Individual Details

FamilySearch ID 9MKT-B8D
William Sabin, perhaps christened 11 Oct 1609 in Titchfield, Hampshire, England, immigrated to America 1639/40 with his wife, Mary Wright, who he married about 1639. (note - others state there is no source for his wife's name. - a deed of William's states his father-in-law was Richard Wright but this indicates a relationship of stepfather in this time period and seems to suggest a misunderstaning by earlier researchers) He settled in Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts. He was a miller and the progenitor of the Sabin family in America and Canada. His Baptism may be recorded in St. Peter's Parish, Titchfield, England "Oct 1609 bapt. William Sabin the XI daye,"55
His Parents are not listed in the baptismal record, but it is possible he was the son of Richard Sabine & Mary Bushe who had married 29 Oct 1608.
In spite of the fact he is often described as "Hugenot" this is extremely doubtful as the Sabines of Tichfield were strongly Puritan. A tax record for Titchfield in 1525 shows that a foreigner, a Frenchman, was assessed twice as much and charged three times the tax, as the local men. A John Sabbyn of Titchfield was taxed as his fellow Englishmen.
Also note that his "death" date may be the burial date - see Rehoboth records.

A Deed of William Sabin to Anthony Perry states the relationship of Richard Wright as his "father-in-law". It would be possible for Richard to be BOTH the stepfather and the father-in-law of William Sabin if William married Richard Wright's daughter by a previous marriage - she would have been a stepsister, not a half sister, and therefore no kin. I have other instances of this occuring when there were second marriages and both parties had children of marriageable age - there just weren't a lot of people around in that time perios.
"To all people to whom this present writing shall come, William Sabin of Rehoboth within the Collonie of New Plymouth in New England husbandman sendeth greeting; Whereas I the said William Sabin by my deed of bargain and sale bearing date the eighteenth day of September in the year of our lord one thousand six hundred fifty and foure for the consideration therein mentioned did seek and absolutely bargain sell and enfeof and confirm unton Anthony Perrey of Rehoboth aforesaid husbandman; and to his heirs and assigns forever one moyety or half she of sixteen acres of salt meddow or marsh in Rehoboth aforesaid at a place called and knowne by the name of the hundred acres tongue, be the same more or less which said moyety I the said William Sabine bought with other lands of my father-in-law Richard Wright; and is bounded on the east by the medow of Phillip Walker, as it is possessed by the said Anthony Perrey, and his assigns, and one moyety or half she of such acres of fresh meddoe be it more or less in Rehoboth aforesaid at a place commonly called bushy meadow, scituate lying wand being between the meddoe of the chilren of Allexander Wichester, deceased, on the south and the meddow of Phillip Walker on the north and the sixth lott once belonging to the said Richard Wright on the north and of the place commonly called the Great Plaine in Rehoboth aforesaid consisting of thiry acres be it more or less and moyety or half she of the secdivision lott belonging formerly to the said Wright consisting of fourscore acres be it more or less and as the same is now by the free and full consent and agreement of me the said William Sabine possessed by the said Anthony Perrey and his assignes it is bounded on the west by the land of John Titus and of me the said William Sabin and of Esther Hall widdow and on the south by the pound estated of Commonage, in the township of Rebobeth aforesaid with the privileges right s and emunities whatsoever thereunto belonging all aforementioned premises I the said William Sabine bought of my said father-in-law Richard Wright to have and to hold, etc.
signed; William Sabine
Witness: Daniel Smith, Richard Leonard, Nathanial Paine, & Nicholas Peck

The following narratives appear to have been taken at least in part from The Sabin Family of America, Four Generations, by Rev. Anson Titus, Jr. Published at Weymouth, MA, 1882.

From another contributor: "William appeared at the founding of Rehoboth, MA, in 1643. He was a Huguenot who came to the USA from Wales or the south of England after earlier fleeing France [highly doubtful!]. He was a man of considerable culture, and extensive wealth. He was one of the leading spirits of early Rehoboth in schools, church,and civic affairs, and was well known for providing assistance to persons and families who had suffered the ravages of Indian raids."

