The family name of Fuller signifies one who thickens, bleaches, cleanses or whitens cloth at a mill, a clothier. The Fuller arms: Shield: Argent, three bars gules, on a canton of the second a castle or. Crest: A dexter arm embowered, vested argent, cuffed sable, holding in the hand proper a sword of the first hilt of pommel or. Motto: Semper paratus. This is the form adopted commonly by the families in this country, being the one employed in the Isle of Wight. The bar is one of the honorable ordinaries representing a belt of honor given for eminent services. The canton is a subordinate ordinary, representing the banner given to knights-banneret.
Edward and Samuel Fuller, brothers, came to America in the "Mayflower" in 1620, and landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts. They were sons of Robert Fuller, a butcher of Norfolk county, England. Both signed the celebrated "Compact," which was drawn up in the cabin of the "Mayflower" just previous to the landing at Cape Cod on November 21.
(I) Edward Fuller, progenitor of this family in America, was baptized September 4, 1575, in the parish of Redenhall, county of Norfolk, England. It is not known that he was one of that band which, because of the persecutions in the time of Queen Elizabeth for religious belief, sailed to Holland in 1608, where they settled in Amsterdam and a year later were located in Leyden, until they embarked on the "Speedwell," which left Delfthaven, Holland, about August 1, 1620; but research makes it appear that it was more likely that he joined the others on the arrival of the "Speedwell" at Southampton, where they joined the "Mayflower," and August 15, 1620, the two vessels started to cross the Atlantic; but the "Speedwell," proving unseaworthy, was forced to turn back. His brother, Samuel, had gone to Holland, however, and both crossed the ocean together. Their father is recorded as a contributor to the famous chime of eight bells to the Redenhall church in Norfolk county, he helping towards the purchase of the sixth bell in 1588. Although it is sometimes stated that Edward had a wife named Ann, the most accurate information is that her name is unknown. Governor Bradford does not mention her by name; but states "Edward Fuller and his wife died soon after they came on shore." His death occurred at Plymouth, Massachusetts, between January 11 and April 10, 1621. His wife died early in 1621, some time after January 11. They left only one child, Samuel, who had come over with them on the "Mayflower."
(II) Samuel, son of Edward and Ann Fuller, was born about 1612, at some place in England not yet determined, no record of his birth or baptism having been discovered, and died at Barnstable, Massachusetts, October 31 or November 10, 1683. He married at Mr. Cudworth's house in Scituate, by Captain Miles Standish, magistrate; "on ye fourthe daye of ye weeke," April 8-18, 1635, Jane, daughter of Rev. John Lathrop, of Scituate, and who was baptized September 29, 1614, at Edgerly, county of Kent, England; died subsequent to 1658 and before 1683. He grew up under the direct care of his uncle, Dr. Samuel Fuller, at Plymouth. He received three acres of land at the time of the general division in 1623, thought to signify one for himself and the shares of his deceased father and mother. On this theory he would have been sixteen years old at that time, and his birth would have occurred in 1608 instead of 1612; but there may have been some particular understanding. The land assigned to him was on the south side of the town brook ("to the Woodward") and included what was known in 1900 as Watson's Hill, where he had for neighbors, John Howland, Stephen Hopkins, Edward Winslow and the Indian Hobomok. When the inhabitants were divided into twelve groups at the town meeting held on June 1, 1627, for the purpose of dividing the cattle then owned in the colony, the eighth lot fell to Dr. Samuel Fuller and his company, and joined to him was Samuel Fuller, Jr., son of Edward, the immigrant. "To this lot fell a red heifer, came of the cow which belongeth to the poor of the Colony."
When Dr. Samuel Fuller made his will in 1633, he made provision for his nephew, Samuel, and therein is the only mention to be found of Samuel's wife, after her marriage. Therein he wrote: "It. my will is that my Cozen (nephew) Samuell goe freely away with his stock of Cattle and Swine wthout any further recconing wch swine are the halfe of six sowes, six hogges, one boare & four shotes. Also one Cow & one heyfer… It. my will is that in case my sonne Samyell and other my children die before such time as they are fitt to enter upon my land for inheritance that then my kinsman, Sam. ffuller, now in the howse with me, enjoy wtsoever lands I am now possessed of, except my dwelling howse at town or whatsoever shall be due to me or them… It. I give to him my Rufflet Cloake & my stuffe sute I now weare." He dated the will July 30, 1633, and died within three months. As the doctor's children survived, Samuel received none of the lands and set out with his cattle to seek a home. He became a "Freeman" of the Colony in 1634, and settled in Scituate, Massachusetts, where he joined the church, November 7, 1636. There he had twenty acres, and built the fifteenth house in that place in 1636. All the houses in the own were built alike, and Rev. John Lathrop, accustomed to life at Christ's College, Cambridge, styled them "meane." The walls were made of poles filled between with stones and clay, the roof thatched, the chimney of rough stone, the windows of oiled paper, and the floors of hand-sawed planks. He described them as mere "booths," because they were open and the fire had to be piled high constantly to keep the occupant warm in winter. His will was made October 29, 1683, was filed with wills of the Plymouth Colony, and is both curious and interesting in its peculiar details.
