"A Brief Sketch of Thomas FULLER" "From records apparentlyauthentic it appears that Thomas FULLER, the emigrant, came fromthe western part of England, probably Wales as some old accountsgive it, in 1638, at the age of 20, on a trip of observation,intending to return after a sojourn of a year but changed hisplans before that limit was reached. He attributed his change ofpurpose to a conversion under the preaching of Rev. ThomasSHEPARD, of Cambridge, but others assign as a reason that hebecame attached to a maiden who refused to accompany him toEngland (Elizabeth TIDD, I assume :), and that he went alone,and having secured his patrimony from his father, who was ablacksmith, returned to this country, married and settled inthat part of Cambridge now called Woburn and became prominent inlocal matters, serving often as a town officer. As nearly as canbe ascertained he left "Woobourne" about 1665 and settled inthat part of Salem which 63 years later, 1728, was incorporatedinto the town of Middleton. He located not far from the placewhere 25 years afterward, 1690, the infamous 'Salem witchcraft'developed, and selected lands on a stream then known as Pierce'sBrook, tributary to Ipswich river, and was the second man inthis settlement. It appears, however, that about 1684 he oncemore became a citizen of 'Woobourne' remaining till 1687 when heagain returned to Salem, now Middleton, and remained till hisdeath in 1698.In England he evidently had a military prestige as shown in thefamily 'Coat of Arms' (see page 8) and his name appears onseveral records as 'Lieut.' FULLER. (could be local militiatitle, too...)In a history of Essex County written 60 years ago (1836?) isfound in that part relating to witchcraft a reference whichserves to establish both the military reputation of Thomas 1stand his reputed religious habits. (haven't seen this yet)In this country he followed the vocation of blacksmith, probablyhaving learned the trade from his father, and although twohundred years have passed since he ceased from his labors,cinders from his forge are still to be found where his shop thenstood.The early records of Middleton show a large number of citizensby the name of FULLER all of whom are clearly traceable toThomas 1st. Very many of them held important places of trust andwere always found worthy of the honor given them.A manuscript from Rev. Daniel FULLER written in June, 1817, saysin referring to the emigrant Thomas, 'many blessings havefollowed his descendants to the fourth and fifth generations,and no one of them so far as is known has been a pauper orbeggar.' Another writer and compiler says 'the branch of Thomas1st, Jacob 2nd, and Jacob 3rd is a wonderful branch, in fact theentire descendants of Thomas of Woburn, or Salem, remarkable inits character.'"1638 - 1st arrival in MA (returned to England within a year forhis "patrimony" in the blacksmith trade)1640 - subscriber to Town Orders of Woburn (drawn up inCharleston, MA Dec. 1640 - Thomas RICHARDSON, father of Ruth whom. Thomas FULLER, Jr., also on list, among others)1643 - m. Elizabeth TIDD1648 - meadowland granted to him (also "4 poles square of swamp"next to his blacksmith's shop) in Woburn1656 - "Sergeant"1663 - purchased 300 acres in Middletown (Salem, then)- erecteddwelling & had blacksmith shop1664 - moved back to Salem "after his wife, Elizabeth, died"(but I have her death 1678 - have to check that!)1664, 1685 - Selectman (Salem, I assume)1684 -"about" moved back to Woburn & m. 2nd wife - morelike1685-6 if he was a Selectman in Salem in 1685 :)1685 - "Lieutenant"1688 - moved back to Salem after death of 2nd wife (Sarah NUTT)and married 3rd wife(1698 - after his death, she moved back to Woburn again to livewith her 'married daughters')lineage from "A Brief Sketch...":FIRST GENERATIONThomas FULLER was born probably in Wales, in 1618, and died inSalem, now Middleton, Mass. in June, 1698, aged 80 years. (otherrecords say "& 2 mos.", making his birth April of 1618)He married first, June 13th, 1643, Elizabeth TIDD, daughter ofJohn TIDD, of Woburn, and second Mrs. Sarah WYMAN, the widow ofLieut. John WYMAN, of Woburn, August 25th , 1684, whose maidenname was Sarah NUTT. She died May 24th, 1688. He afterwardmarried Hannah, whose surname and date of marriage are notgiven. After his death his widow returned to Woburn to live withrelatives."