Individual Details
Captain Matthew Fuller
(16 Oct 1603 - Bet 25 Jul 1678 and 22 Aug 1678)
There is some confusion on Capt. Matthew Fuller's parents. For those who don't have Edward Fuller and ? as the parents, I would fix it at your sites, or make a note of the conflict. The Mayflower Society says it is Edward Fuller and ? in their books.
The earlier researchers have John/Balls as parents; John Fuller (brother of Edward Fuller) and Margaret Balls. The book ( Volume I), by William Fuller, 1908, page 28, said Cat. Matthew left Plymouth the same time Samuel, son of Edward, left Scituate in about 1650 to settle in Barnstable. It then said that Samuel, and his cousin Capt. Matthew, bought land together from Secunke, an Indian, on Scorton or Sandy Neck, within the town of Barnstable. It later says the Samuel bought a meadow from Cat. Matthew Fuller, his cousin. Samuel left Plymouth in 1634 to settle in Scituate. In a second book ( Volume II), 1910, Fuller Genealogy by William Fuller titled , "some descendants of Samuel Fuller of the Mayflower" , in the Preface, it mentioned Cat. Matthew as one of the Fuller emigrant heads who came to America prior to 1650. It list Capt. Matthew Fuller as coming to America in 1640. There was no mention of him being a brother to Samuel, only a cousin.
The later research has Edward/Ann as parents. The later research is based on a letter sent by Doctor Samuel Fuller, Uncle to Samuel Fuller, to Matthew Fuller when he was still in England going to college. Apparently the letter proves of the relationship, it has convinced the Mayflower Society that Capt. Matthew Fuller and Samuel Fuller were brothers (or half-brothers?). Thus, the Mayflower society has given its blessing on Edward/Ann as the parents.
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Capt. Matthew was a son of Mayflower Pilgrim Edward Fuller but came to New England in 1640. Of his early history, little is known, but he doubtless acquired the knowledge of surgery and military affairs which he afterwards put to good use. He was college educated, as a letter from his Uncle Samuel Fuller was sent to him in England while he was at College. He married and started a family before leaving England.
He settled first at Plymouth, Plymouth Co, Massachusetts. The earliest mention which has been found of Matthew Fuller in New England is dated October 25, 1640, when Matthew Fuller sells to Andrew Ring "his garden place Plymouth."
PLYMOUTH COLONY RECORDS, DEEDS, &C,. Vol. 1, 1620-1651, page 64:
"The xxvi th of October 1640. MEMORAND That Mathew Fuller doth acknowlidge
that for & in consideration of a cow calfe and two goats to him in hand
payde by Andrew Ringe of Plymout hath freely & absolutely bargained &
sould unto the said Andrew Ringe all that his garden placd in Plym'
aforesaid and the six acres of land therunto belonging lying in the New
Felld with the said Matthew lately bought of John Gregory and all the
fence in and about the prmiss's with all & singuler the apprtenc & all the
tymber lying at the garden place and upon the said land & made ready
toward & the buildings of a house" &C.
In 1642, he was granted ten acres of land. He applied for admission as a freeman, September 7, 1642, but was not allowed to qualify until June 7, 1653.
He was one of the leading military men of the colony. When the first company was organized under command of Capt. Miles Standish in 1643, he was appointed sergeant, and became lieutenant, October 5, 1652. "At the General Court held at Plymouth, October 5, 1652, the Court doth allow and approve of Matthew Fuller for Lieutenant of the Military Company of Barnstable." (Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. III, p. 17.) On June 20, 1654, he was lieutenant under Captain Standish in command of fifty men, organized for the proposed expedition against the Dutch of New Amsterdam. This company was ordered to rendezvous at Sandwich, Plymouth colony, June 29, to embark from Manonet, in the barque "Adventure," to join the other English Colonial forces, but on June 23, news was received that peace was concluded between England and Holland and preparations for war ceased. On October 2, 1658, Lieutenant Fuller was elected to the Council of War, and was made chairman in 1671. In that year too he was lieutenant of the Colonial forces in the expedition against the Indians of Sarconet.
