by La Neil Fulbright

I believe that Andreas Volprecht is my direct ancestor. He arrived from Germany in 1764 on the ship "Sarah." Andreas appeared to just disappear, never to be heard from again, but I now believe he was the Andrew Volprecht who attended the Dryland Church in Hecktown, Pennsylvania on Pentecost Sunday in 1765. Also, in attendance was John William Volbrecht and his wife Christina.

The first record of Andrew in North Carolina lists him as a Sergeant in the Rowen County militia. He participated in the Cherokee Expedition of 1776. Andrew applied for a land grant of 640 acres in 1778, but his name was crossed out and William was inserted in the final warrant dated 19 October 1778. From this I assume that Andrew was William's father.

William died intestate about 1803. Through court proceedings we know his wife's name was Barbary. His children were Andrew, Jacob (Jake), William, John, Mary, Elizabeth, Barbara, Sarah and Catherine.

Before Williams's estate was settled, Jake migrated to Arkansas. He paid taxes in 1825 in Independence County, Arkansas Territory. In 1832, Barbary, Jake's mother, came to Arkansas with her daughter Elizabeth, and Elizabethts husband Samuel Moser. Also, Jake s brother William, who was unmarried, migrated to Arkansas. William died in 1840. His mother was his only heir.

When Barbary died in 1843, we learned the names of her other children which confirmed William, who died in 1803, was husband and the father of Jake.

Jake was born about 1786 in North Carolina. He paid taxes in Lincoln Co., NC in 1819. He was listed as a wagonmaker on the Lincoln Co., NC tax list. In 1825, he paid taxes in the Arkansas Territory.

Jake and his wife, Susan (probably Moser) had 10 children. William, Andrew, Joseph Washington (known as Grandpap), John, Sarah (Sally) and Susan were born in North Carolina. Jacob, Jr., Mary Ann, Catherine, and Elizabeth were born in Arkansas.

By 1860, Jake's wife Susan had died, and he lived with his son Jacob, Jr. Jacob, Jr. is said to have been killed by Jayhawkers 8 May 1861. Jake lived with his son, Grandpap, in 1870.

Grandpap was born in 1819 in Lincoln Co., NC. His wife Susan Moser was born the same year. Grandpap moved to Independence Co., in the Arkansas Territory, by 1825. Susan arrived in the early 1830's. They married 23 November 1841. Their children were Louisa A., Joseph Washington (Wash), Nancy Jane, John, Thomas, Mary, and Richard.

Grandpap was a farmer and wagon maker. He was a skilled blacksmith. Sometimes he manufactured 8 wagons a week. They were fine wagons of the same type manufactured in Springfield, Missouri and called "Springfield" wagons.

Susan died after 1880. Joseph remarried, 5 February 1892, to Sallie Brown, a woman with a strong Dutch accent. She was age 55. He was 70. Grandpap was living with a son when he died at age 92.

Joseph Washington (Wash) Fulbright was born 23 December 1844 in Independence Co., AR. He was a son of Joseph Washington (Grandpap) Fulbright and Susan (Moser) Fulbright. His brothers and sisters were Louisa, Nancy Jane, John, Thomas, Mary, and Richard. When he was about 17 years old be was called to serve in the Confederate Army. He was assigned to the mess wagon. As soon as the war was over, he married Amanda Barnes. They were married 12 October 1865 in Independence County. Sometime after 1880 he changed his name to George Washington, because the postman got his mail mixed up with his father s.

Wash and Amanda Fulbright had 8 boys and 3 girls:

I have much more information about the Fulbrights of Arkansas. I will be glad to share it with anyone who is interested.