Plymouth County Biographies Project
Part of the Massachusetts Biographies Project.


 

Dr. Samuel Fuller

  1788 - 1633


     "Mayflower" Physician First in Long Line of Eminent Medical Practitioners - Not only did the Pilgrims bring their historian with them but also provided themselves with the first physician, Samuel Fuller.  His parents, Mr. and Mrs. fuller, died soon after they landed but Dr. Fuller lived until 1633 and left two children.
     In the early days of Plymouth County,  and the same was true after it became Plymouth County, the minister was the most important personagage in town.  No town could be incorporated, according to the Plymouth Court, unless it had a church and settled minister and could show reasonable ability and disposition to support the minister.  He not only ministered to the souls but the bodies of the people.  There were always plenty who "did not believe in doctors," and they rather trusted to the prayers of the pastor and the deacons, as they had Scriptural authority for doing.  As early as 1623, however,  Dr. Samuel Fuller of Plymouth was looked upon as the medical practitioner.  This was in the days of Massasoit, great sachem of Wampanoags, faithful keeper of the faith with the Pilgrims, and when his son and successor, Alexander, was taken violently ill in Marshfield, following a controversy with a committee from Plymouth which waited upon him in his wigwam at Monponsett Pond, in Halifax, Dr. Fuller was called into the case, instead of the Indian medicine man.
     Early medical practitioners were usually paid for their services with butter, "taller", cider, spinning and rum, or other articles of barter, a custom which is not wholly discontinued to this day.
     In cases of illness the stock of dried herbs hanging from the rafters were steeped and administered by a member of the family or a neighbor and the minister was called in.  If the doctor was called, he galloped to the door, with his remedies and surgical instruments in his saddlebags.  The lancet was always ready at hand and most of the items in the early bills, when any were made out, were for "visit and veesection."
     The first physician in the Plymouth Colony, incidentally the first physician in New England, was Dr. Samuel Fuller whose home was in that part of the present town of Kingston known as Rocky Nook.  So far as known he never possessed the degree of Doctor of Medicine, but that was a rare distinction in the early days.  His remedies included many of the homely herbs which were believed to possess curative properties.  His wife was of great assistance to him in his professional practice, especially acting as midwife.  Governor Bradford refers to him in his history as "a man of Godly, and forward to do good, being much missed after his death."  In 1629, soon after the settlement of Salem, Governor Bradford received a request from Governor Endicott, for Dr. Fuller to come to Salem and help check an epidemic which was prevailing at that time among the Puritans.  The request was acceded to and afterward Dr. Fuller practiced for a time in Charleston.  he died in 1633, much lamented by the colonists from Cape Cod to Cape Ann.
     A nephew of Dr. Fuller came over from England in 1640, practices in Plymouth for a time, removed to Barnstable in 1652, and in 1673 was appointed surgeon-general to the Provincial forces raised in the vicinity.  He died in 1678.


Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Pages 117-119



Dr. Francis LeBaron

  ____ - 1704


     Among the early physicians was Dr. Francis LeBaron, a skillful surgeon and medical practitioner, whose coming to Plymouth was occasioned by the wreck of a French privateer in Buzzards Bay.  The crew were made prisoners and taken to Boston, charged with cruising on the American coast with piratical intent.  The inhabitants of Plymouth asked for the release of Dr. LeBaron that he might practice as physician i that town.  The request was granted and he and his descendants performed exceedingly good service in the colony.  Rev. Samuel LeBaron, who settled in Mattapoisett in 1772, when it was a part of Rochester, was one of his greatly beloved descendants.
     Dr. Francis LeBaron came to Plymouth in 1694.  He married the following year Mary, daughter of Edward Wilder of Hingham.  Their oldest son was Dr. Lazarus LeBaron, who was one of the selectmen of the town of Plymouth from 1735 to 1756, inclusive, and from 1766 to 1769, inclusive.  During those years he presided at many of the town meetings.  It appears from the records of Plymouth that Dr. Francis LeBaron bequeathed to the town of Plymouth in his last will about ninety acres of woodland in Carver, not far from the Middleborough line, and, at a town meeting held in the courthouse at Plymouth November 3, 1773, a committee was chosen to make a demand upon the executors of the will of Dr. Lazarus LeBaron of the donation.
     Dr Lazarus LeBaron was born in Plymouth, December 26, 1698, and died in 1773, aged seventy-five years.  Two sons, Joseph and Lazarus, became physicians.
     There is on Burial Hill in Plymouth a dark slate tombstone, about eighteen inches above the ground on which appears "Here lyes ye body of Francis Le Bararran phititian who departed this life Aug ye 8the 1704 in ye 36 year of his age"  His name has been immortalized by Mrs. Jane G. Austin in her book, " A Nameless Nobleman."
     Opposite is a large thick stone, four feet tall and about the same width, of gray slate on which appears the dates of his birth and death and the following epitaph:

My flesh shall slumber in the ground
Till the last trumpet's joyful sound
Then burst the chains with sweet surprise
And in my Saviour's image rise.


Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Page 119


Dr. Samuel Seabury

  ____ - 1680


     Dr.  Samuel Seabury was an early physician in Duxbury.  Baas' "History of Medicine" refers to him as having died in 1680, leaving an estate as follows:

Nicholas Culpeppier Practice of Physic       1.4 s. o p
Nicholas Culpeppier Anatomy                3 s
Reed's Practice of Surgery                            1 s. 6 p
Physician's Practice                                1 s
Latin Herbal                                      1.10 s
Art of Distillation, by Jno. French            2 s
Surgical Instruments                             12 s
Antimonial Cup                                      5 s


Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Page 120


Dr. James Thatcher

  ____ - 1844


     There is a record of Dr. James Thatcher, a native of Barnstable who became a surgeon in the Revolutionary War, and afterwards was author of several books.  Among them were: "Revolutionary Journal," " Medical Biography," "History of Plymouth," " American Orchardist," and "Medical Dispensary."   He had studied medicine with Dr. Abner Hersey.  After serving seven and a half years as an army surgeon he settled in Plymouth and there is this testimony recorded as coming from his quill:  "I have seen public offices courting competent men to fill them; and I have seen them filled by men who with a religious conscientiousness acquitted themselves of the duty: but this now seems an antiquated morality."
     Dr. Thatcher in his "Military Journal of the Revolutionary War," refers to an occurrence in Barnstable in 1774: "A body of men assembled and obstructed the passage of the court-house door.  The leader of this assemblage was Dr. Nathaniel Freeman of Sandwich, a bold Son of Liberty.  Col. James Otis, the venerable chief justice, preceded by the sheriff, approached and demanded admission.  Dr. Freeman replied that it was the intention of the people to prevent the court being opened to exercise those unconstitutional powers with which Parliament had invested them.  The chief justice, in his majesty's name, commanded them to disperse and permit the court to enter and proceed to business.  But his majesty's name had lost its power.  It can have no charms with the "Sons of Liberty."  The judge then said he had acquitted himself of duty, and retired.  The proceedings had been discussed and concerted prior to the court term, and Col. Otic, himself a staunch whig, was, it is believed, not only apprised of, but actually acquiesced in their bold measure.

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     To return to Dr. James Thatcher, during his long term as a physician and surgeon in the Revolutionary War, he first served as surgeon's mate under Dr. John Warren.  He was later, in a different regiment, in the expedition of Ticonderoga, was at the siege of Yorktown, witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis and the execution of Major Andre.  He retired from army service in 1783, and settled in Plymouth.  Through his efforts the canopy was erected over Plymouth Rock, a picture of which for generations appeared in most of the geographies studied throughout the united States.  The canopy had built into it the bones of some of the Pilgrim Fathers.  It was torn down ad replaced by another canopy previous to the celebration of the Tercentenary of the Pilgrims in 1920.
     Dr. Thatcher and his brother-in-law, Dr. Nathan Hayward, established the first stage line between Plymouth and Boston, in 1796.  He heard of the burning of anthracite coal in Pennsylvania and was the first to use that fuel in Plymouth.  He introduced the tomato plant in Plymouth.  It was in those days called "love apple," and by most people not considered suitable for food.
     Many books on medical subjects were written by Dr. Thatcher.  In one of these books on "Observations on Hydrofobia," published in 1812, he expressed the opinion that there might be methods of prevention or cure and that study along that line should be encouraged.  He had been a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society at that time nearly a decade and his inclination to adopt new ideas and his thoughts in advance of his generation attracted much attention among his fellow-members.  Among the student whom he instructed in his office was Dr. Benjamin Shurtleff, of Carver, and ancestor of Dr. W. D. Shurtleff of Kingston.  He received the honorary degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Medicine from Harvard college and from Dartmouth College in 1810 and was made a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.  He died in 1844, one of the most progressive citizens of Massachusetts.


Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Pages 120-122


Dr. Abner Hersey

  ____ - 1787


     Dr. Abner Hersey, to whom Dr. Thatcher had been apprenticed when he was eighteen years of age, was one of three sons of James Hersey of Hingham who became physicians.  Ezekiel was graduated from Harvard College in 1728 and practiced in Hingham.  Dr. James Hersey practiced in Barnstable and it was from him that Dr. Abner Hersey obtained his early knowledge of medicine, studying in his office.  While thus engaged Dr. James  died and Dr. Abner carried on the practice.

     A Vegetarian and Wore Red Flannel- The latter was eccentric, wore large, loose-fitting garments, his overcoat consisting of seven calfskins lined with flannel and, as red flannel was supposed to have peculiarly effective remedial qualities at that time, it is presumed that the lining was of that lurid hue.  Dr. Hersey ate principally fruit, mild and vegetables,  was a vegetarian and total abstainer from alcoholic beverages, which was, in itself, sufficient in those days to give him a reputation for being decidedly "queer."  He was, however, a studious, skillful and much liked physician and one of the early members of the Massachustts [sic] Medical Society, the parent society in New England.  He accumulated an ample estate, the chief part of which he bequeathed to the churches in Barnstable.  He left five hundred pounds to establish a professorship of anatomy and surgery at Harvard College.  He died January 9, 1787, aged sixty-six.


Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Pages 120-121


Dr. Jonathan Leonard

  1763 - 1849


     Among those early members, in addition to those already mentioned in that connection, was Dr. Leonard, who was born in Bridgewater, February 17, 1763.  His ancestor, Solomon Leonard, was one  of the original proprietors of Bridgewater, moving to that place from Duxbury.
     Dr. Leonard attended Harvard College and two years after his graduation from that institution in 1786, settled in Sandwich.  Harvard College conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1824.  It has been said of him "He had the confidence and respect of his associates and was held in esteem as far as his name was known."  His death occurred January 25, 1849, aged eighty-six years.

Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Page 122


Dr. Charles T. Jackson

  1805 - 1880


     Another of the early physicians, conspicuous in walks of honor and service to their fellow-men, aside from their professional requirements, included Dr. Charles T. Jackson, who was born in Plymouth in 1805, graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1829, studied later in Paris and was made a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, in recognition of his scientific labor and research.  He served as geologist of Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, explored the southern shores of Lake Superior and opened a copper mine.  It is said that he suggested the possibility of communication by means of electricity and made important discoveries before Professor Samuel F. B. Morse secured a patent for the telegraph in 1840.

     Discovery and Application of Ether- A memorial was presented to Congress in 1852, signed by 143 physicians of Boston, ascribing the discovery of anesthesia exclusively to Dr. Jackson.  A contradictory claim was made in behalf of Dr. W.T.G. Morton and scientific and general opinion have been divided whether one of the other should receive credit for this great advance in saving of human life by surgery.  The French Academy of Science decreed a prize of 2,500 francs to Dr. Jackson for the discovery of etherization and the same amount to Dr. Morton for the application.  Dr. Jackson received decorations from the governments of France, Prussia, Sweden, Turkey and Sardinia, his recognition as a man of broad and scientific learning extending into many countries.  He died in 1880.

Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Page 122-3

(See "The Unusual History of Ether" for more info & a pic of Dr. Jackson.)
Dr. Gridley Thaxter