"William Sabin was one of the founders of Rehoboth along with his father-in-law Richard Wright and his two brothers-in-law, in 1644. [Note: others have interpreted that William was a step-son of Richard Wright who had several married daughters but no sons - the term "in law" meaning something very different in the 1600's]
He was a Selectman, Grand Juryman, Deputy from Rehoboth to Plymouth Court."
BIOGRAPHY: William Sabin , the first progenitor, appeared in the town of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, at the organization of the town in 1643. When he came to America is not known, but tradition says he came from Wales or the south of England, where he had found refuge in his flight from France. He was Huguenot [He was an English Puritan, not a Hugenot!], and was a man of considerable culture; and possessing wealth, as is shown in the account of his estate and gifts for the relieving of the wants of those who suffered from the ravages of the Indians. He was one of the leading spirits of Rehoboth in schools, church, and affairs at Plymouth. Who his first wife was we do not know, but she died shortly after 1660. He married (2) Martha Allen who was born 11 Dec 1641, a twin sister of Mary, daughter of James and Anna Allen of Medfield, of 22 Dec 1663. Martha was a sister of Nathanial and Joseph Allen, who married daughters by the former wife. He died about 1687. Made his will 4 Jun 1685. The original will is on file in Boston, Massachusetts. In it are mentioned 16 of his 20 children."
By Ref. Anson Titus, Jr., as found in New England Historical & Genealogical Register.

Children, as named in The Sabin Family of America:
(by the first unknown wife)
1. Samuel
2. Elizabeth b. about 1642 - married 1st Robert Millard, 24 Nov 1663, married 2nd Samuel Howard, d. 7 Feb 1717
3. Joseph, b. Rehoboth as were all the rest of the children, 24 May 1645
4. Benjamin, b. 3 May 1646
5. Nehemiah, b. 28 May 1647 (not in father's will of 1685; killed by Indiana in June 1677)
6. Experience, b. 8 Jun 1648. Married Samuel Bullin, 20 Aug 1672. Died without issue, 14 Jun 1728.
7. Mary/Mercy - b. 23 May 1652. Married Nathaniel Allen. Died 27 Feb 1674, leaving a son, Samuel. She was deceased when her father wrote his will, 1685, but both Nathaniel (who owed William Sabin money), and her son are named.
8. Abigail, b. 8 Sep 1653. Married Joseph Bullin, 15 Mar 1675. died without issue, 1 May 1721.
9. Hannah, b. 22 Oct 1654. Married Joseph Allen of Medfield, 10 Nov 1673. Removed to Pomfret, CT, 12 children
10. Patience, b. Dec, 1655.
11. Jeremiah, b. 24 Jan 1657. Also suggested to have been the Jonathan in the Narraganset Expedition of 1676. ??? (my thought - he could died young! Not in father's will of 1685.)
12. Sarah, b. 27 Jul 1660 (died before 1677 when 2nd Sarah born)
Children by Martha Allen:
13. James, b. 1 Jan 1664/5
14. John, b. 27 Aug 1666
15. Hezekiah, b. 3 apr 1669, d. 1693
16. Noah, b. 1 Mar 1671, d. 1694
17. Mehitable, b. 15 May 1673. Married Joseph Bucklin, 30 Jul 1691. Died 27 Sep 1751. Joseph died 28 Jul 1729.
18. Mary, b. 8 Sep 1675. Married Nathaniel Cooper, 8 Dec 1696
19. Sarah, b. 16 Feb 1677
20. Margaret, b. 30 Apr 1680. Died 10 Jul 1697.

From FindAGrave #29920669
His date of birth posted was [perhaps] his christening date. He was [perhaps] the son of Samuel (or Richard) Sabin & Mary Bushe Sabin. William's 1st wife (1639) was daughter of Richard Wright [this appears to be wrong as described above]. Both Richard and William were co-founders of Rehoboth, MA.
The Sabins were members of the Weymouth Church in 1642.
William was a miller by trade and owned land in what is now Seekonk, MA. He was made a freeman of Rehoboth on June 3, 1657. He contributed a large sum of money to help establish the first free public school in America, 1643. On June 6, 1649 he was presented to court for shorting some customers on corn he had milled for them. He was cleared by the jury.
William was a man of considerable culture and possessing wealth as is shown by an account of his estate & gifts for the relieving of the wants of those who suffered from the ravages of the Indians. He could read & write, as proved by his large collection of books. His estate was worth 53 pounds at the time Rehoboth was settled.
With his first wife, ?Mary?, they had 12 children. She died in 1663 so William then married (1663) Martha Allen (our ancestor). Two of Martha's brothers married 2 of Williams daughters from his first marriage. Martha and William went on to have 8 more children.
William was the jury foreman that convicted of murder the 3 Indians whose hanging in June of 1675 initiated the beginning of King Phillip's War. The Indians burned William's mill in March 1676 and killed his 29 yr. old son, Nehemiah the following June.
To date, William is known as the progenitor of the Sabin family in America and Canada with a database of over 35,000 names.

