Francis Billington, Mayflower passenger

findagrave.com:

Christian Penn Eaton Billington

Birth: 1607 Birdham Chichester District West Sussex, England

Death: Jul. 13, 1684 Middleboro Plymouth County Massachusetts, USA

Pilgrim Francis Eaton married 3rd, about 1624. CHRISTIAN PENN , a passenger on the Anne;

she married 2nd, in July 1634, Francis Billington, son of JOHN BILLINGTON.

Francis & Christian had 3 children:

Rachel Ramsden,

Benjamin,

& a child who was deemed an idiot and not named in any record, though he/she lived at least to the age of 21.

Source: Anderson's Great Migration Study Project.

Find A Grave contributor Julie Evans adds:

Christian Penn:

b. Abt 1607, England.

m. (1) Bet 1625 - 1634, MA, Francis Eaton.

m. (2) Jul 1634, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA, USA, Francis Billington. d. Jul 1684, Middleboro, Plymouth Co., MA.

Burial: Unknown

Christian PENN #18970, (daughter of George PENN #18982 and Elizabeth _______ #18983)

Born: Abt 1607 in England.

While she did not come to America on the Mayflower, she arrived shortly thereafter, between 1621 - 1632.

m. (1) Marriage: Francis Eaton between 1625 - 1634. Maybe before 1632 and probably before 1627.

Three children.

m. (2) Marriage: Francis Billington to Christian Penn (Eaton), July 1634, Plymouth.

Nine children. m. Jul 1634, in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA, to Francis Billington, 

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.

The English Ancestry and Homes of the Pilgrim Fathers, p. 156: "CHRISTIAN PENN

THIS passenger is assumed to be a female but no connection with any other passenger is known. She received one share in the 1627 division.

As the second wife of Francis Eaton (q. v.) of the Mayflower bears this rare baptismal name it seems probable that she married him between 1627 and 1633."

The English Ancestry and Homes of the Pilgrim Fathers, Additions and Corrections p. vii:

"Page 156: CHRISTIAN PENN.

She received one share in the 1623 division.

As Christian Eaton she received one share in the 1627 division, so she married Francis Eaton before 1627.

As they had a daughter, Rachell in 1627 they probably married around 1625." Mayflower Births & Deaths, Vol. 1, page 448, <1>:

"<1> p. 438, The name of Francis' [Eaton] 2nd wife is not known.

It is believed that she might be the unnamed maid servant who came with the Carver family on the Mayflower.

Gov. Bradford said she had "married and died a year or two after".

The files do not identify his 3rd wife, she was Christian Penn who married 2nd Francis Billington2."

Mayflower Births & Deaths, Vol. 1:

Francis EATON1, d. pre 8 Nov. 1633, Plymouth (inv.)

Sarah ( ) EATON, d. 1621, Plymouth

CHILD OF Francis EATON1 & 1st Sarah ( ): <1>

Samuel EATON2, b. 1620, England

CHILDREN OF Francis EATON1 & 3rd Christian ( ): (3) <1>

Rachel EATON2, b. c1625; d. pre Oct. 1661* Benjamin EATON2, b. aft. 1 June 1627 ; d. 16 Jan. 1711/2, Plympton, "aged" <2> Child, b. ( ), d. aft. 1650, unm."

Mayflower Births & Deaths, Vol. I:

Children of Francis Billington & Christian (Penn) Eaton:

Elizabeth

Joseph

Martha

Mary

Isaac

Child, b. pre 1651, d.y. Rebecca

Dorcas, b. c1650; d. aft. 1711; m. Edward May, d. 10 Aug. 1691, Plymouth Mercy

[NOTE: Is unnamed child Francis, Jr?

Is Dorcas who I have as Desire?]. 

Mayflower Births & Deaths, Vol. 1, p. 106-111:

