James FULTON 1802-1869 and Mary Ann HILL c.1810-1862

James FULTON b. 1802 Fenwick, Ayrshire, Scotland son of John FULTON and Margaret BLACKWOOD was married in 1827 at Glasgow, Scotland to Mary Ann HILL b. c.1810, Glasgow, Scotland, daughter of Campbell HILL and Mary Margaret ____. The FULTON family appears to have arrived in Melbourne from Scotland about 1839-40.

James FULTON was in a partnership from 1854-1859 with Alfred ARDEN as owners of the "Higay Station" between Merino and Coleraine. Alfred ARDEN had married Margaret FULTON, daughter of James FULTON in 1849.

James FULTON built the first flour mill in Merino in 1857 as mentioned in the 1935 Centenary booket....

...Opposite the Bank orchard on the other side of Maud Street was the Merino flour mill, built in 1857 by James FULTON, senr., and later run by his son James. The contracting builder was WATKINS. It was the scene of activity in the early days, running night and day shifts. grinding local wheat and that from Strathkellar and Horsham districts. Owing to the climate changing, local wheat proved unsuitable for flour. HOLMES Bros. bought the business about 1896, afterwards selling it to the Masonic Lodge, and it was converted into their temple. The stock water trough in front of the old mill has been used for that purpose for over twenty years, the water being pumped by the windmill through pipes leading from the well lower down and also from the wells that supplied the mills with water. The salty taste of the water in the creek may have been one reason why the water trough was erected, as, by going under the railway bridge and down the creek about a hundred yards the site may be seen where the bore was put down to test for coal. The salt water mentioned still comes from this bore, and probably has medicinal qualities. Whilst in this vicinity you may wonder where the famous old swimming hole is, as there is little left to indicate that at one time a water fall six or seven feet deep with a water hole below it ever existed. Fish were to be caught in holes in the bank, and the pool was source of enjoyment during summer months...

In 1862 James FULTON had an arm amputated after it was caught in the machinery at his flour mill.

James FULTON and his wife Mary Ann were buried in the Merino Cemetery in 1869 and 1862 respectively.

James FULTON and Mary Ann HILL had the following known family....

1. Margaret FULTON, b. 1828, Avondale, Lanarkshire, Scotland, d. 1901, Merino, Vic., m. 1849, Geelong, Port Phillip to Alfred ARDEN 1820-1892, squatter of "Hilgay" Station, near Coleraine.
2. John FULTON, b. 1833 Avondale, Lanarkshire, Scotland, .............
3. James FULTON, b. 1837, Avondale, Lanarkshire, Scotland, d. 1900, Merino, Vic .............
4. Marianne FULTON, b. 1841, Melbourne, Port Phillip, d. 1918, Young, NSW, m. 1871 to Rev William WESTON 1841-1931 of Steiglitz, Victoria
5. Lauvinia FULTON, b. c.1844, ........, d. 1926, Geelong, Vic
6. Selina FULTON, b. c.1846, ........, d. 1892, Melbourne, Vic
7. Robert FULTON, b. 1847, Port Phillip, d. 1897, Merino, Vic, m. 1872, Kate Mary Honoria CUSSEN 1851-1921 and had the following family...
1. Margaret Mary "Meta" FULTON, b. 1879, Merino, Vic, d. 1965, Geelong, Vic.
2. Robert Leo FULTON, b. 1895, Merino, Vic, ..............