Information from Ancestry.com (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~bdoyle795/2317.htm)

She was one of the few single women who came on the Pilgrim ships, the females on these being mostly either married women, or adolescent children. In the 1623 Plymouth land division, Christian Penn received one acre as a passenger on the Anne in 1623. Perhaps Christian knew when she came that she was soon to become the third wife of Francis Eaton. It looks as though her marriage to him had been arranged beforehand by letter. Her elderly husband did not long survive his third marriage and his young widow was married in 1634 to Francis Billington. This was probably a love-match, otherwise Christian would not have been willing to become a member of the disgraced and ostracised Billington family. Sorrows thickened around this pair who had eight children they could not support. That Christian should have been obliged to see her children "bound out" into unsympathetic families must have been an overwhelming trial.

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"Anne" & "Little James" The vessels parted company at sea; Pilgrim Ship the "ANNE" arrived Plymouth, New England in the latter part of June or July 1623, and Pilgrim Ship the "LITTLE JAMES" some week or ten days later; bringing new settlers along with many of the wives and children that had been left behind in Leiden, South Holland when Pilgrim Ship the "MAYFLOWER" departed in 1620. A lot of these people aboard these ships are the rest of the families of persons already in the Colony.

CHRISTIAN PENN is listed as one of the passengers.

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"Anne" & "Little James" The vessels parted company at sea; Pilgrim Ship the "ANNE" arrived Plymouth, New England in the latter part of June or July 1623, and Pilgrim Ship the "LITTLE JAMES" some week or ten days later; bringing new settlers along with many of the wives and children that had been left behind in Leiden, South Holland when Pilgrim Ship the "MAYFLOWER" departed in 1620. A lot of these people aboard these ships are the rest of the families of persons already in the Colony.

CHRISTIAN PENN is listed as one of the passengers.

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In July 1634, Francis married Christian Eaton, the widow of Mayflower passenger Francis Eaton who had died the previous year autumn. Christian brought three of her own children, and one step-child from her deceased husband's previous marriage, all under the age of 14. With Francis Billington, she had nine more children. They raised their family at Plymouth, and moved in their later years to Middleboro, where they both died in 1684.

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On the passenger list of the 'Anne' to Plymouth MA. She travelled with the Oldham family. Her maternal uncle George Penn from Birdham was already living in Plymouth MA.

They arrived at Plymouth in about 1624. Christiana was about 17 at that time.

My 8th great grand aunt.

Left home at 16. First marriage at 18. Second marriage at 27.

Married Francis Eaton who died in 1633 then married Francis Billington in 1634 There were at least 7 children from this marriage.

Francis Eaton was on the passenger list of the Mayflower.

There were 2 children from her first marriage - Rachel & Benjamin Eaton.

Descendant of Christian & Francis Billington was 20th President of the United States of America, James Abram Garfield.

(Can be traced from their youngest child, Mercy.)

Another descendant from their child Martha Billington is the film actor Richard Gere. (I have traced these descendants to confirm the facts). Mary Billigton is the ancestor of the Height family in Alberta Canada (in contact with them)

Christiana's uncle Giles was a sea captain based in Bristol. He probably arranged Christiana's voyage.

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Christian Penn - was born about 1606 in England and died Jul 1684 in Middleborough, Plymouth, MA . She was the daughter of George Penn. Christian married Francis Eaton in 1624/1625 in Plymouth, MA. Francis was born on 11 Sep 1596 in St. Thomas Parish, Bristol, England. He was the son of John Eaton and Dorothy Smith. He died on 18 Nov 1633 in Plymouth, MA .

Francis - Francis Eaton was one of the Mayflower Company and a carpenter. The following copyrighted information was found at:

http://members.aol.com/calebj/eaton.html Frances Eaton

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Christian Penn was also known as Christian Penn Eaton. She was born circa 1607 at England.1 She married Francis Eaton circa 1625 at Plymouth, Massachusetts. Christian Penn married Francis Billington, son of John Billington and Elinor (?), in July 1634 at Plymouth, Massachusetts.1,2 Christian Penn died circa 1684 at Middleboro, Massachusetts.1

Children of Christian Penn and Francis Billington:

• 1. Elizabeth Billington b. 10 Jul 1635, d. a 22 Mar 1709/10
• 2. Joseph Billington b. 1636
• 3. Martha Billington b. c 1638
• 4. Mary Billington+ b. c 1640, d. a 28 Jun 1717
• 5. Isaac Billington b. c 1644, d. 11 Dec 1709
• 6. (?) Billington b. s 1646, d. young
• 7. Rebecca Billington b. c 1647
• 8. Dorcas Billington b. c 1650
• 9. Mercy Billington b. 25 Feb 1651/52

Citations

1. [S39] Customer pedigree, World Family Tree Vol. 3, Ed. 1.

2. [S128] Unknown author, STB Genealogical Register of Plymouth Families - FIX, p. 28.

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BILLINGTON, FRANCIS, son of John, came with his father in the Mayflower, 1620, and m. Christian (Penn) Eaton, widow of Francis Eaton, 1634, by whom he had Martha, m. Samuel Eaton -------------------- was Francis Eaton's 3rd wife. -------------------- On the passenger list of the 'Anne' to Plymouth MA. .She travelled with the Oldham family.Her maternal uncle George Penn from Birdham was already living in Plymouth MA. They arrived at Plymouth in about 1624.Christiana was about 17 at that time. My 8th great grand aunt. Left home at 16.First marriage at 18. Second marriage at 27. Married Francis Eaton who died in 1633 then married Francis Billington in 1634 There were at least 7 children from this marriage. Francis Eaton was on the passenger list of the Mayflower. There were 2 children from her first marriage - Rachel & Benjamin Eaton.

Descendant of Christiana & Francis Billington was 20th President of the United States of America, James Abram Garfield. (can be traced from their youngest child, Mercy). Another descendant from their child Martha Billington is the film actor Richard Gere.( I have traced these descendants to confirm the facts). Mary Billigton is the ancestor of the Height family in Alberta Canada ( in contact with them)

Christiana's uncle Giles was a sea captain based in Bristol. He probably arranged Christiana's voyage.