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Robert Fuller (1543 - 1614)

Robert Fuller
Born in Redenhall, Norfolk, Englandmap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of [uncertain] and [uncertain]
Husband of — married 29 Jan 1572 in Starston, Norfolk, Englandmap
Husband of — married 1585 in Englandmap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 70 in Redenhall, Norfolk, Englandmap
Profile last modified | Created 22 Dec 2009
This page has been accessed 15,995 times.

Contents

Biography

Robert is the ancestor of two Mayflower passengers:


This profile is part of the Fuller Name Study.
  1. Edward Fuller
  2. Samuel Fuller.

Robert's profile has been added to the Fuller Name Study who has several members who are descendants of Robert.

Robert is also listed as a Pre-1700 Ancestor in one of the Fuller Name Study sub-projects, Family Lines from Norfolk which includes a study of the descendants of Robert's 2nd great grandson, Joseph Fuller.


Robert was born in Sep-Oct 1543 in Redenhall Parish, Co. Norfolk, England.[1][2] and baptized on 6 October 1543.

Robert married Sarah Dunkhorn and they had the following children in Redenhall, Norfolk, England: The baptismal dates of his children were found on the Parish Register at Redenhall, Norfolk, England.[1][3][4]

  1. Thomas, bapt. Dec. 13, 1573.
  2. Edward, bapt. Sept. 4, 1575. Mayflower passenger.
  3. Anna, bapt. Apr. 22, 1577
  4. John bapt. Mar. 15, 1578; d. 1608; m. Margaret Balls
  5. Samuel, bapt. Jan. 20, 1580. Mayflower passenger.
  6. Edmund, bapt. May 19, 1583, buried 1584.

Sarah Fuller was buried in 1584 and Robert married Frances They had the following children:[1][3]

  1. Sarah 1586
  2. Christopher 1588-1590
  3. Elizabeth 1590
  4. Mary 1593

Not all sources show the same children for Robert and Sarah:

  • Hull, showing a total of seven, doesn't list Edmund, however, includes Elizabeth and Mary who Bennett shows as listed above as children of Frances.[5]
  • Keller records ten children which include nine of the ten children of Robert listed by Bennett. the only child not listed was Sarah born 1586. Keller includes Robert born about 2 October 1581 in Redenhall.[2]

WitiTree, as of 30 August 2019, has profiles for nine children for Robert

  • Sarah was mother to seven:
  1. Samuel Fuller.
  2. Edward Fuller.
  3. Edmund Fuller only excluded by Hull.
  4. Robert Fuller only on Keller.
  5. John Fuller.
  6. Thomas Fuller.
  7. Ann Fuller.
  • Frances was mother to two:
  1. Elizabeth Fuller.
  2. Mary Fuller.

No profiles for Christopher (1588-1590), Edmund (1583-1584) on both Bennett or Keller Sarah only on Bennett.


Robert Fuller, of Redenhall, England, who in the beginning of the seventeenth century, lived in comfortable circumstances, with his wife and some six or eight children, sons and daughters, for whom he provided amply at his death according to his will which was dated May 19, 1614, and proved May 31 of that year, the inventory being filed by his son Thomas, June 16, 1614. He names his wife, Frances; son, Thomas, 'eldest;' sons, Edward and Samuel; daughters, Ann and Elizabeth; and 'Mary Fuller, my daughter;' all legacies to be paid by son Thomas, and the rest of the estate divided, one-half to wife, Frances, and one-half between his four children, Edward, Ann, Elizabeth, and Mary. His grandson, John, 'son of my son John' to receive his portion when of age. Wife, Frances, and son, Thomas, executors.[1]

He passed away in May 1614 and was buried 23 May 1614 in Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England.[1][3][6]

Burial: 23 May 1614, Redenhall Parish, Harleston, Norfolk Co, England.[7]

Birth

Abt. Oct 1543 in Redenhall, Norfolk, England.[2]
alt 1548. Robert Fuller.[4][5]

Marriages

  1. 29 January 1572(1573) in Starston Parish, Co. Norfolk, England to Sarah Dunkhorne (abt 1551-Jun/1584) bur: 1 July, 1584 Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England.[1][2][5][8]
  2. Marriage after death of first wife: Frances Blackwell (Jun/1584-28 March, 1632 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England).[1][2][4][5]

Occupation

Butcher
in Redenhall.[5][9]
In the area of Norwich, England.[10]
About 1570 in Norwich, England.

