Abner Fuller Proof Summary Companion Website
compiled by Kevin J Fuller November 2025

Project Summary

As a genealogist and direct patrilineal descendant of Edward Fuller of the Mayflower (BigY DNA), my primary focus is to document and prove the life and lineage of Abner Fuller, born in 1724 in Colchester, Connecticut—known in the Mayflower numbering system as Abner⁵. I, Kevin Fuller¹², am seven generations removed from Abner through an unbroken line of Fuller males.

Despite several widely accepted genealogical sources—including published compilations and Silver Book volumes—indicating that Abner⁵ "probably died young," my research reveals compelling and extensive evidence that he lived a full century, died in 1824 in Easton, New York, and left a documented legacy. Through land records, military service, probate documents, census records, and family wills, we now understand that Abner⁵ did not vanish early in life but rather migrated north to New York, where he established a family, farmed, and served in the Revolutionary War.

This long-overlooked story not only restores Abner⁵’s place in the historical record but also reestablishes a critical branch of the Fuller Mayflower lineage—one that has continued through his son Abner⁶, grandson George W.⁷, and down to me, the twelfth generation from Edward¹.

My neice and I began working on this project in 2020. In January 2023, we created a website to collect our findings as this project progressed.
That website is: edwardfullerfamilytree.org (most of the relevant data on that site has been transferred to wikitree profiles)
This new website is dedicated to Abner⁵ and will provide all the previous and recently found documents in a less formal structure. It may include some assumptions or observations, and maybe some research anecdotes, as the data relates to Abner⁵.

Research Objective

To prove that Abner Fuller⁵, born in 1724 in Colchester, Connecticut, is the same individual who later settled in Schaghticoke, Albany County (now Washington County), New York, and died in Easton in 1824 at the age of 99 years and 7 months.

This objective includes:

• Establishing a continuous documentary trail from Colchester to Easton through land records, census appearances, military rolls, and church records;

• Connecting Abner⁵ to his known children—particularly Abner⁶ Fuller, the father of George W.⁷ Fuller, anchoring the generational continuity;

• Refuting earlier genealogical assumptions that Abner⁵ “probably died young” by presenting positive proof of his long life and numerous records of activity into the 19th century;

• Demonstrating that no other Abner Fuller of the same age and profile existed during this period to avoid identity conflation;

• Compiling all of this into an exhaustive and well-documented proof summary suitable for submission to Mayflower societies, historical registries, and lineage organizations.

Was Abner born? Yes, he was.

Abner Fuller was born on December 10, 1724, in Colchester, Connecticut, to Samuel Fuller and Naomi Rowley. His birth is recorded in the Colchester town records, now preserved in the Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records. These official town records provide the earliest documentation of his existence and establish his place within the Fuller family of Colchester. The family’s deep New England roots, tracing back to Edward Fuller of the Mayflower, are supported by a strong documentary trail that includes Abner’s listing in 19th- and 20th-century genealogies.

Notably, Abner appears on page 42 of William Hyslop Fuller's Genealogy of Some Descendants of Edward Fuller of the Mayflower, a respected early compilation that connects him to the established Fuller line. He is also included in the General Society of Mayflower Descendants’ Silver Book series, which documents five generations of Edward Fuller’s descendants—specifically on page 44 of Volume Four (2nd edition). Although the Silver Book suggests Abner “probably died young,” the historical record proves otherwise, revealing a full life that took him from Connecticut to Schaghticoke and Easton, New York. This website aims to correct that oversight by documenting the evidence that supports his long and active life.

But, did he die young? No, he did not.

Coming up, we'll explore documents recently found at the Connecticut State Library. Specifically, Hartford County Court records that have been stored for 271 years, and never digitized. Turns out, our ancestors were a litigious bunch and there is quite a lot to be learned by combing through old lawsuits. Like business loans, debtor's prison & illegal marriages.

A Tale of Two Abners

The name "Abner" was absurdly popular in the 18th century. It seems every family named a child "Abner." In this family lineage, Abner⁵ Fuller born 10DEC1724 was the first of his name. Abner's mother, Naomi, gave birth to many children in a twenty year span and Abner was the tenth child. His brother John was born twenty years before Abner, in 1704. John married Sarah Clothier in 1727 and in 1737 they named a son Abner.⁶ These two Abners were destined to confuse genealogical research for 270 years. To add more confusion, they both named sons Abner. But, prior to about 1773, Abner⁵ and Abner⁶ were the only Abners in this family lineage.