"JOHN BILLINGTON MICRO #1 OF 2 John BILLINGTON1, d. 1630, Plymouth <1> CHILDREN OF John BILLINGTON1 & Elinor ( ): (2) John BILLINGTON2, d. pre 1630 <1> Francis BILLINGTON2, b. c1604-06 ; d. 3 Dec 1684 <1> Thomas BILLINGTON, d. pre 1 May 1662, Taunton (inv.) Mrs. Abraham BILLINGTON, d. 1825 CHILDREN of Samuel BILLINGTON & Eliza Nickerson (dau of David); (4) Levi BILLINGTON, b. ( ) Eliza BILLINGTON, b. ( ) Samuel BILLINGTON, b. ( ) Mary BILLINGTON, b. ( ) FRANCIS BILLINGTON2 (John1) CHILDREN OF Francis BILLINGTON2 & Christian (PENN) Eaton: (9) <2> Elisabeth BILLINGTON3, b. 10 July 1635; d. aft. 22 Mar. 1709/10, Providence RI Joseph BILLINGTON3, b. pre Feb. 1736/37; d. betw. 7 Jan 1684/5 - 1692, prob. Block Island RI Martha BILLINGTON3, b. c1638; d. aft 9 Jun 1704, Plainfield CT Mary BILLINGTON3, b. c1640; d. aft. 28 Jun 1717 Isaac BILLINGTON3, b. c1644, d. 11 Dec. 1909, ae 66, Middleboro Child, b. pre 1650, d.y. Rebecca BILLINGTON3, b. 8 June 1647; poss. d. y. Dorcas BILLINGTON3, b. c1650; d. aft 1711 Mercy BILLINGTON3, b. 25 Feb. 1651/2; d. 28 Sept. 1718, Rehoboth Edward MAY, d. 10 Aug. 1691, Plymouth <3> CHILDREN OF EDWARD MAY & Dorcas BILLINGTON3: <4> CHILDREN OF Richard Bullock & Elizabeth BILLINGTON3: (4) <5> ...." [p. 109] "CHILDREN OF John MARTIN & Mercy BILLINGTON3: (4) John MARTIN4, 10 Jun 1682 Robert Martin4, b. 9 Sept. 1683 Desire MARTIN4, b. 20 Mar. 1684/5 Francis MARTIN4, b. 7 May 1686 Desire CARPENTER5 (Desire Martin4), b. 3 June 1716; d. 28 May 1800, Stevens Corner Cem., Rehoboth Hezekiah HIX, b. c1715, d. 5 Feb. 1788*, ae 73, Stevens Corner Cem,, Rehoboth CHILDREN OF Hezekiah HIX & Desire Carpenter5: (8) Hannah HIX6, b. 17 May 1740 James HIX6, b. 21 Apr. 1742 Mary HIX6, b. 17 Mar. 1746/7 Desire HIX6, b. 27 Dec. 1750 Gideon HIX6, b. 26 May 1752 Jotham HIX6, b. 26 May 1752 (twin) Nathan HIX6, b. c1761* Renew CARPENTER5 (Desire Martin4), b. 6 Jun 1714, d. 9 Feb. 1787, Stevens Corner Cem., Rehoboth Jabez Round, b. c1708, d. 14 Mar. 1790, Stevens Corner Cem., Rehoboth <28> CHILDREN OF Jabez ROUND & Renew CARPENTER5: (11) Isaac ROUND6, B. 23 Jan. 1733/4 Jabez ROUND6, b. 8 Jan. 1735/6; d. 20 May 1806*" [p. 110] "110 BILLINGTON Abigail ROUND6, b. Jan. 1740 Isaiah ROUND6, b. 30 Jan. 1741 Rebecca ROUND6, b. 21 Mar. 1742 Sibbel ROUND6, b. 10 Sept. 1744 Oliver ROUND6, b. 1 Apr 1747 Rhoda ROUND6, b. 26 Jan. 1750 Esther ROUND6, b. 8 Oct 1752 Simeon ROUND6, b. 4 Feb. 1755

