Johann Wilhelm (Vollbrecht) Fulbright (1718 - abt. 1808)

Born 13 Sep 1718 in Altwied, Heiliges Römisches Reich [uncertain]

Husband of Christina Halstead (Schuck) Fulbright — married about 1741 in Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died about Mar 1808 at about age 89 in Lincoln County, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

Paternity

Lorena Shell Eaker wrote:

In some of my meanderings I found a Johann Wilhelm Volbrecht b. 6 Feb. 1717 at Edelak - Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, believed to be son of Hans Hiob Volprecht b. 30 Jan. 1682 d. 12 Dec. 1726 at Edilak [sic] and this was believed to be the same Wilhelm as in PA and NC. Please don't ask where I found this. I haven't the faintest idea! I have included it here for whatever it may be worth."^[1]

According to the Fulbright Family News, vol. 1, number 1, May 2005, Mrs. Eaker's source was Riley Eddleman, The Eddleman-Fulbright Families, pp. 66, 128. Verifying Riley Eddleman's statements proved impossible and the Fulbright Association deemed them too flawed to be reliable,

More recent research points to a different father for the immigrant Johann Wilhelm Vollbrecht, and the link to Hans Hiob Volprecht as his father has been deleted.

William “Bill” Eddleman, editor, “Have The German Origins of Johann Wilhelm Volbrecht Been Found?” in Fulbright Family News, volume I, number 1, (May 2005): pp. 4-9, published the following

Johann Wilhelm Volpert, son of Johann Ludwig Volpert and his wife Conradina Magdalena, was born in Altwied 13 September 1718. “Am 23 Juni 1740 gegen den Willen der Eltern aber mit ihrem Wissen nach England gereist, um von nach Amerika uberzusetzen”; translation: On 23 June 1740 he left against his parents wishes but with their knowledge to go to England and from there to go to America. The Altwied Reformed church book also notes his emigration.^[2]

Altwied is very near Rengsdorf in present-day Koblenz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. Rengsdorf is important because it is the home village of immigrant Johann Wilhelm Kale (a.k.a. Kehl, Kell). In Pennsylvania, immigrants Wilhelm Volbrecht and Wilhelm Kell were close associates. Their land adjoined each other,^[3] and Kehl and his wife witnessed the birth of Volbrecht’s son in 1756-57. Both men migrated to Lincoln County, North Carolina, and Volbrecht witnessed Kale’s 1786 will there.^[4] Editor Eddleman's extensive analysis credits the research of Richard "Rick" Miracle and Ed Stout.^[5]

Emigration

Johann Wilhelm Volbrecht sailed from Rotterdam to America on the ship Robert and Alice via Cowes (Isle of Wight, England), one of 185 passengers on board arriving in the Port of Philadelphia. On 3 December 1740, he appeared, with others from the ship, before the Governor of Pennsylvania and took the oath of allegiance to the British Crown as was required of all non-British immigrants at that time.

"3 Dec 1740. Palatines imported in the ship Robert and Alice, Walter Goodman, Master, from Rotterdam, last from Cowes. -- 185 passengers," including Joh. Wilhelm Volprecht^[6]

Three lists were compiled of immigrating aliens. The first was the Captain’s list in the handwriting and spelling of one of the ship's officers (list A). The Captain's list renders William’s name as “John Wm. Hullbright.” The second was when the passengers swore allegiance to the British Crown before a clerk at the Philadelphia courthouse (list B). Passengers next swore an oath of abjuration before the Governor and three Justices denouncing the Catholic religion and attesting that King George II was the lawful king of Great Britain (list C). William signed his own name to his oaths as “Johann Wilhelm Volbrecht.”^[7]

Spouse

Johann Wilhelm Volbrecht/ John William Fulbright married Christina Halstead? Schuck about 1741 or 1744-45 in Pennsylvania. Christina was born 6 February 1716 in Germany. She was the daughter of Johannes Schuck (1694-29 Dec. 1767), whose family were Volbrecht's close neighbors in Williams Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. The Schucks arrived 17 October 1732 at the Port of Philadelphia on the Pink John and William. (See Pennsylvania German Pioneers by Strassburger and Hinke.)