Death

About 1614.[5][11]
Before 23 May 1614 in Redenhall, Norfolkshire, England.[2][12]

Burial

23 MAY 1614 Place: Redenhall, Norfolk, England.[11]

Will

1614.[5]
2nd marriage to Frances listed in will.

Research Notes

To be summarized and added to bio:'

Excerpt from Evans Family Web Page:
Robert Fuller b: Sep-Oct/1543 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England - bp: 6/Oct/1543 d: May/1614 - bur: 23/May/1614 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England Father: John Fuller Mother: ***** Spouse-1: Sarah Dunkhorne - b: ~1551 - d: Jun/1584 - bur: 1/Jul/1584 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England m: 29/Jan/1572(1573) - Starston Par., Co. Norfolk, England Child-1: Thomas - bp: 13/Dec/1573 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England bur: 30/May/1659 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England m: Anne ***** 2: Edward 3: Ann - bp: 22/Apr/1577 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England m: William White - 11/Feb/1612 - Leiden, Holland 4: John - bp: 15/Mar/1578(1579) - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England bur: 22/Dec/1608 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England m: Anne ***** - m: Margaret Balls - 19/Apr/1599 - Starston Par., Co. Norfolk, England 5: Samuel 6: Robert - bp: 22/Oct/1581 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England 7: Edmund - bp: 19/May/1583 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England bur: 19/Aug/1584 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England Spouse-2: Frances Blackwell - d: 28/Mar/1632 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England Child-1: Sarah - bp: 4/Sep/1586 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England - d: ~1610 m: James Spalding - 26/Nov/1607 - Denton Par., Co. Norfolk, England 2: Christopher - bp: 15/Dec/1588 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England bur: 12/Jul/1590 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England 3: Elizabeth - bp: 29/Nov/1590 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England 4: Mary - bp: 13/Jul/1595 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England Biographical Details: Robert Fuller is believed to have been the son of John Fuller and was probably born in Redenhall Parish, County Norfolk, England, perhaps, in September or October of 1543. (Some secondary sources indicate October 6th as his date of birth, but this almost certainly would have been a baptismal date.) The name of his mother is not definitively known, although she has been reported as Ann Collinge, but supporting evidence seems quite insufficient. Even so, parish records affirm that Robert Fuller and Sarah Dunkhorne were married in Starston Parish, County Norfolk, on January 29, 1572 (1573 N. S.). Seven children can be attributed to them with some confidence, five of whom seem to have survived into adulthood.1 Parish burial records indicate that Sarah Dunkhorne Fuller must have died about midsummer in 1584. Subsequently, Robert married again, perhaps, the following year to a Frances whose maiden name may have been Blackwell, but this has not been established with any confidence. It is believed that they had at least four children of which three survived beyond childhood. The situation is further confused because two men named Robert Fuller, one a butcher and the other a tanner, lived contemporaneously in the same locality, both having children baptized at Redenhall Parish.2 Of course, it is likely that this was no accident and that these two men were part of the same extended family and, thus, relatives. However, nothing definite is known. Unfortunately, this has quite naturally caused confusion of identities and conflation of pedigrees. Within this context, it has been suggested by some researchers that John Fuller, son of Robert and Sarah Dunkhorne Fuller, died as a young child in 1580 and that they had a second son, John, baptized on March 25, 1582, who survived. Moreover, a burial record of John Fuller in Redenhall Parish on February 10, 1580 (1581 N. S.) is commonly cited in support of this. However, this presumption conflicts chronologically with the birth of a son, Robert, a mere five or six months earlier in September or October of 1581. To remedy this, one might suppose that there has been confusion between old style and new style dates and that the year of John's christening should have been given as 1583, but this similarly conflicts with the birth of son, Edmund, the following April or May. Therefore, it seems probable that no second son, John, should be attributed to Robert and Sarah Fuller and, furthermore, that their son John did not die in 1580, i.e., the putative burial record refers to someone else. Likewise, their daughter, Ann, is commonly identified with Susanna, wife of William White, both of whom were passengers on the first voyage of the "Mayflower". Indeed, this is supported by contemporary Dutch civil records that affirm the marriage of Ann Fuller and William White on February 11, 1612 N. S. Indeed, Samuel Fuller was a witness to this marriage, which would strongly support the presumption that Ann was his sister. However, Susanna White, who married Edward Winslow in 1621 after the death of her first husband, had a son, Josiah, born about 1628 and a daughter, Elizabeth, born as late as 1630. This implies