Your webmaster with his dad, Arthur Clarence Fuller, at the approximate site on the Zuurveld at which 
Henry and Susannah Fuller and their two young boys were dropped off in 1820. 
No, that’s not a lake – the picture was taken by timer from a camera sitting on the roof of our car. 

First generation notes

3. Henry Fuller

Henry Fuller, wife Susannah Parrott and small sons George and Charles were among about 3,600 British settlers who emigrated to the Cape Colony in 1820 and subsequently became known as the 1820 Settlers.

Henry and Susannah and their sons George (2) and Charles (18 months) sailed from London on the Ocean on December 13, 1819, members of Dixon’s party, of which Henry Fuller became leader soon after the ship’s arrival at Algoa Bay on April 15, 1820.

After that, Henry and Susannah appear to have been lifelong residents of the Albany district.

It’s apparent from records of the time that some of his sons were active during the frontier wars with the
Xhosas.

Henry’s name appears seven times in The Lower Albany Chronicle by E. Morse Jones published by the Lower Albany Historical Society, Port Alfred, 1968.
1. July 24 1820, “The party led by John Dixon was being directed by Henry Fuller.”
2. July 26 1827, “Henry Fuller, George Marsden, William Shepherd and William Hiles gave evidence at Grahamstown on the forcible removal of James Erith to his final location in 1820.”
3. March 31 1834, “Henry Fuller offered Newton in exchange for land on the lower Blinkwater held by Xogomesh, known as Hermanus Matroos.”
4. December 20 1834, “Henry Fuller had moved to his farm on the Blinkwater, Fuller’s Hoek.”
5. March 9 1841, “Mary, daughter of Thomas Lanham, was married at Grahamstown by the Reverend John Heavyside to Charles, son of Henry Fuller. Elizabeth Lanham was witness.”
6. December 7 1843, “Henry Fuller expected to reap 700 bushels of wheat at Newton.”
7. February 28 1847, “James Usher junior and J. Featherstone, Grahamstown Yeomanry, carrying mails from Grahamstown to Manley’s Flat, were fired on by a Hottentot about five miles out of Grahamstown. James Usher was wounded and the attacker made off with the pack-horse and mails. The two men reached Henry Fuller’s house.”

During the opening days of the War of the Axe (1846-47), the officer commanding the Grahamstown Yeomanry, J.D. Norden, was shot through the head on Henry Fuller’s farm. The unit had been called out after a raid on some wagons by the Xhosas.

A big day for Henry and Susannah’s family was Nov. 14, 1850, on which day three marriages and three baptisms all involving Fullers took place. Although all six events are recorded in the parish records of Trinity Church, the Presbyterian church in Grahamstown, it seems the proceedings may actually have taken place at Henry and Susannah’s residence, Prospect farm (see notes for their son, James). Three of Henry and Susannah’s children -- William, James and Susannah -- were married that day, and three of their grandchildren -- Charles and Mary Ann’s children Emily Susan, Edwin William and Kate Harriet -- were baptized.

In his will, signed on Feb. 21 1865 when he was living at Mount Pleasant, a farm five kilometres southeast of Grahamstown (if its namesake on modern maps is indeed the same farm), he left everything he had to his eight children equally, with stipulations that the will of the majority was to prevail among them and that any child resisting that would have their share reduced to the minimum allowed by law. He also stipulated that if any of his three daughters tried to claim her respective inheritance under operation of the existing Colonial law, then such share or shares would be reduced to the minimum amount allowed to be claimed by children from the estate of their parent by law. He appointed his sons William and John, along with James John Henry Stone of Grahamstown, as
executors and gave them sole power to renew or terminate a lease granted to the Honourable George Wood, Frederick James Hodges and John Frederick Browne on a portion of the Mount Pleasant estate.

Henry’s death notice says that he died in the parsonage of the Rev. G.W. Stegmann at Adelaide in the district of Fort Beaufort, and the Grahamstown Journal of Oct. 5, 1870, confirms that: “Died, at the residence of his son-in-law, the Rev. G. Stegmann, in the town of Adelaide, Mr. Henry Fuller, formerly of “Mount Pleasant,” Albany, farmer, aged 77 years. Deceased was one of the British Settlers of 1820.”

