Father: William Fuller
Mother: *****

Spouse: Ann *****

Child-1: John - b: ~1534 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England
                        d: May/1599 - bur: 15/May/1599 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England
                       m: Anne Harwyne - 15/Sep/1571 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England
          2: Ales or Alice - b: ~1537 - Redenhall Par., Co. Norfolk, England
          3: Robert

Biographical Details:

It may be supposed that John Fuller was born about 1510 probably in Redenhall Parish, County Norfolk, England.  His father is thought to have been William Fuller, but the name of his mother is entirely unknown.  Even so, it is likely that he married about 1533 or, perhaps, a year or two earlier.  Moreover, it has been commonly stated by family researchers that his wife was Ann Collinge, an assertion which seems to derive from a reference to "mother Collinge" in the will of his son, John.¹  However, there are other plausible explanations for this usage and the conclusion that Collinge was the maiden name of John Fuller's wife does not seem particularly convincing.  Alternatively, it has been suggested that the wife of John Fuller was Ann Hoptkins and that his mother was Ann Collinge, i.e., she was the wife of William Fuller.  However, there seems to be no documentary support for either of these presumptions, hence, both should be disregarded.  Apparently, John Fuller died in April or very early May of 1559 since his burial on May 3, 1559, was recorded in  the register of Redenhall Parish.  (Alternatively, it has also been reported that he was buried in the Choir of Jesus College, presumably at Cambridge University, but this seems  hardly likely.)  Moreover, he had made his will three months earlier on February 4, 1558 (1559 N. S.) in which he made bequests to two sons, John and Robert; a daughter, Ales (or Alice); and probably two minor grandchildren, Stephen and Frances Sadd.²  Within this context, it has been frequently reported that of the two sons, Robert was older that John.  However, John was left all of the property and instructed to pay his brother ten pounds.  This is a clear indication that he was the oldest living son, since the custom of primogeniture prevailed in England at that time.  In addition, John was made sole executor of his father's will further implying that he was of age, i.e., twenty-one years of age or older.  In contrast, it would seem that Robert was younger than twenty-one years in 1559, perhaps, about sixteen.

1. "ABSTRACTS OF WILLS - EPISCOPAL CONSISTORIAL COURT OF NORWICH
Register, Peck, fol. 42 -- John Fuller of Rednall, co. Norfolk, yeoman, will dated 28 Jan., 1598-9, proved 8 May, 1599, gives to wife Ann, 'all the household stuff she brought me, such as brasse, pewter, bedding, fowles, &c., at her death to go to my son Thomas Fuller, the Younger, and if he die before my wife then to go to my youngest son Roger Fuller.'  To said wife, 'The little house and garden which mother Collinge some time dwelt in, for her life, and to be kept wind tyte and water tyte by my son Raffe.'  Also gives to son Thomas the elder a milch cow; to son Roger heifer &c.; to son Robert a milch cow; to daughter Battriss great bason and pewter dish; 'young William, my sonne,' the lesser bason and platter on the cupboard; 'to Raffe my sonne' free hold land on Brome Hill: 'to my sonne Thomas Fuller, the younger,' a heifer &c.; 'to the four children of the ould William, my sonne,' the cupboard and long table in the Hall; John Pigeon and wife Ann to be executors.  Witnesses: Henry Herne; Robt Lerby, his mark"  In passing, it is interesting to note that the heirs apparently included two sons named Thomas, viz., "Thomas, the elder" and "Thomas, the younger" and two sons named William, viz., "old William" and "young William".  Such an arrangement would be very unusual if these individuals were full brothers and of about the same age.  Therefore, it is probable that John Fuller was married at least twice, i.e., as a young man to a wife of commensurate age and as an old man to a considerably younger woman, and, consequently, had a much younger "second family" in which the names Thomas and William were used again.  This presumption is further supported since the specific bequest to the four children of old William would seem to imply that he was already deceased.  (Shannon Berry; database - shatonjade; worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com, 2002.)
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2. "ABSTRACTS OF WILLS -- EPISCOPAL CONSISTORIAL COURT OF NORWICH
Register, Colman, fol. 325. -- John Fuller, the Elder, will dated 4 Feb., 1558-9, proved 12 May, 1559, gives to son John Fuller all land and tenements 'both bound and free in Redenhall and Wortwell, or elles wyer (sic - elsewhere), he paying to my son Robert Fuller 10 pounds.'  To 'Ales, my daughter,' 6 pounds, 8s, 4d.  Small bequest to Stephen and Frances Sadd, when 21.  Son John to be executor.  Witnesses: Thomas Ward; John Barne; Thomas Fuller; William Norton."  (ibid.)
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Additional Citations:

3. Francis H. Fuller, "Fullers of Redenhall, England" in New England Genealogical and Historical Register, Vol. 55, pgs. 410-4, 1901.

4. Charles Edward Banks, English Ancestry and Homes of the Pilgrim Fathers, The Grafton Press, New York, NY, 1929: pg. 55.  (Reprint available from Genealogical Publishing Co., 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD, 21202-3897)

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