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Sir Walter Raleigh, John White and William Fullwood
On a visit to Birmingham Central Library in the UK, I came across a reference to marriage which took place at Clerkenwell, London in 1601.
It stated: Marriage 1601, Jan 16 Edward Symes, ESQ of St. Sepulchre's, London, Widower, 50 & Ann FULLWOOD of same 50, widow of William FULLWOOD, of same, Merchant, deceased some 8 years; at St James Clerkenwell, London.
Co-incidentally my friend Barbara Fullwood of North Carolina provided details about an account of a William FULLWOOD who is associated with the early history of Virginia USA and in particular the colonies on Roanoke Island.
This information referred to a manuscript held in Queens College Oxford entitled:-
Grant to John White gent of London and other merchants of coats of arms following upon Sir Walter Ralegh's transfer of his rights regarding territories in America which included Virginia.
There is a reference in this document to a William FULLWOOD who has been granted a Coat of Arms (above left) as an assistant to John White on his planned expedition to colonise Virginia in North America in about 1589. Could this reference to a William FULLWOOD be the same person mentioned in the marriage above? According to the marriage entry, William is described as a Merchant, died in 1593 which is the correct time frame for John WHITE's trip to Virginia.
The Roanoke Island National Park service in Virginia, has set up a web site which provides a lot more information about those who travelled from England to set up the new colonies.
This site also confirms the "English Assistants" who did not remain in Virginia as:-
Simon Fernando, Assistant
John Nichols, Assistant
William Fullwood, Assistant
James Plat, Assistant
Humfrey Dimmocke, Assistant
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Grant to John White
William Dethick, Garter Principal King of Arms addresses the document (which is undated) "to all and singular nobles and gentlemen and others universally . ." He then refers to the grant by Queen Elizabeth I to Sir Waiter Ralegh …of "free liberty and license to discover …such removed, heathen and barbarous lands…"
Since the Queen made this grant it has been discovered "by the means and industry and experience" of Sir Waiter Ralegh and his associates that "there hath been and now is a barbarous and heathen land or country found out and discovered, call or now termed ossomo comuckals wingundacoia ale Virginea never before actually possessed or inhabited by any Christian prince or Christian people".
The said Sir Walter Ralegh… "hath by his indenture bearing date the day of this presents ……freely nominated …and appointed John White of London, gent to be the chiefest governor there, and Roger Baily, Ananias Dare, Christopher Cooper, …William FULLWOOD, Roger Pratt, Dyonise Harvye. John Nicholls, George Howe and Symon Ferdinando of London, gent. to be the twelve assistants there". (Note: There are certain blanks left between these names which are not all easy to read. Brown (opcit) gives some of the same names in his descriptions of Sir Walter Ralegh's indentures of 1587 and 1589.)
The said governor and twelve assistants and their successors hath for over been made "one body Pollitique and Corporate by the name and authority of The Governor and Assistants of the Citie of Ralegh in Virginea with the appertenances [sic]".
Then follows a statement of the grant of arms to the "renowned Citie of Raleigh in Virginea with appertenances and to the worshipful the said Governour and Assistants, the first founders thereof, and to the citizens and communalty thereof, and to the citizens and communalty of the same, and to their successors for ever"
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