Edward Fuller facts for kids
Edward Fuller was a passenger on the famous ship, the Mayflower, in 1620. He was born around 1575 in Norfolk, England. Edward Fuller was one of the people who signed the important Mayflower Compact. Sadly, he and his wife died shortly after arriving in the new land. But their sons survived and lived in the new Plymouth settlement.
Contents
Edward Fuller's Early Life
Not much is known about Edward Fuller's early years in England. He was baptized on September 4, 1575. His father, Robert Fuller, worked as a butcher. Edward had a brother named Samuel. Samuel also traveled with him on the Mayflower.
Edward Fuller was married, but we do not know his wife's name. They had two sons: Matthew, born in 1605, and Samuel, born in 1608. Edward and his brother Samuel lived in Leiden, a city in the Netherlands, for a while. Many other English Separatists lived there too. Separatists were people who wanted to separate from the official Church of England.
The Mayflower Journey to a New World
In 1651, William Bradford wrote a list of Mayflower passengers. This list included "Edward Fuller, and his wife, and Samuell, their son."
The Mayflower left Plymouth, England, on September 16, 1620. There were 102 passengers and about 30 to 40 crew members on board. The ship was heading for Virginia Colony. However, the Mayflower was damaged during the trip. This forced them to land at Cape Cod, which is now Provincetown Harbor.
On November 21, 1620, the Mayflower finally spotted land. Before leaving the ship, the passengers wrote the Mayflower Compact. This was a list of rules for how they would live and treat each other in their new settlement. Edward Fuller was one of the men who signed this important document.
Life in Plymouth Colony
William Bradford kept a detailed record of the new settlement at Plymouth. He wrote that "Edward Fuller and his wife died soon after they came ashore." Their son Samuel, who was about twelve years old, survived. He went to live with his uncle, Samuel Fuller.
The exact date of death for Edward Fuller and his wife is not known. They died during the winter of 1620 and 1621. They were buried in the Coles Hill Burial Ground in Plymouth. A memorial there remembers them as "Edward Fuller and his wife."
Fuller's Family
Edward Fuller had two sons, Matthew and Samuel. After his parents died, Samuel went to live with his uncle, Samuel Fuller. Samuel later became a doctor. Matthew came to Plymouth Colony sometime after his parents had arrived.
