Notes from Ellen Chase

Copy of notes sent by Ellen Chase of Brookline, Mass., in December, 1934. They pertain to families that our Fuller ancestors connect with.

“I have nothing new to communicate in reference to the Leverett line. I have busied myself summing up the our main lines as already on record at home. The Leverett portion is small but the Fuller part is ample.

1.     Thomas Fuller came to Massachusetts about 1635. He died in 1690 – connects with Ralph Fuller of Worwell in Aldeburgh, Norfolk County, England, near Needham. He married Hannah Flower in 1643. Thomas Fuller had dealings with the Indians, and is figured on the Town Seal receiving a deed. He was on a committee to have charge of money left for a Latin School. He was a Lieut. of the Dedham Co. In 1672, he gave five pounds to Harvard College. Was on a committee to lay out Deerfield, Mass. Representative in General Court.

 

2.     John Fuller (1645-1719) son of Thomas, was wounded Dec. 19, 1675 in the Narragansett Fort fight. Representative 1696, 1705-1711, 1715-17. Married Judith Gay in 1672, daughter of John Gay who came in the “Mary and John,” which brought west of England party.

 

3.     Capt. Robert Fuller ((1685-1769) married Mary Parker in 1713. He was Selectman, Town Clerk, and Treasurer continuously. John (1) Parker came in the “James” from Marlboro, Wiltshire, England. John (2) Parker, born 1666, Died 1729, married Mary Turner, daughter of John Turner. He or his father in King Philip’s War. Mary Turner died in 1715. Mary Parker, 1684, who married Capt. Robert Fuller seems to have been daughter of John (2) Parker and Mary Turner. John Turner was our ancestor, concerning whom Miss Chase gave the following; John (1) Turner of Medfield, Mass., where he dug a well in 1665. The selectmen made a very thorough business in settling with him, clearing all accounts “from the beginning of the world unto this day, as well as for killing of wolves, as for other things.” In 1675 he contributed 2 bushels of corn to the new brick college. (Harvard?)

After Mary Turner’s death John (2) Parker married Deborah Williams. Miss Chase says “Through whom we come,” but does not make clear our connection with her. She came of the Roxbury family. She then gives the following notes on the Williams family:

In Yarmouth, England, Stephen (1) Williams married Margaret Cooke. Their son Robert was the settler. He was Warden of the Guild of Cordwainers in Norwich, England. He sailed on the “Rose” and was one of the Apostle Eliot’s flock in Roxbury, Mass. Was member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. He married Elizabeth (3) Stalham. Christopher (1) Stalham married Joan Drake. John (2) Stalham of Norwich, England married Alice Gibson. Elizabeth Stalham was not keen about leaving home, but dreamed if she got to America she “would become the mother of a long line of worthy ministers of the Gospel.” Nine year after her death two descendants, cousins, John and William Williams graduated (from Harvard?) and the record ever since has been remarkable. Bishop Williams of Connecticut; the Founder of Williams College; a President of Yale College; a Chief Justice, etc. sharing her blood.

4.     Lieut. Robert Fuller (1714-1788) married Sarah Eaton. Was long Selectman and Town Clerk, and in 1767 a Representative. The Eatons are traced back five generations before Sarah Eaton as Follows; 1) Wm. Eaton of Kent, married Jane Hussey; 2) Nicholas Eaton, married Katherine Masters. Said to have been Mayor of Doer, Church Warden, etc. 3) John Eaton, helped build a foot bridge over Charles River; a surveyor owned the land on which the old Powder House yet stands. Married in England. Abigail, widow of H. Doman. 4) John Eaton, married Allice Ellis? 5) Wm. Eaton, married Mary Starr. 6) Sarah Eaton, married Robert  (4) Fuller, as above. The Starr family are traced back four generations from Mary Starr as follows: Thomas (1) Starr, a wool merchant of Cranbrook, Kent, England; Comfort (2) Starr M.D. Church Warden in Ashford, Kent; came to America in the “Hercules.” He had a sister named Sure Trust. He lived near Miles Standish in Duxbury, a while. In 1638 an early benefactor of Harvard College. In 1639 subscribed toward first Town House in Boston. Was buried in King’s Chapel ground. Inventory “over 613 pounds.” John (3) Starr gave 10 acres to Harvard College. Married Martha Bunker, daughter of George Bunker of Charlestown. He (Bunker) gave Woburn its Common, and 8 acres to Harvard College. In the Anne Hutchinson controversy he was one of the Charlestown men taking sides with Sir Harry Vane, Cotton and Wheelwright. Was banished, and the written remonstrance deemed seditious. Ten of the twelve then recanted, but Bunker and James Brown stood their ground, and were ordered disarmed unless they gave satisfaction. Deacon Comfort (4) Starr of Dedham, married Mary Stone. Mary (5) Starr married Wm. Eaton. The Stone line. - they lived in Great Bromley, where the settlers, Simon and Gregory Stone were christened. Simon Stone, settler, sailed in the “Increase,” bringing his 4 yr. old son Simon, Marie 3 yrs. and John, 5 weeks. In 1894, a pear tree of his planting, said to be still bearing fruit, had a trunk 3 ft. in diam., 6 ft. from the ground. The son, Simon Stone Jr. married Mary Whipple. In 1675 he was chosen to keep the town book of Watertown. He spelled off hand “Sider for old Thorpe beryall, etc.” He was often representative. Mary Stone married Deacon Comfort Starr (see above).  The Whipple line. Matthew Whipple, clothier of Hocking, Essex, England, married Joanna -----? Deacon John Whipple, settler, a ruling elder, agent for Mr. Saltonstall in his business affairs, foefee of a grammar school, clerk of the writs, Representative, married Sarah Hawkins. Mary Whipple his daughter married Simon Stone Jr. (see above).

5.     Lieut. Wm. Fuller (1743-1802) married Sarah Hunting in 1769. Soldier on Lexington Alarm Rolls. Helped fortify Dorchester Heights. Served at time of Gen. Burgoyne’s leading these parts. Selectman, assessor, town treasurer, Representative, school committee man, justice of the peace, and died leaving an estate of  $20,000.00. 

 

6.     Lydia Fuller (1777-1842) married 1^st Wm. Leverett (1773-1807) in 1799, 2^nd Joshua Griggs in 1811. Is buried in Brookline. Miss Chase’s Aunt, Maria Dalton, writes of her grandmother Lydia Fuller Leverett Griggs: She made long winter visits at our house and delighted once a week to give Catherine an evening home, while she sat with her knitting work by the nursery grate till the children were asleep. The even click of her needles was of itself a lullaby, while her erect dignified figure, dimly discerned by the firelight, for she would have no other, seemed the impersonation of protecting care. The embodiment of executive force too was this honored grandmother of the good old Fuller stock. Not stern in manner, nor severe in speech, not exacting in disposition, but commanding by nature. As soon as she crossed our threshold her presence was felt from the top to the bottom of the house. Increased punctuality, frugality and fidelity in the kitchen, discipline and order in the nursery, invariably attended her coming, and human nature in the household generally, was held to the end of her stay at the highest pitch, willy nilly, by her unconscious influence.” 

 

7.     Joseph Leverett (1804-1878) married Mary Turner 1828. Descendant of John Turner of Medfield, Mass. See P. 1.

Transcriber's Note: This was typed onto a browned piece of paper that I found in genealogy files. I suspect it was typed in the 1930's by Frank Leverett but have no direct evidence. Frank, or whoever the author is, puts his own spin on the information, so I don't believe Ellen Chase can be quoted directly here.