Massachusetts Vital Records Database at American Ancestors:
July 1644 - 3rd day of the (5th month). Names on the 1st Covenant, Rehoboth, included William Sabin.
9th day of 4th Month (June) 1645. #15 - William Sabin
Names on the register of land owners in the town of Rehoboth, 1645, included William Sabin
1658 List of Freeman of Rehoboth includes William Sabin.
May 26, 1668. Lots drawn for meadow lands in the North Purchase included William Sabin

William Sabin of Rehoboth was one of the overseers of the will of Robert Martin, of Rehoboth, dated 6th day, 3rd month, 1660.

Phillip's War Skirmish known as Perces Fight - 52 Englishmen and 11 Indians killed.
Names of those who advanced money for the support of the War include
William Sabin: 15.5.8
Widow Sabin: 1.7.6
Joseph Sabin 1.17.0
Samuel Sabin: 4.14.2
Benjamin Sabin 2.0.6
A Jonathan Sabin listed as having gone out in the Narragansett Expedition but no Jonathan appears in the will of William or in the births of his children.

15 Jul 1687. At Boston, Suffolk Co, the will of William Sabin presented. Proved. Administration given to Mary Sabin and James Sabin, Executors as named in the will. Probate granted 20 Jul 1687.
4 Jun 1685. Will of William Sabin of towne of Rehobeth in the government of New Plymouth in New England. Beloved wife to have dwelling hour and half of home lot, etc. & made provisions in case she remarries. Eldest son Samuel, half of 11 acres in the 2nd division. To sone Joseph an acre of meadow and 10 acres of land now surveying to him. To son Benjamin the other half of the land in the 2nd division. To son James, half of the home lot. To sone John the mill lott, etc. To son Hezekiah, 20 acres & 2 acres of salt marsh, etc. To son Noah, lot of land on the Ragged Plaine, etc. Four sons, James, John, Hezekiah & Noah to have commaged equally divided. To my three daughters, Experience, Abigale and Hannah, 3 #'s each to be paid by Nathaniel Allen that is due me. To my grandchild Samuel Allen, 6# of debt due me from Nathaniel Allen. To my Daughters Elizabeth & Patience each a cow. To my four youngest daughters, Mehitabell, Mary, Sarah & Margarett, 5# each at their marriage. If my wife marries she shall assign up the house, barne & lands to son James. Wife & James to be Executors. Sons Samuell & Benjamin to be Overseers. Signed: Wm. Sabin in the presence of Thomas Cooper, William Carpenter.
Inventory taken 17 Feb 1687.


In 1678, Rehoboth was part of Plymouth Colony, which did not create counties until 1685. After the 1686-1688 Dominion of New England debacle, all Colonies returned to self-government, but had to renew their charter's. Plymouth Colony, was denied a Royal Charter in 1691, disbanded, and made part of Massachusetts Colony, 1692.

The book Mayflower Deeds and Probates, 1600-1850, cites a deed Richard Wright to son in law W. Sabine, 2 Dec 1672 (Plymouth Colony Deeds 3:2:262)

Birth	1609
Christen	11 Oct 1609	Tichfield, Hampshire, England
Marriage	22 Dec 1663	Martha Allen
Death	9 Feb 1686/87	Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts
Marriage		England - Wright

Spouse	Wright ( - )
Child	Samuel Sabin (1640 - )
Child	Elizabeth Sabin (1642 - 1717)
Child	Joseph Sabin (1645 - )
Child	Benjamin Sabin (1646 - )
Child	Nehemiah Sabin (1647 - 1677)
Child	Experience Sabin (1648 - 1728)
Child	Mary/Marcy Sabin (1652 - 1674)
Child	Abigail Sabin (1653 - 1721)
Child	HANNAH Sabin (1654 - 1730)
Child	Patience Sabin (1655 - )
Child	Jeremiah Sabin (1657 - )
Child	Sarah Sabin (1660 - 1677)

Spouse	Martha Allen (1641 - 1734)
Child	James Sabin (1664 - )
Child	John Sabin (1666 - )
Child	Hezekiah Sabin (1669 - 1693)
Child	Noah Sabin (1671 - 1694)
Child	Mehitable Sabin (1673 - 1751)
Child	Mary Sabin (1675 - )
Child	Sarah Sabin (1677 - )
Child	Margaret Sabin (1680 - 1697)