By Homer W. Brainard, Hartford, Conn.

This paper was begun in connection with my work upon the families of Edward and Captain Matthew Fuller. The numerous alliances of the Fullers and Rowleys rendered this necessary in the early generations. The paper was not intended to include the generations now living, and makes no claim to completeness, even in the first five generations. I have not always been able to state reasons fully, but the original records have been used. In the few cases where conjecture has been employed, the doubt is indicated by" probably," or by (?.)

All the persons named in the article are descendants of Cap. Matthew Fuller, soldier and surgeon, successor of Captain Miles Standish, and Surgeon-General of the Plymouth forces. The descendants of Samuel Rowley (9) certainly and probably those of John (10), Jonathan (12), Simeon (35), and Issachar (36), by

the marriage of these four Rowleys to descendants of Edward Fuller and Richard Warren, of the Mayflower, are of the Pilgrim descent as well.

1. HENRY¹ ROWLEY Was an early planter at Plymouth, Mass., where he was taxed in 1632. It is possible that he was one of the company that came over from Leyden to Plymouth in 1630. It has also been conjectured that he came with Mr. Hatherly in 1632. 1 have found nothing by which either conjecture can be verified. It is probable that he was married when he came over, and that his three children were born before that time. It has been declared that his first wife was Sarah, daughter of William Palmer Senior, of Duxbury. The latter came over in the Fortune in 1621, and his wife Frances came in the Anne in 1623. In his will, dated 1637, William Palmer names "Moyses Rowley (son of Henry¹), whom I love," and provides for his bringing up, but does not state what relation Moses was to himself. Henry Rowley m. (2) Oct. 17, 1633, Anne, widow of Dea. Thomas Blossom, who embarked in the Speedwell at Leyden in 1620, but being obliged to return to Leyden, came over to Plymouth in 1629, where he d. previous to March 1632-3. Henry and Anne Rowley removed to Scituate in1634, the year he was elected freeman. Both were members of Rev. John Lothrop's church on Jan. 8, 1634-5, and removed with him to Barnstable in 1638. He was a deputy from Barnstable to the General Court of Plymouth at least once.

Thomas and Peter Blossom came to Barnstable with their mother, Mrs. Rowley, and were probably members of the family of their father-in-law. In 1650 Henry Rowley removed, with his son-in-law, Peter Blossom, to West Barnstable, and later to Falmouth. Henry Rowley d. in 1673. Inventory of the estate of "henery Rowley of Sacconessett," exhibited in Court, July, z673, on oath of Moses Rowley. "Item: a debt of twenty-nine pounds due from Jonathan Hatch upon the repurchase of a parsell of land which the said Hatch sold to said Henery Rowley with that limitation provided." Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. iii, part 2, p. 93. Children:

These births are recorded in both Barnstable and Falmouth records, and the two records do not agree. (See Otis, Vol. I, P. 467.)

2. MOSES² ROWLEY (Henry'), b. probably before 1630; d. 1705, at (East) Haddam, Conn.; m. April 22, 1652, at Barnstable, Elizabeth, dau. of Capt. Matthew Fuller. She survived her husband and d. In (East) Haddam or Colchester after 1714. The earliest mention of Moses Rowley² is found in the will of William Palmer, the elder, of Duxbury, dated Nov. 7, 1637, which is recorded in Vol I, fol. 28 of Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories and has been printed. (See Mayflower Descendant for July, 1900, P. 147). "I would have myne Execut's as as in conscience they are pswaded out of the remaynder of my estate deale wth Rebecca my Grandchild and Moyses Rowly whom I love but not so as to put it into their father or mother's hands but p'serve it for them till they come to yeares of Discretion ……………also I would have yeong Rowly to be placed wth Mr Partridge that hee might be brought up in the feare of God, and to that end if his father suffer it I give mr Partridge five pounds." March 7, 1653-4 Moses Rowley was allowed a cow out of the estate of William Palmer, decease of Plymouth (Records of Plymouth Colony Vol. III, P. 45.)

