Re: Walter Denny's daughter, Jean Fulton.

Walter Denny (d 1752) and his widow Marjory (-?-) Denny (d 1760) are buried at the Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church cemetery in Lancaster Co, PA. (A careless online cemetery transcript reports Walter's death date as "1742.")

When did Walter Denny come to America?

Walter Denny settled on land along Conowingo Creek as early as 1723 and first appears on the 1724 Tax Rate Schedule for "Nottingham Township, Chester County, PA" (Chester County Archives, Tax Rate Schedules, folder C6). Yes, west of the Octorora Creek ... Chester County, Pennsylvania. Lancaster County was not yet organized.

Walter Denny bought his land from Richard Beeson. Beeson married Charity Grubb, daughter of Emmanuel Grubb of New Castle, Delaware, and Grubb conveyed this land to Richard Beeson in 1717.

In 1733, Walter Denny filed a complaint against Richard Beeson (recorded at Lancaster Co. PA) claiming that Beeson had not yet given him title and was about to leave the area. Denny brought his "son-in-law William Fulton" as a witness and Walter Denny's deed for 100 acres on Conowingo Creek was recorded 1 Sept 1737, "adjacent to Gillespie."

Son-in-law, William Fulton, died a few years later and Walter Denny signed the Letters of Administration issued to "Jean Fulton, widow of William Fulton" on 25 March 1741, o.s. Two days later, 27 March 1741, o.s., Mrs. Jane [Denny] Fulton married neighbor Col. James Gillespie. The following year, 12 November 1742, Walter Denny transferred title to his 100 acres on the Conowingo Creek to his new son-in-law, Col. James Gillespie.

That's where I got involved. This William Fulton on Conowingo Creek (Drumore Twp, Lancaster Co, PA) is NOT the father of THE Robert Fulton as theorized by Samuel Evans in "History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania" and copied by Denny genealogists Dixon/Vann.

We Fultons have hunted down every known record regarding this William Fulton as well as Col. James Gillespie and his wife, Mrs. Jean/Jane (Denny) Fulton. Ann Irwin of Illinois gets the credit for locating the Wills of Col. James Gillespie and widow at Newark, Delaware.

In 1765, Col. James Gillespie lost his land in Lancaster County, by way of a sheriff's sale. (It's absolutely true, Robert Fulton, father of THE Robert Fulton, purchased part of this land.) Col. James Gillespie and wife then relocated to Newark, Delaware.

On 8 January 1767, "James Gillespie late of Lancaster Co. now of Newark" signed his Will and named wife Jean, nephew James Gillespie, son of my brother Allin Gillespie, James Gillespies brothers and sisters; brother Roberts children in Carolina. Brother-in-law John Evans and Sarah. Exc. wife Jane: brother Allin Gillespie, John Singleton. [Ref:"A Calendar of Delaware Wills - New Castle County 1682-1800", by Historical Research Committee of the Colonial Dames of Delaware. Research of Ann Irwin, 1999]

Further: "Jean Gillespie of the Village of Newark signed her Will on 13 1783; recorded 22 Feb 1785. She provided for Niece Margary Evans; niece Margery Platt's three children, viz: Jean, Polly, and James. Exc. Dr. Samuel Platt, niece, Margery Platt; Alexander McBeath, Robert Wallace."

Even though there is no mention of daughter "Jean/Jane" (Denny) Fulton Gillespie in either the Will of Walter Denny (1752) or his widow, Margery, (1760) there is plenty of evidence that Jean/Jane, widow of William Fulton (1742) and later the widow of Col. James Gillespie (1767) was a daughter of Walter Denny. Assuming Jean Denny was at least 16 when she married William Fulton (before 1733) suggests Jean/Jane Denny was born before 1717.

Hope this little piece assists a Denny Researcher one day.

Patrice (Fulton) Stark
Lone Tree, Colorado

Best wishes to Bill Denny of Seattle, Washington. I'm still researching, Bill!