Samuel Webber was born in 1656 in York, York Co., Province of Maine, Massachusetts where he also died in Oct 1716. He was a millwright.

Samuel Webber was a millwright. In 1690 he commanded the Cape Neddick, Maine garrison. In 1692, in a deposition, he testified to the "great strength" of the Reverend George Burroughs at the latter's witchcraft trial at Salem, Massachusetts (Ancestry of Robert McIntire, p. 195).

The will of Samuel Webber, written on 5 May 1716 "being very sick & weak of body & the time drawing near," gives to his wife Deborah "all my estate real & personal after my decease to her own proper use benifit & behalfe during her widdowhood, & if after my decese she doth not marry then during her Naturall life" and after her death to be equally divided among his children. All children are named except Bathsheba (Maine Wills, pp. 191-192).

The will of Deborah Webber, written 23 April 1737 "being old and weak and infirm in body but of perfect mind and memory," gives all surviving children "Five Shilling in Money," except "to my well beloved daughter Mary Sayward wife of Joseph Sayward....all my Household Goods Chattels Debts ready Money Plate Jewels Rings Utensils Brass Pewter Copper Bedding Houses Cows Oxen Sheep Hoggs and all other things to me belonging." She names her grandson Jonathan Sayward as executor. "Barsheba who is now in Canada" was named as one of the children to receive the "Five Shilling in Money" (Maine Wills, pp. 545-546).

The Court Records of York County, Maine contain several items involving the family of Samuel Webber (Province and Court Records of Maine, Volume 5). In the following paragraphs, numbers in (parens) refer to page numbers in this source. On 1 July 1712, Deberah Webber was witness against Acquilla Hains "for Cursing & Swareing & blaspheming the name of God" (129). On 3 January 1715/6, "Wee present Benjamin Webber & Mehittable Allen now his wife both of york for fornication...they owning to the fact" (173). See son Benjamin below for outcome of this case. In the court session of 2 July 1717 (197), Deberoh Webber Senior was charged with being drunk. Also, a Thomas Webber was charged with "not frequenting the publick Worship of God." In the court session of 1 October 1717 (201), "Whereas Deberoh Webber Senior was presented to the Last Court for being Drunk, And Thomas Webber for not frequenting the Publick Worship of God, And being all apprehended by the Constable, but not Appearing....Answer for their Contempt as the Severall Crimes for which they Stand presented...." [Compilers note: I can not determine the final outcome of these cases].

In the court session of 7 January 1717/8 (204), one Jacob Perkins was accused of being the father of "a bastard Child begotten on the body of Deberah Webber, She not being yet Delivered." In the court session 1 July 1718 (206-207), Jacob Perkins denies the fatherhood of Deberoh Webber's child. "Joseph Sayward....Appeared And Acknowledged himself bound & Obliged in a bond of fifty pounds that the Town of York shall not be Charged with the Maintainance of said Child, Its therefore Considerd by the Court that the said Jacob Perkins be Acquitted paying fees of Court 20 shillings." [Compiler's note: Joseph Sayward is the husband of Mary Webber, oldest sister of Deborah]. In the same court session (208), "Deberoh Webber Junior Appearing to answer her presentment for haveing a bastard child, Its Considered by the Court that She recieve Ten Stripes on her naked back at the post & pay fees of Court shillings, or pay a fine of Thirty Shillings to the King & fees as aforesd & to Stand Comitted." [Compiler's note: I can not determine if Deborah took the ten stripes or the Thirty Shilling fine]. 

He was married to Deborah Littlefield in 1680 in Falmouth, York Co., Province of Maine, Massachusetts.

Deborah Littlefield was born about 1663 in Wells, York Co., Province of Maine, Massachusetts. She signed the following will on 23 Apr 1737.

In the Name of God Amen. The twenty third Day of April Anno Domini 1737. I Deborah Webber of York in the County of York in New England Widow being old and weak and infirm in Body but of perfect Mind and Memory, Thanks be given unto God. Therefore calling unto Mind the Mortality of my Body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament that is to Say, principally and first of all, I give and recommend my Soul into the Hands of God that gave it, and my Body I recomend to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the Discretion of my Executor, Nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I Shall receive the Same again by the mighty Power of God; And as touching Such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life, I give demise and dispose of the Same in the following Manner and Form.

Imprimis. I give and bequeath to my well beloved Children vizt Iohn Webber Benjamin Webber Waitstil Webber, Joseph Webber, Deborah Westcoat Wife of Andrew Westcoat (Barsheba who is now in Canada) Dorcas Baker Wife of Iohn Baker all of York aforesd to each of them Five Shilling in Money.

