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| Examples of Ships of the 1740's and 1750's |
The ship: "DRAGON", Georg Spencer, Master, from Rotterdam, Holland,
last from Deal, England. With foreigners from the Palatinate and Zweibrücken, it arrived in port in Philadelphia Pennsylvania - Sept. 26, 1749, carrying 563 passengers.
On board was one, Johann Martin Kolter - age 19. He adopted the anglicized name - Martin Coulter.
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| Port of Philadelphia Pennsylvania 1752 |
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| Lillian, school teacher and librarian |
Except for my italics to clarify
which member is named,
this account below was handwritten by
Lillian Lee Taylor Lowe Brown Grochow,
in the year 1977.
Lillian Lee Taylor Lowe Brown Grochow,
in the year 1977.
Lillian was the mother of William Thomas Lowe,
my father.
my father.
The Coulter Family of Catawba County, No. Carolina
Martin Coulter, the pioneer, was born in 1730, in the Palatinate. Concerning his birthplace, his great granddaughter, Dorcas Ann Coulter (Mrs. Thomas [Lafayette] Lowe) said, "He came from Germany along near the Swiss border; perhaps from the Swiss side, but I think from the German side." [note Dorcas Ann Coulter is Tom [Thomas Lee born 1887] Lowe's grandmother Lowe.]
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| Zweibrücken in Rhineland-Palatinate, now Germany, 19th century painting |
He married Catharine Rosanna Boone, born in 1733, in Pennsylvania, the second child of Joseph and Catharine Boone, and came to North Carolina with his bride in 1750. On May 1, 1750, Squire Boone headed the "Boone Caravan" down the Shenandoah Valley and into North Carolina. Doubtless Martin and his wife were in the group piloted by her uncle to lands along the eastern side of the Yadkin River.
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| North Carolina Colony, c. 1755 |
Where the Martin Coulters lived for the first few years in North Carolina is not known. He was a tailor and he probably followed this trade for a time in the neighborhood of the home settlement near Mockville, N. Carolina, or in Salisbury, N.C.
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| Catawbaw River to Yadkin River, Salisbury center, c. 1770 |
There is no record of a home or ownership of land in the Rowan County Register or Deeds office. His first grant of land on which he built his permanent home was for 520 acres from the British Crown: April 6, 1765; his second: for 148 acres May 4, 1769; and his third for 7 1/2 acres: from the State of North Carolina, 1791. These tracts of land all joined making one continuous plantation. His western line was the meandering of the South Fork River, from a point not far below the junction of Henry's Fork and Jacob's Fork, southward to near the present Rocky Ford bridge.
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| Junction of Henry's Fork, Jacob's Fork, and South Fork, N 35° 38.162 W 081° 18.496 North Carolina |
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| His plantation began at the junction of Henry's and Jacob's Forks, south to Rocky Ford Bridge, and the western border was the South Fork of the Catawba River |
His first log house was built over a spring to insure a supply of water during hours of danger from Indians. Later a loghouse was built near the site of the house occupied by Elkanah Coulter. This latter site is marked "Mrs. Lowe" on Yoder's Map. The first house was in the creek valley about 1/4 mile to the west.
Martin Coulter was a progressive citizen as evidenced by the fact that he and William Deed, Nicholas Fry, Peter Ikerd, John Deed and four other men in 1773 purchased a tract of land from Philip Henry Greader, schoolmaster, the land having a schoolhouse, thereon, a condition of the purchase being these men would see that a school for the public was conducted. The site of this pioneer school building was on a small branch that falls into Sigmon Creek, about 1/2 mile above the bridge on which Highway 321 crosses the creek about one mile southeast of Newton.
