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JOHN COULSON born January or March 7, 1737, at West Nottingham, Cecil County, Maryland, died there March 9, 1812, at the age of sixty-five and is buried there at the Friends Burying Ground. On May 13, 1766, he married RACHEL BROWN (daughter of JOSEPH BROWN and HANNAH WILSON) who was born September 13, 1748.
There are conflicting reports on who Rachel Brown's parents were. Henry J. Coulson and others report that her parents were Joseph Brown (sometimes called Isaacher Brown) and Lavinia Sykes Brown of Baltimore, and her Sykes grandparents were William and Amelia Sykes of Baltimore. He further reports that the Browns were from the same area in Derbyshire, England, that the Coulsons were from. However, Irene Coulson Johnston advised that Rachel's parents were Joseph Brown and Hannah Wilson of Cecil County. In addition to Henry Coulson's recitation that Rachel's parents were Joseph and Lavinia Sykes Brown, he also printed the family record contained in John Coulson's Bible. In it, Rachel Brown is reported to be the daughter of Joseph and Hannah Brown. In addition, the records of Nottingham Monthly Meeting recite that Rachel's parents are Joseph Brown and Hannah Wilson.
The marriage of John Coulson and Rachel Brown is reported in the Nottingham Monthly Meeting minutes as follows:
At a Monthly Meeting held in East Nottingham 25 of 10 Mo. 1766. W.N. Preparative meeting informs that John Coulson son of Thomas Coulson deceased, and Rachel Brown daughter of Joseph Brown were married by a priest....Mordecai James, Elisha Brown, John Butterfield, Joseph Wood, Committee. [Dates 29,11,1766; 30,5,1767].
John and Rachel and their children were further mentioned in the monthly meeting minutes as follows:
At Nottingham M.M. held 6, of 2, Mo. 1807. W.N. informs that John Coulson and Rachel his wife, request that they may be again considered as members of our society. Robert Brown & Nailor Child are appointed to pay them a visit in company with women friends in order that they may be enabled to judge of the propriety thereof.....6 of 3 Mo. 1807. The Committee in John Coulson and wife report a satisfactory visit, he appearing here offered a written testimony of their sorrow of their former error, she not being present on account of indisposition, which after solemnly attending to the case in this meeting the way appeared open in the minds of friends present it is received. William Preston & William Moore are appointed to inform them of our conclusion.
At Nottingham M.M. held 3 of 6 Mo. 1807. Request is made by her parents for Levinia Coulson daughter of John Coulson that she may obtain a right of membership in our society. Henry Sidwell and Thomas Richards appointed to unite with a committee of women friends in the consideration thereof.
....7 of 8 Mo. 1807. Committee visited Lavinia Coulson, in company with her parents, and express they believe her request may be granted, which this meeting concurs with and she is received a member.
In the Land Patents of Cecil County, Maryland, there is a 1789 patent granted to John Coulson for "Coulson's Old Garden," containing 264 acres.
JOHN COULSON and RACHEL BROWN were the parents of the following children:
Chrome, Chester Co., Pa.September 4, 1900. By Ruth E. Griffith, Spellman Seminary, Atlanta, Ga.
It has been my privilege to be in my own home this summer and going through my effects found the Bible left me by me great Aunt, Mrs. Amelia Fulton. It had been the property of John Coulson - my Aunt's father and the record of his birth, marriage, death and birth of children about covered the whole ground. There was nothing besides that I deemed the least bit important.
Copied from the Bible belonging to John Coulson of West Nottingham, Maryland.
John Coulson was born the 7th day of the first month, 1737. He was the son of Thomas and Martha Coulson. Thomas was the son of Joseph and Margaret Coulson, who was the son of Thomas Coulson of Hartshorn, County of Derbyshire, England.
John Coulson, son of the above, was married 13th day of fifth month 1766, to Rachel Brown, daughter of Joseph and Hanna Brown. Rachel Brown was born 13th day of ninth month, 1748.
Thomas Coulson, father of John, died 17th day of eight month 1763. Martha, his wife, died the 17th day of sixth month, 1775.
