and borne in remembrance the days of his classic studies, we think he would have made the old Welsh to read:

NATIONALITY OF ROBERT FULTON.-Robert Fulton has been selected by the State Commissioners as one of the two Pennsylvanians to represent the Commonwealth in the gallery of statuary at the Capitol in Washington. It is, therefore, proper that all question regarding the land of his nativity should be settled. The following article having appeared in no less authori tative publication than the London Notes and Queries (5th Series, vol. vi. p. 125, 1876) we make no apology for reprinting it, with such evidence as leaves but little doubt of the truth of the American version :—

"The following letter was in a late number of the Glasgow News:-"One of the greatest achievements of the present century is steam navigation. The credit of first successfully proving this belongs to my granduncle, Robert Fulton. Though usually called an American, he was born in the Mill of Beith, in the county of Ayr. In consequence of having offered some torpedo invention to the French, he concealed the fact of his Scottish origin as much as possible, and when last in this country only visited his relatives here by stealth, being afraid that proceedings would be taken against him by the British Government. On that occasion I perfectly remember, as a boy, to have seen him. He married an American lady, Harriet Livingston. He got into pecuniary difficulties in America, and retired to the West Indies, where he died. Others of his relatives, still alive, remember him. I am, etc., "Knows, Lochwinnoch, July, 1876.

JOHN STEVENSON.'

"To this account the News adds some remarks, from which I take the following:-

"Briefly summed up, the American biography is as follows: They say Fulton was born near Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, in 1765. His parents were Irish, his grandfather having immigrated from Tipperary. His father died when he was three years old, leaving his family in poverty. Young Fulton early showed a fondness for painting and mechanics, and was so successful with his pencil that before he was twenty-one he had made enough money to purchase a farm in Pennsylvania for his mother. In 1786 he visited London, and be came the pupil of the celebrated painter, West. In London he made the acquaintance of many distinguished men, such as the Duke of Bridgewater, Earl Stanhope, and others, and gradually diverted his attention from painting to the improvement of machinery. In 1796 he published a treatise on canal navigation. Shortly afterwards he went to Paris, where he made an offer of his invention of the torpedo to the French Government. In 1806 he married the daughter of Mr. Walter Livingston, having previously returned to the United States, where he was successful in introducing steam navigation between New York and Albany. He died February, 1815, leaving four children. "Mr. Lindsay, in the last volume of his History of Merchant Shipping, was the first to make any investigation into the Scottish origin of Fulton. The result of his inquiries produced a very different story. Robert Fulton was born in Beith Parish, in the county of Ayr, in April, 1764. His parents were in comfortable circumstances, and gave their son an excellent education. Through the influence of relatives who had a high position in business in London, he, when quite a young man, went there to complete his studies. From that period to about 1815 the biographies are the same; but at the time when the Ameri

Llanwenog (Lower and Upper), Cardigan, a parish in the hundred of Moyddyn, union of Lampeter, on the river Teife, South Wales; 268 miles from London, 6 from Lampeter, 13 from Newcastle.-Clarke's British Gazetteer, 1852.

can version makes him die, the other account makes him get into pecuniary difficulties in America, brings him to this country, leaves his wife in London, and makes him pay a farewell visit to his relatives in Scotland, and then retire to the West Indies where he died, leaving no family, shortly after 1822. The American story is liable to doubt, even from internal evidence. Fulton is a Scotch, and not an Irish family name. Fulton himself is well known to have been a Presbyterian, which is in favor of the Scottish origin, and against the Irish one: and Henry Bell, who was personally acquainted with Fulton, in one of the letters printed in 1844, distinctly says that he was of Ayrshire origin. J. S.'"