The Revolutionary military records of both Abners have been conflated by many researchers over the decades. However, our reasearch shows the two lived separate and distinct histories. Abner⁵ conducted business and was involved in litigation at a time when his nephew was still under the lawful age of 21. Records show Abner⁵ was a soldier in the French & Indian War from 1755 to about 1760 in the Connecticut Regiment of Col. Nathan Whiting. He later enlisted in an Albany Militia during the Revolution after he had already settled a farm in Schaghticoke, NY. Abner⁵ of Schaghticoke (later Easton) was married to Ruth Weaver.

The nephew, Abner,⁶ was a Connecticut resident until his death in 1776. He married Mary Hilliard (Hillyard) Crowfoot in July 1767. They had two sons, Daniel and Abner.⁷ He was a soldier in Capt. Ebenezer Fitch Bissell’s company (Conn. Hist. Soc. Col., 8:27), was captured by the British and died on a British prison ship in Long Island harbor. His wife was probably giving birth to their son, Abner,⁷ about that same time.

After exhaustive research of Connecticut records, these are the only two men named "Abner Fuller" living in this period, prior to their own son's births.
Therefore, Abner⁶ (son of John⁵) will be excluded from the foregoing evidence collection.

Our first finding of Abner's adulthood is this 1752 petition to the General Assembly at Hartford CT Colony. Abner was 28 years old at the time. The original document can be found at the Connecticut State Library in Hartford.

The volume of "Connecticut Archives Towns and Lands, 1629-1789” index pictured here indicates that Abner Fuller was seeking lands of a "far western town." The petition below actually states "a considerable tract of land lying to ye westward of Hudson River" and was signed by many men on two and half pages of the petition.

Abner later settled a farm just east of the Hudson where he was a tenant farmer on land owned by Gen. Philip Schuyer, part of the Saratoga Patent.

An image of the petition follows below, along with a transcription and a snippet of the second signatory page with Abner's signature.

Transcription of 20 May 1752 Hartford Petition:

To ye honorable ye general assembly now convened at Hartford in ye colony of Connecticut May 1752—

The memorial of Joseph Black___,  Daniel Hide, Francis ?Rowley, Robert Wheler, Abraham Tomlinson. John Griffin, Josiah Perry, Charles Dewey, Alexander Phelps, Stephen Garner, Jabez Jones, William Olmstead, all of Colony of Connecticut & subscribers hereof and ye rest of ye subscribers hereunto humbly beg leave to ?absence? and show to this honorable assembly that we are ?informed? and do suppose that there is a considerable tract of land lying to ye westward of Hudson River and included within ye boundarys & limits of ye charter of this His Majesties Colony of Connecticut in New England in America – and ?yt ye to Land is nor never hath been granted to any persons or disposed of in any other way by this government thereupon your Honours Memorials humbly pray ?yt this honorable assembly would grant to ye memorials to and their associates some of ye vacant or ungranted lands lying at or near ye place called Delaware River so much thereof as shall be by your honors thought sufficient for four townships at least on such ?tienm? & conditions as this honorable assembly shall think just either by way of gift on such regulations as may be thought most convenient or by sale for a reasonable sum ??? ye present ???? or by giving liberty to your memorials to purchase of ye natives in ye lands, or otherwise grant to your memorials as shall be thought reasonable & just if ye lands or any part & your memorials as in duty bound shall ever pray.

Dated at Hartford this 20^th day of May AD 1752 - -

and here is the signatory page with Abner Fuller and some Rowley cousins:

In the Hartford County Court records, I found a case naming Samuel Fuller (father) and Abner Fuller (son) defendants to a loan executed on 11 JAN 1753.

The Hartford County Court Docket lists two suits filed against Samuel Fuller and Abner Fuller for defaulting on the repayment terms of a significant loan. They are case #198 and #199 on the docket index.

I believe these defendants are father and son because there is evidence (included below) that the "Aged Fuller of Colchester" died in the Hartford Prison in FEB 1757 and probate records for Samuel Fuller showing Nathan Sawyer as administrator of the estate. Nathan Sawyer was married to Samuel's Daughter Desire Fuller.

Samuel Fuller had a son Samuel⁵ (51 years) and grandson Samuel⁶ (27 years) who both died in MAY 1757 only a few months after the elder Samuel. Leaving only Samuel⁴ (75 years) to be the (Aged Fuller of Colchester) who died in the Hartford Prison.

Abner joined Connecticut's 2nd Regiment in 1755. Therefore, the historical record infers Samuel went to prison for the large debt to John Bannister and Abner went into military service.