Family and Education

b. 8 Oct. 1666, 2nd but 1st surv. s. of Francis Fulford of Great Fulford by Susanna, da. of John Kelland of Painsford, Devon.  educ. Exeter, Oxf. 1682.  m. (1) Margaret (d. 1687), da. of John Poulett†, 3rd Baron Poulett, of Hinton St. George, Som, s.p.; (2) 9 Oct. 1690, Mary (bur. 2 Jan. 1729), da. and coh. of John Tuckfield of Little Fulford, Devon, 1s. d.v.p.  suc. fa. 1674.1

Offices Held

Sheriff, Devon 1689–90; mayor, Exeter 1689–90.2

Biography

Fulford’s family claimed to have been resident in the township from which they took their name since the reign of Richard I, and had provided Devon with knights of the shire in the Parliaments of 1553 and 1625. His grandfather, Sir Francis Fulford †, had been a staunch Royalist during the Civil Wars, but the fines levied on him do not appear to have ruined the family fortune, as Sir Francis was able to leave his Dorset estates to Francis Fulford’s great-uncle George† while preserving for the main branch of the family ‘a very great estate’ in Devon. In 1687, James II’s agents included Fulford on a list of Devon gentlemen ‘of good estates and quality formerly out of commission . . . and not at present in his Majesty’s service’. Though this may suggest Fulford’s willingness to support King James’s religious policies, in November 1688 he joined the Prince of Orange. Returned for Callington in 1690, presumably upon the Rolle interest, Fulford was classed as a Tory by Lord Carmarthen (Sir Thomas Osborne†). He was an inactive Member, though in December 1690 he was listed by Carmarthen as a likely supporter in the event of a Commons’ attack on his ministerial position, and in April 1691 was listed by Robert Harley* as a Country supporter. On 16 Nov. Fulford was placed in custody after failing to attend the House, but was discharged five days later and on 18 Dec. was granted a leave of absence to recover his health. He made no further significant recorded contribution to this Parliament, and at the 1695 election made way at Callington for the election of Francis Gwyn*. He was again returned for Callington in 1698, being included upon a forecast of likely opponents of the standing army and listed in a comparison of the old and new Commons as a Country supporter. He died on 26 Sept. 1700, and was buried on 7 Oct. He was succeeded in his estates by Francis Fulford of London, whose precise relationship to the Member has not been ascertained.3

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

• 1. Vivian, Vis. Devon, 380; Hutchins, Dorset, ii. 698–9.
• 2. CSP Dom. 1689–90, pp. 349, 355; 1690–1, p. 42.
• 3. Burke, Commoners, i. 158; Hutchins, 699–700; Bodl. Rawl. lett. 109, f. 115; Duckett, Penal Laws and Test Act (1882), 377; HMC 15th Rep. VII, 112–13; Vivian, 380.