Fuller's Christmas Generousity

In keeping with the tradition that the local landed gentry and squires share their abundance with the poor at Christmas, Jack Fuller made the following acts of charity: 

Sussex Advertiser - December 25, 1815

               LEWES, DEC. 25, 1815.

This being the day on which the Nativity of

our blessed Saviour is celebrated we hope the

deserving poor, throughout the United King-

dom, will be made partakers of the grand Fes-

tival, through the bounty of their more fortu-

nate neighbours

One day last week, two fat oxen were slaugh-

tered, by order of Sir Godfrey Webster, and,

with a proportionate quantity of bread, distribu-

ted to the poor of Battle, that they might enjoy,

in plentitude, the comfort of a Christmas din-

ner.

John Fuller, Esq. of Rosehill, has also dis-

pensed his Christmas bounty in beef and bread,

to the poor of the parish of Brightling; to

which the principal inhabitants added a very

liberal subscription.

Sussex Advertiser - December 29, 1823

Last Thursday, being Christmas-day, the same

was observed here with all the solemnity of the

Sabbath.  In the afternoon the tables of hospi-

tality were smoaking (sic)with the good old English

fare - Roast Beef and Plum-pudding.

     John Fuller, Esq.  of Rose-Hill, and the prin-

cipal inhabitants of Brightling; gave beef and

bread on Wednesday last, to their poorer neigh-

bours for Christmas-day's dinner; and at the same

time distributed the following rewards:                 

	£  s  d
To William Russell for having in 1823 supported his family with the smallest proportionate assistance from the Over-seer	2  0  0
To Thomas Perry, as the next person who had received the smallest assistance	1   0   0
To George Freeland, for having lived ten years in one service	1   0   0
To Thomas Veness, for living nine years in one service	0  10  0
To Judith Clapson, for having lived fifteen years in one service	1   0  0
To Susanna Pitt, for living nine years in one service	0  10  0

Rewards like the above, cannot fail of giving

a stimulus to the industry and morality, and we feel

pleasure in noticing the circumstances, as an exam-

ple worthy of imitation.

Sussex Advertiser - December 29, 1828

John Fuller, Esq. we are happy to learn, is in

excellent health, enjoying his Christmas at Rose-

Hill; and with is accustomed liberality ordered

a hundred stones of good beef to be distributed

among the poor of the parish of Brightling, for

their dinner on Christmas-day.

Sussex Advertiser - January 28 1833

John Fuller, Esq., of Rose Hill, in addition to his cus-

tomary donation of Christmas beef to the poor of Bright-

ling, is now distributing amongst them the very seasonable

and acceptable present of a large quantity of blankets.

36 Devonshire Place, London

I've often wondered how much time, particularly in later life, Fuller spent in London. Over the next few weeks I'm going to focus my research on this topic. I'm currently reading "Georgian London: Into the Streets" by Lucy Inglis to help provide some context. 

A few years ago on a trip to London, I went to take a look at his house at 36 Devonshire Place, where he died on 11 April 1834. One flat in that house is currently valued at about £1.8 million.

By searching historic newspapers, I have been able to put the following pieces together:

DATE & SOURCE	MOVEMENT
August 29 1825 – Sussex Advertiser, Lewes	John Fuller arrived at his country seat Rose-Hill on Saturday se’nnight [archaic form –seven night or week]
September 07, 1825 – Morning Post	Mr. John Fuller from Brighton, for Rose Hill near Roberts Bridge, in Sussex
August 03, 1826 – Morning Post, London	Mr. John Fuller for Rose Hill, Robertsbridge, Sussex
January 30, 1827 – Morning Post, London	Mr. John Fuller, in Devonshire-place, from Rose Hill
November 26, 1827  – Sussex Advertiser, Lewes	John Fuller, Esq. has left Rose-Hill for this Town House, in Devonshire Place
April 07, 1828 – Sussex Advertiser, Lewes	Last Tuesday, John Fuller, Esq., left his town-house, in Devonshire-place, on a short visit to his country seat, Rose-hill, where, we were pleased to hear, it was observed, that Mr. Fuller never appeared in the enjoyment of better health and spirits.
October 13, 1828 – Sussex Advertiser, Lewes	John Fuller, Esq., late one of the representatives in Parliament for this county, on Tuesday last, paid a visit to our town in his carriage and four, and it gave us much pleasure to see the Hon. Gentleman in the enjoyment of perfect health and spirits.  The next day, Mr. Fuller returned to his delightful country residence, Rose-Hill
July 08, 1829 – Morning Post, London	Mr. John Fuller, from Devonshire-place, for Rose Hill Sussex
January 11, 1830 – Morning Post, London	Mr. John Fuller M. P. in Devonshire-place
December 30, 1830– Morning Post, London	Mr. John Fuller for Rose Hill, Sussex
September 20, 1832– Morning Post, London	Mr. John Fuller of Rose Hill, near Robertsbridge, in Sussex [arrived in London]
October 13, 1832 – Morning Post, London	Mr. John Fuller has arrived at the Albion Hotel from Rose Hill, in this county.
October 17, 1832 – Morning Post, London	Mr. John Fuller,(the eccentric John) took his departure from the Albion on Friday, for Rose Hill.
December 26, 1832 – Morning Post, London	Mr. John Fuller for Rose Hill near Robertsbridge, Sussex
September 26 1833 – Morning Post, London	BRIGHTON, SEPT 23. Mr. John Fuller, of Rose-hill, who is well known for his eccentricity, is one of the most philanthropic Gentlemen in Sussex.  Some time ago he built a life-boat at Eastbourne, which was instrumental in saving the lives of the passengers and crew of the Isabella West Indiaman, wrecked off that port, and he has now built a carriage for the better conveyance of the boat to any distance required.

Lady Acland-Hood's Children

Caption: LADY ACLAND-HOOD'S CHILDREN - MAUD, AUDREY, AND ALEXANDER, Lady Acland-Hood is a daughter of Lord Ventry and wife of Sir Alexander Acland-Hood.
Source: The Tatler [No. 102, June 10, 1903], page 404

These three youngsters are the great-great-grandchildren of Mad Jack's sister Elizabeth Fuller. Their brother Hon Arthur John Palmer Fuller Acland Hood, is the father of the current Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Lady Elizabeth Gass.

The Vale of Pevensey From Rosehill Park by JMW Turner

The Vale of Pevensey From Rosehill Park is one of several of JMW Turner's works that once belonged to John "Mad Jack" Fuller. In 1908, it was sold by Alexander Acland-Hood the grandson of Mad Jack's nephew and heir Peregrine Palmer Fuller Palmer Acland. It is currently in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum at the University of Cambridge. 

Read more here.

High Sheriff of Sussex

John "Mad Jack" Fuller was High Sheriff in 1797, at the age of forty. Several of his ancestors and many other members of Fuller's family tree also served their county in this capacity.

The office of Sheriff of Sussex became obsolete in 1974 when the county was divided into the counties of East Sussex and West Sussex. The current High Sheriff of East Sussex is Christopher J M Gebbie and of West Sussex is Jonathan Charles Lucas.

Some of the functions of the office of High Sheriff are:

• representing the sovereign in all judiciary matters
• maintenance of law and order
• supporting the Lord-Lieutenant on royal visits 
• acting as a returning officer for Parliamentary Elections

The appointed person serves a one year term.  
You can read the full list of High Sheriffs on the website of the Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex here.