  1756 - 1845


     Dr. Gridley Thaxter, one of the Revolutionary War surgeons, was born in Hingham, April 9, 1756.  He engaged as a surgeon on the privateer "Speedwell" and sailed from Boston in 1776, under Captain Jonathan Greeley.  He continued on her during the taking of several prized until 1778.  He served with Captain David Ropes of Salem in the brig "Wildcat", which was a schooner of fourteen tons, in the harbor of Halifax, which subsequently was recaptured by a schooner, brig and two sloops.  The frigate "Surprise" proved truly named to them and the following day they were upon her deck as prisoners.  Dr. Thaxter remained on the prison ship about three months.  He was exchanged from Halifax a month later.
     He was on the brig "Warrior" fourteen guns, Captain William Patten, Jr., in May, 1780, when that brig was captured by the sloop-of-war "Captain Ingalls".  He was kept aboard a prison ship three weeks in New York.  After his release he shipped on the State ship "Mars," Captain Simeon Sampson, and remained as surgeon until 1781.
     Dr. Thaxter had bought a set of dishes in Paris which, strangely enough, he was able to retain in his possession during several of his Revolutionary adventures.  He intended them as a gift to his bride when he should be married at the close of the war.  The dishes were still intact when he was discharged from the service and he stored them in his father's barn in Hingham until his approaching wedding.  This took place, the bride being the daughter of General Benjamin Lincoln of Hingham, who also served in the Revolutionary War.
     Dr. Thaxter got the girl but she never got the dishes, as the Thaxter was burned and only two dishes were saved.  Those two, however, have come down with the story from Revolutionary times and are still cherished possessions.  One of them was exhibited at the observance of the sixtieth anniversary of the organization of the Plymouth District Medical Society at Abington, May 27, 1911, by Dr. Giman Osgood, at that time historian of the society.
     Dr. Thaxter moved from Hingham to Abington in 1783.  He died in that town in 1845, aged eighty-nine years.
     Dr. Ezekiel Thaxter, son of Dr. Gridley Thaxter, was a physician in Abington, beginning before the death of his father, and succeeding him until his death October 11, 1856.  he was sixty-nine years of age.  The last three years of his life he suffered from paralysis.  He held the office of town clerk of Abington from 1821 to 1832.

Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Page 123-4



Dr. John Clark

 

    One of the most noted men in the colony was Dr. John Clark.  He early took a scientific interest in promoting agriculture and especially in the introduction of improved breeds of horses, cattle and other domestic animals.

Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Page 124


Dr. Zaccheus Bartlett

   

     One of the founders of the Pilgrim Society, which has done so much to preserve sites and locations of early history, was Dr. Zaccheus Bartlett.  He was graduated from Harvard in 1789 and was orator of the day at the observance of the Pilgrim anniversary in 1798.

Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Page 124



Dr. Harvey N. Preston


      Among the early physicians of note who served in the Revolutionary War was Dr. Harvey N. Preston.

Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Page 124



Dr. Robert Child


      Governor Winthrop has left us a record of Dr. Robert Child who settled in Hingham in 1644, saying he was "a man of quality, a gentleman and a scholar."
Note:  For more insight on the Dr, read::  "Dr. Robert Child, and His Troubles with the Puritan Fathers."  Found on the Bulletin of the Medical Library Association.

Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Page 124


Dr. David Jones


      Dr. David Jones of Abington settle in that town about 1750.  He was a scientific man and one of fine distinctions.  Cole brook courses through the farm which he occupied and various reasons have been given for the name, many supposing that it was named in honor of some person of that name.  Others have said that Cold Brook was the correct name and it took other other name from the prevailing habit of Yankees to neglect sounding the final d.  Dr. Jones, however, observed that along the banks of this stream cole, a kind of kale or cabbage which does not form a head, grew luxuriantly and he named the brook in various references as deserving of this distinction.
      He was one of the selectmen of Abington six years, was chosen by the town to purchase a bell of about 600 pounds weight for the First Church.  In 1774, he was chosen a delegate from the town to a county congress held in Plympton.  At the convention he was chosen one of the committee to report resolves on the oppressive acts of the British Parliament and the rights of the Colonies.  He was a delegate to the first Provincial Congress at Salem, October 5, 1774, and also at the third at Watertown, july 31, 1775.  He was a delegate to the convention at Cambridge in September, 1779, to form a State Constitution.  His son, Dr. David Jones, Jr., was a surgeon in the Revolutionary War.  He had a hospital for smallpox patients in Abington for a year or two.  He moved to Yarmouth, Maine, where he practiced over thirty years.


Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Page 124


Dr. Jeremiah Hall

      Dr. Jeremiah Hall of Hanover settled in that town in 1749, was surgeon in Captain Joseph Thatcher's company in 1757, during the French and Indian War, moved to Pembroke in 1764.  While a practicing physician in Pembroke he was chosen a delegate to the Provincial Congresses of 1774-75.

Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Pages 124-5


Dr. Lemuel Cushing

      Dr. Lemuel Cushing succeeded him as practitioner in Hanover  During the Revolution he served as surgeon in the army, by appointment of the Provincial Congress.

Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Page 125


Dr. Peter Hobart

      Another Hanover physician of distinction in the Revolutionary times was Dr. Peter Hobart.  He was an apprentice to Jeremiah Lincoln as an iron smith but was ambitious to receive an education and entered Harvard College with savings which he had earned as an iron worker.  He was graduated from Harvard in 1775, settled in Hanover at the age of twenty-five, and was a useful citizen and skillful practitioner.  On his tombstone in Center Hanover Cemetery appears the following epitaph:
Thousands of journeys, night and day,
I've traveled weary on the way
To heal the sick-but now I am gone
A journey never to return.

Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Page 125


Dr. Joseph Bossuet

      Dr. Joseph Bossuet came from Paris, France, his native city, and joined forces with the American colonists about the same time as Lafayette.  He was a physician and surgeon in the Washington army, was captured by the British and suffered heavy property losses, which is supposed to have determined his decision to remain in this country and continue his practice.  He practiced in Hanover and Higham, in the former town in 1799 and 1800 and possibly longer.

Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Page 125


Dr. Pierre Cartier

      Dr. Pierre Cartier, a Frenchman of scholarly attainments but eccentric, came to Plymouth from the Island of Martinique about this time and was a physician in Hanover seven years.  He practiced for a time in Hanson and returned to Martinique.

Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Page 125



Dr. Richard Briggs

     Dr. Richard Briggs practiced in Abington about 1780.  He was a surgeon on board a public ship in the Revolutionary War.  His practice in Abington covered thirty years and he then moved to Chesterfiled in Hampshire County.  He left numerous children, some of whom moved West.

Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Page 125


Dr. Philip Bryant

____ - 1817

      Grandfather of a Poet-Dr. Philip Bryant, a native of Middleborough, early became a resident of North Bridgewater, to which town (now Brockton) his father moved at a time when, as Dr. Bryant has been quoted as saying :"a greater part of it was thought unfit for the purpose of settlement." 
      There was, at the same time, a Dr. Abiel Howard in West Bridgewater, an older physician, to whom Dr. Bryant became an apprentice.  Dr. Howard had a daughter who later became the wife of Dr. Philip Bryant and, in time, the grandmother of William Cullen Bryant, the noted poet.  Dr. Bryant practiced medicine in North Bridgewater until his death, at the age of eighty-five years, in 1817.
     One of his sons, Dr. Peter Bryant, was born in North Bridgewater August 12, 1767.  He was a pronounced student, gaining much knowledge and inspiration from his visits to his grandfather, Dr. Abiel Howard, in West Bridgewater, who was the possessor of an unusually good library for those times.  From both his grandfather and father he obtained a knowledge of medicine, supplemented by study under Dr. Louis Leprilite of Norton, Massachusetts, a French physician and surgeon of eminence.
      He moved to Cummington, Massachusetts, married a daughter of Ebenezer Snell, also a native of North Bridgewater.  Present at the wedding was the grandmother of the bride, Mrs. Abigail Snell, who lived to see seven generations of descendants and was nearly one hundred years of age at her death.
      For several years, Dr. Peter Bryant represented the fast-growing town of Cummington in the General Court of Massachusetts, serving in both the House and Senate.  He took a prominent part in legislation to raise the standard of medical education in the Commonwealth.  He was a careful and successful practitioner, using every opportunity to improve himself in his profession and as a citizen.  He traveled to ports in the Indian Ocean, spent a time on the Isle of France perfecting himself in the French language, wrote occasional poems and was a man of attainment unusual in his day.  In politics he served with zeal as a member of the Federal party and some of his satirical verses, printed in the "Hampshire Gazette,"showed alike his scholarship and uncompromising convictions.   

Note:  More information on the family can be found in the Biography of William Cullen Bryant on the Virtual American Biographies Website and on the Town of Cummington William Cullen Bryant Homestead website.
 
Source: "History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable Counties Massachusetts; Volume I" by Elroy S. Thompson. Pub. 1928. Pages 125-126







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