In 1657 he took the freeman's oath at Barnstable. From that date until 1681 I find no sure trace of him. In that year he was a constable, and was occupying lands at Succonessett (Falmouth). He was a deputy to the General Court in 1692 under the new charter according to Savage, and yet he must at that time have been thinking of removal, for I find (East Haddam Deeds, Vol I, 554) that Moses Rowley, Senior, "late of Saquanesset, now of Machimodus in Haddam," bought 6o acres of land of Jonathan Gilbert, originally laid out to John Henderson of Haddam, deceased. The date of this deed is May 3, 1692, and there is another deed dated Oct. 4, 1693 which names Moses' Rowley.

An agreement of the heirs of James Bates of Haddam, dated Feb. 1691-2 refers to "mony in moses rowlyes and John Ackley's hands, to be reserved to pay debts with."  These records indicate that he removed to Haddam as early as 1691. That his wife Elizabeth disapproved of the removal is clear, for in 1714 she made a deed in which she declared that she had been left without support and dependent upon the bounty of her sons John Fuller and

Moses Rowley, and conveyed to them all her right of dower to lands in Falmouth, which her husband had sold to the Parkers without her consent. His will, dated Aug. 16, 1704 on file at, Hartford, Conn., reads as follows:

" The Last will and Testament of Moses Rowley Sen. of east Haddam in the county of Hartford in Colleny of Connecticut in new Ingland Wittneseth."

" In the name of god. Amen. Whereas I Moses Rowlee being

weak of body but through gods good hand upon me at this present writing in perfect memory and understanding doe make and ordain this as my last will and testament."

"lmprimus: I doe give and bequeath my soul unto god in the name, meritts and mediation of the lord Jesus Christ in whose Righteousness I hope to be accepted with the father."

"And my body to Christian burial as my executors shall see meet, hoping for a glorious Resurrection at the last and great day."

As for the portion of this worlds goods that god [hath] given and continued to me my will is that my Just Depts being paid the Remainder to be disposed of as followeth: as for the Rest of my children I have done what hath been with me and now I have not expectation of being any more capable to help myself wherefore I doe give and bequeath my land unto my sonn Moses Rowlee that is to say my half of the lott I now live upon (the other half I have given allReady to my son Matthew) to be equally devided between my sons Moses and Matthew. I also give unto my son Moses that twenty five pound right that I formerly gave to Matthew, which my son Matthew hath lovingly Relinquished again to me."

"I give and bequeath to my daughter Mehitabell fuller all my moveables both flock and household stuff whether without door or within."

"I give and bequeath half my young mare unto my son Matthew. My will further is and it is upon the account of not only what my sons Moses Rowlee and John ffuller hath done for me and been kind to me but especially their willingness to take the care of me and my wife during our naturall lives and I doe expect that care and kindness of them that is meet and needfull both to myself and my wife and I therefore have done what I have done to oblidge them what I cane and doe Repose my trust next under god upon these my two sons Moses Rowlee and John ffuller for what I shall and for what my wife shall stand in need of between this and the grave."

"and I doe further give to my son Moses Rowlee my meadow lot and further be it known that my son Moses is to pay. My just debts and moreover my will is that all the above legacies given to my children is to them and their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns forever, furthermore I doe nominate, appoint and ordain my loving sons Moses Rowlee and john ffuller executors of this my last will & testament as witness my hand & seale.