Children:
- Hannah, birth date unknown; married, January 1, 1658-59, Nicholas Bonham, of Barnstable.
- Samuel, baptized at Scituate, Massachusetts, February 11, 1637; married Anna, daughter of Matthew Fuller.
- Elizabeth, married Joseph Taylor.
- Sarah, baptized August 1, 1641, died about 1651-54.
- Mary, baptized June 16, 1644, died near Norwich, Connecticut, 1720; married, November 18, 1674, Joseph Williams, of Haverhill, Massachusetts.
- Thomas, born May 18, 1651, died young.
- Sarah, born December 10, 1654; married ———— Crowe, of Yarmouth.
- John, born about 1656, see forward.
- Infant, baptized February 8, 1658, died in fifteen days.
(III) John, son of Samuel and Jane (Lathrop) Fuller, was born in Barnstable, Massachusetts, about 1656, died in East Haddam, Connecticut, between February 28 and May 20, 1726. He was called "Little John" to distinguish him from his cousin, Dr. John Fuller. He lived on his father's estate at Sorton Neck until 1694, when he removed to East Haddam, Connecticut. He seems to have prospered here, as about 1721 he conveyed ample lands and farming implements to each of his sons. His will was made February 28, 1725-26, probated May 10, 1726, and in it he speaks of his place of residence as "township of Haddam, County of Hartford, upon the east side of the Great River." He married, about 1678, Mehitabel, daughter of Moses Rowley, and was born in Barnstable, January 11, 1660-61, died in East Haddam, Connecticut, about 1732. Children:
- Thomas, born in Barnstable about 1679, see forward.
- Samuel, born in Barnstable, about 1682.
- Shubael, born in Barnstable, about 1684.
- Thankful, born in Barnstable, about 1688, baptized there May 19, 1689; married, at Colchester, Connecticut, July 9, 1707, Jabez Crippen, of Falmouth, Massachusetts.
- Deborah, born about 1689; married, September 11, 1716, John Rowley.
- Edward, born in Barnstable, about i69i; married, about 1713, ———— Bates; died in Colchester, January 7, 1731.
- Elizabeth, born in Barnstable, about 1693; married, March 4, 1713, Samuel Rowley, of East Haddam.
- John, born in East Haddam, Connecticut, November 10, 1697; died there in 1757-58; married, May 1, 1721, Mrs. Mary Rowley, daughter of William Cornwall.
- Joseph, born in East Haddam, Connecticut, March 1, 1699-1700, died in Kent, Connecticut, July 19, 1775; married, December 22, 1722, Lydia Day.
- Benjamin, born in East Haddam, October 20, 1701, died in Sharon, Connecticut, December 20, 1740; married, about 1700, Content Fuller.
- Anne, born about 1703-04; married, March 9, 1727, Jonathan Rowley.
- Mehitabel, born in East Haddam, April 6, 1706; married Benjamin Kneeland.
(IV) Thomas, son of John and Mehitabel (Rowley) Fuller, was born in Barnstable, Massachusetts, about 1679, died in East Haddam, Connecticut, April 9, 1772. He married Elizabeth ————, born about 1689, died November 5, 1784. Children:
- Ebenezer, born October 27, 1715, see forward.
- Thomas, born East Haddam, April 5, 1717; married (first) Martha Rowley; married (second) Mary Hosmer; died in East Haddam, November 12. 1802.
- Nathan, born in East Haddam, Connecticut, April 20, 1719; married Abigail ————.
- Hannah, born March 21, 1720; died June 16, 1777; married, 1743, Captain William Church.
- Jabez; born in East Haddam, February 19, 1722, died there, 1757-58; married, October 10, 1754, Lois Hubbard, of Middle Haddam, Connecticut.