He and his family were ardent patriots in the Revolutionary War. His great granddaughter, Mrs. Thomas [Lafayette] Lowe told of the great interest with which she often listened to her grandfather (Martin Coulter, Jr.) tell of his or his father's experiences in the war and of the anxiety they, at times, felt for the success of the colonies. How about the year, 1780, the father, though past military age, went with his sons, to the front and joined the ranks. Particularly voiced was the recollection of the description of an encounter with some of Cornwallis' men, in which his father came perilously near being captured. [note this Mrs. Lowe is Tom [Thomas Lee born 1887] Lowe's grandmother]
Other records indicate that he was in Major Chronicle's command at the Battle of King's Mountain Oct. 7, 1780. After the Battle of Cowpens, Jan 17, 1781, General Morgan ordered Colonel Samuel Hammond to take a detachment and keep track of Cornwallis movements. With 12 picked men he observed the march of the British Army and while the British were encamped at Ramsour's Mill, Jan 25, 1781. Colonel Hammond made his headquarters at Martin Coulter's place.
In addition to land grants mentioned, above, the records show that he both bought and sold land. When he divided his property between his sons, Martin Jr. and Philip in 1787, he owned 800 acres. [note Martin Coulter Jr., was Tom [Thomas Lee born 1887] Lowe's, grandmother Lowe's, great grandfather.]
He and his family were members of the German Reformed Church. He died in 1805 and is buried in the family burial ground atop a knoll over-looking the South Fork River, a few hundred yards south of his first home place. His wife, Catharine Rosanna Boone Coulter, lived until 1813. She is buried beside her husband.
Catharine Rosanna Boone was the daughter of Joseph Boone - This Joseph Boone was son of George Boone III who came from England and settled in Pennsylvania in 1717. Joseph was a brother of Squire Boone, the father of Col. Daniel Boone. Therefore, the wife of Martin Coulter, Sr. pioneer, was a first cousin of Daniel Boone. [Thus the end of Lillian's sketch regarding Martin Coulter, Sr.]
Further Research on the Coulter Family has brought forth more information on the German Community, Church locations and the Coulters involvement.
THE HICKORY CHARGE
"Is composed of three congregations, Hickory, Bethel
and Grace, all on the South Fork of the Catawba
River. Of these churches only one is a union
church, viz.: Grace. This place of worship
is, perhaps, ten miles North-west of Lincolnton,
in a community thoroughly German. About here it
was the Yoders, Coulters, Reinhardts, Ramsaurs,
Warlicks, Shufords, Wilfongs and Weidners had settled. It was for many years the most
prosperous and intelligent Reformed congregation in the State. But
owing to removals by death and dismissions to
form other Reformed Churches, it has been very
greatly reduced in number. Its early house of worship was, as
common in this colony, of logs, and it was not until 1851
that this edifice, dear to the fathers, was made
to give place to a neat brick house where the
descendants of those good men who, in the wilderness, laid the
foundation of the State and church, still worship
after the fashion of the churches of the
Reformation." |
| Grace Union Church and Cemetery, on the Hickory/Lincolnton Hwy. |
THE LINCOLN CHARGE
"This charge is in old Lincoln County now, as well as in old Lincoln County of Revolutionary fame. A large part of this county was settled as early as 1745-'50, when the Germans found Pennsylvania too straight for them and turned their faces to a sunnier and more fertile clime.
Daniels Church.—It may be found about 4½ miles North-west of Lincolnton. It is also a union (Reformed and Lutheran) church. It is one of the older German churches in that region, and dates in origin with St. Paul's. Its members were the Warlicks, Ramsaurs, Coulters, Reeps, etc. No means are found by which to determine who organized this Reformed congregation. Its first permanent pastor was Rev. A. Loretz, who lived quite near, and who sleeps in its ancient and populous grave-yard. A better house of worship is now demanded, and the two parties in the union are about to separate and build their own sanctuaries."
Information on Churches: http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr08-0371#p8-751
As a descendant of Martin Coulter Jr, this is some fantastic information! Thank you for sharing it publicly, and organizing it so well. Would you mind sharing your sources so that I can document this information as fact? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Johnny, Please send an email address where I can answer your questions. Thank you, Cathy Lowe Clark
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