Old John Schuck's will, dated 4 July 1763 and probated in Dec. 1767, said in part; "my children, namely George, Dorothea the widow of Jacob Yount deceased, Christina the wife of William Fullbrecht of the township of Williams . . . and the said Maria Catherina . . ."^[8][9]

William settled near Egypt in Dutch Cove, Williams Township, in what is now Northampton County, Pennsylvania, where he married and where all of his children were born. He is listed among those baptized in 1746 in the church of the Morgan Hill Congregation and he and his wife were listed there as Communicants in 1753, and again in 1754.^[8][10] Morgan Hill refers to the location of the Forks of Delaware Congregation which met at the foot of Morgan’s Hill.

On 17 May 1752, William Volprecht and wife Christina took communion at Williams Township Congregation.^[11]

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court at its session held 24 September 1762 in Philadelphia approved the naturalization application of William Fulbright of Forks Township, Northampton County. Fulbright had qualified by residing in the American colonies for at least seven years, swearing to the prescribed oaths before the Chief Judge or other Judge within his colony of residence, and by taking the Sacrament within three months of his naturalization oaths. He had taken the Sacrament on 27 June 1762. William Kell was naturalized at the same court sessions.^[12]

William and Christina's children were baptized with the name of Vollbrecht in every such record found, but all later used the name of Fulbright. Pronunciation of "V" in the German language sounds very like the English "F" and led to the evolution of Vollbrecht to Fulbright. The German name was generally used in Pennsylvania and the English version later in North Carolina. However, in some estate papers dated as late as 1815, use is still made of the old German spelling.^[8]

During 1765-1768, William, his wife Christina, and four of their children (George, William, Jacob, and Catherine) were among the Lutheran communicants at Dryland Union Church in present-day Hecktown, Nazareth Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.^[13]

The family moved to North Carolina before 1769, apparently as a group, probably accompanied by others from the same area, undoubtedly by means of wagons they had constructed themselves and drawn by oxen. There William settled on the north side of the Catawba River in what was then Rowan County. In 1777, Burke County was created from the western part of Rowan and William's residence fell into the new county. In 1782, his area of residence was annexed to Lincoln County, and subsequently in 1842 became known as Catawba County.

William died before his will entered probate in July 1808 at Lincoln County, North Carolina.

Will

Last Will and Testament of William Fulbright
In the Name of God, Amen, I, William Fulbright, of the County of Lincoln and State of North Carolina, being in a poor state of health, though in perfect mind and memory, Blessed be God, Therefore do this Thirteenth day of February in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Five, Make and publish this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say: I commend my soul into the hands of God Almighty who gave it to me, and my body to the earth from whence it came to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named, in hopes of a joyful Resurection through the merits of my Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, and for that worldly state wherewith it has been pleased God to bless me, I dispose of in the following manner (to wit)

That all my just debts be first paid.

Item: Then I give and bequeath unto my Beloved Wife Christinah Fulbright, use of my plantation with my Horses Cattle Sheep and Hogs, together with all my household goods plantation tools and other utensils during her natural lifetime or widowhood, but if she marrieth, to have her featherbed and furniture, one cow and calf, one iron pot of her own chusing, and one spinning wheel, and no more.

Item: I give and bequeath to my beloved son Jacob Fulbright the plantation whereon I now live and all that tract of land to him the said Jacob Fulbright his Heirs and assigns forever, after my well beloved wife Christinah Fulbright's death or widowhood, and Thirty pounds of gold or silver into my estate for the above mentioned land, to pay fifty pounds a year, yearly and every year after our deaths till paid, the first payment to be made one year after our deaths.

Item I give and bequeath unto my two grandchildren, Peter and Elizabeth Fulbright, son and daughter of George Fulbright deceased, the sum of one shilling sterling each.

Item: I give and bequeath unto Margaret Cawwe wife of John Cawwe, one shilling sterling.

Item: My further will is that after my well beloved Wifes death or widowhood, that all and singular of my personal Estate with the two hundred pounds before mentioned be equally divided between my eight children, Jacob Fulbright, John Fulbright, Catherine Bullinger, Elizabeth Killian, Dorothy Moyers, Christina Taylor, Mary Link and Margaret Crites. My further will is that those of my children that hath received part of their legacy or portion shall be counted in with what is now coming to them so that what some of them hath already received may make them equal with those that hath received no part.