• *********** FOOTNOTES <1> p. 106, John Billington, b. c1580, poss. Lincolnshire, Eng. , d. in Sept. 1630 when he was executed for murder. His wife Elinor (not Helen or Ellen), maiden name unknown, and was living 2 Mar. 1642/3, the wife of Gregory Armstrong. John Billington2 was living at the time of the May 1627 Cattle Division but deceased at the time of his father's death in Sept. 1630. Francis Billington2's year of birth is uncertain due to conflicting records. He was thought to be "aged forty years or thereabouts" in 1649 (b. c1909) ; age 68 in 1674 (b. c1606) ; and age 80 when he died in 1684 (b. c1604) . <2> p. 106, There is no file sheet listing all the children of Francis & Christian so they have been added for easier reference. Christian (Penn) Eaton is said to have died c1684 (Stoddard:115 says July 1684). The petition of her son, Isaac Billington, (1 Mar. 1703/4), implies she died the same year as her husband Francis..."They were near 80 years old when they dyed: & it is now 18 years since." Unfortunately, the time span he mentions does not prove Christian died in 1684 but rather 1686. His referral to "18 years since" could refer not to the death of his parents but to the death of his last surviving parent, Christian, in 1686. <3> p. 106, "Bowman gives his date of death as 20 Aug. although in checking the reference given (MD 16:62) it clearly says 10 [underlined] Aug. <4> p. 106, Four unnamed children...." Mayflower Births & Deaths, Vol. I: p. 111: "Footnotes for John Billington: REFERENCE LIST: GENEALOGICAL ARTICLES PERTAINING TO BILLINGTON FAMILY RESEARCH Mayflower Descendant (MD) (1899-1937) 15:247-253 - Washburn Notes: Will of John Washburn Mayflower Quarterly (MQ) (1975-1990) 46:14-15 - Presidential Mayflower Connections (correction - MQ 46:197) 48:67-71 - Esther (Carpenter)(Bardeen) Bowen, An Elusive Billington Descendant 49:170-179 - The Martins of Swansea & The Martins of Rehoboth 50:21-30 - Judah Fuller6, The Bloomer's Daughter 50:71-76 - The Additional Children of Joseph & Mercy (Canedy) Williams & Their Migrations to Western MA & Groton NY 50:180-187 - There were Three Hezekiahs, Not One, In the Round Family 51:196-198 - The Family of Jabez & Renew (Carpenter) Round, A John Billington Line 52:137-143 - Desire Billington and Her Grandfather Francis Billington's Estate Miscellaneous Mayflower Families In Progress: John Billington of the Mayflower and His Descendants for Five Generations (MFIP), pub. by General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1988. NEHGR 124:116 - Francis Billington of Lincolnshire TG 3:228-248 - Some Descendants of Francis Billington of the Mayflower
• * * * * * * * * * *
  • Now available: Mayflower Families Through Five Generations: John Billington of the Mayflower (MF5G), pub. by General Society of Mayflower Descendants. 1991." Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Volume Twenty One, John Billington, General Society of Mayflower Descendants 1620 Plymouth 1857, p. 6-7: "SECOND GENERATION

2 FRANCIS 2 BILLINGTON (John 1)

b. England, prob. Lincolnshire, about 1606 to 1609; d. Middleboro 3 Dec. 1684 "aged 80."

He m. Plymouth July 1634 CHRISTIAN (PENN) EATON, b. England ca. 1607; d. Middleboro ca. 1684.

She m. (1) Plymouth 1624 or 1625 Pilgrim Francis Eaton, b. England; d. Plymouth between 25 Oct. and 8 Nov. 1633;

by whom she had three children:

Rachel,

Benjamin

and another, living in 1651, whose name is unknown.

Francis Billington lived at Plymouth until 1669 when he moved to Middleboro and occupied land granted to him as one of the "First Comers." He lived htere until his death, except for a few years during King Philip's War when he fled to Plymouth for safety. On 18 April 1642 his daughter Elizabeth was apprenticed; and 14 January 1642/3 he bound out son Joseph, "aged vi or vii" and two daughters, probably Martha and Mary, one five years old and the other even younger.

Bradford stated in 1651 that Francis Billington had eight children.

On 2 March 1642 Francis Billington of New Plymouth, planter, sold to Mr. John Atwood of Plymouth, land in Plymouth.

In 1674 Francis Billington deposed that he was aged 68.

