I sure appreciate these devil's advocate debates! I've seen so many new
items brought out because of this!
I do believe the Cullen in NC was the same one as in GA. He wouldn't
have to be the 26-45 year old on the 1820 census, he could just as
easily be the 45+ one - as long as Francis was head of household, he'd
be listed by name regardless of who was the oldest. I also don't
believe he was too old to fight in the War of 1812 *because of where he
lived at the time*. In 1810 he's in Washington Co., GA - right across
the river from the Creek Indian land. The Creek Indians are the ones who
initiated the Indian side of the War of 1812. They attacked Fort Mims
in nearby Alabama in 1813, killing approx. 400 people there including
women & children which was an aspect of the war that got the frontier
settlers in GA REALLY paranoid. I've got 2 great books here on the War
of 1812 & Cullen & Francis (and Sterling's family) were right there by
what was called "the heart of Creek Territory". This means they were
not disinterested parties at this point, but involved to some degree at
least in the actual Indian actions against whites taking place which did
include problems in Washington Co. I don't have specific info on the
ages of the men involved in the War of 1812, but from previous reading,
the men in the Revolution were of all ages, in addition to the local
militia in various states (who were pulled in to fight in the War of
1812). For Texas, the book, "The Legend Begins, The Texas Rangers
1823-1845" describes the Texas militia as, "developing on a more
standard basis & included all males between 18-55."... Later it says,
"providing a more-or-less organized body of armed men for campaigns
against hostile indians...Composed of all able-bodied males..." This
was in Texas, but if you read a lot of history, you'll find that this is
apparently true anywhere on the frontier. I think we need to keep in
mind that the military back then was not just 18-21 year olds as we
currently have. Men back then were much more active in hard labor &
accustomed to riding horses & such & expected to help defend their land,
regardless of age.
I have a record of Francis on a deed (I think - it was just a mention
of his name) in Martin Co. I thought this was on the Cato page, but I
must have pulled it off some notes taken from some of the other info
I've been sorting & trying to get entered on the web pages. I'll find
it & forward it.
Will send summery of Wm. in GA shortly, along with my opinion.
Later!
Bonnie