Fulton County History and Information

Created on April 19, 1851, from part of Bedford County and named for Robert Fulton, the inventor who pioneered in the use of the steamboat. McConnellsburg, the county seat, was named for Daniel McConnell who laid it out in 1786. It was incorporated as a borough on March 26, 1814.

Because the first settlers were trespassers, violence characterized the early years of the society in this area. Both Indians and proprietary officials harried them. The area that became the county was included in the 1754 Albany Purchase from the Indians. The Great and Little Coves, which make up most of the county, lay along the Forbes Road and that brought an early prosperity. Gristmills and tanneries were successful. But the Main Line Canal and the Pennsylvania Railroad route bypassed Fulton and isolation resulted. Fulton never established railroad contact with outside markets and was a remote area until the Pennsylvania Turnpike appeared in 1940. The timber industry was strong until about 1930. Much of the county is now held as state forests, parks, and game lands. Thirty-six percent of the area is farmed, although agricultural cash receipts are relatively low. Manufacturing, especially of hydraulic equipment, employs many, but others commute to jobs outside Fulton. See Extended History for more Information

Counties that are adjacent to Fulton County are Huntingdon County (north), Franklin County (east), Washington County, Maryland (south), Allegany County, Maryland (southwest), Bedford County (west)

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. See the County Maps & Atlases section below for Map of Fulton County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Boroughs, Townships, and Census-designated places. The following Cities, boroughs and townships can be found in Fulton County:

• Boroughs that reside in Fulton County are McConnellsburg, Valley-Hi
• Townships that reside in Fulton County are Ayr, Belfast, Bethel, Brush Creek, Dublin, Licking Creek, Taylor, Thompson, Todd, Union, Wells

The Official County website is http://www.fultoncntypa.org

• Fulton County, Pennsylvania History Books at Amazon.com
• Pennsylvania Archives (Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents from The Pennsylvania State Archives which published 10 series of historical records in 135 volumes, covering the initial colonial settlement through the Civil War. More than 100,000 pages from 1664–1880. If you're interested in Pennsylvania history and want information relating to historical events, facts about ancestors, or original documents to support a research paper, the Pennsylvania Archives is an important publication to explore. THIS IS A FREE DATABASE
• Fulton County Municipalities Incorporation Dates
• Search Historical Newspapers from Pennsylvania (1719 - 1997) - Quickly find names and keywords in over 125 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements and other items published in more than 500,000 issues of over 2,500 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added monthly!
• Family History Library - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.
• Stories, Memories & Histories - Stories and histories compiled by others researching a person or area can be an amazing source of information about your ancestors. Not only do they generally contain dates and places of vital events like birth, marriage, and death, but they often relate stories and memories that help you really get to know the character of your ancestors.

Fulton County Court Records

See Also Pennsylvania Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

PLEASE READ FIRST!!!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

Fulton County Register of Wills/ Orphan's Court Clerk has Marriage Records from 1851 and Probate Records from 1851 and is located at 201 North Second Street, McConnellsburg, PA 17233; (717) 485-4212.

The Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphan's Court is an elected official who serves as a dual officeholder and whose primary function is to determine whether the document offered for probate should be received as the last will of the decedent. When disputes arise at the time of probate, the Register, as a quasi-judicial officer, is empowered to hold hearings, take testimony, review evidence and render decisions on how the administration of the estate shall proceed.

Fulton County Recorder of Deeds has Land Records from 1850 and is located at 201 North Second Street, McConnellsburg, PA 17233; (717) 485-4212.

The Recorder of Deeds is responsible for recording documents related to property. Documents recorded in the office consist of, but are not limited to, deeds, mortgages, releases, easements (rights-of-way), subdivisions, restrictions, notaries, public and elected county officers. Other documents, such as Military Service Discharges, foreign birth certificates, as well as obscure documents like cattle brands, arealso recorded here. All document, except Military Service Discharges, are public record and are readily available.

Fulton County Prothonotary / Clerk of Courts has Court Records from 1851 and is located at 201 North Second Street, McConnellsburg, PA 17233; (717) 485-4212.

The prothonotary has been the clerk of court of common pleas since 1707. Court records here include divorces, naturalizations, peddlers' licenses, registration of attorneys, oaths of county officers, equity, sheriff's sales, juror lists, some tax records, and some civil court records. Other court records are with the clerk of courts.