In his old age Francis Billington was dependent on his son Isaac for support and died intestate. No probate record appears, although son Isaac petitioned the probate court in 1703/4 for title to all his father's Middleboro lands, stating he had had sole care of his parents in their old age. A Plymouth County Court Case of Sept. 1722, brought by Isaac's daughter Desire 4 (Billington) Bonney and her husband, James, shows that Francis Billington died intestate leaving issue two sons and five daughters, viz: son Joseph (eldest, who inherited a double portion) and Isaac; daughters Elizabeth, Mary, Dorcad, Mercy and Martha, with a total of eight shares in the estate. A 3 Dec. 1719 quiclaim deed from Francis's father Francis and grandfather (unnamed) Billington (Family #12), reading "my father Francis and grandfather (unnamed) Billington" seems to imply a son Francis, Jr. But in the absence of any mention of such a son in contemporaneous Plymouth records, coupled with the fact that Francis's 4 deed evidently transferred the shares of Joseph Billington, we conclude that the deed contains a clerical error. The original must have read "my father Joseph [underlined] and grandfather Francis [underlined] Billington." Indications are that the seven children named in the Bonney suit and their progeny were the only survivors of Francis 2 Billington. A more detailed account has been published. Children (BILLINGTON) all b. probably Plymouth: 3 i ELIZABETH 3 b. 10 July 1635 4 ii JOSEPH b. 1636 (bef. 2 Feb. 1636/7) 5 iii MARTHA b. ca. 1638 6 iv MARY b. ca. 1640 7 v ISAAC b. ca. 1644 (based on age at d.) vi child d. y. vii REBECCA b. 8 June 1648; dvidently d.y. 8 viii DORCAS b. ca. 1650 9 ix MERCY prob. unnamed dau. b. 25 Feb. 1651/2" Mayflower Deeds & Probates: Francis BILLINGTON to William CROW. ...30 July 1666, Francis & Christian BILLINGTON deed land to William CROW." Mayflower Dees & Probates - Petition: "Francis Billington2 (John1) Petitioner of Issac BILLINGTON. ,Plymouth Co. PR #2001> ...1 Mar. 1703/4...A true Narrative or Relation or A Bill of Changes drawn up by Isaac BILLINGTON and his wife Hannah...concerning the great expence & charge they were at, in keeping their aged parents, Francis & Christian BILLINGTON, late of Middleborough in the County of Plymouth in New England, deceased; for the space of 7 years, even to their Death & Burail. They were near 80 years old when they dyed; & it is now 18 years since. Soon after ye former, never to be forgotten, improverishing indian Warrs, my aged Father, Francis BILLINGTON, came to me and told me he must return again to Middleborugh for he could no longer subsist at Plymouthy, & urged me with ye greatest importunity to goe with hi8m, alledging that he should perish if I did not, for there his lands & livings were; whereupon (tho then I lived comfortably at Marshfield) I removed with my family to Middleborough to take care off & provide for my aged Parents, according to their request. And did for near ye space of 7 years provide both house, food and apparal for them & kept them both in sickness & health; & at death was at ye charge of ye funerall; Ant Lieut. TOMPSON then Selectman of ye Town promised me that if I would take care of them & not suffer them to want, I should have all ye estate that my father left at his decease & whatever divisions & allotments of lands might fall to him & his heirs, should be mine; And if I did not take care of them all must be sold by ye Selectmen for their relief. And indeed what my Parents left at their decease was but a small recompence, for ye great charge and trouble that I was at, for near seaven years together; which if I should reckon by six shillings pr week would amount to above ten times ye value of all the lands. Now mmy humble request to ye honoured Court is, that (seeing I can have no other recompence by ye lands) it may be settled upon me & mine; That none of ye rest of ye relation, seing that never did any thing towards releiving them in their wants, may trouble me or mine in our peaceable & quiet possession of those late divisions of lands, falling to my deceased father, which I have purchased at so dear a rate...Signed by Issac & Hannah BILLINGTON." Mayflower Deeds & Probates 61 (Washburn), Fn: Re Francis Billington: Issac Billington & Joseph Billington: <1> .58, Since there has arisen some question as to the accuracy of the clerk's copy of this deed, I have left out the name in question so as not to compound the error and confuse the family researcher. While the clerk's copoy says "my Honoured Father Francis BILLINGTON" and does not name the Grandfather, it should probably be the other way around - "my Honoured Father" and "my Honoured Grandfather Francis BILLINGTON". The grandfather in question, Francis2 had only two sons, Isaac & Joseph, he did not have a son Francis. See MF5G 5:50 and MQ 52:133." Mayflower Births & Deaths, Vol I, page 110, Footnote: "Christian (Penn) Eaton is said to have died c 1684 (Stoddard:115 says July 1684). The petition of her son, Isaac Billington, (1 Mar. 1703/4), implies she died the same year as her husband Francis..."They were near 80 years old when they dyed; & it is now 18 years since." Unfortunately, the time span he mentions does not prove Christian died in 1684 but rather 1686. His referral to "18 years since" could refer not to the death of his parents but to the death of his last surviving parent, Christian, in 1686. " d. July 1684 in Middleboro, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. d. Abt. 1684, Middleboro, Plymouth Co, MA.

