Thomas Fuller (abt. 1618 - bef. 1698)

Born about 16 Apr 1618 in Whitwell, Norfolk, England [uncertain]

Husband of Elizabeth (Tidd) Fuller — married 13 Jun 1643 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Husband of Sarah (Nutt) Fuller — married 25 Aug 1684 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died before 3 Jun 1698 before about age 80 in Salem, Essex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Richard Draper [send private message], Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree [send private message], and John Putnam [send private message]

Thomas Fuller migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 124) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Disputed Origins

A previous version of this profile claimed, without source, parents Thomas Fuller and Audrey Anne Gylman, baptized in Redenhall 16 Apr 1618, but there is no such baptism for Thomas son of Thomas (or anyone else) in 1618 in the Redenhall registers. These parents have been detached.

Ancestry.com matching posits that he was son of Rafe (Ralph) Fuller (ca. 8 Nov 1584 - 12 Jul 1649, Redenhall, Norfolk, England) and Elizabeth Eliot (ca. 1588-1645). Along these lines, this Find A Grave: Memorial #64288626 narrative supports these origins, but is indeterminate in proof; further, the death date conflicts with other reports, as do the living dates of the spouse Hannah (and her maiden name). It is possible that this Fuller is mismatched in any number of respects with the FindAGrave memorial, or vice-versa (noting that a 1690 death date applies to the Thomas Fuller in the memorial).

Biography

Thomas Fuller migrated from England to United States.

Lieutenant Thomas Fuller migrated to Middleton, formerly a part of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1638; and is regarded as the progenitor of the Fullers of New England.^[1]

Thomas Fuller, who came to America from England in 1638 and settled in Woburn, died in Salem in June, 1698, aged 80 years and 2 months.

He married 1st, June 13, 1643, Elizabeth Tidd, dau. of John Tidd of Woburn, and 2d, Aug. 25, 1684, Sarah (Nutt) Wyman, who died May 24, 1688.

His 3d wife was Harriet (Pamer) Wilson; date of marriage, and of her death not found.

Woburn, incorporated Sept. 27, 1642, was previously a part of Charlestown. According to Sewall's History of Woburn, Thomas Fuller was a subscriber to the Town Orders of Woburn, drawn up in Charlestown, in December, 1640. He was a blacksmith, and had meadow land granted him in 1648, and also, "4 poles square of swamp next to his shop."

He bore the title of "sargeant" in 1656, and of lieutenant in 1685. He was Selectman in the years 1663, 1664 and 1685.

His wife Elizabeth dying, he appears to have removed to Salem about 1664; to have returned in 1684; married his second wife, and after her death returned to Salem and married his 3d wife, who survived him and came to Woburn, to live with her married daughters.

According to Stiles' History Essex County, Thomas Fuller purchased in 1663, some 300 acres in that part of Salem now known as Middleton, (incorporated in 1728), and erected a dwelling house there, and had a blacksmith shop.

He made his will June 9, 1698, and it was probated in Salem, July 4, 1698. The legatees were sons Thomas, Benjamin, Jacob; daughters "Dean," Ruth Wilkins and her daughter, Deborah Shaw, and her two sons and three daughters--Ruth Wheeler, grandson David Richardson, and grand-daughters, Bethiah Fuller, and Ruth Wheeler--with son Jacob Fuller as Executor.^[2]

He possibly migrated with brother on the ship Bevis of Hampton.

Several milestones are also described by another researcher:^[3]

1. He was a surveyor and ensign in militia 1642, Dedham, Massachusetts
2. He married Elizabeth Tidd 13 Jun 1643, in Woburn, Massachusetts.
3. He married second Sarah Nutt.
4. He married third Hannah James.

Thomas married Elizabeth Tidd on 13 June 1643 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts.^[4]

Children

By first wife:^[5]

1. Thomas Fuller, b. April 30, 1644, Woburn, MA, d. Bef. 1721, Windham, CT.
2. Elizabeth Fuller, b. September 12, 1645, Woburn, MA, d. date unknown.
3. Ruth Fuller, b. May 17, 1648, d. date unknown.
4. Deborah Fuller, b. May 12, 1650, Woburn, MA, d. date unknown.
5. John Fuller, b. March 01, 1652/53, Woburn, MA, d. June 25, 1675.
6. Jacob Fuller, b. May 14, 1655, Woburn, MA, d. November 15, 1731, Middleton, MA.
7. Joseph Fuller, b. August 08, 1658, Woburn, MA, d. date unknown.
8. Benjamin Fuller, b. April 15, 1660, Woburn, MA, d. 1754.
9. Samuel Fuller, b. May 09, 1662, d. January 01, 1688/89.

