Rose Fuller MP of Jamaica and Rose Hill Sussex

Politician, iron-master, gun-founder and landowner. 2nd son of John Fuller, MP, of Brightling, Sussex and Elizabeth Rose. Uncle of John Fuller, 'Mad Jack' Fuller (q.v.).

John Fuller MP (1680-1745), was an ironmaster and gun-founder who by marriage to Elizabeth Rose of Jamaica (1681-1728), acquired through the marriage settlement a large fortune from sugar plantations in St Katherine's and St John's, Jamaica.

Rose Fuller married Apr. 1737, Ithamar (who died 22 April 1738), daughter of Richard Mill, receiver general and chief justice of Jamaica. There were no children. Succeeded to Rose property in Jamaica in 1746 and to his brother John in 1755.

Having studied medicine at Leyden University he was sent by his father to Jamaica in 1733 to manage the family’s sugar estates and the enslaved on them. In 1735 he was elected to the Jamaican Assembly, in 1737 was called to the council and was also made a judge of the supreme court. Following disputes with the Governor, William Trelawny, he was removed from the council in 1740 and from the bench in 1746. In 1749 he had returned to England though he then returned to Jamaica in or by 1752. But the next Governor, Charles Knowles, complained of Fuller’s ‘tyrannical’ behaviour as a judge and there were further dsputes over Fuller’s opposition to the plan to move the seat of government to Kingston from St Iago. Rose Fuller was listed in the Jamaican Quit Rent books for 1754 as the owner of 377 acres of land in St Catherine and 1124 acres of land in St Thomas-in-the-Vale, total 1501 acres. Rose Fuller and Ann Isted were listed in the Jamaican Quit Rent books for 1754 as the owners of 646 acres of land in St Catherine. Fuller turned to England in 1755 following the death of his brother. He appears never to have returned to Jamaica subsequently.

As a major and wealthy planter and slave-owner in Jamaica, iron-master and gun-founder in Sussex and landowner he sought a seat in parliament, which he obtained in 1756 as MP for New Romney (having spent a good deal on bribery and corruption).

He became a major spokesman for Jamaica in the Commons, sometimes consulted by the Board of Trade, while his brother, Stephen, a London merchant became agent for the colony. He was also a supporter of the Duke of Newcastle and the Whigs in parliament. He spoke frequently on American affairs.

Rose Fuller of Britain, Esquire. Estate probated in Jamaica in 1779. Slave-ownership at probate: 290 of whom 159 were listed as male and 131 as female. 0 were listed as boys, girls or children. Total value of estate at probate: £22066.37 Jamaican currency of which £17985 currency was the value of enslaved people. Estate valuation included £0 currency cash, £1283.92 currency debts and £30 currency plate.

History of Parliament online; Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online: Fuller family; A List of landholders in the Island of Jamaica together with the number of acres each person possessed taken from the quit rent books in the year 1754', TNA CO 142/31 transcribed at http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Samples2/1754lead.htm.

Trevor Burnard, Database of Jamaican inventories, 1674-1784.