| Name | "Doctor" Matthew FULLER "Surgeon General, Mass. Militia" "Captain" |
| Birth | 16 Oct 1603, Harleston, Redenhall parish, Norfolk County, ENGLAND |
| Death | 22 Aug 1678, Barnstable, Barnstable County, Massachusetts Age: 74 |
| Occupation | Farmer; Doctor; Soldier |
| Father | Edward FULLER (<1575-1620) |
| Mother | Anne HOPKINS (1577-1620) |
| 1 | Frances/Francis HYDE/IDE/IYDE |
| Birth | 1605, Redenhall parish, Norfolk County, ENGLAND |
| Death | aft 26 Oct 1678, Barnstable County, Massachusetts Age: 73 |
| Marriage | 1625, Redenhall parish, Norfolk County, ENGLAND |
| Children | Samuel (~1625-1676) |
| Mary (1625->1691) | |
| Elizabeth (1626->1715) | |
| John (1631-1692) | |
| Anne (1634-<1691) |
[NOTE] They are the descendent of Mayflower passengers Edward Fuller and his wife Ann (Hopkins).
[NOTE] Many sources duplicate dates, marriages, and children of Matthew (John, Robert, John, William, John, William) and Matthew (Edward, Robert, John, William, John, William) ...?!
A second source states that Matthew and Frances were married in 1625 but in Plymouth County, Massachusetts ... hard to imagine since they didn't immigrate to America until 1640. (The source also includes both facts yet doesn't question the dates and places) The source also gives the birthplaces of many of their children in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, pre-1640.
1640 Matthew and Francis immigrated to America, settling in Plymouth, Massachusetts. He received lands as a result of being the "first borne children" of this government linking him to Edward Fuller who came on the Mayflower.
At this time he was married, and a parent. Of his early history, little is known, but he was doubtless acquiring the knowledge of surgery and military affairs which he afterwards put to good use. - [1]
[NOTE/PUZZLE] Website [2] states Matthew and Frances had five children, four the same as the other sources ... however, it replaces Ann with a son named Matthew (no dates or places given after the name)
April 1642 Ten acres of land were granted him in Plymouth, and in the same year he was juryman and propounded freeman of the Colony, but was not sworn and admitted until June 7, 1653. - [1]
1643 Matthew was appointed sergeant in the military company of the Colony, of which Miles Standish was captain. - [1]
About 1650 Matthew removed to Barnstable. - [1]
5 October 1652 Matthew was commissioned Lieutenant in the Colony's military company.
1653 Matthew represented that town in the Colony Court, and was already lieutenant of the militia there. - [1]
20 June 20 1654 Matthew was appointed lieutenant under Capt. Standish of the Company of fifty men, the quota of Plymouth Colony, in the proposed expedition against the Dutch at Manhattan. All preparations had been made, when news of peace arrived and further service became unnecessary. - [1]
2 October 1658 Matthew was elected one of the Council of War, and in 1671 its chairman, and one of the magistrates of the Colony, and in the same year lieutenant of the forces to be sent against the Saconet Indians. - [1]
17 December 1673 Matthew was appointed Surgeon-General of the Colony troops, and also of those of Massachusetts, if that Colony approved. For this service he was allowed 4 shillings a day. In King Phillip's War he was captain of the Plymouth forces. In the Quaker controversy, Capt. Fuller took a noble stand in favor of religious toleration. He lived near neighbors to some of the most prominent of the Quakers, and was connected by marriage alliances with some who felt the severity of the laws passed against the sect. He went so far as to censure this law in strong terms in public. For this he was fined by the magistrates. Though indiscreet in speech, the court continued to confer offices of trust and honor upon him, - a most unusual course which shows that his honor and bravery were never doubted. In his public and private life he was a man of sound judgment, of good understanding, faithful in performance of duty, liberal in politics, tolerant in religion. Captain Fuller was also the first regular physician settled in Barnstable. His homestead was in the northwest corner of Barnstable, at Scorton Neck. He also possessed large tracts in Falmouth and Middleboro, granted for the eminent services he had rendered the Colony. His will was dated July 25, 1678, and was proved Oct. 30th following. His estate was appraised at Ï1667,04,06, a very large amount for those times. Among the items is the following: "Pearls, precious stones and diamonds, at a guess, Ï200." - [1]
WILL OF CAPTAIN MATTHEW FULLER.
This will is recorded in volume three, page 127 of the Plymouth Colony wills and inventories. A verbatim copy is found in a volume in the registry of Probate at Barnstable, from which this is copied.
