In 1636, a major theological rift arose in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, often called the “Antinomian Controversy.” 8X Great Grandfather *SAMUEL WILBORE0 (ca. 1595 – 1656) became attracted to the preaching of the dissident ministers, JOHN WHEELWRIGHT0 and ANNE HUTCHINSON0, and signed a petition (“Wheelright Petition”) in support of WHEELWRIGHT0. In so doing, he and many others were disarmed and dismissed from the Boston church. Following the banishment of these two dissidents from the Massachusetts Colony, on November 20, 1637, scores of their followers including *SAMUEL WILBORE0 (ca. 1595 – 1656) were ordered to deliver up all guns, pistols, swords, powder, and shot, and were ordered out of the colony as well. 12 Before leaving the Massachusetts Bay Colony, a dissident group of some of the best men of Boston including 8X Great Grandfather *SAMUEL WILBORE0 (ca. 1595 – 1656) signed what is sometimes called the “Portsmouth Compact” on March 7, 1638. *SAMUEL WILBORE0’s (ca. 1595 – 1656) signature was sixth on the list of twenty-three to sign the solemn compact. The compact was a contract to establish a non- sectarian civil government upon the universal consent of the inhabitants with a Christian focus. Planning initially to settle in Dutch New Netherland (New York), the dissident group was persuaded by ROGER WILLIAMS0 to purchase land () from the Narragansett Indians on Narragansett Bay. This they did, settling on the north east end of Aquidneck Island and establishing the settlement called Pocasset (Portsmouth) early in 1638. In 1639 they changed the name to Portsmouth (). 13 8X Great Grandfather *SAMUEL WILBORE0 (ca. 1595 – 1656) settled in Portsmouth (Rhode Island) by May, 1638. He was one of the founding settlers of Portsmouth in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. In June, 1638 he was made “Clerk” of the Portsmouth Town Board or Trained Band (Militia). In January, 1639 he was appointed “Constable.” In February, 1639 he was allotted about two acres of land in the Great Cove. In May, 1639 8X Great Grandfather *SAMUEL WILBORE0 (ca. 1595 – 1656) had a change of heart and repudiated his signature to the “Wheelright Petition,” and was thereafter allowed to return to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In 1641 he became a “Freeman” of Portsmouth (Rhode Island), and in 1644 was selected as “Sergeant” probably of the Train Band (Militia) there. About 1644, 8X Great Grandmother *ANN SMITH WILBORE0 (1592/97 – before 1645) died. About 1645 8X Great Grandfather *SAMUEL WILBORE0 (ca. 1595 – 1656) married his second wife, ELIZABETH (?) LECHFORD WILBORE (BISHOP)0 (ca. 1600 – after 1657), widow of THOMAS LECHFORD0, probably in Boston, Massachusetts. For, on November 29, 1645 they were received into the Boston church. In May, 1648 he was called back to Taunton, Massachusetts within the Plymouth Colony where he decided to reside but still owned property in Boston and Portsmouth (Rhode Island). He built an iron furnace at Taunton, Massachusetts, the first in New England. 8X Great Grandfather *SAMUEL WILBORE0 (ca. 1595 – 1656) wrote his Last Will on April 30, 1656 in Taunton, Massachusetts but his death on September Volume VIII: *HANCOCK - *HORR - *WIGHT - *POTTER GENEALOGY Page 39