Gary, HI! I have been resarching the Foulkes of NJ and PA and later in the Shepherdstown area. I am not yet sure of the implications to the Spelling of Fouke which seems to be "our" family - at least most of the time.
RR Fouke (Foulke) was a foster brother(cousin) of Henry B. Fouke one of the sons of William and Mahala Chapline Fouke of Shepherdstown and Mt. Morris. Apparently RR was known as Foulke and may have from time to time USED that version. Henry B. became a well known Lawyer of Debuque, IA
and often his name was spelled Foulke (census for example) nd at times Fouke!! Could it be that Henry's parents may also have debated the real roots of the name?! Both RR (who lived with them for about 12 years and Henry who has been described by other attorneys as the ideal classically trained lawyer of enormous ability. Why did he fly the Foulke version from time to time unless he had some kind of insight into the roots of the name - possibly from his mother whose goals for her children (as RR reluctantly reports in his letter to Mrs. Webb - daughter of Hugh B. Fouke who RR says was born while he was living with the family!)
Oh, yes, Why doesn't RR report his marriage to Mildred Walker and his resulting children? I find that omission in his writing rather disconcerting especially since we are all trying to establish his reliability as a reporter
to the posible roots of the Foukes which already he has said was Dutch and another time Prussian and another time said they came in 1767 to America with Huguenot immigrants and yet it is clear that the Foukes held land in old Orange County VA (now WV)at least 10 years prior to that date?!! Puzzeling to me - at least!
Dick Matteson College Park MD