The assertion of Mr. Stevenson is worthy of weight, as it is supposable that a man would know something of his granduncle, and the fact that an individual of the name of Robert Fulton was born about 1764 in the county of Ayr is supported by the investigation of Mr. Lindsay. That the person so named was, however, the inventor, we cannot believe in the light of evidence we have to the contrary, and we are forced to the conclusion that common rumor confused the two men. The argument of Mr. Lindsay or J. S. “ that the American story is liable to doubt from internal evidence" has no weight on the points taken, and only shows how little the person who made it knew of the history of the settlement of Pennsylvania. The locality which the American version states was the birth-place of Robert Fulton was settled by what is known as Scotch-Irish, or Ulster Scot families, and we find to-day all through Lancaster County such names as McIlvain, McNeely, Adair, and others sufficiently Caledonian to leave no doubt of their origin, borne by persons whose ancestors had emigrated from Ireland, and brought with them the love for the Westminster Confession, which their descendants cherish to-day. It is not, however, on such arguments that the connection of the name Fulton with Lancaster County rests. A letter in the possession of Gilbert Cope, of West Chester, Pa., written by the Robert Fulton whom we suppose was the father of the inventor, is dated Lancaster, Aug. 15, 1764. On the 23d of Aug. 1759, Robt. Fulton, Sr., purchased a house at the N. E. corner of Centre Square, in the town of Lancaster, and sold the same Feb. 8, 1765, to Edward Shippen. The same day he purchased at sheriff's sale a farm in Little Britain Township, which was mortgaged to William West, Samuel Purviance, and Joseph Swift; and, on the 29th of Nov. 1766, he and his wife, Mary, conveyed the property to the mortgagees. These facts, which are given by J. Franklin Reigart, the latest biographer of Fulton, appear to be gathered from the office of Recorder of Deeds, Lancaster Co., and prove without question that the name of Fulton existed in that county at the time it is claimed the inventor was born. The life of Fulton by his early and intimate friend, Cadwallader D. Colden, published almost immediately after his death, is the authority for the American version of the inventor's career, and we see no reason to question it, supported as it is in most of its statements. Mr. Colden says that Fulton became a miniature painter, and before he was of age purchased a farm in Washington County, Pa., for his widowed mother. Mr. John D. McKennan, of Washington, Pa., writes to me, that Deed Book C, vol. i. p. 56, of Wash. Co. Record shows that on May 6, 1786, Thomas and Margaret Pollock sold to Robert Fulton, miniature painter of Phila., a farm of 843 acres. Dr. Alfred Creigh, of Washington, Pa., informs me that from original papers in his possession it appears that Robert Fulton purchased three lots, Nos. 4, 218, and 125 in the borough of Washington from John and William Hoge. That on May 20, 1793, he wrote to his sisters "I have sent Mr. Hoge a power of attorney to transfer the

1 A curious document in the Minutes of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania (vol. ix. p. 126), in regard to the killing of the Conestoga Indians, leaves no doubt that one Robert Fulton, a Presbyterian, resided in Lancaster Co., Pa., in 1764.

lots as they may be settled by mutual consent among you, that each person may have writings drawn so as to secure them to their heirs," etc. Dr. Creigh adds that Mrs. David Morris chose lot 4, Mrs. Isabella Cook lot 218, and Mrs. Peggy Scott lot 125; and that he also has a paper of Abraham S. Fulton's, dated July 26, '93, assigning all the right and claim that he may have in the estate of his brother Robert, then living in England, should he die without issue. The will of Robert Fulton the inventor, proved and entered in the Surrogate office in New York City, Feb. 25, 1815, leaves to his brother, Abraham Smith Fulton, three thousand dollars; to his sister, Elizabeth Scott, one thousand dollars, and the farm on which she resided; to Isabella Cook two thousand dollars, and to Mary Morris five hundred dollars, thus connecting the Robert Fulton, miniature painter of Phila., 1786, with the person who died in New York, 1815. The idea that it was not the inventor who died in 1815, but that he went to the West Indies and died childless in 1822 is too preposterous to be entertained for a moment by any one who will read the works of Colden and Reigart. In the former will be found the full account of the last illness of the inventor by Dr. Hosack, who attended him; in the latter his will, in which he makes disposition of the annual profits arising from his steamboats.

F. D. S.

SIR WILLIAM PEPPERRELL.-In the Magazine of American History for August, 1879 (pp. 517-18), some of the descendants of Sir William Pepperrell are spoken of. About twenty-five years ago a Polish gentleman, named Lehmanowski, resided in Philadelphia, where he taught French. His wife was a descendant of Pepperrell. They had in their possession a portrait of him. W. D.

Queries.

"TOMAHAWK."-The origin of this word is in dispute. Webster says it is "Indian; Algonkin tomehagen, Mohegan tumnahegan, Delaware tamoihe can." In Church's History of King Philip's War, 1716, p. 24, it is printed "tomahog." And yet, all these authorities to the contrary notwithstanding, in a small volume published of late years, giving the genealogy of Benjamin West, the distinguished American artist, the following remarkable statement as to the origin of the word is given in apparent good faith: "In the year 1677 or 1678 one Thomas Pearson from England settled in a cave on the west bank of the Delaware River, now below Philadelphia. He was a blacksmith by trade, and it is said wielded the first smith's hammer in Pennsylvania. About the first work done was to make small axes for his Indian neighbours, who in their short way termed him Tom, or Tommy. In their language the word hawk signifies any tool used for cutting. Hence the origin of the word tomahawk." This Pearson was the grandfather of Benjamin West. Webster gives the definition of the word thus: "An Indian weapon, being a wooden club, two feet or more in length, terminating in a heavy knob; applied also to the Indian hatchet." Is there any authority for the connection of the word with Tommy Pearson? Brownsville, Pa.

HORACE EDWIN HAYDEN.

JESSE TORREY.-Where is a biography to be found of this author, who published, in 1817, "A Portraiture of Domestic Slavery in the United States"?

