Thomas Fuller was born 3rd Sept 1795 to Robert Fuller and Jane Ann Bachell and baptised 4th Oct 1795 at St John’s, Margate.

Thomas was a Mariner in the Merchant Navy and first went to sea as an apprentice in 1811. His Merchant Seaman Record gives the following info:
No of: 76052.
Register Ticket: 50.
Age when Ticketed: 49.
Name: Thomas Fuller,
Born at: Margate, County of Kent, 4th day of Sept 1795.
Capacity: Seaman.
Height: 5ft 4 3/4 inches.
Hair: Dk Brown.
Eyes: Dark Brown.
Complexion: Dark.
Marks: Not any.
First went to sea as: Apprentice.
In the Year: 1811.
Can Write: Yes.
Has served in the Royal Navy: No.
Has been in Foreign Service: No.
When unemployed, resides at: Margate.
Issued at: Ramsgate, 21st day of Dec 1844.

On the 27th Nov 1819, Thomas married Mary Ann Overton at St John the Baptist Church in Margate.

On the marriage record; Thomas is noted as a batchelor and Mary Ann as a spinster. They were married by banns, Thomas signed his name and Mary signed by her mark. The marriage witnesses were:
Stephen Cook and Richard Mummery. I think Richard Mummery must have been a Parish Clerk as his name appears a lot in the records as a marriage witness.

Mary Ann Overton was born in Hoo nr Chatham, Kent c1797. Mary was baptised on the 3rd Sept 1797 at Saint Werburgh, Hoo, Kent and her parents were given as Charles Overton and Mary.

Thomas and Mary had the following children:

1. Elizabeth Ann Fuller, born c1820, Margate, Kent, bp 2nd July 1820, father’s profession given as ‘Mariner’
   
2. Charles Francis Fuller, born 9th Sept 1822, Margate, Kent, bp 13th Oct 1822, father’s profession given as ‘Mariner’ He died 6th Jan 1857.
3. Thomas Fuller, born 21st Dec 1824, Margate bp 30th Jan 1825, father’s profession given as ‘Mariner’
4. Richard Robert Fuller, born c1827, Margate, bp 11th Feb 1827, father’s profession given as ‘Mariner’
   
5. James William Fuller, born c1829, Margate, bp 2nd Nov 1829, father’s profession given as ‘Mariner’
   
6. Robert William Fuller, born c1832, Margate, bp 26th Feb 1832, father’s profession given as ‘Mariner’ he died 1847, Margate.
7. William Francis Fuller, born c1834, Margate, bp 23rd Nov 1834,
   
8. George Fuller, born 7th Jan, 1842, Margate, bp 25th Sept 1842, father’s profession given as ‘Mariner’
   

Around 1835-1836 Thomas Fuller’s Merchant Navy record gives the following info:
Source: www.findmypast.com
First name(s):    THOMAS
Last name:    Fuller
Age:    40
Birth year:    1795
Birth place:    Margate
Birth county:    Kent
Place:    MARGATE
Date range:    1835-1836
Series:    BT120
Piece number:    2
Record set:    Merchant Navy Seamen
Category:    Education & work
Record collection:    Merchant navy & maritime
Collections from:    Great Britain
No: 6655
Quality: Mariner
Ship belonging to: Magnet of London

In 1841 the family was shown living at White Hart Court, Margate which was on the High St:
White Hart Court, Margate 1841 census

1. Thomas Fuller, age 45, Mariner, born Kent.
2. Mary Fuller, age 40, born Kent.
3. Elizabeth Fuller, age 20, born Kent.
4. Charles Fuller, age 15, born Kent
5. Thomas Fuller, age 15, born Kent.
6. Richard Fuller, age 14, born Kent.
7. James Fuller, age 12, born Kent.
8. Robert Fuller, age 9, born Kent.
9. William Fuller, age 6, born Kent.

Thomas died in 1848 and was buried 1st Nov 1848 in St John’s, Margate.

Mary, now widowed continued to live at White Hart Court, the 1851 census gives the following info:

1 White Hart Court Margate 1851 census:
Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 1629; Folio: 200; Page: 10; GSU roll: 193530.
1. Mary Fuller, Head, Widow, age 54, Charwoman, born Rochester, Kent.
2. Elizabeth Ann Fuller, Daughter, unmarried, age 30, Shoebinder, born Margate, Kent.
3. Richard Fuller, Son, unmarried, age 24, Porter, born Margate, Kent.
4. James Fuller, Son, unmarried, age 31, ‘?’ born Margate, Kent.
5. William Fuller, Son, unmarried, age 17, Baker, born Margate, Kent.
6. George Fuller, Son, age 9, Scholar, born Margate, Kent.

1 and 2 White Hart Court margate 1861 census:
Source Citation: Class: RG 9; Piece: 534; Folio: 62; Page: 3; GSU roll: 542656.
No 1 White Hart Court, Margate:
1. Mary Fuller, Head, Widow, age 65, Laundress, born Hoo – nr Chatham
2. John Fuller, Son, unmarried, age 30, Porter, born Margate, Kent

Mary’s son Richard lived next door with his family:
No 2 White Hart Court, Margate:

1. Richard Fuller, Head, Married, age 33, Labourer,  born Margate, Kent
2. Ann Fuller, Wife, age 29, born Margate, Kent
3. Thomas Fuller, Son, age 5, Scholar, born Margate.
4. Eliza Fuller, Daughter, age 3, Scholar, born Margate
5. William Fuller, Son, age 8 months, born Margate

1 and 2 White Hart Court margate 1871 census:
Source Citation: Class: RG10; Piece: 991; Folio: 94; Page: 23; GSU roll: 838723.
1 White Hart Court:

1. Mary Fuller, Head, Widow, age 74, Former Laundress, born Kent.
2. George Fuller, Son, married, age 28, Upholsterer, born Margate, Kent.
3. Eliza Fuller, Daughter-in-law, married, age 27,  born Romford, Essex.
4. George Fuller, Grandson, age 7 months, born Margate, Kent.

2 White Hart Court:

1. Richard Fuller, Head, married, age 44, Bath Chair Driver, born Margate, Kent.
2. Ann Fuller, Wife, age 40, Laundress, born Margate, Kent.
3. Thomas R Fuller, Son, age 15, Linen Drapers Porter, born Margate, Kent.
4. Eliza Fuller, Daughter, age 14, Scholar, born Margate, Kent.
5. William H Fuller, Son, age 10, Scholar, born Margate, Kent.
6. George Fuller, Son, age 7, Scholar, born Margate, Kent.
7. James Fuller, Son, age 5, Scholar, born Margate, Kent.
8. Caroline Fuller, Daughter, age 2, born Margate, Kent.
9. Charles H Fuller, Son, age 1 month, born Margate, Kent.

Mary Ann Fuller nee Overton died in 1877 and was buried in the  Parish of St John, Thanet age 82 years on the 3rd March 1877.

Links:
Research guide C13: The Merchant Navy: Tracing merchant seamen.
British Mercantile, Whaling and Fishing Records of the 19th & 20th Centuries by Len Barnett.
Merchant Navy – Registers of Seamen/Service (Seamen)
Margate, Kent genealogy, local and family history resources