dachua Concentration Camp in Poland when the Thunderbird division rescue the Jews there. We have royal blood that goes all the way back to Charlemagne(Charles the Great) 742-814.
I have been researching my genealogy for about 20 years. My mother was really into it and when Robert E. Johnson wrote the book “Scattered Leaves” which is the genealogy of the Bonds of “Earth) On the Bond-Crain side it take us all the way back to America also, relatives that were involved in the Boston tea Party. Two signers of the Declaration of Independence, George Walton and James Wilson. First governor of Illinois, Shadrack Bond. Like you I would never have know all this if books like: Six Generations of the LaRues, Scattered Leaves, The Family history of Anthony Taylor had not been written that documents all my families. We are also a distant cousin of Daniel Boone, who’s father was Squire Boone, and Grandfather was George Boone II and George Boone I.
I hope this doesn’t sound like I am braging, it just shocks me to find out all this information about my families.
Ouch! I hate to burst your bubble, but Churchill, Barbara & 4 other first ladies & 3 presidents, etc. are related not to Moses Coe, but to his wife Sarah Howell. But the Coe side also has a fine lineage, including Revolutionary War soldiers, founders of Jamaica & Hempstead, NY, and Millford, CT, etc. 3 of our ancestors are portrayed in a mural at the Hempstead Village Hall. (check it out online.) Our Carman line goes back in an unbroken line to Lord John Carman c. 1012 England, as written in the Domesday Book. Our Lyon branch goes back to John de Lyon c.1313 Scotland. Our Prudden line goes back to John Prudden c.1416 England. Our Coe line goes back to Sir John Coo b. 1340 England. (All of these other lines married into the Coe line.) Our Golding line, written in the Visitations of Essex, goes back to Thomas Golding c.1445 England. Our Howells go to Lt. Hezekiah Howell c. 1700, not sure whether born in Wales or America, but his wife was born in NY, so he was also here at some point. Enjoy looking up these ancestors.
Oops! Let me correct myself. You certainly are related to First Lady Barbara Bush and her son President George Walker Bush through Moses & Benjamin Coe’s parents, Benjamin Coe & Rachel Prudden. The others are related through Sarah Howell. You can omit the Howells from my first list. I forgot to separate them from my Coe side. You will find all of the other lines (and more) in your family tree. (You may also find Churchill, who had American ancestors, related from a different branch. I am only aware of his ties to Sarah Howell.) Have fun exploring.
Hi Candy. If you go to Carl Robert Coes Facebook site like I said, you will find that Sir Winstons mother decended from Robert Coe the same as me. but keep in mind that we share DNA from both Mother & Father.When our ancesters married the bloodlines mix from both sides of each, both Y & X, but to female DNA ,iT takes a different test [mitocondrial].
Hi candy. I took the Coe family DNA test a few years back, and Carl Coe called me to tell me the results. He is the administrator of this world wide project. If you go to his website,you can see what it is all about. Question! how do you access the mural that you told me about in the email you sent? I tried Hempstead village Hall and found a reference to the mural,but could’nt find it. Please email me back if you can. Thanks cousin.
Hi, Don. Did you get my e-mail? I scoured the internet from many angles, but the foto of the Hempstead Village Hall mural commemorating the 1643 land purchase from the Indians is gone. The mural included likenesses of Rev. Robert Fordham, his son-in-law John Carman & 10 yr. old John Carman, Jr. Fortunately, I copied it, so if you’re related to these branches, I’ll send you a copy if you send me a mailing address. Candywoodbadge1@aol.com
Attn. Robert Coe (1596-c.1689) descendants: In the many Coe accounts I’ve read over the years, I’ve never seen any reference to a bit of trivia I ran across in a book called “Coming Over”, by David Cressy, p. 154, about the 1634 voyage of the “Francis” that was preparing to sail from Ipswich to Boston. Customs bailiffs blocked their departure, resulting in 2 weeks of negotiation and 2 more months before they could leave. In those days, there was a limited window of times that ships could depart, due to wind currents and other weather limitations. Many people had no money to live on for an unexpected 2 1/2 months in port. I have seen references to ships making 2 voyages in a single year, so it’s not definite whether this was the April sailing. No date was given. I think this reference comes from records of the “Acts of the Privy Council, Colonial Series, 1613-1680″ (London 1908, ed. by Leo Francis Stock). The citation covers more than 1 fact mentioned.
Nicely done, Cousin!! I am also a descendant of Abram Fulton and Jane Coe, through their son, James. Have you seen Craighead’s work on the Fultons of Westmoreland County that was published in the 1940s? The digitized version is available through Heritage Quest (you local library may have a subscription to this).