Henry and Susannah’s graves lie side by side in the town cemetery at Adelaide. Henry’s inscription reads: “Sacred to the memory of Henry Fuller who departed this life on the 2nd of October 1870 aged 77 years.”
There is a badly weathered footnote that might read, “We are also ready.”

Sources for Henry Fuller
Birth: MOOC 6/9/133 Ref. 6547. FHL film 1281543. (A note of explanation on the birth date for Henry that appears on this website: This has been calculated from information on his death notice, which states that he was 79 years and 14 days old when he died on Oct. 2, 1870. Although it may appear that the death notice says 77 years (and not 79) and 14 days, this would place his birth two years after his documented baptism. So the assumption, in the absence of better information, must be that the top loop of the “9” is missing, making it look like a “7.”)
Christening: West Ham parish records, Essex, England. Housed at the Essex Record Office, Colchester
Marriage: Leyton parish records, Essex, England. D/P45/1/14; housed at the Essex Record Office, Colchester.
Death: Death Notice MOOC 6/9/133 Ref. 6547. FHL film 1281543.
Will: MOOC 7/1/312, Ref. 77.
Norden incident: From “Irregular units of the 7th Kaffir War 1846-7” by Major J.J. Hulme (Military History Journal, The South African Military History Society)

Susannah Parrott

An interesting snippet about Susannah is that it appears she was pregnant with her third child, Ann, throughout the sea voyage from England with the 1820 Settlers. This voyage lasted from Dec. 13, 1819 to April 15, 1820, with Ann being born about four months later on August 7, 1820.
Susannah and her husband Henry are buried together in the town cemetery at Adelaide.
The inscription on her gravestone reads:
“Sacred to the memory of Susannah wife of Henry Fuller of Mount Pleasant near Grahamstown and daughter of William and Susannah Parrot of the county of Essex, England
Died at Adelaide August 18th 1864 aged 69 years”
There is also a religious inscription which reads:
“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord
They rest from their labours
In my father’s house are many mansions”

The name Parrot is spelt with one “t” on the gravestone but at her marriage Susannah signed her name with two.
For some reason, there is no death notice for Susannah in the MOOC collection.

Sources for Susannah Parrott
Marriage: Leyton parish registers, Essex, ERO D/P45/1/14

14. Ann Fuller

Ann was just the fourth child to be baptized in the new Union Chapel in Grahamstown, one of three of Henry and Susannah Fuller’s children who were baptized that day.
Sources for Ann Fuller
Birth: Union Chapel, Grahamstown, Baptisms 1827-1848, entry #4 (Cory MS 17 066).