Witchcraft at Salem Village - examination of Tituba

Thomas Fuller was a witchcraft accuser in the Salem Witch Trials

This source might refer to testimony given by Lt Fuller:

Lieutenant Fuller and others said at this time, when the child saw these persons, and was tormented by them, that she did complain of a knife, - that they would have her cut her head off with a knife.

"Written by Ezekiel Cheever, March the 1st, 1692"^[6]

Later in the same text:

Tituba had been apprised of Elizabeth Hubbard's story, that she had been "pinched" that morning; and, as well as "Lieutenant Fuller and others," had heard of the delirious exclamation of Thomas Putnam's sick child during the night.

"Proceedings connected with these examinations were continued several days. The result appears, in the handwriting of John Hathorne, . . ."

Info Added by Gedcom import, needs to be verified and integrated

• Fact: Christening (20 January 1619) Redenhall, Norfolk, England
• Fact: Burial (4 June 1698) Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America
• Fact: http://familysearch.org/v1/LifeSketch Not to be confused with Lieut. Thomas Fuller of Dedham (born in Redenhall) (LRB4-6P1).

Also known as Thomas of Woburn, Arrived in colonies with brother Robert aboard the "Bevis" which left England in May 1638. 1618: Thomas Fuller was born APR 1618 in Whitwell, Alysham (Norfolk) England 1638: Thomas Fuller came to America.� 1640, December: He was a subscriber to the town orders of Woburn drawn up in Charlestown.� 1643, June 13: Thomas Fuller married (1st) Elizabeth Tidd at Woburn, Massachusetts.�"New England Marriages Prior to 1700" compiled by Clarence Almon Torrey; p. 289; The Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc.; Baltimore, Maryland; 1985 (974.0 NEa/Marriage SCGS)� 1648: He had meadow land granted him and "4 poles square of swamp next to his shop".� 1656: He bore the title of Sargeant.� 1663-4 and 1685: He was a selectman.� 1664: Following the death of his wife, he moved to Salem, but returned to Woburn and then back to Salem.� 1685: He bore the title of Lieutenant. [Research of Susan P. Canney, WorldConnect]�� 1698: Thomas Fuller died, Death: JUN 1698 in Salem Village (Essex) Massachusetts Colony

Thomas died (age 80) in June 1698 in Salem, Massachusetts, United States.^[7]

1698, July 4: His will was proved at Salem (Essex) Massachusetts. [Research of Susan P. Canney, WorldConnect] "New England Marriages Prior to 1700" compiled by Clarence Almon Torrey; The Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc.; Baltimore, Maryland; 1985 (974.0 NEa/Marriage SCGS)�� Thomas Fuller married Elizabeth Tidd at Woburn, Massachusetts.�"American Marriage Records Before 1699" edited by William Montgomery Clemens; pp. 95, 212; The Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc.; Baltimore, Maryland; 1975 (974.0 NEa/Vitals SCGS ____

Sources

1. ↑ Richardson memorial, Vol ii, Pages 554 & 555.
2. ↑ Fuller, William Hyslop. Genealogy of Some Descendants of Thomas Fuller of Woburn. 1919, page 9. Compiler. Google Book from University of Wisconsin - Madison.
3. ↑ Family Trees. Better source sought.
4. ↑ Marriage: "Massachusetts, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1633-1850"
   Family History Library; Salt Lake City, UT; Film # 0761394 & 0859998
   Ancestry Record 7853 #283989 (accessed 7 March 2024)
   Thomas Fuller marriage to Elizabeth Tidd on 13 Jun 1643 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
5. ↑ William Hyslop Fuller, Genealogy of Some Descendants of Thomas Fuller of Woburn, To which is added Supplements to Volumes I, II, and III; Privately Published, 1919, (pages 9-10).
6. ↑ Upham, Charles Wentworth. Salem Witchcraft: With an Account of Salem Village, and a History of Opinions on Witchcraft and Kindred Subjects 1867, page 25. Boston: Wiggin and Lunt.
7. ↑ Death: "Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988"
   Original data: Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook)
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2495 #80713742 (accessed 7 March 2024)
   Thomas Fuller death Jun 1698 (age 80) in Salem, Massachusetts, USA.

• https://archive.org/details/fullergenealogy04full/page/n15
• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 24 September 2018, 08:19), entry for Thomas Fuller(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LTC5-5C5); contributed by various users.
• Jesse Franklin Fuller, A Brief Sketch of Thomas Fuller and His Descendants, Appleton Wisconsin: Crescent Printing House, 1896

• John Adam Vinton, The Richardson Memorial; Full History and Genealogy of Ezekiel, Samuel, and Thomas Richardson. Portland ME: (1876). Vol II.