- Jonathan, born January 12, 1725, died in 1758; unmarried.
- Elizabeth, born March, 1727; married, November 12, 1747, Samuel Church.
(V) Ebenezer, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Fuller, was born in East Haddam, Connecticut, October 27, 1715, died in Hebron, Connecticut, September 30, 1749. His will bears date September 13, 1749. He married, September 30, 1738, Mary, daughter of Moses and Martha (Porter) Rowley, of Colchester, Connecticut, born there December 5, 1708, died in Hebron, February 5, 1798. Children:
- Ebenezer, born in Hebron, May 8, 1739; married, March 20, 1764, Abigail Hendee.
- Dimmis, born October 1, 1742; married Solomon Huntington, of Hebron.
- Mary, born August 25, 1743; married John Filer.
- Ozias, born in Hebron, September 25, 1745, and might have been the one of that name who enlisted as a drummer, March 20, 1762, in the First Connecticut Regiment, Twelfth Company, Captain King.
- Roger, born in Hebron, July 21, 1747, see forward.
- Elizabeth, born April 5, 1750.
(VI) Roger, son of Ebenezer and Mary (Rowley) Fuller was born in Hebron, Connecticut, July 21, 1747, died there, September 21, 1819. He married (first), December 21, 1766, Martha Phelps, who died February 13, 1785, by whom nine children; married (second) November 17, 1785, Violette Taylor, of Coventry, Connecticut, who died January 14, 1806, by whom three children; married (third), January 11, 1807, Lois Taylor, who died August 23, 1809; married (fourth), June 21, 1810, Susannah Keeney, who died in 1852. Children, all born in Hebron, Connecticut:
- Martha, born June 7, 1768; married, April 20, 1784, Talcott Horsford.
- Ozias, born January 12, 1770; married, in 1794, Desire Barber.
- Mary, born November 1, 1771.
- Roger, born September 7, 1773, died in Barnstable, Massachusetts, June 23, 1834; married, at Clarendon, Vermont, February 4, 1796, Rachel Freeman Hodges.
- Frederick Augustus, born March 1, 1775.
- Erastus, born January 11, 1777; married, January 27, 1801, Sybil Barber of Hebron.
- Anna, born June 25, 1779; married, August, 1798, George O. Cook, of Windsor, Vermont.
- John, born June 30, 1781; see forward.
- Luna, born January 23, 1785.
- Humphrey T., born July 29, 1786.
- Amelia, born January 7, 1788.
- Cynthia, born March 26, 1790.
(VII) John (2), son of Roger and Martha (Phelps) Fuller, was born in Hebron, Connecticut, June 30, 1781. It is believed that he removed to near Rome, New York, where he probably died. He married, New Baltimore, New York, in 1813, Isabel Anderson, and resided there. Children:
- John, died at age of twenty-four.
- William, born in New Baltimore, New York, September 7, 1814; see forward.
(VIII) William, son of John (2) and Isabel (Anderson) Fuller, was born in New Baltimore, Greene county, New York, September 7, 1814, died on a train at Port Henry, New York, August 16, 1894, and was buried in New Baltimore, where he had resided with his large family all his life, the place known as the Fuller homestead, and its occupants the leading people of the locality. He married at New Baltimore, New York, October 20, 1840, Lydia Allen Swezey, born at Coxsackie, New York, May 9, 1815, died at New Baltimore, New York, May 5, 1887, daughter of Stephen and Gertrude (Wilson) Swezey. Gertrude Wilson was the daughter of Josiah Wilson, a captain in the revolution, and Jane Dickinson (Plum) Wilson. Jane Dickinson was the daughter of Jonathan and Joanna (Melyn) Dickinson. Jonathan Dickinson, who was the founder and the first president of Princeton College, was the son of Hezekiah Dickinson, who was the son of Nathaniel Dickinson (one of the first settlers of Wethersfield, Connecticut) and Abigail Blakeman, daughter of Samuel Blakeman and granddaughter of Adam Blakeman, the first minister of Stratford, Connecticut, and a graduate of Oxford University. Joanna Melyn was the daughter of Jacob Melyn, who owned Staten Island and a part of Manhattan Island and was a Patroon. Josiah Wilson was one of twenty-one children, and the descendants of this family were numerous and most distinguished, including the Sargeants, Runyons, Belmonts, Greenes, Alexanders, Perrys and Bigelows. One of Josiah Wilson's sisters was the mother of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, famous in the battle of Lake Erie, and therefore Commodore Perry was Howard N. Fuller's third cousin. Another sister was the mother of the Hon. John Bigelow. William and Lydia Allen (Swezey) Fuller had the following children, all born at New Baltimore, New York:
- Emma Louise, born November 7, 1841; unmarried.