17. John Fuller

John Fuller’s lengthy obituary in the Grahamstown Journal on Jan. 5, 1872 (p. 3 c. 2), provides a good portrait of his life and untimely death. It reads:
--------------------------------
The late Mr. John Fuller
In memoriam
It is with regret that we announce the death of this gentleman, which occurred on the 30th inst. at the residence of Mr. J.J.H. Stone of this city. His funeral took place on New Year’s Day and was numerously attended. The Revs. Johnston and Smit conducted the burial service.
Mr. Fuller was only 43 years of age. He was born near Grahamstown and was a son of the late Mr. Henry Fuller. He rendered good service to the Colony during the Kafir Wars of 1846 and 1850, in which he had several adventures and went through many arduous undertakings and duties. In 1846 he took part in the defence at Woest-Hill when attacked by Kafirs. He was one of the party who, during the war, proceeded with Sir W. Currie to the Fish River Randt to recover the body of Mr. Bouwer, and had a narrow escape in consequence of being separated from his party. The Kafirs almost took him prisoner. After discharging both barrels of his gun, his horse refused to move until the natives were within a few yards of him. He was also one of the burghers who volunteered and proceeded beyond the Kei in 1850, to meet Sir George Cathcart.
Mr. Fuller was for a long time farming in Lower Albany, partly with his brother, Mr. W. Fuller, and partly on the farm Melville, but both brothers left Albany for the district of Bedford in the year 1858 for the purpose of sheepfarming, which avocation was carried on by the deceased until the month of May last, when he proceeded to the Diamond-fields. Whilst there, he took claims at the New Rush and was tolerably successful, and at the end of the month of November last, left the fields for Capetown, which he reached after some rough travelling day and night, through the Karoo by the Transport Company’s wagons, and the fatigue occasioned by this journey he subsequently complained of.
Mr. Fuller came around by the Natal, and reached this city about a fortnight back, with the hope of rejoining his friends at Bedford, and spending happily the holiday season, but he was unfortunately attacked with fever, the germs of which it is supposed originated at the fields. He gradually sunk under the attack and at times was greatly exhausted, and finally expired without pain or struggle.
“Death laid his hand
Upon his heart gently, not smiting it,
But as a harper lays his open palm
Upon his harp to deaden its vibrations.”
Mr. Fuller’s habits were quiet and regular, his frame stalwart and apparently robust. He was determined, unostentatious and independent in his manner; decided in his actions, and his sincere friendship and integrity caused him to be respected by all who knew him. He became, during his residence at the fields, well known to many of the diggers and they, as well as his friends here, will deeply deplore his unexpected loss.
------------------------------------------------
Another tribute to John Fuller, somewhat less formal, appears in the family bible of Henry and Ann Sparks. In the front of this bible over a period of nine years from 1862 to 1871 they recorded the deaths of close friends and acquaintances, 22 people in all, and the very last of these entries reads:
“John Fuller, died Dec. 31st 1871, aged 40 years, sociable, good friend.”
-------------------------------------------------
Other sources for John Fuller
Death: Death notice MOOC 6/9/138 Ref. 7744 (there is an error in the NAAIRS database index and this death notice is listed under John “Puller” instead of Fuller. FHL film 1281544.
Will: MOOC 7/1/320 Ref. 27.
The S.A. Genealogical Society’s gravestone insciption data base, which is available at the NAAIRS site at http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300dl, contains an entry for the gravestone of John Fuller in the Old Grahamstown Cemetery. The summary reads: “John Fuller. Died 30-12-1871. Aged 42 years and 4 months.”
Sparks family bible: This information was supplied by John Sheldon Sparks of Portland, Oregon, to genealogist Bernie Cramer of Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, and posted to the SOUTH-AFRICA-IMMIGRANTS-BRITISH mailing list at www.rootsweb.com

4. George Fuller

George Fuller was a London gun maker, an occupation in which he was followed by his only son, William.
George and his wife, Mary, also had three daughters. Daughters seem to have run in this family -- when she married, Lucy had seven!
George’s death entry says he died at 280 Strand in London.
The following list of addresses for George Fuller was compiled by Cliff Fuller (no known relation to George), who sells antique guns in the U.K. and owns one by George Fuller (which is not for sale):

2 Dean St Soho 1832 to 1834
Caroline Street, St. Pancras 1841 census (age 40)
104 Wardour St. 1845
30 Southampton St. 1846 to 1855
280 The Strand 1856 to 1871
15 Wynch St. 1872 to 1874
6 Newcastle St. 1874 to 1877
3 Waterloo St. 1878 to 1880

Cliff Fuller also says that George Fuller’s trade card stated “Gunmaker to H.R.H. The Prince Consort,” i.e. Prince Albert.

