Hey there Rhonda, Hmm I've found out the following for you (hope links work):-

Adolphus Joseph COULON was born Balmain NSW, saw active duty in WWI. There are 70 odd pages to have a look at online as under.

Australian Imperial Force Attestation Papers of Adolphus Joseph COULON

Have a look through each page. Sometimes if you are lucky there is a photograph. Looks like he got some medals too.

He'll no doubt be recorded in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. Yep. Here he is. Casualty Details - Adolphus Joseph COULON aged 35yrs buried Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres.

And this link shows where the cemetery is Visiting the Western Front.

34 records for COULON at NAA

NSW BDM Indexes online

Found a birth of 'Adolph COULON' in 1871 at Grafton NSW Australia to parents: Prosper and Christian COULON. Registration No.10644/1871. You can buy this Certificate online if you reckon it's him. NSW Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages - Historical Index Search.

All older-type certificates in Australia usually show how long in Colonies, what year they first arrived.

Your aunty could be right and wrong, only time will tell with you doing all the research. You just have to take each step slowly and logically.

Did you see 'Prosper Coulon' mentioned in ships registration papers in the year 1876 at NAA site link given before?

Ok, I've found more kids born to Prosper C. COULON & Christian (also known as Christina Ann):-

Mary J. COULON in 1867 at Grafton NSW
Your Adolphus was born 1871 at Grafton NSW
Melina COULON in 1874 at Maclean NSW
Unnamed baby COULON in 1875 at Maclean NSW

Deaths:
In 1886 Kate COULON at Balmain NSW.

MARRIAGES
There is an 1866 marriage in NSW between Prosper COULON and Christina A. MACMILLAN (or MCMILLAN) at Grafton NSW.
Their marriage

Joseph COULON married Agnes GREENWELL* in 1881 at Balmain NSW.

*Looks like Agnes COULON nee GREENWELL died in 1933 at Balmain North NSW. Her parents names were: Thomas and Margaret GREENWELL.

(Not sure if these are your people) - Frederick P. COULON married Margaret DOYLE in 1912 Sydney NSW.

Robert R. COULON married Vera BIRKIN in 1934 at Nowra NSW.

FRENCH ANCESTRY
I have DUCROIX ancestors in France and you're right it's pretty hard doing French genealogy. One has to know the town that they came from so that you can search taxation records I think. It's my biggest brickwall (apart from Irish research where all the records were burnt - groan!).

Hopefully all this information should keep you busy for a bit.

Also, you can cut down on costs by purchasing birth, death and marriage certs in NSW not directly through the government website, but through Joy Murrin Transcriptions. But you've got to supply the Registration No. so you will have to look through the NSW bdms site for yourself.

Regards,
Alison.

MARRIAGES
This is strange, but I found a marriage between Joseph CONLON (note spelling) and Mary FOWLER in 1833 NSW.

And the couple had two children called Helena CONLON who was born in 1835 NSW, and Prosper CONLON who was born in 1839 NSW. The name Prosper jumped out at me. Sounds highly likely that this is the same family with surname spelt wrong.

BIRTHS
Found Esau COULON born in 1852 NSW to parents: Adolphus and Mary COULON.

DEATHS
Found Prosper E. COULON died in 1935 Sydney NSW to parents: Andrew and Sheila COULON.

Shoalhaven Cemeteries NSW - grave of Woollamiah - Grave of Sarah Coulon

Cemetery Transcriptions in South East NSW Australia

IMPORTANT ... if you goto this link, and scroll half-way down the page, you will see Andre COULON 1843-1933 married to Jemima McBETH in this chap's family tree
Alan Patterson's Genealogy Pages

Alison,I am so new to computers, this is my 2nd try to send you an e-mail. This is my family! I have a death cert. for Jemima and Andre.The computer knows more about me than I know about it.
My e-mail address arrowtimer@nsw.chariot.net.au
My grandmother is Minnie Mabel Kate Coulon/.Conlon.
Regards
Ronnie .

P.S,Alison. Jemima and Andre had 9 children.Prosper,Louisa.Adolphus,Joseph,Minnie Mabel Kate, Melena,and I have 1 male and 2 females deceased.I thank you for your interest and help.Girl, my hubby thinks I,m addicted ,I've only been at this since August 2006.My family names are Jewell(survived a shipwreck NZ 1866 General Grant)Silver(my grandfather he lied)Phillips(so many of them, though QLD born)I'm somehow related to De Mestre too. Cheers

Hi Rhonda, Your Adolphus Coulon was born in Philadelphia, USA C.1806, the second son of Joseph Coulon and Heleine Cottrell. Helene had been married twice before to Andre Charles de Mestre in 1788 in Lorient, France; and to James Armstrong 1795 in Martinique. She married Joseph Coulon in 1803 in Philadelphia. Adolphus arrived in Australia per "Ulite (2)" in Dec. 1832 and acted as agent for his half-brother, Prosper de Mestre, at Terara in the Shoalhaven until 1841. On the 26th August 1833 Adolphus married Mary Fowler at St. Peter's Church, Campbelltown. They had ten children, the 6th being Andre who maried Jemima McBeth in 1872.
Adolphus left Australia about 1862/3 for America to make inquiries regarding property that he owner. He arrived in New Orleans at the house of his older brother, Joseph Paul Coulon, and then travelled on and was never heard of again.
Regards,
Shirley