Genealogy of Some Descendants of Edward Fuller of the Mayflower by William Hyslop Fuller published by C. B. Fiske, 1908
John Fuller, (Samuel, Edward), b. about 1656 at Barnstable; d. at East Haddam, Conn., between Feb. 28 and May 20, 1726; m. about 1678, Mehitabel Rowley. The will of Moses Rowley, Senior, (Hartford Probate Records, Volume vii., p. 144), dated Aug. 10, 1704, mentions son Moses, daughter Mehitabel Fuller, son Matthew Rowley, and son John Fuller. An East Haddam deed of 1714 in which Elizabeth (Fuller), widow of Moses Rowley, Senior, calls John Fuller her son, is additional evidence.
Otis is wholly in error. Mehitable Rowley was born in Barnstable, Mass., Jan. 11, 1660-61, and d. in East Haddam about 1732. Mehitabe, wife of "Little John" Fuller, was admitted to the church in Barnstable Oct. 30, 1688, and four of her children were baptised there soon after. "Sometime in 1704, Elizabeth, wife of John Fuller from Barnstable,"was admitted to the East Haddam church. The latter record was made from the minister's recollection, some time after the event, and is in error as to the name Elizabeth. There is no evidence that John Fuller had a second wife Elizabeth, in fact the evidence is quite to the contrary.
John Fuller was called "Little John" to distinguish him from his cousin, Dr. John Fuller. He lived on his father1s estate at Scorton Neck until 1694, when he removed to East Haddam. Here he seems to have prospered in worldly estate. About 1721 he conveyed to each of his seven sons ample lands and farming implements.
His will, on file at Hartford, has never been printed before to my knowledge. It is not in his own hand, and the signature is very poor, showing extreme age or infirmity.
I, John Fuller, Sen' of the township of Haddam, County of Hartford, upon the east side of the Great River, by the great goodness of God, retaining my reason, yet being crazy and infirm in body and not knowing the day of my death, have thought it my duty, and do by this my last will and testament, dispose of what temporal estate God has graciously given me as follows: viz : first of all I commit my body to the dust to be decently buried, and my soul to Jesus Christ in hope of eternal life.
Imprimis: I give and bequeath to my dear and loving wife, one cow, such as she shall chuse, eight sheep, four pounds in money, the bed she lies on, one room in my dwelling house, and so much interest in the plow land and grass land of my home lot as may be necessary for her comfortable support during her widdowhood, and I do appoint my son Thomas to take care of the creatures from year to year, and I do appoint my sons Joseph and Benjamin each to give her a day's mowing, in a year yearly, and my sons Shubael and John to do her weaving in same proportion between them yearly.
Item, I give to my oldest son Thomas besides what I have already given him by deed of gift, twenty pounds of my right or interest in the Iron Ware belonging to the field, but not what is in or for the house.
Item: I give to my son Samuel besides what I have already confirmed to him by deed of gift, viz: twenty pounds of my right or interest in the common or undivided land, and one half of my meadow lot called by the name of the little pine meadow, together with sundry other valuable things he has already had of me.
Item : I give to my son Shubael, etc.
Item : I give to my son Edward, six pound in money, that is to say, In case he never finds his lost money, yet the demands upon him from me apon the account of the fat cattle he bought of me late shall be abated to the value of six pound, because he hath a deed of gift and sundry other things from me.
Item : I give to my son John, beside the deed of gift, one half of my first division meadow lot.
Item : I give to my son Joseph, beside the deed of gift twenty pounds of my interest in' the common and undivided land, and one half of the little pine meadow.
Item : I give to my son Benjamin, beside the deed of gift, twenty pound of my interest in the common land and one half of my first divuon meadow lot.
Item : I give to my daughter Thankful what she has had already in brass, pewter, etc.
Item : I give to my daughter Elizabeth sundry valuables she has already received.
Item : I give to my daughter Mehitabel what she has already received, a coverlet and iron pot, also the bed I lie on after my and my wife is decease.
Item : I give to my wife my mare and to my son Thomas a steer coming two year old. I appoint my sons Thomas and John to be the executors of this my will, and direct them to divide any overplus of my estate between my three daughters.
Signed and Sealed Feb. 28, 1725-6.
John Fuller, Sent (a seal)
In presence of us Samuel Olmstead. Samuel Emons. Jonathan Emons.
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