- De Witt Allison, born February 17, 1844; married, January 13, 1868, Mary Christine Hotaling; died in Albany, New York, September 19, 1894.
- Franklin Carey, born December 28, 1845, died in New Baltimore, New York, August 15, 1846.
- William Dickinson, born June 24, 1847; married, February 11, 1885, Jennie Springsted, living in New Baltimore in 1910.
- Gertrude Amelia, born August 14, 1849, died in New Baltimore, New York, January 21, 1852.
- Perry James, born September 4, 1851; married, September 10, 1879, Lydia A. Stewart, of New Brunswick, New Jersey, residing at 105 Lincoln Place, Brooklyn, New York, in 1910.
- Howard Newton, born October 29, 1853, see forward.
- Jennie Antoinette, born March 6, 1856; married, January 7, 1885, Wessel Ten Broeck Van Orden, of New Baltimore, New York.
(IX) Howard Newton, son of William and Lydia Allen (Swezey) Fuller, was born in New Baltimore, Greene county, New York, October 29, 1853. He received his education first at Miss Griffith's private school in New Baltimore, then attended the Coeymans Academy, after which he went to Rutgers College Grammar School, and then entered Rutgers College, graduating therefrom in 1874, and receiving the degree of A.M. in 1877. While at Rutgers he won the Philoclean Literary prize, as also the Senior prize for English composition. In his junior year he wrote "On the Banks of the Old Raritan," which is considered the best of all American college songs, of which the New York Sun, of May 15, 1907, said: "For genuine go, martial swing, a real soul-stirrer, one that gingerizes the student anatomy from head to heel, there is no other college song equal to the Rutgers 'On the Banks of the Old Raritan.'" The following, by him, is called the finest homiletic poem in the English language, and was written by him while at college in response to the request of a college friend for a motto to go on a schoolroom wall:
"So let me live that when I die
My life shall show no blot of shame,
And o'er the grave wherein I lie,
Beneath my plainly graven name,
Upon a low and modest stone,
Which every eye can quickly scan,
May this be carved and this alone:
'He never wronged his brother man.'"
Mr. Fuller has written a great many poems which have given real enjoyment to the casual reader, and all have met with commendation at the hands of critics, yet he is modest about the matter, which he considers but a form of recreation and pleasure, and has never saved them. On "Educational Day," July 19, 1886, of the week's celebration of Albany's Bi-Centennial, one thousand of the city's schoolchildren sang an ode, written for the occasion by him, with telling effect and arousing much enthusiasm.
He began his business career as a clerk in Hinman & Fuller's grocery store at New Baltimore in the fall of 1874; established and, published The New Baltimore Sun; went to Albany in July, 1875, as clerk for William Fuller & Sons; edited The Rensselaer County Gazette for several years, and took a two-year course in both medicine and law while continuing his relations with Wm. Fuller & Sons. He entered actively into the flour business under his own name in 1890. On the death of his brother, De Witt Allison Fuller, in 1894, he continued the latter's business (building material) in conjunction with his own. He is a member of the First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, of which he was a deacon for several years and a trustee in 1910 as well as for some time previous. He is a member of the Albany Chamber of Commerce, the Unconditional Republican Club, Philip Livingston Chapter, Sons of the Revolution, Zeta Psi fraternity, St. George's Benevolent Society, Fort Orange Club, is a thirty-second degree Mason, was elected a life trustee of Rutgers College in 1905; president of the Unconditional Club for three terms, 1888-1891; president of the Albany County McKinley League in 1896, and president of the Eleventh Ward Republican Association, 1885-89. He is also a director of the First National Bank, trustee of the Home Savings Bank and trustee of the Albany Homeopathic Hospital.