D.

NUTT FAMILY OF PENNA. AND NEW JERSEY.-Woodward, in his history of Bordentown, has mentioned incidentally the family of Nutt of that place. Is any connection known to exist between this family and those mentioned in "the Memorial of Thomas Potts, Jr., by Mrs. Thomas Potts James, 1874," see p. 372? There are but one or two wills in this name recorded in Philadelphia before 1800. I should be glad of any early genealogical data relat ing to the Nutts. WILLIAM JOHN POTTS.

Camden, New Jersey.

แ "SOCKEN ABOVE THE GREAT SWAMP," VIRGINIA.-In an advertisement in the year 1731 I find a place designated thus, which I have been unable to locate, not finding it in the Gazetteer. Can any of your correspondents help me? It may have been of Indian origin, and have various spellings. Camden, New Jersey. WILLIAM JOHN POTTS.

MARGARET COGHLAN.-Can any one inform the undersigned of the career of Mrs. Margaret Coghlan after the publication of her " Memoirs"? She dated these, Dec. 7, 1793. When and where did she die? What was her

subsequent conduct?

Sabine says, "She died a heart-broken woman." Aaron Burr stands charged with her ruin, whilst Parton, his latest biog rapher, denies this. Which statement is correct? COCKED HAT.

Replies.

MAJOR WHITE (vol. viii. p. 236).—I have frequently tried to discover who the Major White was that Watson states died from wounds received at the battle of Germantown. It is incorrect to say that he is not mentioned by either Washington or Sullivan. The letter of the latter to President Weare, Oct. 23, 1777, reads: "We lost some valuable officers, among whom were the brave General Nash, and my two aid-de-camps, Majors Sherburne and White, whose singular bravery must ever do honor to their memories." I think, however, Watson must have confused the antecedents of Sullivan's aid with those of Colonel John White, who commanded the Georgia regiment. An account of the last-named officer will be found in White's Historical Collection of Georgia, p. 367, and in Historical Magazine, vol. ii. p. 181. The latter article is by I. K. T. (I. K. Tefft ?), of Savannah. DRAKE abridges it as follows: "Born in England, d. Va. about 1780. Of Irish parentage. He acquired a fortune as surgeon in the British Navy, and settled in Phila. He entered the Rev. Army as capt., and was soon promoted to Colonel of the 4th Ga. Batt. he was severely wounded at the assault of Spring-hill redoubt, Oct. 9, 1779 (where Pulaski fell), and was obliged to retire from the army," and died soon afterwards in Va. from a pulmonary attack, produced by fatigue and exposure. It seems hardly likely that two persons of the same name, of Irish extraction, should have acquired fortunes, settled in Philada., and both entered the army, the one to command a Georgia regiment, the other to be an aid to a N. Hampshire General. F. D. S.

HERMAN (vol. ii. p. 349).-Ephraim Augustine Herman had two daughters by his first wife, Isabella Trent. Their names were Mary and Catharine. G. J.

SLOOP OF WAR WARREN (vol. iii. p. 117).-The dilapidated vessel "A Subscriber" saw at Panama in 1874, was not the sloop of war Warren, of 32 guns, "burned in the Penobscot in 1779," but one of the same name, of 18 guns, built at Charlestown, Mass., in 1826. The last service this vessel performed, as one of our navy, is thought to have been as Receiving Ship at Panama. She was there in that capacity in 1860. W. A. W.

TOWNSEND WHITE (vol. iii. p. 235).-As one of the descendants of Townsend White, I can give a few facts about him, though I am anxious to learn more. I never heard any of the family claim any relationship to the family of Bishop White. Their attendance at the same church in Philadelphia was simply a coincidence. Townsend White came from Bristol, England, and his parents were Welsh. The arms are three roses and a chevron. He was Warden of Christ Church, Philadelphia, and married a Renaudet of Philadelphia. One daughter married Moore Furman, another daughter William Edgar, and a third daughter William Constable, of N. Y. You will find, on pages 201-202 of the Bartow Genealogy, all that is known of him so far. E. B.

William Constable and Ann White were married by Rev. William White, D.D., Feb. 28, 1782 (Christ Church Records). Ann d. of Townsend and Ann White was born July 15, 1759, and baptized Oct. 10, 1759 (Christ Church Records). A conveyance is on record in Philadelphia of a property on Front and Water Streets from Townsend White, merchant, and Ann his wife, bearing date May 18, 1773, which he had purchased from Joseph Richardson Dec. 26, 1758.

T. H. M.

FRANCES SLOCUM (vol. iii. pp. 115, 238).—We have received several replies to this query, which throw no light on the point under discussion, and only repeat the well-known account of the discovery of Frances Slocum by Colonel Ewing in 1837. ED.