Hadam 16 of August, 1704 Moses ( )

signed sealled in the presence his X mark ( Seal. )
John Chapman Rowlee Sen^r

Mathew
his M mark.
Rowlee
Mary
her M mark
Creepen

At a court at Hartford, held March 8, 1705-6, this will was

proved by the oaths of John Chapman and Thomas Fuller of Haddam that they saw said Moses Rowley the testator sign & seal & Mathew Rowley John Chapman & Mary Crippen, witnesses, set their hands, etc."
Children born at Barnstable:

3- Moses³ ROWLEY (Moses,² (Henry¹), b. Nov. 10, 1654, in Barnstable; d. July 16, 1735, at East Haddam; m. (1) Mary Fletcher (?); date of her birth, marriage and death not found; m. (2) after Feb. 17, 1714-5, Mary, widow of Samuel Corbe of East Haddam, who d. there April 10, 1694. She was the dau. of Thomas and Frances Crippen of Falmouth, Mass., and East Haddam. She d. June 9, 1764, in the 97th year of her age, according to her gravestone at East Haddam. The proof of the second marriage is found in the will of Samuel Corbe of East Haddam, probated Oct. 29, .1757 (Probate records at Colchester, Vol. II, p. 447), which mentions "Azariah Heath that now lives with me, who is to provide for the comfortable support of my mother, Mary Rowley."

In 1685 Moses³ Rowley, junior, aid of one of the constables in the execution of his office was struck by Christopher Gifford of Suckanesset "on ye head with a certain stick or club, thereby fetching blood and shroadly wounding him to his great hurt and damage." Gifford had to pay Rowley £20 for the wound, and other fines and costs. (Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. VI, p. 180.)

Moses³ Rowley took the freeman's oath at Succonesset (Falmouth) in 1690, and a few years later removed to East Haddam. He and his wife were admitted to the church in East Haddam, Nov. 12, 1704, the year of its organization. I found no record of the births of his children either at Falmouth or East Haddam. The list below is from his will (Hartford probate records, Vol. XII, p. 330), which reads as follows:

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WILL OF MOSES³ ROWLEY.

"In the name of God. Amen. This Twenty fourth of March, 1734-5. I Moses Rowley of the Town of East Haddam in the County of Hartford and Colony of Connecticut Calling to mind my mortallity knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die, being sickly and weakly in Body but of perfect mind Do make & ordain This my last Will & Testament principally and first of all: I do Give and bequeath my Soul to God who gave it me & my body to the Dust from whence it was Taken to be buried in Christian Decent buriall at the Discretion of my Executors, Nothing Doubting but I shall Receive the Same again by the mighty power of God at the Generall Resurrection of the Dead, and as Touching that Small part of Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with, which I have not as yet Disposed of, I Give, bequeath & Dispose of as In maner followeth Imprimus I Do give & bequeath To my Loving sons, viz: Moses, Samuell, Ebenezer & Jonathan Rowley all My Lands known by the Name of the purchase Land or Lots Equally to be Divided Among them alike that Is to say if the sd purchasers are pleased to Divide the Same, Then I do give and Bequeath it them and their heires as in maner abovesaid, but if the said purchasers should not Divide sd Land but Let it Lye for the use first Intended then I Do give and Bequeath it to that use viz for the Gospel in this place.

2ly--I do give and bequeath to my Loving son John Rowley all my Carpenters Tools. 31y I Do give & bequeath to my loving Son Jonathan Rowley my Cart boxes & bands, my Small ax and broad hoe--41y I Do Give & Bequeath to my loving Daughter Hannah Rowley that Cow that my son John Rowley now hath and six sheep, my bed that I now Lye on, and all the Beding belonging to the same, and all the household Goods that I now have --51y I Do Give and Bequeath my wearing Cloaths to my loving sons viz Moses, Samuell, John, Ebenezer &Jonathan Rowley and whatsoever Else which I shall have at my decease of Estate that I have not disposed of as abovesaid to be Equally Divided among them, Excepting Twenty Shillings apiece to be paid out of the Same to my Three Loving Daughters viz: Mary Olmsted, Nem fuller, & mehitabel Chapman. Furthermore my will is that my son Samuel Rowley of Hebron and Ebenezer of East Haddam be Executors to this my last Will & Testament, and That they should be Reasonably allowed for their Trouble and I the said Moses Rowley Do hereby Disalow, Revoak & Disanull all other former wills & Testaments & bequests whatsoever, Ratifying and Confirming this to be my last Will & Testament & no other. In witness whereof I the sd Moses Rowley have hereunto set my hand & Seal this day & year within Written.