And I do make constitute and appoint my two well beloved sons, Jacob Fulbright and Benjamin Taylor to be my whole and sole Executors of this my last will and testament, disallowing and making void all other will or wills by me heretofore made, Ratifying and confirming this my last will and testament.

In witness whereof, I the said William Fulbright, have hereunto set my hand and seal this day and year first above written, William Fulbright
Signed, sealed and delivered by the testator and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who were present at the sealing, etc. thereof Ephm. Perkins Eli Perkins (jurat) Jacob Sherrell
Executor [son] Jacob Fulbright sworn in July [1808] Sessions.

North Carolina, Lincoln County. I, M.T. Leatherman, Clerk Superior Court of Lincoln County, North Carolina, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and perfect copy of the last will and testament of William Fulbright as probated in the year 1808 and filed in this office. Witness my hand and official seal, this the 7th day of February 1830. (Signed) W.T. Leatherman, C.S.C.^[14]

Children

In his 1805 Lincoln County will, William Fulbright specifically named eight surviving children, Jacob Fulbright, John Fulbright, Catherine Bullinger, Elizabeth Killian, Dorothy Moyers, Christina Taylor, Mary Link, and Margaret Crites and his son George Fulbright deceased.

1. Johann Georg Vollbrecht (1746-c.1790). George was born 28 February 1746 and baptized 9 March 1746. His baptismal record names his parents as William and Christina. Sponsors were Johann George Schück and his wife Rosina Barbara.^[15] The Schücks remained in the immediate area.
2. Jacob Vollbrecht (1747-1835). Jacob married Elizabeth Weisel and moved to western North Carolina.
3. Frederick Vollbrecht was born 1749 in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. He was not mentioned in his father's will.
4. Mary Vollbrecht was born circa 1751. She married John Link and they are believed to have moved to Missouri prior to her death.
5. Anna Catherina Vollbrecht (1752-1811). She married Johannes Bollinger and moved to Missouri.
6. Margaret Vollbrecht (1753-1816). She married Peter Crites and lived in Missouri.
7. Anna Elizabeth Vollbrecht (1754-1802). Elizabeth, daughter of William and Christina, was born 25 May 1754 and baptized 23 June. Her sponsor was Anna Elisabeth Catharina WIndt.^[16] Elizabeth married Mathias Killian.
8. Dorothea Vollbrecht (c.1755-1833). She married Elias Moyers and moved to Indiana, probably about 1816, and both are buried there.
9. Christina Vollbrecht was born circa 1756. She married Benjamin Taylor and moved to Missouri.
10. John Wilhelm Vollbrecht was born 20 November 1757 and baptized 28 November 1757. Witnesses were John William Kehl [a.k.a. Kell] and his wife Maria Magdalena.^[17] William predeceased his parents in 1784.
11. John Vollbright born 1764 in Pennsylvania.