that if she was born in 1577, then she would have been fifty-two or fifty-three years old at the birth of this last child. To say the least, such an occurrence would be noteworthy even at the present day and would have been exceedingly rare and quite nearly miraculous in seventeenth century New England. Moreover, recent scholarship has established that there were at least two men named William White living at Leiden in the period between 1610 and 1620. Therefore the husband of Ann Fuller was probably not the immigrant. To remedy this problem of chronology, it has been proposed that Robert Fuller and his second wife, Frances, had a daughter, Susanna born about 1593 or 1594 and that she was the wife of William White, the Pilgrim. However, there seems to be no documentary evidence to support such a hypothesis. Additional children, Valentine, Alan, Priscilla, and Rose as well as two more sons named Thomas have been attributed to Robert Fuller by various researchers. It is probable that all of these are either misattributed or spurious. In any case, Robert Fuller of Redenhall, yeoman and butcher, has been traditionally identified as the father of the Pilgrims, Edward and Samuel Fuller. It would seem from the provisions of his will made on May 19, 1614, that in the first and second decades of the seventeenth century Robert Fuller of Redenhall was quite prosperous and owned considerable property.3 Moreover, in the will he specifically mentioned his wife, Frances; living sons, Thomas, Edward, and Samuel; and daughters, Ann, Elizabeth, and Mary. In addition, he mentioned a grandson, John, who was evidently the son of son, John, apparently deceased. Of these seven children, two unmarried daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, can be attributed to Robert's second wife, Frances, and the rest to his first wife, Sarah. Furthermore, it would seem that both Thomas and Edward must have been resident locally, since they received bequests of property as well as money, but Samuel appears to have been living elsewhere since he received only money. Alternatively, Samuel was the third surviving son, hence this arrangement may simply reflect the usual custom of primogeniture and nothing more. However, the fact that Samuel was not one of the four children included in the division of goods is probably significant and a strong indication that he really was living elsewhere, viz., Holland. The will was proved by Robert Fuller's widow, Frances, on May 31, 1614, which implies that he must have died the same month, probably a short time after the will was made. Nothing specific is known regarding his religious sentiments, although in 1588 the name of Robert Fuller, "bocher", i.e., butcher, appeared on a list of subscribers for the sixth bell in the chimes of the parish church at Redenhall.4 Even so, it is a plausible presumption that he was a Puritan or even a Puritan Separatist. Indeed, the region of East Anglia, including the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, was a stronghold of Puritanism from the late sixteenth century onward. Nevertheless, there is no evidence that Robert Fuller ever left England. Source Notes and Citations: 1. Francis H. Fuller, "Fullers of Redenhall, England" in New England Genealogical and Historical Register, Vol. 55, pgs. 410-4, 1901. Summarized by Bea Wilma: "ROBERT FULLER, of Redenhall, England, who in the beginning of the seventeenth century, lived in comfortable circumstances, with his wife and some six or eight children, sons and daughters, for whom he provided amply at his death according to his will which was dated May 19, 1614, and proved May 31 of that year, the inventory being filed by his son Thomas, June 16, 1614. He names his wife, Frances; son, Thomas, 'eldest;' sons, Edward and Samuel; daughters, Ann and Elizabeth; and 'Mary Fuller, my daughter;' all legacies to be paid by son Thomas, and the rest of the estate divided, one-half to wife, Frances, and one-half between his four children, Edward, Ann, Elizabeth, and Mary. His grandson, John, 'son of my son John' to receive his portion when of age. Wife, Frances, and son, Thomas, executors." "The baptismal dates of his children were found on the Parish Register at Redenhall, Norfolk, England, as follows: I--Thomas, bapt. Dec. 13, 1573. II--EDWARD, bapt. Sept. 4, 1575. III--Ann (Susanna), bapt. Apr. 22, 1577; m. (first) William White, and with him was a passenger on the Mayflower, and the mother of Peregrine White, born while the ship lay at anchor in Cape Cod harbor. William White died in the 'first sickness' not long after landing and his widow married (second) Governor Winslow. IV--JOHN, bapt. Mar. 15, 1578; d. 1608; m. Margaret Balls, by whom he had: 1--John, bapt. Apr. 25, 1602. 2--MATTHEW, bapt. Oct. 16, 1603. (See following.) 3--William, bapt. June 30, 1609, born after the death of his father. V--Samuel, bapt. Jan. 20, 1580. Mayflower Pilgrim and beloved physician of Plymouth colony. VI--Robert, bapt. Oct. 22, 1581. VII--Edmund, bapt. May 19, 1583." Here, Matthew Fuller, who later emigrated to New England and settled at Barnstable, has been attributed as the son of John Fuller. However, more recent research has established that he was almost certainly the son of Edward Fuller. Likewise, Ann Fuller cannot be identified as a passenger on the "Mayflower" and, subsequently, as the wife of Edward Winslow.