The following census extracts involve George Fuller and his family:

1841 (census taken June 8)
(HO 107 / 684 Book 6) Folio 22
15 Caroline Street, St. Pancras, Marylebone

Name Age Occupation Born in same county?
George Fuller 40 Gun m. Yes
Mary Fuller 35 Yes
William Fuller 9 Yes
Lucy Fuller 5 Yes
Caroline Fuller 1 Yes

* In the 1841 census, ages of persons over 15 were supposed to be rounded downwards to the nearest multiple of five)
-----------------------------
1851 (census taken March 30)
(HO 107 / 1511)
Fol. 88
St. Paul, Covent Garden
30 Southampton Street

George Fuller Head Marr. 58 Gun maker Stratford, Essex
Mary Fuller Wife Marr. 48 St. James, Mdx.
William Fuller son Unmar. 18 Caroline St., Camden Town
Lucy Fuller daughter 14 (Same as above)
Emma Fuller daughter 7 (Same as above)
Edwin Austen Head Marr. 30 Barrister's clerk Surrey
Lucy Austen Wife Marr. 24 Camden Town
Mary E. daughter 2 1/2 Surrey
Lucy daughter 4 mo. London, Strand

-----------------------------
1861 (census taken April 7)
(R.G. 9/179) Westminster, Middlesex
Fol. 89
St. Clement Danes
280 Strand

George Fuller Head Mar. 67 Gun maker Essex, Stratford
Mary Fuller wife Mar. 57 Camden Town
Caroline Fuller daughter Unmarr. 21 Camden Town
Emma Fuller daughter Unmarr. 18 Camden Town

-----------------------------
1871 (census taken April 2)
(R.G. 10/366) Westminster, Middlesex
Fol. 4
St. Clement Danes
280 Strand

George Fuller Head mar. 77 Gun maker Mdx., Stratford
Mary Fuller wife mar. 67 London
Emma Fuller daughter unmar. 27 London
Mary Emma Austen granddau. 12 Surrey

-----------------------------
1881 (census taken April 3)
(George Fuller’s family no longer at 280 Strand)

Mary Parsonage

The source for Mary’s maiden name is daughter Caroline’s birth certificate No. 499, Oct. 5
1839, Registration district St. Pancras and sub-district Regent’s Park

21. William Fuller

In the 1851 census he is listed as a gun maker, like his father (see notes for the father, George Fuller).
Sources for William Fuller
Christening: IGI, Batch No. C047932, film 0598163 or 0598164. Original record consulted at Greater London Record Office and found to be correct.

23. Caroline Fuller

May have died sometime before the age of 10, since she disappears from the family members listed in the 1851 census. The only three Caroline Fullers listed as having died between 1841 and 1851, however, are in Lincolnshire, Sussex and Bedfordshire.
Sources for Caroline Fuller
Christening: IGI batch no. C047932, film 0598163 or 0598164.
Original record consulted at Greater London Record Office and found to be correct.

24. Emma Fuller

Sources for Emma Fuller
Christening: IGI batch no. C047932, film 0598163 or 0598164.
Original record consulted at Greater London Record Office and found to be correct.

8. Charles Fuller

Charles, the fourth of William and Ann Fuller’s five sons, seems to have spent the first part of his adult life not too far away from his parents’ home. The baptisms of five children born to him and his wife Sarah, born Claridge, are recorded at the church of St. Mary Stratford, Bow, in Middlesex, which is just over the River Lea from Stratford, Essex, where the ancestral Fuller family lived (the bridge connecting the two is called the Bow Bridge still today).
The St. Mary parish registers describe Charles’s occupation as “cheesemonger” (four times) and “grocer” (once).
It is evident from South African records that Charles and Sarah had a sixth child, Elizabeth, so that their move to the Cape would probably have taken place sometime after the fifth child was baptized in May 1834. It seems that Charles followed hard on the heels of his brother James, who had emigrated somewhat earlier, as the birth of James’s son Henry in Cape Town in 1833 tells us.
Charles and his family appear to have settled in King William’s Town initially. When his daughter Amelia married W.G.B. Shepstone in 1852, he was referred to in the Grahamstown Journal as Charles Fuller of King William’s Town, although there are both earlier and later references to him as living in Grahamstown.
He appears to have concentrated on a career as a storekeeper, and one not without incident. There are a number of archival references to litigation involving him; there appears to have been a bankruptcy in 1845, followed curiously in the very next year by the opening of a branch store on the coast during the War of the Axe.
Sources for Charles Fuller
Birth of children and marriage: Greater London Record Office, parish records, church of St. Mary Stratford, Bow, Middlesex.
Death: The Grahamstown Journal of Aug. 13, 1875 records: “Died, at the residence of Mr. J.J.H. Stone, Cross St., on the 13th instant, Mr. Charles Fuller, aged 75 years.”
Bankruptcy: Grahamstown Journal, Thursday September 11 1845. Notice to creditors to apply for the amount of their dividends. Trustees James Black, H.B. Rutherford, and G. Wood.
Branch store: In article “The Fish River Mouth Camp” by E. Morse Jones, mention is made that in September 1946, “Charles Fuller opened a branch store of his Grahamstown business.” From the book “Peddie -- Settlers’ Outpost” by Donald, Kirby et alia, edited and compiled by J.B. Bullock (Grahamstown: Grocott & Sherry, 1960). This book was issued by the 1820 Settlers’ Commemoration Committee.

