Some extraordinary incidents are connected with his previous history. 9, 1724, to Mary SPILLER, of Ipswich, and on the 28th of the same month made a purchase of lands in Norwich, where he planted his hearth-stone and spent the remainder of his days. Her son, John FILLMORE, returning from sea, was united Nov. She married for her second husband, Robert BELL, and removed with him to Norwich West Farms. His mother's maiden name was Abigail TILTON. His father was a mariner, and died at sea about the year 1711. John, son of John FILLMORE, was born at Ipswich, March 18, 1702. Geneaologies of Connecticut Families: From the New England Historical History of Norwich, Connecticut, from its possession by the Indians He was three times married, and his will mentions fourteen surviving children. John Fillmore of Norwich West Farms, a man of probity, and a useful citizen, a member of the church, and captain of a military company. These trophies of a worthy ancestor are still preserved among his descendants. Fillmore with a gun, silver hilted sword and a curious tobacco box which belonged to Captain Phillips, and also with the silver shoe and knee buckles, and two gold rings which he used to wear. Three of them were executed in Boston, and three sent to England, where they suffered at Execution Dock.
The crew were convicted of piracy by a court of admiralty. The vessel was taken direct to Boston by this little band of heroes, where they arrived May 3, 1724. They killed and threw overboard the Captain and a number of his crew, disabled the rest and took over the rest of the crew who are still below. The three officers upon deck are felled by unexpected blows, and the quartermaster rushing from the cabin meets a similar fate. Soon the Master proceeded to take an observation, the Captain and Boatswain engaged in conversation and the Quartermaster returned to the cabin. About noon the Captain, Master, Boatswain and Quartermaster came up on deck.
They knew that the pirates after their drinking would not rise till late in the morning, and made their arrangements to attack them when they should first come upon deck, making use of the carpenter's tools for weapons. This seemed a favorable opportunity, and Fillmore determined to secure possession of the ship with the assistance of three fellow prisoners, one of whom, however, was overcome with fear at the decisive moment, so that but three individuals were left to cope with the entire crew. One night, about nine months after his capture, the pirates had a grand carousal and retired at a late hour.
But at the expiration of these months, Phillips positively refused to release him, and Fillmore determined to effect his own escape at the earliest opportunity. The Captain, however, promised upon his honor to liberate him at the end of three additional months. At the expiration of the appointed time, he demanded his liberty, which was denied him for some frivolous reason. Accordingly, young Fillmore was taken off, but promised his liberty after two months of faithful service. One of the pirate's crew, happening to be an old acquaintence of Fillmore, represented to the Captain that he would prove a valuable acquisition to the crew if he could be induced to join them. The following August the "Dolphin" was surprised and captured off Newfoundland by the notorious pirate, Capt. After several years of pleading he at length wrung from his mother a reluctant consent, and shipped in the spring of 1723 for a fishing voyage upon the sloop "Dolphin," of Cape Ann. At an early age he was apprenticed to a ships carpenter in Boston, where, constantly meeting with seafaring men, he soon imbibed a longing for their mode of life. A Reluctant Pirate and Great Grandfather to Millard Fillmore 13th president of the USAĬaptain John Fillmore, son of John Fillmore, "Mariner" of Ipswich, Mass., was born March 18, 1702.