Sources

1. ↑ Lorena Shell Eaker, German Speaking People West of the Catawba River in North Carolina 1750-1800 and Some Emigres' Participation in the Early Settlement of Southeast Missouri (Church Hill, Tennessee: SCK Publications, 1994), p. 176.
2. ↑ Hank Z. Jones, More Palatine Families: Some Immigrants to the Middle Colonies, 1717–1776, and Their European Origins, Plus New Discoveries on German Families Who Arrived in Colonial New York in 1710 (Universal City, Calif.: Henry Z. Jones, 1991), p. 501.
3. ↑ Pennsylvania Patent Book A.A., vol 1: 505, grant to William Kayle in Williams Township adjoining William Fulbright (11 September 1761).
4. ↑ Lincoln County, North Carolina, Original wills, William Kale (1786); digital image, FamilySearch; FHL microfilm 7640013, image 1502.
5. ↑ A partial scan of Bill Eddleman’s article is available online at rudurant, owner, Fulbright_Mosteller_Robinson, Ancestry family tree.
6. ↑ Rupp Joh. WIlhelm Volprecht on page 143 middle of second column.
7. ↑ Ralph Beaver Strassburger and William John Hinke, editor, Pennsylvania German Pioneers, 3 vols (Camden, Maine: Picton Press, 1992), Johann Wilhelm Volprecht, vol. I, pp. 286 (the Captain’s list), 287-288 (immigration oaths). See vol. II: 296 for a facsimile of Volprecht’s original signature.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} Stout Rootsweb BROKEN LINK.
9. ↑ Northampton County, Pennsylvania, will book 1: 35-36, John Schuck (4 July 1763; probate 29 December 1767); digital image, FamilySearch; FHL microfilm 5544758, images 33-34.
10. ↑ Wilma Hicks Simpson, Greater Than The Mountains Was He: The True Story of Johann Jacob Shook of Haywood County, North Carolina (Mustang, Oklahoma: Tate Publishing and Enterprises, 2013), p. 39, Johann Wilhelm Volprecht; digital preview, Google Books (books.Google.com).
11. ↑ Church Records of the Williams Township Congregation [Evangelical Lutheran Church] (Lancaster, PA.: The Pennsylvania German Society, 1909), page 71, Communicants 17 May 1752, William Volprecht, wife Christina; digital edition, Internet Archive.
12. ↑ M. S. Giuseppi, editor, Naturalizations of Foreign Protestants In The American and West Indian Colonies Pursuant To Statute 13 George II (Manchester, England: Sherratt & Hughes, 1921 for The Huguenot Society of London), p. 85, William Fulbright; digital image, Internet Archive.
13. ↑ William J. Hinke, handwritten manuscript, “Dryland Union Church Records, 1763-1808, Lutheran and Reformed Congregations, Hecktown, Nazareth Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania”; copied by Rev. Hinke in August 1929 and November 1929; digital image, FamilySearch, FHL microfilm 8,960,085; citing DAR Library, Washington, D.C.
14. ↑ Lincoln County Original Wills, William Fulbright (1805); box number CR.060.801.9, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh.
15. ↑ Williams Page 7.
16. ↑ Williams Page 15.
17. ↑ Northampton County, Tohickon Reformed Church, John William Vollbrecht (28 November 1757); digital image, FamilySearch; FHL microfilm 7856639, image 679; citing the manuscript of Dr. William J. Hinke, “Reformed Church Records in Eastern Pennsylvania Located At The Historical Society Of The Reformed Church In The U.S., Franklin And Marshall College Library, Lancaster, Pennsylvania."

See also:

• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed April 25th, 2015), "Record of John William Fulbright", Ancestor # A206998.
• Eaker, Lorena Shell German-speaking People West of the Catawba River in North Carolina, 1750-1800: And Some Émigrés' Participation in the Early Settlement of Southeast Missouri (Franklin, NC: Genealogy Pub. Service, 1994), 176.
• Rupp, I. Daniel., A Collection of Upwards of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French and Other Immigrants in Pennsylvania From 1727 to 1776 Chronologisch Geordnete Sammlung Von Mehr Als 30,000 Namen Von Einwanderern in Pennsylvanien Aus Deutschland, Der Schweiz, Holland, Frankreich U. A. St. Von 1727 Bis 1776 (Ig. Kohler, Philadelphia, 1876)
• Stout, Ed Vollbrecht / Fulbright genealogy
• Williams Church Records of the Williams Township Congregation (Lancaster, Pa.: Pennsylvania German Society, 1909)
• Ed Stout, “Vollbrecht-Fulbright” compiled 2 April 2002 (https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KNX4-VZF). Detailed Reference is made to Johann Wilhelm Vollbrecht/John William Fullbright and Christina Schuck their background and children. There is extensive history to be found on the Vollbrecht/Fullbright Family at this Link.
• For a list of German Reformed Congregations in Pennsylvania before the year 1750 and their present-day locations, see William J. Hinke, Life and Letters of the Rev. John Philip Boehm, Founder of the Reformed Church in Pennsylvania, 1683-1749 (Philadelphia: Publication and Sunday School Board of the Reformed Church in the United States, 1916), Appendix II; digital edition, Google Books (https://books.google.com/books?id=-H4sAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Life+and+letters+of+the+Rev.+john+philip+boehm&hl=en&ei=ZSnwTO-vKcP78Aby6rjBDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false).

Acknowledgments

• Jerry Cox created WikiTree profile Vollbrecht-17 through the import of jcoxff.ged on Oct 15, 2013.