Sarah Claridge

Source for her birth date and place of death is a family tree supplied by Aldyth Fuller. Original source not cited.

26. William Charles Fuller

Sources for William Charles Fuller
Birth and baptism: Greater London Record Office, parish records, church of St. Mary Stratford, Bow, Middlesex.
Entry in the Grahamstown Journal of Aug. 30, 1869, p. 1, c. 1:
“Died at Grahamstown on Sunday the 22nd August 1869, Mr. William Charles Fuller, formerly of King William’s Town. Aged 43 years.”

31. Elizabeth Fuller

Source for her birth date and place is a family tree supplied by Aldyth Fuller, which states that she was baptized in the Independent Chapel, Grahamstown.
Source for her death is an entry in the Grahamstown Journal on May 22, 1852: “Died, at King William’s Town 13th May 1852, Elizabeth, the beloved daughter of Charles and Sarah Fuller, after an illness of 4 days. Aged 14 years and 11 months.”

32. Jane Fuller

Source for this child is a family tree supplied by Aldyth Fuller, which states that she was was baptized in the Independent Chapel, Grahamstown, and did not marry.

33. John James Fuller

Sources for this child
Birth: Entry in the Cape Frontier Times of Grahamstown on Aug. 25, 1841, recording the birth of a son to Mrs. C. Fuller on Aug. 21.
A family tree supplied by Aldyth Fuller (original source not cited) names the child born on this date as John James Fuller and also states that he was born in Grahamstown.

34. Lucy Fuller

Source for this child, and her marriage, is a family tree supplied by Aldyth Fuller. Original sources not cited.

10. James Fuller

Married Harriet Spicer at the church of St. George Hanover Square in London in 1829.
Followed his elder brother Henry to the Cape Colony in the 1830s, settling in Cape Town, where he continued to work as a baker.
There are a fair number of files in the Cape archives covering cases in which James went to the courts to recover money owed to him, usually for bread he had delivered but also, in one case, for non-payment of rent on a property he owned, a case in which he also eventually won damages for having been accused of lying.
When he died in 1887, James split his estate between his daughter Ann, who got £888-10-2, and seven grandchildren, who got £83-16-1 each. These were the children of James’s only son, Henry, who had died in 1869 aged just 36. Of his seven children, the eldest had been just 14 when their father died.
James’s will provides the surnames of three of the granddaughters’ husbands.
Sources for James Fuller
Marriage: Boyd’s Marriage Index for Middlesex 1801-1837.
Death: Death notice MOOC 6/9/244 Ref. 718.
Will and estate papers: MOOC 13/1/540 Ref. 92; also MOOC 13/1/647 Ref. 82 and 83.

Harriett Spicer

Source for her surname is son Henry’s death notice MOOC 6/9/311 Ref. 2663, and also the record of her marriage to James in the church of St. George Hanover Square in London in 1829.

37. Mary Fuller

The existence of this daughter of James and Harriet has not been verified -- she was listed in a GEDCOM file downloaded from RootsWeb.

32. Mary Fuller

The existence of this daughter of James and Harriet has not been verified -- she was listed in a GEDCOM file downloaded from RootsWeb.

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