(We're descended from the WYMANs as well, through the TRULLs.The TIDDs have a nice email newsgroup; most are descendedthrough John TIDD, a tailor from Hertfordshire, who wasElizabeth's father.)I think you have all the info on Thomas' direct paternal lineand their children. Please let me know if there's anyone you'remissing. But not sure you have Sarah SMITH's line, so willinclude that:The 8th child of Thomas FULLER & Elizabeth TIDD was Benjamin FULLERb. 15 Apr 1660d. ?m. 15 Dec 1685 Sarah BACONChildren:1. Samuel FULLERm. _____ LITTLEFIELD7 children:Samuel FULLER, Jr., James, Benjamin, Miriam,Mary, Nabby and Joshua (no more info from thissource)2. Benjamin FULLER, Jr.m. Mary FULLER (d/o Thomas FULLER 3d - our line:)8 children:Daniel, Andrew, Sarah, Elijah - died youngArhelaus, Daniel, Andrew, and Benjamin, IIIDaniel grad. Harvard 1764; preached GloucesterAndrew grad. Harvard 17673. Sarah FULLERm. ____FELCH2 children: Deborah and Daniel4. Ruth FULLER (our line - mother of Sarah SMITH)m. ___SMITH (Walter SMITH, from other sources,son of James SMITH, a blacksmith in Salem)10 children:James, Walter, Jonathan, Sarah, Ruth, MaryElizabeth, Amos, Benjamin, and Abigail(daughter Sarah is the one who m. Timothy:)5. Abigail FULLERm. ____ HAYWARD "of whom we have no furtheraccount"6. Hannah FULLERm. (1) ____SWINERTON "by whom she had onechild, Elizabeth"m. (2) ____ FOWLE "by whom she had twochildren, John and Ebenezer"This book only follows the male line, so none of the daughters are followed. In fact, the only line followed past this generation is that of Ephraim FULLER (s/o Joseph FULLER & Rachel BUXTON) and Mary PUTNAM.So we have 2 lines of Thomas FULLER converging:Thomas FULLER m. Elizabeth TIDDThomas FULLER, 2 Benjamin FULLERm. Ruth RICHARDSON m. Sarah BACONThomas FULLER, 3 Ruth FULLER m. Elizabeth (BUXTON?) m. Walter SMITHTimothy FULLER m. Sarah SMITHI think I already sent you the stories on "Old Tim" , yes?So I will go to the end of the book.The "Will of Thomas FULLER, the emigrant." :"In the name of God, Amen. I, Thomas FULLER sen'r, of Salem, in the county of Essex, in New England, the ninth day of June, one thousand six hundred and ninety-eight, being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and memory, thanks be given to God for the same, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in the manner and form following; that is to say, principally and first of all I give and recommend my immortal soul into the hand of my merciful God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost who gave it, and only through the merits of Jesus Christ my Redeemer, and my body I commit to the earth, to be buried in a christianlike and decent manner, at the direction of my executor and christian friends; and touching my worldly estate which yet remains in my hands I dispose of as follows:Item. I give and bequeath to my duaghter, DEAN, a feather bed, and that which now belongs to it; and a great kettle, and one pewter platter, and a draught chain, and eight pounds to be paid by my executor in money or as money within two or three years after my decease. And also I give to my daughter Ruth WILKINS ten pounds out of my estate in or as money within three or four years after my decease, and a pewter platter to be given to her daughter when she is done with it.Item. I give unto my daughter Deborah SHAW, her five children, three daughters and two sons, forty shillings apiece to be paid within five years after my decease as money, or land in lieu of it, and also I give unto my grandson David RICHARDSON, ten pounds as money, or land in lieu of it.Item. I give unto my granddaughter Ruth WHEELER, five pounds in or as in money to be paid within five years after my decease, a pillion, and a smoothing iron, and a linen