He was among those who received land in a settlement in 1662. Plymouth Colony Records, Court Orders, 1651-1668, Vol. IV., pp. 18,19: "June 3, 1662. In reference to a petition prefered to the Court by sundry of the freemen, and to reference unto a grant made to some to looke out accommodations of land, as being the first borne children of this gou'ment, and for the disposing of two several tracts of land lately purchased, the one by major Winslow and the other by Captaine Southworth, the Court, haveing viewed the sevuerall lists of the names of those that desired to bee accommodated therin, have settled it upon those whose names follow." Among the names appended appears: Leiftenant Fuller.*
That he was a physician also and stood well in his profession, is shown by his appointment, December 17, 1673, as surgeon general of the Plymouth Colony troops and also of the Massachusetts Bay troops. He served as captain of his company in King Philip's war, and took a distinguished part. As early as 1652, he served as deputy to the General court and was "a man of sound judgment, good understanding, and great courage, faithful to his trusts, liberal in politics and tolerant in religion." He was in fact too tolerant for his day and too frank in speech to avoid trouble. He was indignant at the persecution of the Quakers and publicly censured the law against them for which he was promptly fined, but the Court continued to confer offices of trust upon him.
He was the first resident physician in Barnstable, Barnstable Co., MA.and died there, sometime between July 20, 1678, the date of his will, and October 20, of that year, when it was proved. He would possess large tracts of land in appreciation of his services for the Colony. Thus, he was worth a lot at the time of his death. His estate was appraised at 1667,04,06 L(pounds?) which was amounted to a large sum for those days, the inventory showing, among other items, "pearls, precious stones, and diamonds."
Matthew and Frances had at least 5? children; Lt. Samuel, Mary, Elizabeth, Anne, and John.
*Note-There is conflicting info. on if Capt. Matthew married twice and had children in both marriages. His first marriage is said to be with #1 Hannah ? but the Silver Books so far don’t mention a Hannah ? and what child she may have had. The most likely would be Samuel but other sources say Anne. In any case, a good authority in Family of Edward Fuller. Mayflower Families Through Five Generations by Bruce Campbell MacGunnigle does not settle the matter as of 1995.
The earlier researchers have John/Balls as parents; John Fuller (brother of Edward Fuller) and Margaret Balls. The book ( Volume I), by William Fuller, 1908, page 28, said Cat. Matthew left Plymouth the same time Samuel, son of Edward, left Scituate in about 1650 to settle in Barnstable. It then said that Samuel, and his cousin Capt. Matthew, bought land together from Secunke, an Indian, on Scorton or Sandy Neck, within the town of Barnstable. It later says the Samuel bought a meadow from Cat. Matthew Fuller, his cousin. Samuel left Plymouth in 1634 to settle in Scituate. In a second book ( Volume II), 1910, Fuller Genealogy by William Fuller titled , "some descendants of Samuel Fuller of the Mayflower" , in the Preface, it mentioned Cat. Matthew as one of the Fuller emigrant heads who came to America prior to 1650. It list Capt. Matthew Fuller as coming to America in 1640. There was no mention of him being a brother to Samuel, only a cousin.
The later research has Edward/Ann as parents. The later research is based on a letter sent by Doctor Samuel Fuller, Uncle to Samuel Fuller, to Matthew Fuller when he was still in England going to college. Apparently the letter proves of the relationship, it has convinced the Mayflower Society that Capt. Matthew Fuller and Samuel Fuller were brothers (or half-brothers?). Thus, the Mayflower society has given its blessing on Edward/Ann as the parents.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Capt. Matthew was a son of Mayflower Pilgrim Edward Fuller but came to New England in 1640. Of his early history, little is known, but he doubtless acquired the knowledge of surgery and military affairs which he afterwards put to good use. He was college educated, as a letter from his Uncle Samuel Fuller was sent to him in England while he was at College. He married and started a family before leaving England.
He settled first at Plymouth, Plymouth Co, Massachusetts. The earliest mention which has been found of Matthew Fuller in New England is dated October 25, 1640, when Matthew Fuller sells to Andrew Ring "his garden place Plymouth."
PLYMOUTH COLONY RECORDS, DEEDS, &C,. Vol. 1, 1620-1651, page 64:
"The xxvi th of October 1640. MEMORAND That Mathew Fuller doth acknowlidge
that for & in consideration of a cow calfe and two goats to him in hand
payde by Andrew Ringe of Plymout hath freely & absolutely bargained &
sould unto the said Andrew Ringe all that his garden placd in Plym'
aforesaid and the six acres of land therunto belonging lying in the New
Felld with the said Matthew lately bought of John Gregory and all the
fence in and about the prmiss's with all & singuler the apprtenc & all the
tymber lying at the garden place and upon the said land & made ready
toward & the buildings of a house" &C.
