“Fillmore, Capt. John, son of John Fillmore, "Mariner," of Ipswich, Mass.

He was born March 18, 1702. to John Filmore and Abigail Tilton at Ipswich Massachusetts. At an early age he was apprenticed to a ship carpenter in Boston, where, he became obsessed with the life of a seafarer. He bid for approval of his mother, and shipped in the spring of 1723 for a fishing voyage upon the sloop "Dolphin," of Cape Ann. At 21 he felt his life was fulfilled.

The following August the "Dolphin" was surprised and captured off Newfoundland by the notorious pirate, Capt. John Phillips. One of the pirate's crew happening to be an old acquaintance of Fillmore, and told the Captain that he would prove a valuable asset to the crew if he could be convinced to join them. At that point, young Fillmore was taken off, but promised his liberty after two months of faithful service. After two months John demanded his liberty, but it was denied him for some frivolous reason. The Captain, however, promised upon his honor to liberate him at the end of three additional months. But after these three months, Phillips positively refused to release him, and Fillmore was determined to escape at the earliest opportunity.

One night, about nine months after his capture, the pirates had a party and ate and drank until very late. This was a favorable opportunity, and Fillmore determined to secure possession of the ship with the help of three fellow prisoners, one of whom, however, was overcome with fear, so that left only John and two others were to cope with the entire crew. They knew that the pirates after their drinking would not rise till late in the morning, and made a plan to attack them when they first come upon the deck, making use of the carpenter's tools for weapons. About noon the Captain, Master, Boatswain and Quartermaster came upon deck. Soon the Master started to take a look around, the Captain and Boatswain engaged in conversation and the Quartermaster returned to the cabin. Now was the moment. The three officers on deck are hit by a sneak attack, and the Quartermaster rushing from the cabin meets a similar fate. The officers being disposed of it was a easy matter now to compel the surrender of the crew who are still all below.

The vessel was taken directly to Boston by this little band of heroes. They arrived May 3, 1724. The crew was convicted of piracy by a court of admiralty. This court presented Mr. Fillmore with a gun, silver hilted sword and 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. These trophies are still preserved among his descendants. Who has these things now we do not know?

Mr. Fillmore never returned to the sea. He married, Nov. 24, 1724, Mary Spiller, b, 1707, the daughter of Henry Spiller and Sarah Moore, of Ipswich, and then removed to Norwich, West Farms CT. where he continued to live, raise his family, and prosper. He died Feb. 22, 1777.

Taken from the Fillmore Family History.
MARTIN SPILLER”