Robert's second marriage was to Frances Corbin, daughter if Richard Corbin of Redenhall, this is confrimed by a marriage licence[13] and also by Richard Corbin's will who left a bequest of £20 to his daughter Frances, now wife of Robert Fuller, butcher[14] Browning-5288 12:41, 5 December 2023 (UTC)

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Evans Family Web Page: Summary and quotes from a family genealogy web site, available at Evans Family Web Page.' which indexes Bonham/Fuller/Lothrop Family that includes link to the "Bio" for Fuller, Robert. Robert Fuller's "Bio" has a lot of info and full copy of his will is included. It also cites many sources including that cited here separately as Fuller.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Keller, a family genealogy website now available at 1. ROBERT5
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Bennett See 6. Roberde Fuller on pages 233-234 which includes will information. Full article pages 225-236.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Marriage and some of the children were contributed by many others as early as 2011. Merges made as early as January of 2012.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Hull, a family genealogy web site available at Hull Genealogy
  6. Fuller Redenhall: Frances H. Fuller, Fullers of Redenhall, England, NEHGR 55(1901):192-196, 410-414. available at americanancestors.org.
  7. Find A Grave, database and images: accessed 18 August 2019; memorial page for Robert Fuller (1548–23 May 1614), Find A Grave: Memorial #35051209, citing Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mar, Redenhall, South Norfolk District, Norfolk, England; Maintained by Goddess (contributor 46995829). Has bio but no marker.
  8. Starston register https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/7642134?mark=7b22746f6b656e223a22353359655141696a46394b6132534d62566936766d625633587171612f4b695345644b6668557a695831303d222c22746f6b656e5f76657273696f6e223a225632227d
  9. Page 23. Handwritten transcription of William's will is on pages 10 thru 20.
  10. "Robert worked as a butcher in the area of Norwich." was first contributed by contributed by Crayton Smith on 22 Dec 2009.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Heritage Consulting: Robert Fuller in the Millennium File Ancestry Record 7249 #107912050 which also included birth in 1539; his parents, Robert Fuller and UNSTATED, married 1572 in Starston, Northfolk. Source was first contributed as early as December of 2015.
  12. Burial on 23 May 1614 in Redenhall Parish, Harleston, Norfolk Co, England was first contributed as early as 2011 and merge mad during January of 2012.
  13. Marriage licence https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DTQS-KRS?cat=417267
  14. Will of Richard Corbin of Redenhall https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJD-Q33H?cat=278818

See also:

