Fulton, Stewart
Private
No. 2589036, B Company, 3rd Regiment, US National Guards Pennsylvania
Died following an accident on Tuesday 10 April 1917 (aged 23)
Buried:
Mount Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia
Reinterred 7 September 1934
Philadelphia National Cemetery
Commemorated:
Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) Roll of Honour 1914 – 1919 for
St. Enoch’s Presbyterian Church Belfast
BIOGRAPHY
Stewart Fulton was born on 3 May 1893 in Sion Mills, Co Tyrone and he was a son of John and Susan Fulton (nee Stewart) who were married on 26 December 1890 in Desertmartin Parish Church of Ireland Church, Co Londonderry. Named James in civil birth registration records, James subsequently used his mother’s maiden name, Stewart, as his forename.
John Fulton worked as a mechanic and hackle-maker and he and Susan had three children:
Frances Isabella (born 10 October 1891 in Stranagard, Co Londonderry)
James (Stewart, born 3 May 1893 in Sion Mills, Co Tyrone)
John (born 24 April 1897 in Railway Street, Comber)
The Fulton family lived in the townland of Stranagard, Desertmartin, Co Londonderry; in Sion Mills, Co Tyrone; in Railway Street, Comber; in High Street, Comber and at 11 Rosewood Street, Belfast.
The Fulton family moved to Comber when Stewart was a baby and in 1911 Stewart Fulton was working as a clerk in the head office of Messrs Dunville and Company (Whiskey Distillers), Alfred Street, Belfast. He was a member of the North Belfast Battalion of the Ulster Volunteer Force.
Stewart Fulton moved to the USA on 10 January 1914 and he lived with his aunt, Miss M Stewart, at 631 South 60 Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He worked as a salesman for the Spear Stove and Heating Company.
Stewart Fulton enlisted in Philadelphia on 21 February 1917 and joined the 3rd Regiment of the US National Guards of Pennsylvania. When the United States declared war on Germany on 2 April 1917 his Regiment was immediately called into service to guard bridges in the western part of the State. His Company was assigned to Connellsville and eight days later Private Stewart Fulton died.
Private Stewart Fulton was 23 when he died on 10 April 1917 at Connellsville, Pennsylvania after being hit by a train while guarding a bridge. He was struck at 8.00 am and died at 4.00 pm the same day. The circumstances of his death are recorded on his file:
On the morning of 10 April 1917 while on duty at Connellsville, Pennsylvania Private Stewart Fulton saw a suspect on the other side of the bridge and challenged him. Seeing that the suspect did not obey his challenge, he immediately started across the bridge but, just as he stepped onto the tracks, he was struck by a Baltimore and Ohio Express train.
Private Stewart Fulton sustained a fractured skull and was taken to the Cottage State Hospital where an operation was performed but his life could not be saved. His body was brought back from Connellsville to Philadelphia and his parents were notified but they could not come ‘owing to the dangerous seas at that time’.
Private Stewart Fulton was buried with Military Honours in Mount Moriah Cemetery on 19 April 1917. It is noted on his file that he was the first of the National Guardsmen of Pennsylvania to lose his life for his country.
On 11 October 1920, Private Stewart Fulton’s mother, Susan, applied for his Victory Medal which was awarded without clasps because he did not serve overseas.
Susan Fulton died on 23 November 1929 (aged 79).
On 20 August 1934, Private Stewart Fulton’s father, John, applied for Veteran’s Compensation in respect of his son. A sum of $200 was paid.
On 7 September 1934, Private Stewart Fulton’s body was exhumed and reinterred in Philadelphia National Cemetery which is administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and managed by the National Cemetery Administration from offices at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery.
Private Stewart Fulton is commemorated in the PCI Roll of Honour for St. Enoch’s Presbyterian Church Belfast.