Mary (Fuller) Fletcher (1621 - 1687)

Born 22 Mar 1621 in Olney, Buckinghamshire, England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 20 Apr 1687 at age 66 in Southampton, Suffolk, New York

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Biography

Mary (Fuller) Fletcher was born in England.

Mary (Fuller) Fletcher migrated from England to United States.

Baptized 24 March 1621/1622 in Olney, Buckinghamshire, England. (Pierson Millennium)

Both Lizzie Benedict Pierson (1878) and George Rogers Howell (1887), in their books, have stated that Henry Pierson married Mary Cooper and it has been repeated by many. However, it is not true. Both Mary Cooper, age 13 when she came to America on the Hopewell with her father John Cooper in 1635, and Henry Peirson have the same mother, Wyborough Griggs, as shown in the 1662 deed earlier. Therefore, Mary Cooper is Henry Peirson's half sister.

From the article by Thomas W. Cooper, II, in The American Genealogist, the sources of information for assuming Henry Peirson married Mary Cooper are examined and their true meaning shown. He concluded that Henry Peirson married a Mary, but not Mary Cooper.

To determine in what year the marriage took place, we will review the age of the oldest son Joseph:

"At a towne meeting (Southampton. Long Island) March 6, 1657/58 it was concluded that Joseph Pierson and Richard Howell (bap. 1629, now age 28) are to receive the hundred pounds for the town's use of the Indians."

Here, Joseph is mentioned for the first time in records and he is the oldest son of Henry Peirson (birth information for Joseph has not been located). If we assume that Joseph is at least 18 years of age in 1658 (reasonable for dealing with Indians and disbursing 100 pounds), then Joseph was born about 1640 in Lynn, Massachusetts or Southampton, Long Island. If this is so, then henry probably married about age 24 in 1639, probably at Olney, Buckinghamshire, England. Therefore, it is probable the Mary _____, Henry's wife, came to America with Henry Peirson in May 1639. Henry's wife Mary is probably the daughter of Edward Fuller of Olney, Buckinghamshire, England, whom Henry had hold a mortgage for him at Olney before departing in 1639 and to whom Henry sent a letter from Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1639 or 1640 about Edward Fuller's son, John.

At Olney, Buckinghamshire, England: "Mary Fuller Daughter) of Edward was bapt(ized) the xxiiijth of March 1621 (24 Mar 1621/2)." Baptisms were also recorded there for Mary's siblings Abygall, 31 May 1618; John, 20 Feb 1619/20; and Thomas (same date as Mary).

Will of "Edward Fuller of Olney, Bucks, yeoman, 22 Aug 1656, proved 20 Sep 1656. To my eldest son John Fuller my house, cottage or tenement in Olney, with the arable land &c. belonging, wherein I now dwell, next the cottage or tenement there now or late of Robert Martin on the one side. To my second son Ignacious Fuller my freehold lands, houses &c. in Olney and Sherrington Bucks. To my third son Thomas Fuller two hundred pounds, to be paid to him a year after my decease. To my daughter Abigail ten pounds, to be paid in a year &c. More to my eldest son John five pounds within a year. The residue to son Ignacious whom I make full and whole executor. Berkley, 334."

It was hoped that the Edward Fuller will would mention a Mary Pierson, but instead he does not mention her at all. It is concluded that Mary Fuller has already received her share of the estate through her dowry, perhaps as payment for the trip to America in 1639. Thus, Mary Fuller may have been the wife of Henry Peirson, but no proof exists. She is probably the Mary Peirson that was Henry's widow in 1680.

(Pierson Millennium)

Marriage Contract: Seth Fletcher and Mary Pearson [Peirson], 30 May 1681.^[1]

This... A Covenant Contact and Agreement by and between Mr. Seth Fletcher of Elizabeth Town in the Province of New Jersey ... and Mrs. Mary Pearson of Southampton in the East riding of Yorkshire on Long Island ... Imps the said Mr Seth Fletcher ... doth hereby bind himself ...that he will not at any time vase of dispose or in the Least ever Concern himself or desire any of the Estate of ... Mrs Peirson. ... Onely 100 pounds which the said Mrs Peirson doth Engage to Deliver into his hands for the Mutual Comfort of each other ... and should it please God to call him out of this Life before the said Mrs Pearson to Leave unto her the said hundred pounds again and also to give unto her one hundred pounds more of his own proper Estate and to take three of her children with her as Long as she shall see cause to have them ... Mrs Mary Pearson doth hereby Engage herself ... if she shall depart ... before him ... ... that then he ... shall Quietly have and forever as his own proper and free Estate Enjoy the aforesaid One Hundred Pounds, without the Least demand of any by from or under her the said Mrs Peirson Clayming or Laying any manner of title or Claime ...

Sources

1. ↑ Edwin Hatfield. History of Elizabeth, New Jersey (New York : Carlton & Lanahan, 1868), 208; digital images, Hathi Trust.

See also--

• Richard E. Pierson and Jennifer Pierson, Pierson Millennium (Heritage Books, 1997); ISBN 0-7884-0742-2. (Note: WorldCat description opens, "Person millennium covers the approximate period 850 AD to 1850 AD, a thousand years though some data earlier than 850 and later than 1850 is presented...")

• Howden Parish Registers Online The Publications of the Yorkshire Parish Register Society search HOWDEN Jones-21849. (Note: There are at various parishes, one has least 71 volumes.)

Other--

• "Mary Fletcher," Geni World Family Tree

• Clare Pierson. "Pierson McQuilkin Family Web Site" (family tree), My Heritage; My Heritage.