spinning wheel to be part of the five pounds.Item. I give unto my granddaughter Bethia FULLER, fifty shillings, to be paid in or as money, to be paid within two or three years after my decease.Item. I give unto my son Thomas FULLER, five shillings.Item. I give unto my son Benjamin FULLER, a flock bed and a flock bolster, and a feather pillow and two blankets.Item. I give unto my son Jacob FULLER, four score acres of upland and meadow, be it more or less, lying at little Beach Meadow, and also about one hundred and fifty acres lying in Reading bounds, of upland and swamp, be it more or less, and also my right in the saw mill irons, five parts of six being mine, there being six parts in the saw mill irons, and all my tools together with my household goods whatsoever, and all my debts and dues whatsoever, and I appoint and ordain my son Jacob FULLER sole executor of this my last will and testament, as witness my hand and seal,Thomas FULLER sen'r and a seal.Witnesses:Nathan PUTNAM,the mark of Hannah WILKINS,Israel PROTERMr. Nathaniel PUTNAM, Mr. Israel PORTER and Hannah WILKINS made oath that they were present and saw Mr. Thomas FULLER sen'r sign, seal, and heard him declare the above written instrument to be his last will and testament and that he was then of disposing mind to their best discerning.Essex, ss. - Before the honorable Jonathan CORWIN, esquire, judge of probate of Wills, etc. , at Salem, July 4th, 1698, sworn attest, John HIGGINSON, register, upon which this will is proved, approved, and allowed, being presented by Jacob FULLER, the executor therein named.Salem, 4 July, 1698Attest, John HIGGINSON, register"(following is the author's note):"A reading of this Will seems to indicate that the eldest son, Thomas, did not receive his just portion, but it is a matter of record that at the time the Will was made, he was over fifty years of age, married, and had received his part of the inheritance in land. From other sources it appears also that others had received lands from the father, Thomas, prior to the making of his Will, which in a measure accounts for apparent discriminations in that document."This booklet concludes with the following poem, attributed to Thomas FULLER, the emigrant:"Thomas, the emigrant, left on record some verses indicative of the change which came upon him and induced him to make the Forest Home in New England, his abiding place. While evidently not of high poetical culture these verses clearly indicate a genuine puritan stamina which brings to subsequent generations that best evidence of the fearless and noble spirit which possessed him and directed him through life.We subjoin these verses which were collected from aged persons, by the Rev. Daniel FULLER, of Gloucester, a great grandson of the emigrant Thomas.In thirty-eight I set my footOn this New England shore.My thoughts were then to stay one year,And here to stay no more.But,m by the preaching of God's wordBy famous Shepard he,In what a woeful state I was,I then began to seeChrist cast his garments over me,And all my sins did cover;More precious to my soul was heThan dearest friend or lover.His pard'ning mercy to my soulAll thoughts did far surmount;The measure of his love to meWas quite beyond account.Ascended on his holy hill,I saw the city clear,And knew 'twas New Jerusalem,I was to it so near.I said my mountain does stand strong,And doubtless 'twill forever;But soon God turned his face away,And joy from me did sever.Sometimes I am on mountains high,Sometimes in valleys low;The state that man's in here below,Does ofttimes ebb and flow.I heard the voice of God by man,Yet sorrows held me fast;But these my joys did far exceed,God heard my cry at last.Satan has flung his darts at me,And thought the day to win;Because he knew he had a friend,That always dwelt within.But surely God will save my soul!And, though you trouble have,My children dear, who fear the Lord,Your soul at death, He'll save.All tears shall then be wiped away,And joys beyond compare,Where Jesus is, and angels dwellWith every saint you'll share."