Family links:

Spouses:

 Francis Eaton (1596 - 1633)

 Francis Billington (1606 - 1684)*

Children:

 Rachel Eaton Ramsden (1625 - ____)*

 Benjamin Eaton (1627 - 1712)*

 Samuel Eaton (1630 - ____)*

 Mary Billington Sabin (1640 - 1717)*

 Isaac Billington (1644 - 1709)*

 Mercy Billington Martin (1651 - 1718)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Unknown

Created by: Linda Mac Record added: Mar 14, 2009 Find A Grave Memorial# 34795930

8TH GREAT GRANDMOTHER - Linda Rinke

Added: Jun. 26, 2016 My 10th great grand mother - David Sharp 

Added: Jun. 16, 2016

Added: May. 3, 2016
This page is sponsored by: Virginia Witucke Privacy Statement and Terms of Service

'

Birth: About 1606, possibly near Spaulding, Lincolnshire.

Marriage:

Christian (Penn) Eaton, July 1634, Plymouth.

Death: 3 December 1684, Middleboro.

The Billington family may have originated from around Cowbit and Spaulding, in Lincolnshire, England. Francis Longland named young children Francis Billington son of John, and Francis Newton son of Robert, as heirs. In 1650, a survey of lands indicated that Francis was "about 40" and living in New England. Francis' himself stated in a 1674 deposition that he was 68 years old, so he was about 14 years old when he made the voyage on the Mayflower to Plymouth in 1620 with his parents John and Eleanor, and older brother John.

Francis was clearly an active and troublesome youth. He nearly caused a disaster onboard the Mayflower shortly after arrival, when he shot off his father's musket inside the Mayflower's cabin and sent sparks raining down near an open barrel of gunpowder. After he got to shore, he climbed up a tree and spotted a "great sea," which turned out to be a lake that even today is still known as "Billington's Sea". He and one of the Mayflower's crewmembers went to explore the sea, but became alarmed when they saw some abandoned Indian houses (they were alone with only a single gun).

Francis' father was hanged for murder in September 1630, and his brother John had died not to long before. 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.

From SIGNERS OF THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT by Annie Arnoux Haxton Pt.! The Billington boys were uncontrollable. The Billington boys were not persons to be suppressed or reduced to the subordination of extinction. The situation on the ship was one their hearts craved and the spirit of April Fool's day was not regulated by the calender. Francis Billington climbed a tree and discovered a body of water in the distance. It proved to provide a great quantity of fresh water and perpetuated his name as the Billington Sea. In 1634 he married Christian Penn, widow of Francis Eaton. they proved to be a thriftless pair ; Their growing family of eight children seemed to be too much for them and they were forced to bind most of them out to secure means for their existence. Francis was occasionally fined and sued and once had the choice of a whipping or a fine of 20 pounds.If the sentence was carried out I greatly fear the family exchequer would require the whipping, However as the years went by he was on committees, boards of reference and other organizations which gave evidence of his standing in the community. For more information on this family look under John Billington his brother and John and Eleanor Billington his father and mother.

http://pharmacy.isu.edu/~cady/genealogy/PS07/PS07_039.HTM

BILLINGTON, FRANCIS-The son of John and Eleanor Billington, Francis accompanied his parents on the 1620 Mayflower. See the three articles under his father for his probable English origin and his American descendants. When the Mayflower was anchored at Cape Cod, "one of Francis [sic, should be John] Billington's Sons [presumably son Francis], who in his Fathers absence, had got Gun-powder, and had shot of a peice or two, and made scuibs, and there being a fowling peice charged in his fathers Cabbin, shot her off in the Cabbin, there being a little barren of powder halfe full, scattered in and about the Cabbin, the fire being within foure foote of the bed betweene the Deckes, and many flints and Iron things about the Cabbin, and many people about the fire, and yet by Gods mercy no harme done" (Mourt's Relation, p. 15). The same source, p. 26, relates how Francis Billington climbed a tree and saw what appeared to be a great sea, but on close inspection it turned out to be a very shallow pond, which is called to this day the Billington Sea. He married Christian (Penn), the widow of Francis Eaton, in July 1634 (PC R 1:31). Source: Plymouth Colony Its History & People 1620-1691 by Eugene Aubrey Stratton