  • Archibald F. Bennett, FASG, Searching With Success:A Genealogical Text, (Salt Lake, UT: DesertBook Co.) 1962. An excerpt from this work which includes a summary of the excellent study on the Fuller family of Redenhall can be found on [Space:Fuller_family_by_Archibald_F.Bennett|Bennett's Research]]. Bennett was Librarian of the Genealogical Association, Salt Lake City, Utah, Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists (FASG).
  • Evans Family Web Page indexes Bonham/Fuller/Lothrop Family which includes link to Fuller, Robert has a lot of info and full copy of his will is included. Cites many sources including those cited here separately as Fuller Redenhall and Fuller
  • Heritage Consulting Millennium File Provo, UT, USA; Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003; Repository: R1
  • Hull, Thomas & Melody; Fuller Genealogy Descendants of WIlliam Fuller. Source cited as early as 2010 and merged during January of 2012.
  • Keller, James Callow; No longer available. Same info at FullerJo Fuller: From the Mayflower...to Michigan: Descendants of Robert Fuller. Source cited as early as 2010 and merged during January of 2012.
  • Mayflower Families for 5 Generations, Edward Fuller.

Acknowledgements





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Comments: 21

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I have requested that the PM of Frances, Robert’s second wife changes LNAB from unknown to Corbin. There is absolutely no doubt she is his second wife, confirmed by a marriage licence and the will of her father Richard Corbin.

Ann

posted by Ann Browning
I have just sent a follow-up private message to the PM, hopefully she'll be back soon to make the change.
posted by Bobbie (Madison) Hall
Richard Corbin’s Will confirms that his daughter Frances was the wife of Robert Fuller.

Will is here

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJD-Q33H?i=26&cat=278818

Ann

posted by Ann Browning
Based on the will of John Fuller Fuller-230 who is described as John the elder, there may have been another son John who was living in 1608.

I can see no other reason for him describing himself as John the elder

Ann

posted by Ann Browning
Either that or John Fuller the elder is not the son of Robert, in fact no mention of his father in John the elder’s will.

Ann

posted by Ann Browning
Name Robert Ffuller Gender Male Event Type Marriage Marriage Date 26 Apr 1591 Marriage Place Forncett St Peter, Norfolk, England

Spouse Frances Pamerman Forncett is 11 miles from Redenhall. https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/7642836?mark=7b22746f6b656e223a225148436570505453456d543147326150306f4544755a434876674e7a4954337161733562477541765869513d222c22746f6b656e5f76657273696f6e223a225632227d

posted by Beryl Meehan
I have found a marriage licence for a Robert Fuller of Harleston to a Frances Corbin in November 1585.

May be this Robert as Harleston and Redenhall are sort of treated as one. I have sent an image to Christopher Childs. It is on this image:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DTQS-KRS?i=1453&cat=417267

Ann

posted by Ann Browning
Having problems with Sarah Dunkhorn info. It says she died abt 1632 yet under profile it states she was buried in 1584 and her husband remarried in 1584. Please fix date of death
posted by Vickie Weber
I am editing this profile Please wait until i am finished. Trying to replace much information that was editted out. Thank you.
posted by Pat (Fuller) Credit
According to Bennett, the son Robert named here was the son of a second Robert Fuller who was having children in Redenhall at the time. He determined this on the basis of extant wills.
posted by Robin Anderson
Pat, I've added the summary of Bennett's research as a Space page. Let me know if you think it is adequate...did not include sources due to length that would be required. I've added it to some other relevant profiles.
posted by Robin Anderson
Archibald F. Bennett, FASG, published a credible lineage for this family: Searching With Success, Bennett's book, 1962, p. 224-236, which demonstrates how to do genealogy. Lineage is not uncertain, AFAI can see.
posted by Robin Anderson
I found this source...Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 31 May 2019), memorial page for Robert Fuller (1548–23 May 1614), Find A Grave Memorial no. 35051209, citing Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mar, Redenhall, South Norfolk District, Norfolk, England
posted by Betty Jo Bunker
if profile is unsourced how can parents be marked confident?

Changed to uncertain pending sources.

posted by Pat (Fuller) Credit
Fuller-6099 and Fuller-12 appear to represent the same person because:

Hi ,

These are the same and can be merged , same wifes + child Susannah

posted by Bea (Timmerman) Wijma
Fuller-3150 and Fuller-12 appear to represent the same person because: Same name, similar details
posted by Bob Tonsmeire
Fuller-4926 and Fuller-3150 appear to represent the same person because: Same name, similar dates
posted by Bob Tonsmeire

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Categories: Family Lines, from Norfolk, Fuller Name Study