"The five and twentieth day of July in the yeere of our Lord one thousand six hundred seaventy and eight, I Matthew Fuller of the Towne of Barnstable in the Collonie of New Plymouth, Being sicke of body, but of Good and perfect memory, thanks be unto almighty God; and Calling to Remembrance the uncertaine state of this transitory life and that all Flesh must yield unto Death, when it shall please God to Call, doe make Constitute and ordaine and declare this my last will and Testament, In manor and forme following. Revoking and Anulling by these presence all and every testament and Testaments will and wills heertofore by mee made and declared either by word or writing; and this to be taken onely for my last will and Testament; and none other; and first being penitent and sorry from the bottom of my heart for my sins past, most humbly desiring forgiveness for the same.
I Give and Comitt my soyle upto almighty God my Savior and Redeemer, in whom and by the Meretts of Jesus Christ I trust and believe assuredly to be saved, and my body to be buried in such place as my executors heerafter named shall appoint, and Now for the Settling of my temporall estate and such Goods Chattels and debts as it hath pleased God farr above my desires (?deserts) to bestowe on mee. I doe order Give and dispose the same in manor and forme following. That is to say first I will that all those debts and dutyes as I ow in Right or Conscience to any manner of person or persons whatsoever shal be well and truly contented or ordained to be payed within Convenient time after my decease by my executors heerafter Named.
Item. I Give and bequeath unto Shubael Jones my grandchild the Reputed son of Ralph Jones the angle lott of marsh meddow which I formerly bought of his father Ralph Jones after Frances my wifes decease.
I give and bequeath the one halfe of all my Lands and meddow I have in the Townshipp of Barnstable or elsewhere in America. To my welbeloved son John Fuller after Frances my wifes decease.
I give and bequeath unto the naturall sonnes of my son Samuel Fuller deceased, Thomas Fuller, Jabez Fuller, Matthias Fuller and Samuel Fuller The other halfe of all the lands and meddows I have in the Townshipp of Barnstable or elsewhere in America after my wifes decease.
I give and bequeath to Samuell Fuller the son of Samuell Fuller my eldest son deceased my now dwelling house with all the land and meddow belonging to the homestead where I now live, after my wifes decease and if it hapen that hee shoyld die without Issue That then it shall Goe to the Rest of them brethren that do survive.
It is my will that if my son John Fuller die without Issue that then the lands and meddowes I have already Given to him Bethyah the wife John Fuller shall enjoy the full benifitt and use of themm to her dieing day, and then Goe to the Rest of my children begotten of my owne body.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Jones the wife of Ralph Jones Ten pounds in mony.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Ann Fuller The now wife of Samuell Fuller ten pounds in mony.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Rowley the wife of Moses Rowley ten pounds in mony.
Item. I give and bequeath unto Sarah Rowley the daughter of Moses Rowley all my sheep and by these presents I doe appoint Jedediah Jones to oversee the sheep That they be Imployed wholly for the use of the said Sarah.
Item. I give and bequeath ten poynds to Jedediah Jones, the son of Ralph Jones in Mony.
Item. I give and bequeath to every one of my male Grandchildren half a Crowne a peece in old England mony.
Item. I give to every one of my severall Grandchildren twelve pence a peece in old England mony.
Item. I give to Ralph Jones, Samuell Fuller Junr and Moses Rowley Senr my sonnes-in-law, five shillings a peece in mony.
I Give and bequeath unto my onely beloved son John Fuller twenty ponds in silver mony and to his wife Bethya twenty shillings in Gould.
I Give to Mary Fuller the late wife of my son Samuell Fuller deceased five shillings in Mony.
I give and bequeath unto Robert Marshall the Scotsman a peece of Cloth intended to make mee a suite off.
Item. I Give and bequeath to Jasper Tayler two Raysers.
I Give and bequeath to Francis my deare and welbeloved wife who by these presents I doe ordaine and declare to be the sole executrix of this my last Will and Testament the use and Improvement of all my housing lands and meddows during her Narurall life, as alsoe aall my Moveables, household stuffe Cattle horse kind swine whatsoever else Can be Named and disposed of to be att her dispose forever.
In witness whereof I have heer unto sett my hand and seal the day and year above said.
Matthew Fuller and a seal.
Signed and sealed in the presence of
Joseph Laythorpe
John Hawes
Lieut. Joseph Laythorpe and John hawes made oath to the truth of the Will above written viz. That they did see Capt Mathew Fuller above said signe and seale and declare this aforesaid Will to be his Last Will and Testament before the Court holden att Plymouth the 30th of October 1678. - [1]
[1] - http://www.jaenfield.com/genealogy/Enf_Bry/famhist/h589.html#1
[2] - Fuller, From the Mayflower ... to Michigan; www.jowest.net/genealogy/jo/fuller
[ ] - Fuller Family; http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~walkersj/fuller
[ ] - email; Stan/Helen Gould
[ ] - www.cs.umbc.edu/~mayfield/genealogy