John Coulson, the before named, died the 9th day of the third mo. 1812.
Children of John Coulson.
Keziah Coulson, born 13th day of third mo. 1767. Died 13th day of tenth month 1773.
Isaacher, born 19th day of sixth mo. 1768.
Thomas, born 24th of first mo. 1770.
Abner, born 3rd day of twelfth mo. 1771. Died 7th day of eleventh mo. 1832.
John, born 19th day of tenth mo. 1774.
George, born 12th day of tenth mo. 1776.
Letitia, born 17th day of second mo. 1778. Died 20th day of third mo. 1832.
margaret, born 1st day of ninth mo. 1781.
Cassandra, born 10th day of ninth mo. 1783.
Eli, born 23rd day of third mo. 1786.
Amelia, born 22nd day of third mo. 1788. Died February 17th, 1887. Married to Levi Child, 12th day of fourth mo. 1810; 2nd to Thomas Fulton, 5th day of first mo. 1815.
Jabez, born 8th day of seventh mo. 1790. Died 12th day of ninth mo. 1791.
Lavinia, born 13th day of eighth mo. 1792. Died 8th day of 10th mo. 1828.
Amelia Coulson was interviewed by the Oxford Press (Pennsylvania) in 1885 and gives a great deal of detail of what life was like for her family.
In a little old stone house not far from Hilaman's Corner, East Nottingham, lives an aged woman, Mrs. Amelia Fulton. She is 97 years of age. With her reside two women, one of whom has been her companion for almost fifty years, and she too has become gray haired. The other is yet a lass approaching young womanhood. This trio, who pass day by day under the same roof, represent blooming youth, ripened womanhood and decrepit age journeying together through life. In all that region and wherever known the old lady is called "Aunty" Fulton, and many are her friends who delight to call upon her. She is remarkably well preserved for one verging so near a century.While of rather small physique, when she stands erect and raises her full round face and greets her visitor in a still mellow voice, one is not impressed with the presence of nearly a hundred years.
She is intelligent and well read upon events of the past and present and while her eyesight and hearing are somewhat impaired, her mind and memory are good and she can relate of things that occurred before the greater majority of the readers of these lines were born. She enjoys good health for so old a person and on pleasant days takes short walks about her home with the aid of a staff.
She is just now recovering from the effects of a cold which afflicted her during the past winter. She delights in having the Oxford Press read to her, which has been a regular visitor there for some years. The good old lady was, as she told me, interested in "The Captain of the Pharaoh," the story published on the first page of this paper some weeks since, being well acquainted with the lady who translated it from the German, Mrs. Mary E. Ireland.
Aunty Fulton was one year old when George Washington was inaugurated the first President of these United States, and she has lived through the administrations of all the Presidents up to the present time and seems gratified that the country has once more come back to Democratic rule under President Cleveland.
Old as she is she is interested in a "foreign fortune" which she says remains in England for the Coulson family, her maiden name. She claims to be the oldest living heir to it, of which I have not the slightest suspicion of a doubt and hope she may yet become a millionaire.
When I called at her home last Wednesday she surprised me by her dry humor and interesting talk. In the course of her pleasant conversation she said:
"I can tell you more about things of the past than those of the present. Youth is very different from old age. I was born near Rising Sun, Cecil County, Maryland, on March 22, 1788. My parents were John and Rachel Coulson. I had six brothers and six sisters, all of whom are dead. Two died when young and the rest were married. None of them lived to be near as old as I am. One of my sisters, Margaret, who married Uriah Blackburn, and was the last to die, was about 80 years of age at her death.
"I have been married twice. Levi Charles [Childs] was my first husband. He died when young; it's been so long ago that I cannot remember the time. Thomas Fulton, my second husband, died about 1852.
"The first education I received was at home. For some winters my father employed a Quaker instructor, Isaac Badger, who came to our house and instructed us in the branches of learning taught in those days. I remember well when the year 1800 came in, for our teacher told us to write it at the top of the page of our copy books. Yes, I recollect when George Washington died. When the war of 1812 transpired I remember a company of soldiers who left Rising Sun and joined the army.
