Samuel Whidden was born in 1643 in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He was taxed in 1713. He signed a will on 3 Mar 1713/14. He died about 1714 in Greenland, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire as his widow was taxed in 1715/6. His estate was probated on 7 May 1718. He was a bricklayer/mason.

The surname Whitton, Whitten, or Whiddon, later Whiton, dates back to the earliest periods of recorded history in England. It is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and was derived from one of the several places that are called Whitton. It is of fairly common usage in England, and was undoubtedly adopted by several families as their surname as early as the twelfth century. The Anglo-Saxon form is "Hwita run", meaning the "White Farm" or hamlet. Hwita was also an Anglo-Saxon word meaning light or fair and it is possible that the name means Hwita's farm or estate. It is interesting to note that the name is still pronounced as though the "H" were the first letter, even though this letter is now moved to the second place.

The first known ancestor of this Whitten Family in America was Samuel Whidden, a bricklayer and mason of Portsmouth and Greenland, NH. He was first known of in Portsmouth as early as June 24, 1662. In January of 1663/4 he was said to be "aged 20". He bought from Anthony Ellins, on Jan 27, 1669, the adjacent land that Ellins had sold to Nathaniel Partridge. Mr. Whidden sold this in 1672 and bought more from Mr. Ellins in 1673, selling again in 1680. In 1682 he bought from George Huntress land and buildings at or near Greenland.

He married Mary, daughter of John and Alice Cate, as she appears as his wife in August 1680 and later as his widow. His will was dated Mar 3, 1713/4 and probated May 7, 1718. He mentions wife Mary, and all of his children but the first two. They were Thomas (no record calls him a son) and Samuel. On Feb 7, 1687/8 Samuel and Thomas Whidden of Greenland were bound to the peace by Ludovick Fowler. 

He was married to Mary Cate about 1673 in New Hampshire.

Mary Cate was born about 1651 in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. She was taxed in 1715/16. She died after 1716 in Greenland, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. Children were:

i. Samuel Whidden Jr. was born after 1674. He died before 3 Mar 1713/14.
ii. Thomas Whidden was born after 1674.
iii. Ens. John Whidden was born after 1674.
iv. Capt. James Whidden was born after 1674. He was also known as James Whitten. He married Mary Philbrook on 18 Feb 1713/14 in Greenland, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.
v. Jane Whidden was born after 1674 in Greenland, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. She died after Mar 1744 in Exeter, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.
vi. Alice Whidden was born after 1674.
vii. Sarah Whidden was born after 1674. She died after 1757.
viii. Mary Whidden was born after 1674.
ix. Margaret Whidden was born after 1674. She was baptized on 22 Sep 1695 in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.
x. Elizabeth Whidden.
xi. Abigail Whidden.