Samuel Wilbore Jr. (bef. 1622 - abt. 1697)

Born before 10 Apr 1622 in Sible Hedingham, Essex, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1697 after about age 74 in Taunton, Bristol, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Samuel Wilbore Jr. migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Samuel Wilbur, Jr. was baptized in Sible Hedingham, Essex, England, on 10 April 1622,^[1] the oldest of five children born to Samuel Wilbore and Ann Smith.

The family emigrated to New England, settling in Boston, by March 1633, when his father was made a freeman. Due to the father's support of dissident ministers Anne Hutchinson and John Wheelwright, the Wilburs joined other dissenters in the establishment of Rhode Island.

He married Hannah Porter, who died April 6, 1722, the only known child of Portsmouth Compact signer and fellow Pettaquamscutt purchaser, John Porter.

By 1646, Samuel Wilbur, Jr. was a landowner; he was made freeman in 1655, and became active in various civic affairs for over two decades. He was Commissioner 1656, 1658-60, and 1662-63; Deputy 1664-65, and 1669-70; Assistant 1665-69, and 1677-78. He enlisted in the troop of horse August 10, 1667. During King Phillip's War (1676), he held the title of Captain.

He was named in the Royal Charter of 1663, signed by England's King Charles II, which became the foundation for Rhode Island's government for nearly two centuries.^[2]

Most of the land owned by Samuel, Jr. and his ‘Widow’ Hannah, and their son, John Wilbore, was part of the Burrington Anthony farm on Aquidneck Island and was east of the Ferry Road as may be seen by the ancient map of the town at the Town Clerk’s office, Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

He wrote a will dated 21 August 1678, though not probated until more than three decades later. He left bequests to his wife and six children, and to his cousin, William Wilbur of Portsmouth.

There is lack of agreement about his date of death-- either about 1679 (not long after the will,^[3] or as late as 1697 in Taunton, Massachusetts, where his two brothers lived.^[4] or 16 DEC 1695 Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts.^{[citation needed]}

Last Will & Testament

His will dated August 21, 1678, was proved November 7, 1710.

In the name of God Amen,

Captain Samuel Wilbur Inhabitant in the Town of Portsmouth on Rhode Island, in the Colonie of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, being at present sick in body, yet in perfect memory, I bless God this being my last Will and Testament, I do give and bequeath my soul to the Almighty God Everlasting, from whom I received my first being. And my body to the Earth from whence it came, to be buried Christian like. And all my personal Estate in manner and fform ffollowing.

Imp I do make my Loving wife Hannah Wilbur my whole and sole Executrix of this my last will and testament, making also my Sonn John Wilbur sole Executor along with his mother during her natural Life, and also I do give and bequeath unto my said wife, all my personal estate upon Rhode Island as houses, lands, cattell or chattells whatsoever during her natural life, And after her decease I do freely give and bequeath all the said Land and houses upon Rhode Island unto my sonn John Wilbur to him and his heirs forever, male or female. And if the said John Wilbur shall Decease without issue, that then the said Lands and houses to be Equally divided between his three younger sisters or to whome or which of them that shall be then surviving, but if the said John Wilbur shall marry and die without Issue, that then his wife shall enjoy the said house and Land during her natural life.

2ndly I do ffreely give unto my Loving Daughter Elizabeth Wilbur min whole share of Land Lying in Point Judith in the narragansett countrey to her and her heirs forever; only Excepted one hundred acres of the said share of Land I do ffreely give unto my youngest daughter Rebekah Wilbur to her and her heirs fforever.

3rdly I do give and bequeath unto my Loving daughter Mary Wilbur my whole share of Land in the Thousand Acres of Land lying in the narragansett countrey to her and her heirs fforever

4thly I do give and bequeath unto my Loving daughter Rebekah Wilbur Two hundred and ffifty Acres of Land upon the nex Division in the narragansett countrey to her and her heirs fforever.

5thly I do give and bequeath unto my sonn John Wilbur Two hundred and ffifty Acres of Land upon the same division and all the share of my Land belonging to the minneralls, and also the share of my house Lots between Jes Bull and John Tift, And also all my right between the River and the house Lots, with all the minnerall Rights thereunto belonging forever.

