Samuel Fisher was probably the son of Thomas Fisher and Elizabeth Allen Fisher. He was probably born about 1634 in Cambridge, Massachusetts shortly after his parents arrived in New England. His brother, Thomas, was probably also born in Cambridge. When the General Court approved the establishment of a settlement “two myles above the falls of the Charles Ryver,” the Fisher family made the move to the new community, which was eventually named Dedham. Samuel’s father, Thomas Fisher, was engaged to build the church in Dedham, but died in 1638 before it was finished. His widow was granted the right to sell half of their land to have the money to educate and raise her sons. Her brother, John Allin, the first minister of Dedham, left bequests to both Samuel and his brother Thomas.1
Samuel Fisher was in the second generation of signers of the Dedham Covenant, being the 122nd person to sign. He married Melatiah “Milcha” Snow on 22 March 1658/59 in Boston, Massachusetts.4 Milcha was born 30 September 1638 in Boston.6 She was the oldest of the six children of Thomas Snow and Milcha Kelway Snow, who ran a tavern on what is now the south-east corner of the Boston Common. The Boston marriage record says that Samuel and Milcha were married by Governor John Endicott.
Samuel and Milcha’s first five children were born in Dedham, but in 1660, when interest was expressed in establishing a permanent settlement at Wollomonopoag (Wrentham), “Ensign” Fisher was one of the four men sent by Dedham to explore the area and report on its suitability.7 Their report was favorable and, in January 1661, the Dedham Town Meeting authorized the purchase of land at Wollomonpoag and voted to set aside 600 acres to encourage a plantation there. Samuel Fisher and Anthony Fisher, Jr. were the first to go to Wollomonopoag in 1661, and to claim part of the 600 acres. Anthony was one of the committee of Dedham Proprietors who were assembled 12 January 1662, to look into the matter and reported "they have secured but ten men, and they cannot go with so small a company - thát they are not desirious to leave the world altogether," as they put it, but will go if they can "proceed in a safe way." 2
Nevertheless, the minutes of a meeting held on 23 March 1663 indicate that Samuel Fisher was among the nine prospective settlers who had already visited the area and made some improvements. These men were permitted to select their lots first, and Samuel was one of the first to build a home there. Four more daughters were born to Samuel and Milcha in Wrentham. In 1672, Samuel was chosen to be the first deacon of the Wrentham Church.3
By 1675, there were still only 16 families living in Wrentham. In 1676, they had to return to Dedham for safety during King Phillip’s War. Tradition says that all but two of the houses in Wrentham were burned. A probate document dated 2 August 1678, in which the property of Melatiah’s father, Thomas Snow, is divided among his children, Samuel Fisher is identified as “of Brantery (Braintree) … yeoman.” So the family may have been living in Braintree until they were able to return to Wrentham after the war and rebuild. 7, 8 When the Wrentham residents returned there in 1680, Samuel Fisher was elected to serve with the General Court’s committee for the organization of the town. He was appointed to keep the town records,7 and in the Wrentham town meeting in March 1687, Samuel Fisher and John Ware were instructed to treat with the Indians to “take care in the town’s behalf and manage the clearing and confirmation of the town’s title to the lands in the town bounds according to the agreement with Dedham at the first settling of Wrentham.” The committee examined all of the evidence of payment for land, and accepted testimony from Indians who agreed that King Philip inherited the land from his father, Massasoit, and that Philip had sold it to the proprietors. The Indians were either present at the time of the sale or knew about it soon after. Samuel was the representative to the General Court from Wrentham from 1689-92.3
Deacon Samuel Fisher died in Wrentham on 5 January 1703/04 and is buried in the Wrentham Center Cemetery.5 His widow, Melatiah, lived until 15 March 1709/10, when she also died in Wrentham. 5
Samuel Fisher born 21 Aug 1660, Dedham, Massachusetts. Died 9 April 1704, probably in Wrentham. Married Abigaile Heath.4, 5
Elizabeth Fisher born 12 October 1662 in Dedham. Died 1724 in Dedham. Married John Ellis. 4. 5
Hannah Fisher born 19 February 1665/66. Died young. 4, 5
Meletia Fisher, our ancestor, born 1 May 1667 in Dedham. Died 23 September 1719 in Wrentham. Married Deacon Eliazer Metcalf. 4, 5
Capt. Ebenezer Fisher born 15 August 1669 in Dedham. Died 28 December 1726 in Wrentham. Married Abigail Ellis. 4, 5
Hannah Fisher born 25 Oct 1672 in Wrentham. Died 20 March 1761 in Wrentham. Maried Thomas George.
Abigail Fisher born 16 February 1673/74 in Wrentham. Died 18 November 1717 in Wrentham. Married Daniel Farrington. 4, 5
Sarah Fisher born about 1676
Mehitable Fisher born about 1678.
No birth record has been found for the last two daughters, but this was during the time the people of Wrentham were taking refuge in Dedham, and it is possible that the births were not recorded.
Charles Anderson, Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Vol. II C-F, Vol. II, C-F.
Fisher Genealogy by Phillip Fisher p. 18
Find A Grave Memorial# 123457050
Dedham Massachusetts Vital Records
Wrentham Massachusetts Vital Records
Boston: Births, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, 1630-1699
Wrentham, 1673-1973: a History by Jordan D. Fiore
Charles Anderson, Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Vol VI, R-S. Article about Thomas Snow.