In 1642, he was granted ten acres of land. He applied for admission as a freeman, September 7, 1642, but was not allowed to qualify until June 7, 1653.
He was one of the leading military men of the colony. When the first company was organized under command of Capt. Miles Standish in 1643, he was appointed sergeant, and became lieutenant, October 5, 1652. "At the General Court held at Plymouth, October 5, 1652, the Court doth allow and approve of Matthew Fuller for Lieutenant of the Military Company of Barnstable." (Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. III, p. 17.) On June 20, 1654, he was lieutenant under Captain Standish in command of fifty men, organized for the proposed expedition against the Dutch of New Amsterdam. This company was ordered to rendezvous at Sandwich, Plymouth colony, June 29, to embark from Manonet, in the barque "Adventure," to join the other English Colonial forces, but on June 23, news was received that peace was concluded between England and Holland and preparations for war ceased. On October 2, 1658, Lieutenant Fuller was elected to the Council of War, and was made chairman in 1671. In that year too he was lieutenant of the Colonial forces in the expedition against the Indians of Sarconet.
He was among those who received land in a settlement in 1662. Plymouth Colony Records, Court Orders, 1651-1668, Vol. IV., pp. 18,19: "June 3, 1662. In reference to a petition prefered to the Court by sundry of the freemen, and to reference unto a grant made to some to looke out accommodations of land, as being the first borne children of this gou'ment, and for the disposing of two several tracts of land lately purchased, the one by major Winslow and the other by Captaine Southworth, the Court, haveing viewed the sevuerall lists of the names of those that desired to bee accommodated therin, have settled it upon those whose names follow." Among the names appended appears: Leiftenant Fuller.*
That he was a physician also and stood well in his profession, is shown by his appointment, December 17, 1673, as surgeon general of the Plymouth Colony troops and also of the Massachusetts Bay troops. He served as captain of his company in King Philip's war, and took a distinguished part. As early as 1652, he served as deputy to the General court and was "a man of sound judgment, good understanding, and great courage, faithful to his trusts, liberal in politics and tolerant in religion." He was in fact too tolerant for his day and too frank in speech to avoid trouble. He was indignant at the persecution of the Quakers and publicly censured the law against them for which he was promptly fined, but the Court continued to confer offices of trust upon him.
He was the first resident physician in Barnstable, Barnstable Co., MA.and died there, sometime between July 20, 1678, the date of his will, and October 20, of that year, when it was proved. He would possess large tracts of land in appreciation of his services for the Colony. Thus, he was worth a lot at the time of his death. His estate was appraised at 1667,04,06 L(pounds?) which was amounted to a large sum for those days, the inventory showing, among other items, "pearls, precious stones, and diamonds."
Matthew and Frances had at least 5? children; Lt. Samuel, Mary, Elizabeth, Anne, and John.
*Note-There is conflicting info. on if Capt. Matthew married twice and had children in both marriages. His first marriage is said to be with #1 Hannah ? but the Silver Books so far don’t mention a Hannah ? and what child she may have had. The most likely would be Samuel but other sources say Anne. In any case, a good authority in Family of Edward Fuller. Mayflower Families Through Five Generations by Bruce Campbell MacGunnigle does not settle the matter as of 1995.