"During Lafayette's visit to this country in 1824 it was the custom of the girls and women of my neighborhood to wear Lafayette caps. They were generally made of calico and looked quite pretty. No, I never rode in the cars, but have seen them often.
"When I was young all traveling was done in sail boats and stages. To go to Baltimore by water over 70 years since we went to Port Deposit, which at that time was composed of only two buildings, John Creswell kept tavern in one and John Reynolds a store in the other.
"The commander of the sail boat was Captain Gilmore, who was a kind, clever gentleman and always looked after the comfort of his passengers. The boat was not very large and had but one apartment and each person had to take their provisions with them. I recollect on one trip the wind was contrary and we spent two days and two nights on the water before Baltimore was reached. The price of the trip was two dollars if I remember right. I was in Baltimore when the first steamboat was launched and of course everybody thought it a wonderful thing.
"Many years ago Charlestown, not far from North East, was a place of importance. The mail was carried from there to Rising Sun and the carrier charged 25 cents for each letter he delivered at the latter place. Then hardly one family in ten would get a newspaper and to receive a letter was considered a big event. Each spring and fall a fair was held at Charlestown. People from all parts of the country would flock to it and buy hats, bonnets, ribbons, shawls and other things.
"When I was a girl we used to mix corn meal and spread it on a board which was placed before the big open fireplace and let it bake. This was called johnnycake.
"In the winter evenings we did not sit down and wait for beaux to come and take us sleighing as the girls do nowadays. We placed three large spinning wheels in a row and we would sit and spin by the light of the pine knots. When the beaux came we would get up and give them chairs and I know more than one chap must have got some flax on his clothes while we were spinning. I have my wheel up in the garret now and sometimes I feel like having it brought down stairs to rig it up and show the young folks how we made linen in my girlhood days. Many a time I have spun twelve cuts of flax a day, which was considered a good day's work.
"I heard you had something in the paper about old Bill Cato, the fiddler. Many a time I've been on the floor when he was playing and no party was complete without him.
"Politically I have always been a Democrat, but of course, being a woman, I could only talk.
"I am one of the oldest members of Mt. Olivet M. P. Church, which is not very far away, but have not attended there for some time. I do not know why I am so old. Some people say it's because I took the world easy and had no children to raise, but I think it's an act of Providence. I cannot hear so sharp or see so well, but I have substitutes for my hearing and seeing and often think of the blessings God has granted me."
I withdrew from the pleasant presence of this cheerful, interesting and devout old lady feeling that it was a benison to see her face, hear her voice and receive her parting benediction: "Farewell. God bless you. I wish you a long and happy life."
Amelia died February 17, 1887, at the age of 98, and was buried in the Friends Burying Ground at West Nottingham.
John Coulson's will was recorded in Cecil County, Maryland, and contains some interesting bequests, a few of which indicate that he felt he had already given enough to some of his children. It reads as follows:
Will of John Coulson
of Cecil County, Maryland14 April 1812
I John Coulson of West Nottingham hundred in Cecil County and State of Maryland being of sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of the continuation of this life do make this my last will in manner and form following: First I order my just debts and funeral expenses to be forfeited and satisfied out of my estate by my Executors hereafter named.
Item, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Rachel Coulson a full part of all my personal Estate after debts are paid during her natural life with the whole of the profits and incomes arising from this my plantation I now live upon during her natural life or widowhood.
Item, I order and it is my will that the Plantation whereon my son Abner Coulson lives shall be sold in one year after my decease by my Executors. One half of the money arising from the sale thereof I give unto my said son Abner, hereby empowering my Executor to make a clear and indisputable title for the same, and as there are accounts standing betwixt me and my son Abner, which remain unsettled, it is my prospect and intention that if he quietly accepts the above Legacy so bequeathed to him without insisting on, or claiming any further against my Estate, then it is my Will that all my Book accounts against him shall not be claimed or insisted on, but that the said moiety or half value of said Plantation arising from the sale aforesaid shall be his share of my Estate and shall clear all accounts on both sides.