Below is a list of online resources for Fulton County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Fulton County Court Records by clicking the link below:

• Naturalization Petitions for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1795-1930(The National Archives): These are Naturalization Records of the US Circuit Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. They include petitions for naturalization, 1795-1930; and declarations of intent, 1793-1818, and 1825-1836. There are some years missing from this publication within those time periods.
• Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. Circuit and District Courts for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1906-1930 (The National Archives): These petitions are arranged by court then by year. Within each year, they are listed by the date of the record and then by petitioner's name. Typing a name in the search box directly below this title may bring the best results. Additional years prior to 1906 are also included in these naturalization records for Pennsylvania's middle district.
• Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. District Court, 1820-1930, and Circuit Court, 1820-1911, for the Western District of Pennsylvania (The National Archives): These files contain declarations of intent and petitions for naturalization for the Western District of Pennsylvania, arranged by date, October 1820 through September 26, 1906. They also include records of the US Circuit Court, July 1910-1911, listed by petition number, from 1 to 1,616; and records of the US District Court, October 1, 1906 through January 27, 1931, listed by petition number, from 1 to 91,300.
• Pennsylvania Marriages to 1790
• Pennsylvania Marriages to 1810
• Pennsylvania Naturalizations, 1740-73
• Philadelphia, 1789-1880 Naturalization Records
• Early Pennsylvania Land Records
• Fulton County, Pennsylvania Court Books at Amazon.com
• Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
• Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.

Fulton County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Pennsylvania

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Birth & Death Certificates before 1906: Pennsylvania birth & death records prior to 1906 can be accessed through the Fulton County courthouse. The Division of Vital Records does not keep this information. Please write or call to Fulton County Courthouse, 201 North Second Street, McConnellsburg, PA 17233; (717) 485-4212. Courthouse has Birth records from 1895-1905, Death Records from 1895-1905

Vital Records, State Dept of Health, P.O. Box 1528, 101 South Mercer Street, New Castle, PA 16101; (724) 656-3100, Fax: (724) 652-8951, Please allow up to approximately 4-6 weeks for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail. They have the following records:

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• Birth & Death Certificates: Birth records maintained by Pennsylvania Vital Records since Jan 1906 through the present.
• Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Marriage & Divorce records are not available from the Division of Vital Records. They are usually obtained from the Fulton County Courthouse (If they were issued there).
• Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.

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Cost: Include $10.00 fee per copy, $17.00 (by fax) for Birth records and Include $9.00 fee per copy, $16.00 (by fax) for Death Records. Please do not send cash. Make check or money order payable to “Vital Records." Please do not send cash in the mail.

Order In Person:You may apply in person at one of our six public offices in Erie, Harrisburg, New Castle, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh or Scranton

Order By Mail: Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the "Vital Records " along with the necessary information to the following address:Vital Records, State Dept of Health, P.O. Box 1528, 101 South Mercer Street, New Castle, PA 16101. Birth Certificate by Mail Order Form , Death Certificate by Mail Order Form. Allow 4-6 weeks when ordering by mail.

Below is a list of online resources for Fulton County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Fulton County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

• VitalChek Express Certificate Service - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
• Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
• Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Pennsylvania newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
• Fulton County, Pennsylvania Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
• Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.

Fulton County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Pennsylvania

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Fulton County, Pennsylvania are 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. For the 1910 Miracode, Philadelphia County is indexed apart from the rest of the commonwealth. After it was filmed by the National Archives, the 1880 census was sent to the University of Pittsburgh. The state copies of the 1840–70 censuses are no longer extant, but a few county copies are known to exist. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Fulton County, Pennsylvania areIndustry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1860, 1870 and 1880. Union Veterans Schedules were conducted in 1890.

There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms

State Schedules: Pennsylvania took no state censuses, but an enumeration of taxpayers compiled every seven years from 1779 through 1863 is commonly called the Septennial Census. These records have only survived in small numbers and are available at the state archives.

Below is a list of online resources for Fulton County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Fulton County Census Records by clicking the link below:

• Fulton County, Pennsylvania Census Books at Amazon.com
• Pennsylvania Census, 1772-1890: This collection contains the following indexes: 1772 Tax List (Northampton County); 1790 Federal Census Index; 1800 Federal Census Index; 1810 Federal Census Index; 1820 Federal Census Index; 1830 Federal Census Index; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1842 Chester County Census Index; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1857 Chester County Census Index; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1870 Federal Census Index; 1890 Naval Veterans Schedule; Early Census Records.
• Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.

Fulton County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Pennsylvania Antique Maps & Atlases has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Pennsylvania and other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Pennsylvania showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps

You can view rotating animated maps for Pennsylvania showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries . You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at County Maps. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect... free for viewing or download here

Below is a list of online resources for Fulton County Maps. Email us with websites containing Fulton County Maps by clicking the link below:

• Map of Fulton County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).
• Fulton County, Pennsylvania Map Books at Amazon.com
• Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers - Maps are an invaluable part of family history research, especially if you live far from where your ancestor lived. Because political boundaries often changed, historic maps are critical in helping you discover the precise location of your ancestor's hometown, what land they owned, who their neighbors were, and more.

