His great-grandfather William Fuller arrived in Yorktown from Wincanton, South Somerset, England in 1702 and settled in Edgecombe County, North Carolina in the 1720s.

[4] Despite his success, during a period of great religious interest in Beaufort he felt it his duty to abandon the law and devote himself to the Christian ministry.

His reputation as a preacher soon became national and his services were widely sought in promoting religious revivals.

[4] In preaching, Fuller closely copied the style of French preacher James Saurin.

[1] During his residence in Beaufort, he was engaged in two memorable controversies — one with Bishop England of Charleston, on the claims of the Roman Catholic Church, and the other with President Wayland, of Brown University, on the subject of slavery.