Item I give to my well beloved Daughter Mary Sayward Wife of Ioseph Sayward of York aforesd Gentn all my Household Goods Chattels Debts ready Money Plate Jewels Rings Utensils Brass Pewter Copper Bedding Houses Cows Oxen Sheep Hoggs and all other things to me belonging and which I may claim as in Right my own of what kind Nature quality and Condition ye Same may be or are and in what place or Places soeuer the Same may be Shall or may be found as well in my own Custody or Possession as in the Possession Hands Power and Custody of any other Person or persons whatsoever.

Item. I do Constitute make and ordain my trusty & well beloved Grandson Ionathan Sayward of York in the County aforesd Gentn to be my Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament. And I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all and every other former Testaments Wills Legacys and Bequests and Executors by me in any Ways before named Willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand and Seal ye Day and Year herein before written.

her
Signed Sealed published
pronounced & declared Deborah ?? Webber (Seal)
by the Sd Debo Webber
as her last Will & Testa- mark
ment in ye Presence of
us ye Subscribers
Ioseph Plaisted
Abraham Nowell
Sarah Sayward


Probated 19 May 1747.

She died sometime in between. Children were:

i. Deacon Samuel Webber.
ii. John Webber  was born about 1683 in York, York Co., Province of Maine, Massachusetts. He died in 1748 in Wells, York Co., Province of Maine, Massachusetts. He was a millman.

John Webber had been a partner with his brothers in various enterprises. He received a town grant in York in 1702, and subsequently received a portion of his father's estate at Bald Head where he lived all his life. In 1730, he conveyed his interest in the Arrowsic lands, in 1747, they sold part of their homestead at Bald Head.

iii. Thomas Webber was born on 2 Feb 1684/85 in Parkers Island, Kennebec, Washington Co., Province of Maine, Massachusetts. He died on 26 Feb 1722/23.

Thomas Webber received Cape Neddick lands from his parents in 1716.

iv. Benjamin Webber  was born on 2 Jun 1690 in Wells, York Co., Province of Maine, Massachusetts. He was a millwright. 

Benjamin Webber recorded marriage intentions at York, ME, 3 Feb 1738, "to satisfie such person as are dissatisfied and think he is not married"
(Ancestry of Robert McIntire, p. 195). [Compiler's note: This item appears to concern his second marriage].
In the York County, Province of Maine Court of General Sessions on 3 January 1715, "Wee present Benjamin Webber & Mehittable Allen now his wife both of york for fornication....they owing the fact. Its Considered by the Court that they recieve Seven Stripes apiece on their naked backs at the post & pay fees of Court 7 Shillings or pay a fine of Thirty Shillings apiece to his Majesty & fees of Court as aforesd & Stand Committed" 

(Province and Court Records of Maine, volume 5, p. 173). [Compiler's note: I can not determine if they took the seven lashes or paid the thirty shillings].
"Young married persons, whose courtship had been carried on under the convenient and comfortable New England `bundling' device, and had anticipated events unwisely, found themselves in the hands of the law, when their first child appeared in advance of the physiological period of gestation. After labor was safely over both of them were haled into Court and ordered to the whipping post to receive a dozen stripes each at the hands of the public executioner. It is probable that many cases of premature delivery were unjustly punished"
(Charles Edward Banks. History of York, Maine, Volume II, page 239).
From an article "The Truth about Bundling," Yankee Magazine, September 1991, page 12: "Bundling, an old custom permitting unmarried men and women to court, fully clothed, in bed. What is the use of sitting up all night and burning out fire and lights, when you could just as well get under cover and keep warm. It was respectable enough in the early history of New England when religion was an all-powerful influence on behavior. But in succeeding generations, the innocent practice was corrupted producing an amazing number of sturdy brats. About 1785, unmarried women blushed to read lines like these:

She'll sometimes say when she lies down,
She can't be cumbered with a gown,
And that the weather is so warm,
To take it off can be no harm...

The result was such a general storm of banter and ridicule that no girl had the courage to stand against it and as the ministers continued to thunder against bundling, the practice finally was killed off.

v. Deborah Webber  was born on 2 Jun 1695 in Gloucester, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She died on 6 Jul 1698 in Gloucester, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She was also known as Deborah Webbe.
vi. Mary Webber was born about 1697. She died on 1 Aug 1759.
vii. Joseph Webber was born about 1697. He died before 1753.
viii. Waitstill Webber was born on 18 Jan 1697/98 in Gloucester, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He died in 1775 in Harpswell, Cumberland Co., Province of Maine, Massachusetts. He was also known as Waitstill Webbe.
ix. Patience Webber was born on 18 Jan 1697/98 in Gloucester, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She died on 18 Feb 1697/98 in Gloucester, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She was also known as Patience Webbe. She was Waitstill's twin.
x. Deborah Webber.
xi. Dorcas Webber was born about 1699.
xii. Bathsheba Webber was born in 1702 in York, York Co., Province of Maine, Massachusetts. She was baptized in 1714 in Québec, Québec, Canada.

 She was captured and taken to Canada by Indians where she stayed and married a Frenchman, Joseph Saleur.