Fulton County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Pennsylvania

Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design. A list of Wars fought on American.

Below is a list of online resources for Fulton County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Fulton County Military Records by clicking the link below:

• Southern Claims Commission from the State of Pennsylvania (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings.
• Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900 from the State of Pennsylvania (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
• Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67 from the State of Pennsylvania (The National Archives): NARA M1003. View, Print Copy & Save Original Applications for pardon submitted to President Andrew Johnson, 1865-67, by former Confederates excluded from earlier amnesty proclamations.
• Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 from the State of Pennsylvania (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
• Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War from the State of Pennsylvania (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M881. Compiled service records of soldiers who served in the American Army during the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783 from the State of Pennsylvania.
• Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files from the State of Pennsylvania (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, from NARA publication M804.
• List of Pennsylvania Units in the Revolutionary War
• List of Pennsylvania Units in the Civil War
• Pennsylvania Society of Daughters of the American Revolution
• National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution,
• Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the American Revolution,
• National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, 1000 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203; (502) 589-1776
• Pennsylvania Pensioners, 1835: This database identifies thousands of Pennsylvania soldiers who were covered under various pension acts in the early 1800s.
• Pennsylvania Volunteers in the War of 1812: Compiled from the Pennsylvania Archives collection, this database is a listing of soldiers who volunteered to fight the British during the War of 1812.
• Fulton County, Pennsylvania Military Books at Amazon.com
• Military - The men and women called to serve their country in military duty are a source of pride to their families and to their nation. Now, with databases containing more than 16 million names and thousands of government records available to search, researching your veteran ancestors has become easier than ever before.

Fulton County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

Late eighteenth-century tax records for various counties, 1765–1791, were published in Pennsylvania Archives, 3d series, vols. 11–32.

Among the few surviving 1798 U.S. Direct Tax lists are those for Pennsylvania. They were microfilmed by the National Archives and are available at the Mid-Atlantic Region in Philadelphia and at the Pennsylvania State Archives. Indexes have been published for Washington and Lancaster counties.

Tax records are typically found in the county tax assessment offices but may also be in the county commissioners' office or with the prothonotary. The state archives has microfilms for some of these records (1715–1930s). Some assessment records have found their way into manuscript collections of county historical societies and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania as well as at the Philadelphia City Archives.

Below is a list of online resources for Fulton County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Fulton County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

• Fulton County, Pennsylvania Tax Books at Amazon.com

Fulton County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Pennsylvania Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Fulton County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Fulton County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

• Fulton County Historical Society, P.O. Box 115, McConnellsburg, PA 17233
• The Pennsylvania Archives Online
  As one of the original 13 colonies, Pennsylvania played an important part in our nation's early history. Many significant records were created and kept by Pennsylvania, as Philadelphia was both the site of the Continental Congress and the largest port of the time. Many of those early documents, and others through the 1800s, were transcribed into the published Pennsylvania Archives. These volumes should not be confused with the repository in Harrisburg where official colonial and state records are kept. The images here are pages from the 138-volume, 10-series set of the well-known collection of early government records transcribed and printed by the Commonwealth. The Pennsylvania Archives has been relied upon by scholars, genealogists, and historians for valuable historical information for over a century. The only online availability of virtually all of the Pennsylvania Archives is here, with free access, on Footnote.com.
• Bureau of Archives and History, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
  William Penn Memorial Museum and Archives Building
  3rd Avenue and Forster Street, P.O. Box 1026, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1026
  Referred to as the Pennsylvania State Archives
• State Library of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Avenue and Walnut Street, P.O. Box 1601, Harrisburg, PA 17105-1601
• Historical Society Of Pennsylvania. 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107; Phone: 215-732-6200, Fax: 215-732-2680
• Genealogical Society Of Pennsylvania
  215 S. Broad St., 7th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107-5325; Phone: (215) 545-0391, Fax: (215) 545-0936; EMAIL
• Directory of Pennsylvania Genealogical, Historical and Preservation Societies
• Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
• Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
• Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com

Fulton County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Pennsylvania

Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Fulton County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Fulton County Tombstone Transcription Project.

The Historical Records Survey produced an inventory of the church archives in Pennsylvania, but it was never published. Arranged by county, the inventory is located in the state archives. A good number of church records have been published individually and in periodicals such as The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine. Many copies exist in manuscript at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Library (DAR collection), and in other libraries. A good portion of the published material concerns German churches and Quaker meetings.