__________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________

Francis Billington, the sole surviving son: John's son Francis was one of the first Pilgrims punished for premarital sex. How he and Christian Penn were 'caught' is unknown; their first child Elizabeth wasn't born until a year, to the month, after their marriage. He lived at Plymouth until 1669; then he moved to Middleboro and lived on land granted to him as one of the "First Comers." (Plymouth Colony LR 1:344; 3:129 (Francis Billington) He lived there until his death, except for a few years when he took refuge at Plymouth during the King Philip's War. On 18 April 1642 he apprenticed his daughter Elizabeth (Plymouth Colony Record 2:38) and 14 Jan 1642/3 he bound-out son Joseph, "aged vi or vii" and two daughters, probably Martha and Mary, one five years old and the other even younger. (Plymouth town records) Bradford in his History (446) stated in 1651 that Francis Billington had eight children. In his old age, Francis was dependent on his son Isaac for support and died intestate. No probate record appears, although Isaac petitioned the probate court in 1703/4 for title to his father's Middleboro lands, stating he had had sole care of his parents in their old age. (Plymouth Co. PR) A Plymouth County Court case of Sep 1722, brought by Isaac's daughter Desire (Billington) Bonney and her husband, James, proves that Francis Billington died intestate

leaving issue, two sons and five daughters [see below]. Isaac as the eldest undoubtedly got a double portion as there were a total of eight

shares in the estate. (Plymouth Co. CT Records, 1686-1859, 5:145) A 1719 quitclaim deed from Francis's grandson, Francis Billington (Family #12) reading "my father Francis and grandfather [unnamed] Bilington" seems to imply a son Francis, Jr. But in the absence of any mention of such a son in contemporary Plymouth records, coupled with the fact that Francis's deed evidently transferred the shares of Joseph Billington, we conclude that the deed contains a clerical error. The original must have read "my father Joseph and grandfather Francis Billington." (Ply. Co. LR 14:255) Indications are that the seven children named in the Bonney suit and their progeny were the only survivors of Francis Billington. A more detailed account has been published in the Mayflower Quarterly 52:137-44;

and The Genealogist 3:231-2 vol, 1980.) American families from New Plymouth,~1620 to1790+

__________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________

History of the Town of Middleborough:

"Francis Billington is a son of John Billington, who is a disreputable passenger of the Mayflower, the first settler of Plymouth publicly executed in October 1630, for lying in wait and shooting a young man named John Newcomb. Francis was about fourteen years old when he landed at Plymouth with his parents, and was one of the two passengers of the Mayflower who settled in Middleboro. He is remembered as the discoverer of Billington Sea in Plymouth, in 1621, although Goodwin thinks his father deserves that credit. While climbing a tree, the week before, he had seen what appeared to him a great sea, and on that day, with a mate of the Mayflower, set out to examine his discovery. After travelling about three miles, they found two lakes, with a beautiful island in the center of one, about which the early writers were lavish in their praise. He volunteered in the Pequot War, but was not called into active service. He was one of the twenty-six men who made the purchase of land from the Indians in 1662, as well as the Sixteen Shilling Purchase. He married, July 1634, Christiana Penn Eaton, the widow of Francis Eaton. "They proved a thriftless pair and were forced to bind out most or all of their eight children."* He died December 3, 1684. aged eighty years. His son Isaac Billington, was one of the original members of the First Church, and died December 11, 1709. aged sixty-six years.**" *Goodwin, Pilgrim Republic, p. 344

__________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________

"It has often been pointed out that almost all we know about the Billington Pilgrims was written by William Bradford, who obviously disliked and criticized the entire family from the beginning. The Billingtons were not in sympathy with the aims and tenets of the Plymouth church, but one wonders that they were not more cooperative with those in authority who struggled to establish and maintain such a fragile colony on the hostile New England shore. John Billington, however, stoutly supported individual independence and freedom of speech, raising the voice of opposition when he disagreed with the rule of government. He and his descendants surely contributed to that integral part of the American character!"

Source: Mayflower Families Through Five Generations

BILLINGTON, FRANCIS-The son of John and Eleanor Billington, Francis accompanied his parents on the 1620 Mayflower. See the three articles under his father for his probable English origin and his American descendants. When the Mayflower was anchored at Cape Cod, "one of Francis [sic, should be John] Billington's Sons [presumably son Francis], who in his Fathers absence, had got Gun-powder, and had shot of a peice or two, and made scuibs, and there being a fowling peice charged in his fathers Cabbin, shot her off in the Cabbin, there being a little barren of powder halfe full, scattered in and about the Cabbin, the fire being within foure foote of the bed betweene the Deckes, and many flints and Iron things about the Cabbin, and many people about the fire, and yet by Gods mercy no harme done" (Mourt's Relation, p. 15). The same source, p. 26, relates how Francis Billington climbed a tree and saw what appeared to be a great sea, but on close inspection it turned out to be a very shallow pond, which is called to this day the Billington Sea. He married Christian (Penn), the widow of Francis Eaton, in July 1634 (PC R 1:31). Source: Plymouth Colony Its History & People 1620-1691 by Eugene Aubrey Stratton

