Note: The following is a section of a family history compiled by Herbert Armstrong Poole between 1905 & 1960, transcribed by AAA Maitland 1998. Subject numbers are HAP's originals. HAP's page divisions are shown: after subject page numbers are complete document page numbers in brackets and issue dates. The original text had generations indented in turn: here, generation numbers are added to each individual: the children of the title subject are "1/--". Subject 696. P1 (383) 7/7/48 SAMUEL WILDBORE. Four genealogies of this man are on file at the New England Historical & Genealogical Society of Boston, the most complete being "The Wildbores in America", 2nd edition, by John Reid Wilbor and Benjamin Franklin Wilbour, 1931, 5 volumes. I have used the dates in this genealogy. I have quoted also from a genealogy by John R. Wilbor, St Paul, Minn., 1907, and another by Asa Wilbor of Boston, 1871. Information of the allied families seems best in the Benjamin Franklin Wilbour of Little Compton, genealogy. Eight different ways of spelling the name Wildbore or Wilbur, are given, but no matter how spelled, they are of the same family. Samuel Wildbore, said to have been born in 1585, came to Boston not later than 1633, and was admitted to the First Church of Boston on December 1/1633. His house was on the neck of land between the island and the mainland, now called Washington St. and later Milk Street. In 1634 Samuel and others bought the Boston Common for the town, from William Blackstone whose ownership was acknowledged by an entry in the Town Records as early as 1633 by which it was agreed that William Blackstone shall have 50 acres set off to him near his house in Boston. The Town Records have the following statement in reference to Samuel Wildbore's share in the purchase of the Common. "The 10th day of the 9th month 1654: Item, Edmund Quinsey, Samuel Wildbore, William Baulston, Edward Hutchinson the elder, and William Cheesborough, constable, shall make and assess all the rates, viz, a rate of œ30 to William Blackstone". Blackstone sold the whole parcel of land except 6 acres immediately adjoining his house. On August 6/1635, Samuel gave œ10 towards a free school, the first in America. Governor Winthrop gave a like amount, and none other gifts exceeded this amount. Samuel also had a piece of land on Essex St., near where the Touraine Hotel now stands. Samuel married in 1620, at Sibley Hedringham, England, Ann Smith. Most genealogies wrongly give her name as Ann Bradford. Samuel was made freeman on March 4/1634. He bought much property in Taunton and likewise possessed considerable holdings in Boston, evidently dividing his place of residence between the two places. While in Taunton, he with others, embraced the "dangerous doctrines" as they were then called, of Cotton and Wheelwright, for which in 1637 he was banished from the Massachusetts Colony. Acting upon the advice of Roger Williams, he and seventeen others fled to Providence, R.I., where they purchased the island of Aquidnec, (now Rhode Island) from the Naragansett Indians, and early in 1638 moved his family there and formed a colony on March 7/1638. Full details of the purchase and history of this action is contained in the Genealogies quoted, but too long to insert here. He did not remain in Rhode Island for long, and returned to Boston in 1645 and built the first iron furnace in New England at Taunton, now Raynham, on the main road from Tilicut to Taunton. He was clerk of the town board in 1638, Constable in 1639, Sergeant in 1644. He married, 2nd, before November 29/1645, Elizabeth Lechford, widow of Thomas Lechford. Date of his second marriage and date of death of his first wife Ann are not known. Samuel died July 24/1656. After his death Elizabeth married, 2nd, on December 20/1656, Henry Bishop who died in 1664: Elizabeth died in 1665. Samuel was a man of wealth and he was of very respectable standing in society, exerting a wide influence in each of the places he dwelt. His will was dated April 30/1656. Issue:- (by his first wife Ann Smith) 1. Samuel Wilbor. Born in 1614, died 1697. He lived in Boston and Portsmouth. He married Hannah Porter, daughter of John and Margaret (Odding) Porter who died April 6/1722. They had six children. Subject 696 P2 (384) 2. Joseph Wilbor. Died August 27/1691. Lived in Taunton. He married Elizabeth Farwell, who died November 9/1670. One child. 3. William Wilbor. Born 1630, died 1710. Lived at Portsmouth and Tiverton, He married in 1653, Martha -----. See subject 348 for issue and further particulars. 4. Shadrach Wilbor, Born 1632, died February 1697-8. He married, 1st, Mary Dean who died March 17/1691. 2nd, Hannah (Bass) Paine, died 1696.