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James FULLER
Abt 1776 - 1858 (~ 82 years)
Has no ancestors but 144 descendants in this family tree.
Set As Default Person 
-
Name James FULLER Relationship 
with Teresa Ann GOATHAM Born Abt 1776 Hurst, Sussex, England 
- Age given as 74 in the 1851 census, although given as 84 when he died in 1858. Shown as born Hurst, Sussex in the 1851 census (Hurstpierpoint? Herstmonceux? Hurst Green?), although said to have been born in Kent in the 1841 census.
Hurst Green is a hamlet crossing the border of Salehurst and Etchingham parishes, in Sussex but on the Kent / Sussex border.
Gender Male Alt. Birth Abt 1776 Hurst Green, Sussex, England - Could James have been born in Hurst Green?
I wonder if Hurst Green, also in Sussex, was shortened to Hurst? - I know locals in other parts of the country often shorten place names, especially double-barrelled ones.
Occupation From 1819 to 1829 Patrixbourne, Kent, England Labourer - From children's baptism entries. The family is recorded as living in Patrixbourne although the baptisms were in Bridge; possibly they were on a farm between the 2 villages.
Tithe Apportionments Abt 1841 The Gate and the Gate Public House, Patrixbourne, Kent, England Gardens - The tithe comutation documents show that James Fuller was charged for the garden of a property called 'The Gate', and also with Thomas Bushell for the garden at the Gate Public House. The Gate, a property with a garden, is shown on the tithe map the Canterbury side of the pub on the Old Dover Road (it appears that most of the garden of the Gate Public House and possibly also the house and garden 'The Gate' would have been under the roundabout). Pubs are often photographed - I will look to see if I can find any old photos of the Gate Pub and they might also show 'The Gate'.
The 1841 census shows that Thomas Bushell was then the publican, and that James and his family were listed immediately after the pub, and before Milestone Farm.
The 1851 census shows James and family immediately before the Gate Pub, where one John Brickenden was now victualler, and after the unnamed home of farmer Thomas Bushell.
(Judging from his age I think it was the same Thomas Bushell who was victualler in 1841 and farmer in 1851; wife's name was different so I guess he had been widowed and remarried but I have not tried to check this).
Since a farmer named Thomas found the dead James on his way home, that too would seem to be the same James. Since James appears to have been cultivating the garden at the pub with Thomas in 1841 it would seem the two men would have known each other well.
Occupation From 1841 to 1851 Ag lab - Inquest following his death described him as having been 'in the employment of Mr. Collard of Nackington, during the greater portion of his life.'
Died 24 Aug 1858 Patrixbourne, Kent, England Cause: Suicide (“Hanged himself when in a state of mental derangement”) - GRO ref: Fuller, James q3 1858 Bridge RD 2a 335; GRO online index shows age at death as 84
An inquest was held on 25th August. Like many coroner's inquests, the records are not known to survive, but it was reported in a local paper, in this case 'The Canterbury Journal and Farmers' Gazette' of 4 September 1858:
"Inquest. - On Wednesday se'nnight, T. T. Delasaux
Esq., coroner, held an inquiry at the Gate public-house,
on the Dover-road, touching the death of James Fuller,
an agricultural labourer, 84 years of age, who was
found dead the previous day, as stated by the witnesses.
Thos. Bushell, a farmer, of Patrixbourne, deposed that
as he was returning from work on Monday, he found
the deceased suspended by the neck, by a piece of cord,
which was fastened to a wattle. He appeared to have
been dead some hours. In answer to the jury the
witness added :- The wattle was put up for a fence.
The deceased was standing leaning against it, with
the rope tight round his neck. The deceased was
bald a little, but witness had not noticed a mark on his
head. - A juror : There is a mark, but it looks like an
old wound. - The Coroner : That may have affected his
head sometimes. - Mrs. Brickenden stated that she had
known the deceased for the past 8 years, and during
the last two months he had been low and melancholy,
and had occasionally cried and complained of pains in
his head. - Verdict, "Mental derangement." The de-
ceased has been in the employment of Mr. Collard, of
Nackington, during the greater portion of his life."
col. 6, last item after heading 'Canterbury'.
A verdict of not being in their right mind was a common one. One reason for this was the consequence to property of a verdict of suicide.
I wonder if he hanged himself to avoid having to go into the workhouse. The parents-in-law of one of his sons (George, the one I am desecnded from) had gone into Bridge Workhouse the previous year, quite likely James knew them; even if he didn't he is bound to have known others who did finish up there. Possibly death seemed preferable.
But we can't assume this.
Death certificate for James Fuller Inquest 25 Aug 1858 The Gate Public House, Patrixbourne, Kent, England Buried 28 Aug 1858 St. Mary’s Church, Patrixbourne, Kent, England - KFHS CD-ROM 02/07
Also NBI, which shows his age as 84
Notes - Living in Patrixbourne with wife and 3 children (James, Thomas and Susannah) at time of 1841 census and with wife and son Thomas in 1851c (close to Gate public house in both)
Person ID I4463 All | Teresa's direct ancestors Last Modified 14 Nov 2022
Family Elizabeth LUCAS, b. Abt 1788, Bishopsbourne, Kent, England , d. 19 Sep 1855, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Longport, Canterbury, Kent, England (Age ~ 67 years) Married 24 Dec 1804 St. Mary’s Church, Nackington, Kent, England - From IGI, accessed 12 07 2011, indexing project (batch) number: I04159-6; source film number: 1736927
Now seen PR image
Both were otp when they married; consent of father not mentioned in marriage entry or banns.
Children8 children Last Modified 22 Oct 2013 Family ID F3420 Family Group Page | Family Chart
- Age given as 74 in the 1851 census, although given as 84 when he died in 1858. Shown as born Hurst, Sussex in the 1851 census (Hurstpierpoint? Herstmonceux? Hurst Green?), although said to have been born in Kent in the 1841 census.