6thly I give and bequeath unto my Grandson Latham Clark one hundred acres of Land upon the same Division in the narragansett countrey to him and his heirs forever.

7thly I do give and bequeath unto my Grandson Samuel Arnold one hundred Acres of Land upon the same division in the narragansett countrey to him and his heirs forever.

8thly I do give and bequeath unto my Cousin Anna Wilbur Daughter to Joseph Wilbur one hundred Acres of Land upon the same Division in the narragansett countrey to her and her heirs forever.

9thly I do ffreely give and bequeath unto my cousin Samuel Wilbur son of Sydrach Wilbur one hundred Acres of Land upon the same Division in the narragansett countrey to him and his heirs fforever.

10thly I do give and bequeath unto my sister Sarah Shearman Two hundred Acres of Land upon the same Division in the narragansett countrey one hundred acres of the said Land being fformerly engaged to her and her heirs forever.

11thly I do give and bequeath unto my cousin William Wilbur Sen. two hundred and ffifty acres of Land upon the same division in the narragansett countrey to him and his heirs forever.

12thly I do give and bequeath unto Ffraneis Gisborne one hundred acres of Land upon the same division in the narragansett countrev, to him and his heirs forever.

13thly I do ffreely give and bequeath unto my said wife all my Remaining part of my said Land in the narragansett countrev after the Legasies above specified are performed, with four Indians, one Indian man and three Squaws for their full times they have to serve, as also what horses mares, or colts shall be found to be mine in the narragansett countrey, I do ffreely give and bequeath unto my said wife to her and her heirs fforever.

14thly My will is that what tract of Lands, I have given unto my three youngest daughters that they are to receive it at the age of sixteen years or at the day of their marriage, but if in case any of them shall decease before they come to age or be married that then the said Land to be Equally divided between the sisters who shall surviving, then as for my two Eldest daughters thev have received their portions alreadv in full.

15thly I do leave in possession with my said wife two children of Robert Westcoates deceased, for their full times they have to serve according to condition.

16thly I do will that my son in Law Lieut Latham Clark and my cousin William Wilbur Sen. shall take care of my Deeds in the narragansett countrey and se to the Recording of them, And to Act with the partners as though I myself were personally present in the behalf of my Executrix.

17thly I do will that my Executrix with my Executor to pay and Receive all my just debts.

18thly I do desire my Loving Son in Law Lieutenant Latham Clark and my Loving cousin William Wilbur Sen. to be the overseers of this my Last Will and Testament to se it performed, And to the same have set to my hand and seal the one and Twentieth day of August in the yeare of our Lord one Thousand six hundred seventy eight.

Signed sealed and delivered in the presence off Samuel Wilbur (Seal)

Philip Shearman

John Gorton

FFrancis Gisborne

Ye 10th day March 1678:79 Apeared before me Philip Shearman & Jn. Gorton & tooke there Ingagement.

The above written is a true copie of the originall Entered and Recorded the roth of the 8th month 1710, by me John Anthony Town Cleerke.

Mr. John Gorton Apeared before me this 7th day of november in the year of our Lord 1710: And upon his solemn Ingagement did declare that himself with Philip Shearman and FFrancis Gisborne were the witnesses to the above written will at the time of the date thereof, And the subscriber thereof Capt. Samuel Wilbur at the signing thereof was in his perfict sence and memory.

Taken in Warwick by me Randall Holdon Assist. This above written will was proved according to Law before the Town Councill the 13th of the ninth month 1710:

The above written evidence with the above written probation was Entered and Recorded the 15th of the 9th month 1710 by me John Anthony Town Cleerke. Whereas my Husband Samuel Wilbur did in this within written will after my decease Give and bequeath all his housings and Land situate in Portsmouth on Rhode Island within mentioned unto my son John Wilbur and his heirs fforever male or female And if my said son John Wilbur should decease without issue that then the said Lands and housings to be equally devided between his three younger sisters or to whom or which of them that shall be then surviving: now, I the within named Hannah Wilbur being widow and executrix unto my within named deceased Husband, Samuel Wilbur do ffor me my heirs and Assigns and for every of us hereby ffreely and ffully Confirm the said Gift unto the survivors of my said three youngest Daughters and their heirs and Assigns forever equally according to this my said Husbands Last Will and Testament to be possest by them after my decease abovesaid, In Witness Whereof, I the said Hannah Wilbur have hereunto sett my hand and seal the Thirteenth day of the Twelfth month called February in the year of the Lord one Thousand seven hundred and Eleven 1711/12 Signed sealed and delivered Hanna Wilbur Seal In presence off Roger Burrington The above named Hannah Wilbur per John Anthony personally Appeared the day and year Last above written and acknowledged the above written instrument to be her voluntary Act and Deed before me, George Brownell, Assistant.

The above written is a true copie of the originall Entered and Recorded the 14th of the 12th month 1711/12 by me John Anthony Town Cleerke.^[5]

Children

Samuel and Hannah Wilbur had six known children:

1. Abigail married in 1666 Caleb Arnold-19, the son of Benedict Arnold-40
2. Hannah married Latham Clarke-5387
3. John
4. Elizabeth married Morris Freelove-43
5. Mary married Samuel Forman-405
6. Rebecca married William Browning-1503

Abigail and Hannah , both born in Boston in 1645, were the first female Wilbores born in Colonial America.

John , the only male child of Samuel, Jr. and Hannah, born in Rhode Island in 1652, was the first male Wilbore born in Colonial America; however, it is unknown if he ever had children to carry on the family name.

Otherwise, the progenitor of the Wilbores in America would be Joseph, the second child of William .

Notes

It appears that John, Samuel's only son and Executor of his will, died sometime prior to May 11, 1711, and had no children, as evidenced by the following:

We, Captain Caleb Arnold and Abigail Arnold (sister of John Wilbur), Samuel Clarke (nephew of John Wilbur), Samuel Browning (nephew of John Wilbur), Samuel Forman and Mary Forman (sister of John Wilbur), Morris Freelove and Elizabeth Freelove, his wife (and sister of John Wilbur), (as heirs of our brother & uncle, John Wilbur, of Portsmouth), for money to Thomas Hazard 2 tracts of land bounded by a driftway, (illegible) Thomas Hazard, now in possession of John Gould; the other parcel {illegible} Acres bounded on {illegible} Samuel Sweet, Jahleel Brenton, both tracts containing 22 Acres. Signed or by mark: Caleb, Abigail, Samll C, Samuel, Samuel, Mary, Morris, Elizab. Above named Capt. Caleb Arnold, Abigaill Arnold, Samuell Clarke, Browning, Samuel For, & Elizabeth. Signed, sealed, and delivered on May 11, 1711, in the presence of Thomas Brownell, Joseph Brownell, and John Anthony. ^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620–1633, Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society (1995). ISBN 978-0-88082-120-9. OCLC 42469253, p. 1988.
2. ↑ "Charter of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations". The Laws of Nature and Nature's God. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
3. ↑ John Osborne Austin, Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island, Albany, New York: J. Munsell's Sons 1887. ISBN 978-0-8063-0006-1, p. 227
4. ↑ Benjamin Franklin Wilbour, "The English Ancestry of Samuel Wilbore, of Boston, and William Wilbore, of Portsmouth, R.I." in New England Historical and Genealogical Register 113 (April 1959): 94–104; specifically p 101. ISBN 0-7884-0293-5.
5. ↑ Probate Records, Portsmouth, Rhode Island
6. ↑ North Kingstown Land Evidence, Book 2, pages 17-18. Rhode Island Genealogical Register, The Rhode Island Genealogical Research Institute.

See also:

• Elisha Stephen Arnold, The Arnold Memorial: William Arnold of Providence and Pawtuxet, 1587–1675, and a genealogy of his descendants, Rutland, VT: Tuttle Publishing Company (1935). OCLC 6882845.

• Samuel Hopkins Emery, History of Taunton, Massachusetts: From Its Settlement to the Present, Syracuse, New York: D. Mason & Company, 1893

• Wikipedia: Taunton, Massachusetts

• Wikipedia: Samuel Wilbur Jr. (Accessed 7 Mar 2021).

• Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island (under John Porter, p. 155.)