Item, I have given unto my son George Coulson one dollar hereby authorizing my Executors to make a deed of the lot of ground and yard whereupon he lives his only paying and fulfilling the conditions mentioned in the Articles of Agreement relative to the said premises.
Item, I give and devise unto my son Eli Coulson and to his heirs and assigns one hundred and twenty-five acres to be laid off the south end of this my Plantation by a line running East and West and also a piece of timber land adjoining the meeting house lot to be laid off by a line beginning at the South East Corner of the said lot and running southerly and parallel with the great Road to the line of George's Lott thence with his line to the said road. And if my son Eli should marry and incline to settle it is my desire that he may rent or crop the Place rendering to his mother her equitable and just share thereof during her life. And as to the remaining part of this my plantation it is my will and I order the same to be sold by my Executors in one year after my wife's decease to the highest bidder and do authorize and empower them or the Survivor of them to make and execute a Deed or Deeds for the same as good in Law to all intents and purposes as I myself could do, and the money arising from the sale thereof I order my Executors to divide into nine equal shares and to pay to my two sons Thomas and John Coulson each of them two of these shares and to my five daughters, Letitia, Margaret, Cassandra, Amelia and Levina each of them one full equal ninth part of the said money.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my son Isaacher Coulson the sum of four hundred dollars lawful money of the United States of America, the said Legacy to be paid in three equal annual Payments. The first shall be paid in nine months after the Sale of the Tract of Land Abner lives on the said sum of money to be in lieu of all Demand and [illegible] all accounts between us.
Item, as to the remaining two-thirds part of my personal Estate it is my will and I order the same to be divided into five equal parts and that my daughter Letitia shall receive and be entitled to one and a fourth parts thereof and the other three and three fourths parts I order to be equally divided between Margaret, Cassandra, Amelia and Levinia, and my black girl Jane, I leave hereto to my beloved wife during her minority, if they live so long, but if my wife shall die before she is eighteen years old, then she shall be the property of my daughter Letitia.
Lastly, I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my two sons Isaacher Coulson and Eli Coulson Executors of this my last will hereby revoking all former written wills by me made; confirming this and none other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have set my hand and affix my seal hereunto this twenty second day of the ninth month in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and Eight.
John Coulson Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said John Coulson to be his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us
John Brown, Thomas Richard, Lewis Worthington
Cecil County April 14th 1812 there came John Brown Thomas Richard and Lewis Worthington the then subscribing Witnesses before the Justice of the Orphan Court for Said County in Court Sitting and the same witnesses being of the people called Quakers solemnly sincerely and truly affirmed that they heard him publish pronounce and declare the same to be his last will and testament, that at this time of his so doing he was to the best of their assumptions of a sound and disposing mind memory and understanding and that they severally subscribed their respective names as witnesses.
- - - - - Cecil County Wills, Maryland
No. 7 1810 - 20
John's bequest of his "black girl Jane" appears to indicate that Jane will be emancipated once she turns 18, as it speaks only to what is to be done with Jane in the event that she is under the age of eighteen.
WILLIAM COULSON was born in 1739 at West Nottingham, Cecil County, Maryland and died in 1797 in Greene County, Tennessee, at the approximate age of fifty-eight. He married ELIZABETH SIDWELL "out of meeting" and was disowned from membership in the Society of Friends.
WILLIAM COULSON and ELIZABETH SIDWELL were the parents of the following children:
The children named here and the order in which they were born is taken from the record of Irene Coulson Johnston. Henry J. Coulson differs from her recital in that the last (sixth) child is referred to as Sarah instead of Elizabeth, although he also recites that this child married Andrew English. It may be that her name was Sarah Elizabeth or Elizabeth Sarah or there may have been another daughter. Henry J. Coulson also reports that Sarah, or Elizabeth, was "old" when she married Andrew English. He died and she moved "home" and died at the residence of her brother, Elijah Coulson.
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