[Editor�s Note: Recently, I got my newsletter from the Gaston-Lincoln (North Carolina) Genealogical Society. Contained therein were transcriptions of road orders (involve maintenance or building of roads) from late 18th and early 19th century Lincoln Co. John and Jacob Fulbright (sons of Johann Wilhelm) had signed one of them. I contacted the transcriber, Kathy Sullivan (a well-known genealogist who researches the area), and asked if she had copies, since I don't have a copy of John's signature. She had done the transcribing from microfilm, and couldn't help me, but she mentioned she had two signatures of Johann Wilhelm "from William Jr.'s estate file". This caught my eye! Thanks to the research of Roger and La Neil Gephart, we only had a form indicating that Christina Fulbright was issued letters of administration on this 1784 file. I asked her to send copies!!

Ms. Sullivan�s transcriptions and the signatures are reproduced below, given to us through her kind permission. The papers were mis-filed in the NC Archives in a file with John Fisher's 1803 estate papers. No wonder none of us had found them!! One document states that Christian [Christina or Christiana] was William Jr.'s "widow". I know some of us had speculated that perhaps Christina was his mother, since that was also her name. The most exciting find is two signatures of Johann Wilhelm Volbrecht. THE SIGNATURES MATCH THE 1740 SIGNATURE OF JOHANN WILHELM ON THE SHIP'S PASSENGER LIST IN PENNSYLVANIA!

While these documents don't answer most of the questions we have about the family, they do give us more information about William Jr. I would also point out that we are NOT POSITIVE THIS IS JOHANN WILHELM�S SON. The terms "Senior" and "Junior" were used in the 18th and 19th centuries to distinguish two men of the same name in the same area, whether they were father and son or not. However, I STRONGLY suspect this is the son of Johann Wilhelm. (John) William and Christina Vollbrecht DID have a son John William, according to Tohickon Reformed Church records, Bedminster Twp., Bucks Co., PA, born Nov. 19 or 20, baptised Nov. 28 or 29, in either 1756 or 1757, with sponsors John William Kehl and Maria Magdalena. Both records appear in the church records, and it is uncertain, but suspected, that this is a pastoral error or correction in the entries. Others have speculated this represents two different children.]

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[No. 1]

1778} William Fulbright Jun.^r to William Fulbright sen.^r D.^r [debtor] in specie
To Cash Lent                                �3.10.0
to Cash Lent                                   3. 0.0
Paid to David Bridges per Order    0. 6.0
[subtotal:]                                       6.16.0
Cr. [credit] by                                 3. 1.8
Ballance                                         3.14.4

October 21st 1784. this day appeared before me William fulbright and made oath, that the above account Debt & Credit is Just and true as it stands stated [signed in German:] Wilhelm Volbrecht
Sworn before me Jno. Alexander

[KGS: This is the same signature as that of the immigrant who qualified 3 December 1740 at Philadelphia Courthouse. See below.]

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[No. 2]

Octr 21st 1784 this day appeared before me William Fulbright Sen^r and made oath that a certain ax and weeding hoe, now in the possession of Christian [sic: Christiana] fulbright Widow is his right & property [signed in German:] Wilhelm Volbrecht
Sworn before me Jno. Alexander

[KGS: This is the same signature as that of the immigrant who qualified 3 December 1740 at Philadelphia Courthouse. See below.]

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[No. 3]

Settlement of The Estate of Wm. Fulbright October 1785

A Return of the Estate of William Fulbright
[This is a list of items sold at vendue. The purchaser�s names are not stated. The articles include a bell, an iron pott, frying pans, cows, calves, mares, a churn, a side of leather, a sickle, three crocks, etc. There are calculations at the bottom that mostly agree with the final audit by the Court; see next page. The figures indicate the vendue produced �36.8.3, there are several deductions, and a balance of �29.17.11.]

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[No. 4]

[undated] A Settlement of the Estate of Wm. Fulbright Decd

The total Amount of the Estate [of] Wm Fulbright Deceased

Cash as per voucher                                     �36. 8.3
for Letters of Administration                             3.14.4
Lawyers fee                                                     0.12.0
to Crier & Clark at vandue                                1. 4.0
for her trouble & Expences                               1. 0.0
                                                                    �12.18.[?]
Ballance that appears to remain in her hands  �23.17.11
[signed:] Jno. Barber Robt Alexander

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Johann Wilhelm Volbrecht [Signature from list of those who qualified at the Court House in Philadelphia, PA, Robert & Alice passengers, December 3, 1740.]

Wilhelm Volbrecht [From No. 1 above] Wilhelm Volbrecht [From No. 2 above]