Mr. Fuller has been an active Republican for years, and his political record is as follows: He was Republican candidate for mayor of Albany at a time when the city had gone Democratic for a score of years, and at the election held April 8, 1890, received 6,316 votes as against his opponent, Hon. James H. Manning's 13,552 votes as the head of the Democratic city ticket. He was elected alderman of the eleventh ward, April 13, 1886, receiving 713 votes against 616 votes cast for his opponent, Richard Ryan; served two years, and declined renomination. He was appointed commissioner of public instruction by Mayor Manning in 1893; served eight months, and resigned on account of the death of both his father and brother, whose business demanded his attention for their families. He was elected city comptroller, November 5, 1901, receiving 12,730 votes against 10,885 votes cast for Charles H. Bissikummer, the Democratic candidate; was re-elected November 3, 1903, receiving 13,970 votes against 9,777 votes cast for Edmund A. Walsh, his opponent; re-elected November 7, 1905, receiving 15,753 votes, against 7,483 cast for Philip J. Henzel, the Democratic candidate; re-elected November 5, 1907, receiving 13,736 votes as against 10,198 votes cast for Edward T. Reed, candidate of the Democratic and Civic League parties; re-elected November 2, 1909, receiving 15,205 votes as against 8,437 votes cast for Edwin F. Hunting, Democratic and Civic League candidate. The figures speak for themselves, showing a pronounced endorsement of his conduct of the office of city comptroller by the people of Albany, placing their confidence in him by electing him five times in succession to that office, and by an increase in vote which was the last time nearly double that of all the parties combined against him.
Mr. Fuller married, in Albany, December 5, 1898, Mary Christine Hotaling, widow of his brother, De Witt Allison Fuller, of New Baltimore, New York. Mary Christine Hotaling was born in New Baltimore, Greene county, New York, May 15, 1849, daughter of Amos and Ann Eliza Hotaling, who were married at Coxsackie, New York, October 30, 1844. Amos Hotaling was born in New Baltimore, March 17, 1815, died there January 24, 1909, and was the son of Garrett and Hester (Bronk) Hotaling, the latter a daughter of Ephraim and Annetje Knott Bronk, and his ancestors were Peter Bronk and Rachel Van Hoesen, Pieter Bronk and Annetje Bogardus, Peter Bogardus and Wyntje Westbrouck, Rev. Everardus Bogardus and Anneke Jans. Ann Eliza Hotaling was born in Coxsackie, New York, September 30, 1822, died in New Baltimore, March 20, 1903, daughter of Henry and Maria (Vandenbergh) Hotaling. Mr. and Mrs. Howard N. Fuller resided, in 1910, at No. 144 State street, Albany, New York. Children of Mrs. Fuller by first marriage:
- Emma Louise, born November 7, 1868, see forward;
- Anna Eliza, November 7, 1868, see forward;
- Zada Constance, October 27, 1872, see forward;
- William Allison, August 2, 1878, see forward.
(X) Emma Louise Fuller was born in New Baltimore, New York, November 7, 1868; married, Albany, New York, June 7, 1893, Charles Henry Douglas, manufacturer of woolen goods at Cohoes and residing in Albany. He was born in Albany, March 13, 1868. His father was Charles Henry Douglas, died in Albany; August 29, 1885, being the son of John and Jane Miller (Mueller) Douglas. His mother was Sarah Martha Root, who was born in Albany, May 6, 1851, died at Hague, Lake George, New York, August 19, 1907, daughter of Josiah G. and Martha Washington (Mead) Root. Charles H. Douglas and Sarah M. Root were married June 7, 1893, at Albany. Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Douglas resided, in 1910, at No. 168 Mohawk street, Cohoes, New York.
(X) Anna Eliza Fuller was born in New Baltimore, New York, November 7, 1868; married, Albany, New York, April 6, 1892, John Ferguson Moore, born in Albany, August 22, 1867, son of Dr. Levi and Ida Louise (Ferguson) Moore. Children: Gertrude Fuller Moore, born in Albany, March 27, 1893; John Ferguson Moore, born in Albany, September 10, 1896. They resided, in 1910, at No. 342 Hudson avenue, Albany, New York.
(X) Zada Constance Fuller was born in New Baltimore, New York, October 27, 1872. She married, Albany, October 26, 1898, Frederick Foster Ward, of Wilmington, Delaware, born in Jeffersonville, Indiana, November 2, 1871, son of Isaac Foster and Frances Brownell (Avery) Ward. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick F. Ward resided, in 1910, at No. 56 Woodland avenue, New Rochelle, New York.
(X) William Allison Fuller was born in Albany, New York, August 2, 1878. He received his education at the Albany Academy and Cornell University. He is a member of the Fort Orange Club, of Albany; the St. Elmo Club, of New York City, and of the Delta Phi fraternity. In 1910 he was a mechanical engineer, residing at No. 144 State street, Albany, New York.