Samuel Fuller of Plymouth Colony was New England's earliest physician. Dr. Fuller was one of the signers of the "Mayflower" compact in 1620.

Samuel Fuller was one of the 26 original proprietors of Middleboro, which is about 17 miles east of Rehoboth. In 1676 the Indians burned his home at Middleboro, and he removed to Plymouth, returning after the war was over. Although educated for the ministry, he practiced medicine, as did most ministers; perhaps best exemplified by Rev. and Dr. John Clarke of Newport, R. I. In 1663 he negotiated with the town of Rehoboth to settle there as a doctor, but never came. His mother (Bridget Fuller) was also asked to come as mid-wife. He was the first minister at Middleboro and preached there for several years although he was not ordained until 1694. By his biographers he is called a sober, grave, industrious, enlightened and self-denying man. When he married for the second time he had four motherless children ranging from 9 down to about 2 years of age. When the first child Elizabeth, by his second wife, was born in 1666, the last child by his first wife was 3 years old.

source: 'Early Rehoboth" published in 1945 by author Richard LaBaron Bowen.