We've always been told "there were three brothers". It turns out this is a story in many families. It seems in many families, they came at the same time, or close to it, and changed the spelling of their names to avoid confusion at the land patent office. I am not sure if that is the case for our family, but it makes sense. If it is true, then Phillip kept the German spelling Velton because he was the oldest. Jacob spelled his Felten. William spelled it Felton.
In newspaper articles and church records Felton and Felten are used inter changeably.
Jacob was the first to die and there is a story about him that is remarkable that I will share later. Here in his obituary it says he came to America with Phillip so I assume they came first. It says he is survived by 3 brothers. That could be Phillip and William and some, until this obituary, brother I didn't know existed. (Which is a whole 'nother conundrum.) However, Jacob was a witness at William and Mary's wedding and that is my only link, so far, linking William to Jacob and by extention, Phillip.
Thoughts?
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