William Foulks ^2,47,86

   General Notes:

Residence: Founder, around 1800, of Foulkstown, also known as West Union, popularly called Nineva (sin city), now known as Calcuttta. William Foulkes came from Pennsylvania and purchased 200 acres on the site of Calcutta. Donated land about 1810 for Longs Run Presbyterian Church. Church was named for original location along Longs Run. Original Layout of town by Micael Shirtz and William Foulks. Town was later known as Foulkstown, based on the first brick house built in 1802 by William Foulks. Alex NcCoy, Phil. Rauch and a Peter Foulks were neighbors abt.1800. Ref: Combined Atlas of 1870 and 1902, History of Columbiana Co. Ohio.

Biography: Ref: Old Landmarks of Canton and Stark County, Ohio by Danner. Willaim Foulks grew up in Beaver County, Pa. during and after the Revolutionary War. He laid claim to 400 acres of valuable land and was intending to make it his home when a law (Land Act of 1792) was enacted requiring all holders of real estate to perfect their titles to the same. Mr.Foulks did not experience any difficulty as his claim was perfectly valid, but a number of unscrupulous speculators organized (The Pennsylvania Population Company) for the purpose of defrauding settlers out of their holdings, instituted proceedings against him, his place being the most fertile farms in the county.

Compelled to defend his rights, he contested the matter in several law suits which were tried in Phildelphia and each time received a favorable verdict. The land sharks resisted in their persecutions causing such expenses for him that he well-high improvished his family. The federal circuit court following a precedent established by the United States Supreme Court, had decided for the plaintiff and ejection suit brought by the land company against William Foulkes, who had occupied his claim in Beaver County for seventeen years. When a posse of men led by the deputy marshal attempted to dispossess Foulkes, a group of his neighbors fired on the men and one, James Hamilton, was killed. Because of his threat to the marshall and the fact that the shooting occurred on his property, Foulkes was under suspicion for murder.

But facts pointed to another suspect, Nathaniel Eakin.(Ref:"The Planting of Civilization in Western Pennsylvania by Solon J. Buck and Elizabeth Hawthorn Buck, 1939). So it was then that William Foulks moved on to Ohio and built the first Log cabin on the present site of New Lisbon in 1802. Ref; History of Columbiana Co, Ohio,1879.

Military: Served in War of 1812 as Captain of William Foulks Company (from St. Clair Township) in Infantry, 1 Regiment (Andrews') Ohio Militia, Dec.1 1812 to Feb.28, 1813.. Reference: FHL US/Can, 977.183 H2h, History of Columbiana County, Ohio, D.W. Ensign & Co.,1879; Combined Atlas of 1870 and 1902, History of Columbiana, Ohio,p.67. Company Muster Roll, War of 1812. William had served in the MIlitia of Allegheny County, Pa. in 1793 - 1798. Ref: Pennsylvania militia and Military Abstracts.

Occupation: William Foulks was State Representative in 1810 and 1819. He was member of the Lower House of the Ohio General Assmbly 1810-11 and 1811-1812.

B&D: Birth date calculated from his age on tombstone. Buried in Revolutionary War Cemetery, BloomingGrove Twp., Richland County, Ohio, per W. S. Foulks, Jr.

Death: 1832 per M. Foulks chart & Ref: Richland Cty. Cemeterys.

Land: William entered a quarter-section of land from the government in Weller Township, Richland County, Ohio. When William died William, Jr. purchased the interest of the other heirs in the home place. Ref: Centennial Biographical History by A.J. Baughman,P.641.

Land: Ref:"Early Land Records of Wayne County, Ohio", U.S. Land Grants in Wooster Township, 8 Jan. 1821. Ohio Genealogy Library, Mansfield, Ohio. Page 71. William F(o)ulks had 160 acres, Southeast quarter of section 6. Page 78 deed signed 12 Jan 1808, recorded 14 1-31, assignee Robt Moore. William Foulks residence was Columbiana Co.

Land: Ref: The Patriot New Lisbon, May 14, 1825. William Foulks placed an advertisment For Sale his farm in St. Clair Township, the northeast quarter of section No. 3 in township No.6, of range No.1 on the main branch of the Little Beaver Creek, including the West Middle branch, which runs strait thro' said quarter. The improvements were a frame dwellinghouse, a frame barn and a salt-house with a good salt well with a number of kettles and other articles neccessary for manufacturing salt. There were 22 acres of land under cultivation with some cabin houses. A good site for water works. etc. A few years before William's son William was accused of counterfeiting and was cleared of all charges, but many in the Township felt that William had used his politcal clout to clear has son.

Land: Ref: The Patriot New Lisbon May 6, 1824 to September 18, 1824. William also lost the election for the Assembly in October 1824.

Land: Ref: The Patriot New Lisbon. The loss of the election and the loss of respect by the citizens of the area due to the counterfeiting charge must have given him reason to move on to Richland County where his brother Jacob lived and Betty, his wife, had property deeded to her from her father. Today, the land that William Foulks once lived on in St. Clair Twp. is part of Beaver Creek State Park.

   Marriage Information:

William married Elizabeth Morgan, daughter of Charles Morgan and Unknown. (Elizabeth Morgan was born on September 8, 1771 in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, died on June 7, 1845 in Richland County, Ohio and was buried in Presbyterian Cemetery, Bloominggrove Township, Richland County, Ohio.)