Events
| Birth | 16 Oct 1603 | Redenhall Parish, Harleston, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom |  | ||
| Christen | 16 Oct 1603 | Redenhall Parish, Harleston, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom | | ||
| Marriage | Bef 1632 | England, United Kingdom - Frances (Lyde\Iyde?) | |||
| Death | Bet 25 Jul 1678 and 22 Aug 1678 | Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States | |||
| Will | 25 Jul 1678 | Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States |  | | |
| Probate | | |
Families
| Spouse | Frances (Lyde\Iyde?) ( - 1678) |
| Child | Lieut. Samuel Fuller ( - 1675) |
| Child | Mary Fuller (1625 - 1691) |
| Child | Elizabeth Fuller (1632 - 1715) |
| Child | Anne Fuller ( - 1691) |
| Child | Dr. John Fuller (1640 - 1692) |
| Father | Edward Fuller (1575 - 1621) |
| Mother | Ann? ( - 1621) |
| Sibling | Samuel Fuller Sr. (1612 - 1683) |
Notes
Will
This will is recorded in volume 34, Page 127 of Plymouth Colony wills and inventories. A verbatim copy is found in a volume in the registry of Probate at Barnstable, from which this is a copy."The fifth and twentieth day of July in the yeere of our Lord, one thousand six hundred seventy eight, I Matthew Fuller, of the towne of Barnstable in the Colony of New Plymouth, being sicke of body, but of goode and perfect memory, thanks be unto almighty God and calling to remembrance the uncertain state of this transitory life and that all flesh must yield unto death, when it shall please God to call, doe make constitute and ordain and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following revoking and annulling by these presence all and every testament and testaments, will and wills heretofore by mee made and declared either by word or writting; and this to be taken onely for my last will and testament, and none other; and I being penitent am sorry from the bottom of my heart for my sins past, most humbly desiring forgiveness for the same.
I give and commit my soyle up to 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 hereafter named shall appoint, and now for the settling of my temporal estate and such Goods, Chattels and debts as it hath pleased God farr above my desires (deserts?) to bestowe on me. I doe order, give and dispose the same in manner and forme following, that is to say;
First, I will that all those debts and dutyes as I owe in right or Conscience to any manner of person or persons whatsoever shall be well and truly contended or ordained to be payed within convenient time after my decease by my executors hereinafter named.
Item, I give and bequeath unto Shubael Jones, my grandchild, the reputed son of Ralph Jones, the angle lott of marsh meadow which I formerly bought of his father Ralph Jones after Frances my wife's decease.
I give and bequeath the one halfe of all my lands and meadow I have in the township of Barnstable or elsewhere in America to my well beloved son John Fuller after Frances, my wife's 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 lands and meadows I have in the township of Barnstable or elsewhere in America after my wife's decease.
I give and bequeath to Samuel fuller, the son of Samuel Fuller my eldest son, deceased, my now dwelling house with all the land and meadow belonging to the homestead where I now live, after my wife's decease and if it happen that hee should 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 meddows I have already given to him, Bethyah, the wife of John Fuller, shall enjoy the full benefitt and use of them 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, 10 pounds in mony.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ann Fuller, the now wife of Samuel Fuller, 10 pounds in mony
Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Rowley the wife of Moses Rowley, 10 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 said Sarah.
Item. I give and bequeath 10 pounds to Jedediah Jones, the son of Ralph Jones in mony.
Item. I give and bequeath to every one of my male grandchildren one-half a crowne a peece in old English mony.
Item. I give to every one of my severall grandchildren twelve pence a peece in old English mony.
Item. I give Ralph Jones, Samuel Fuller, jr., and Moses Rowley, sr., my sonnes-in-law, five shillings apeece in mony.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my onely beloved son John Fuller 20 pounds in silver mony and to his wife, Bethya, 20 shillings in Gould.
I give to Mary Fuller, the late wife of my son, Samuel 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 Joseph Taylor two Raysers.
I give and bequeath to Frances my deare and wellbeloved wife who by these presence I doe ordain and declare to be the sole executrix of this my last will and testament, the use and improvement of all my housing, lands and meadows during her naturall 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.
signed and sealed in the presence of
Joseph Laythrope, Matthew Fuller
John Haver (seal)
Probate
The inventory of his estate was £1667,04,06Endnotes
1. Drake, Larry., Genealogy of Captain Matthew Fuller emailed to Fuller List. (
2. Drake, Larry., Genealogy of Captain Matthew Fuller emailed to Fuller List. (
3. Baker, Ellen., Compiled research files on the descendants of Edward Fuller of the Mayflower. (Washington State: Ellen Baker,
4. William Hyslop Fuller, Genealogy of some descendants of Captain Matthew Fuller, John Fuller of Newton, John Fuller of Lynn, John Fuller of Ipswich, Robert Fuller of Dorchester and Dedham: to which is added supplements to volume I: Genealogy of some descendants of Edward Fuller of the Mayflower, and volume II (Palmer, Mass., 1914), 12-14; digital images, Google Books (https://books.google.com : accessed 6 July 2016.
5. Homer W. /Brainard/, "Edward Fuller and his descendants: additions and corrections," New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 36 (1905) (http://books.google.com : accessed 17 January 2011), p 33-38.