Moses Rowley & Seal."

John Fuller
John Persivall
Ebenezer Fuller.

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Inventory taken 19 August, 1735, by Thomas Gates and John Fuller, amounted to £32 12s.

Children born in Falmouth:

4. SHUBAEL ROWLEY. (Moses,' Henry'), b. Jan. 11, 166o, in Barnstable; d. March 28, 1714, at Colchester, Conn.; m. Catherine, dau. of Thomas Crippen, of Falmouth and East Haddam; she d. probably at Colchester, after 1719, but the date is not found. She conveyed all her right in her husband's estate to her son-in-law, Edward Fuller, on the promise of support during her life. Shubael Rowley was in (East) Haddam as early as 1693, for on Oct. 4 of that year he conveyed land there to "his father Moses Rowley, cordwainer, of Sockanesset in the County of Barnstable and Colony of Plymouth." On Nov. 19, 1700, he sold his Haddam lands to Timothy Fuller, of Machimoodus, and removed to Colchester. The names of his children are from the settlement of his estate (Hartford Probate Rec., Vol. VIII, p. 224). The older children were born at Falmouth, the younger probably at (East) Haddam. Children:

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5. AARON³ ROWLEY (Moses,² Henry¹), b. May 1, 1666, in Barnstable; d. about 1743, in Falmouth, Mass.; m. March 7, 1690
(March 17, 1690, N.S.) Mary (or Mercy) Weeks, dau. of William and Mercy (Robinson) Weeks, of Falmouth, b. Jan. 16, 1669-70; d. -----. Aaron Rowley seems to have been a carpenter by trade, as he was employed to make repairs upon the meeting house. He held town offices: surveyor of highways, fence viewer, treasurer, selectman, but refused that of constable. He was a member of the church, and was chosen deacon, June 6, 1734, to assist Deacon Hatch; owing to bodily infirmity he was excused from this office, June 25, 1741.

His will (Barnstable Probate Records, Vol. V, p. 340) names wife Mary, sons Aaron, Timothy, Elnathan, and daughter Mary Weeks. The sons were to have his carpentry and husbandry tools. His lands he had already given them by deed of gift. Inventory taken, July 12, 1743, was , £1,403, 05, 02, old tenor. Aaron Rowley resided at Great Neck, Woods Hole, in the south-westerly port of Falmouth.

Children born in Falmouth:

6. MATTHEW³ ROWLEY (Moses,² Henry¹), b. -----; d. -----; m. Johanna -----. He removed to East Haddam, with his father, but in 1705 sold his lands there to James Percival, of Falmouth. He probably had issue, but I have been unable to get the names of his children.

7. NATHAN³ ROWLEY (Moses,² Henry¹), b. about 1664; d. after May, 1742; m. -----, Mercy Hatch, b. April 27, 1667, at Falmouth (then part of Barnstable), Mass.; dau. of Jonathan and Sarah (Rowley) Hatch.

No will or administration appears upon the Barnstable County Probate Records.

Children born at Falmouth:

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8. Moses⁴ Rowley (Moses,³ Moses,² Henry¹), b. about 1679, in Falmouth; date and place of death not found; m. (1) -----; m. (2) Sept. 7, I707, Martha Porter, b. April 23, 1687; dau. of John and Joanna (Gaylord) Porter, of Windsor, Conn. (Porter Genealogy, Vol. I, p.--); date of her death not found; m. (3) Sept. 15, 1729, Sarah Chapman, of East Haddam;. b. --; ", Sarah late wife of Moses Rowley d. Sept. 20, 1757, in 67th year.' (Gravestone at Moodus, town of East Haddam.)

Moses Rowley was an early inhabitant at Colchester, being fenceview and lister: there in 1702-4. He afterward removed to East Haddam. Children:

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Last Modified 11/07/09