Large collections of cemetery records are located at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, and at many local libraries and historical societies. The Pennsylvania State Library maintains the state's DAR cemetery collection. Several funeral director records for Philadelphia are in the Collections of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania State Department of Military Affairs has records of veterans' graves and burials. The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania is currently in the process of microfilming cemetery records throughout the commonwealth.

Below is a list of online resources for Fulton County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Fulton County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

• Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of Pennsylvania obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a Pennsylvania newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers from Pennsylvania.
• Fulton County, Pennsylvania Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
• Fulton County, Pennsylvania Church Books at Amazon.com

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Fulton County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Fulton County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

• Search for Local Pennsylvania Researchers or Earn Money by becoming a Local Pennsylvania Researcher!
• Search 60 Years Of Everton Data : For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
• Search the Family Tree DNA Project- Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
• Sites on USGenweb: [ Fulton County ] [ Pennsylvania ] [ Main Page ]
• [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards]
• Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
• Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
• The Pennsylvania Family Group Sheet Project
• Family Trees - Ancestry has thousands of family trees shared by other members. They can help you identify how ancestors are related and give you clues about birth, marriage, and death information. Family trees are an excellent resource for filling in gaps in your research or even to simply know where to begin.
• Pictures - One of the more exciting discoveries in doing family history research is finding a photograph of your ancestors or their residence. Finding historic postcard photos and drawings of towns and important events throughout history can also give you a visual look into your ancestors lives.
• Reference Materials & Finding Aids - Reference materials, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other how-to books, can be tremendously helpful in finding and interpreting historical documents. Many of these books can help you learn where to look for more information and how to use what you've already found to uncover more clues.
• Fulton County, Pennsylvania Family Books at Amazon.com

Extended History

 

Settlement of Fulton County began as early as 1719 and was influenced by the settlement patterns of our first pioneers.

By 1850, many residents of this region wished to create a new county from the eastern edge of Bedford County. The original draft of the Pennsylvania House of Representative bill provided that the new county be named Liberty; however, the passage of the bill in the Senate depended upon the action of Senator Parker of Lycoming County. He agreed to support the bill provided he be allowed to name the county. This proposition was accepted, and thus on April 19, 1850 the new county became Fulton instead of Liberty. The name was chosen in recognition of Robert Fulton of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, inventor of the steamboat.

In the 1740’s Adam McConnell and his three sons settled in the Great Cove of Fulton County, having followed the pack horse trail from Lancaster. The first public road through Fulton County was established by son William McConnell in 1761, and amounted to a bridle path from Cove Gap to join Forbes Road near Breezewood. Today Routes 16 and 30 (the Lincoln Highway) follow this early road.

Daniel McConnell deeded land for the town of McConnellsburg in 1786, which later became the seat of government for rural Fulton County. McConnellsburg is nestled in the heart of the picturesque Great Cove, and this delightful small town of about 1200 folks found itself as a stopping place on the main route to the great west from Philadelphia. The town developed around the road, and its growth throughout the 18th and 19th centuries flourished as the road grew in importance. The creation of the Lincoln Highway in 1914 brought further significance to the road, and new prestige to McConnellsburg as the nation’s first transcontinental paved highway became the town’s “Main Street”.

McConnellsburg’s historic district was recognized by the United States Department of the Interior in 1993 when it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The district consists of 144 structures that contribute to its historic character. Of notable meaning are the numerous taverns, inns, automotive garages and other travel-related structures still in existence today, which includes Daniel McConnell’s original log home.

The original rural nature of Fulton County’s 438 square miles is still preserved today as confirmed by the United States Census Bureau which lists the county population in 1885 as 7,564, while in 2000 our folks numbered 14,261. Fulton County offers an escape from today’s faster-paced, more hectic way of life. Our gently rolling mountains and green fertile valleys provide a quiet, peaceful environment for numerous recreational opportunities. We enjoy over 50,000 acres of Pennsylvania State Forest land with lakes and streams that are replete with game and fish. Hunting, fishing, cycling, hiking, boating, camping, swimming, golfing, and hang-gliding are some of the popular outdoor and family activities available.

Fulton County is also centrally located in southern Pennsylvania with easy accessibility to Interstate Routes 68, 70 and 81 plus the Pennsylvania Turnpike. We are within 2 hours driving of Harrisburg, PA, Baltimore, MD, and Washington, DC, and within 3 hours of Pittsburgh, PA and Philadelphia, PA.