__________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________

Francis Billington, the sole surviving son: John's son Francis was one of the first Pilgrims punished for premarital sex. How he and Christian Penn were 'caught' is unknown; their first child Elizabeth wasn't born until a year, to the month, after their marriage. He lived at Plymouth until 1669; then he moved to Middleboro and lived on land granted to him as one of the "First Comers." (Plymouth Colony LR 1:344; 3:129 (Francis Billington) He lived there until his death, except for a few years when he took refuge at Plymouth during the King Philip's War. On 18 April 1642 he apprenticed his daughter Elizabeth (Plymouth Colony Record 2:38) and 14 Jan 1642/3 he bound-out son Joseph, "aged vi or vii" and two daughters, probably Martha and Mary, one five years old and the other even younger. (Plymouth town records) Bradford in his History (446) stated in 1651 that Francis Billington had eight children. In his old age, Francis was dependent on his son Isaac for support and died intestate. No probate record appears, although Isaac petitioned the probate court in 1703/4 for title to his father's Middleboro lands, stating he had had sole care of his parents in their old age. (Plymouth Co. PR) A Plymouth County Court case of Sep 1722, brought by Isaac's daughter Desire (Billington) Bonney and her husband, James, proves that Francis Billington died intestate

leaving issue, two sons and five daughters [see below]. Isaac as the eldest undoubtedly got a double portion as there were a total of eight

shares in the estate. (Plymouth Co. CT Records, 1686-1859, 5:145) A 1719 quitclaim deed from Francis's grandson, Francis Billington (Family #12) reading "my father Francis and grandfather [unnamed] Bilington" seems to imply a son Francis, Jr. But in the absence of any mention of such a son in contemporary Plymouth records, coupled with the fact that Francis's deed evidently transferred the shares of Joseph Billington, we conclude that the deed contains a clerical error. The original must have read "my father Joseph and grandfather Francis Billington." (Ply. Co. LR 14:255) Indications are that the seven children named in the Bonney suit and their progeny were the only survivors of Francis Billington. A more detailed account has been published in the Mayflower Quarterly 52:137-44;

and The Genealogist 3:231-2 vol, 1980.) American families from New Plymouth,~1620 to1790+

__________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________

History of the Town of Middleborough:

"Francis Billington is a son of John Billington, who is a disreputable passenger of the Mayflower, the first settler of Plymouth publicly executed in October 1630, for lying in wait and shooting a young man named John Newcomb. Francis was about fourteen years old when he landed at Plymouth with his parents, and was one of the two passengers of the Mayflower who settled in Middleboro. He is remembered as the discoverer of Billington Sea in Plymouth, in 1621, although Goodwin thinks his father deserves that credit. While climbing a tree, the week before, he had seen what appeared to him a great sea, and on that day, with a mate of the Mayflower, set out to examine his discovery. After travelling about three miles, they found two lakes, with a beautiful island in the center of one, about which the early writers were lavish in their praise. He volunteered in the Pequot War, but was not called into active service. He was one of the twenty-six men who made the purchase of land from the Indians in 1662, as well as the Sixteen Shilling Purchase. He married, July 1634, Christiana Penn Eaton, the widow of Francis Eaton. "They proved a thriftless pair and were forced to bind out most or all of their eight children."* He died December 3, 1684. aged eighty years. His son Isaac Billington, was one of the original members of the First Church, and died December 11, 1709. aged sixty-six years.**" *Goodwin, Pilgrim Republic, p. 344

__________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________

"It has often been pointed out that almost all we know about the Billington Pilgrims was written by William Bradford, who obviously disliked and criticized the entire family from the beginning. The Billingtons were not in sympathy with the aims and tenets of the Plymouth church, but one wonders that they were not more cooperative with those in authority who struggled to establish and maintain such a fragile colony on the hostile New England shore. John Billington, however, stoutly supported individual independence and freedom of speech, raising the voice of opposition when he disagreed with the rule of government. He and his descendants surely contributed to that integral part of the American character!"

Source: Mayflower Families Through Five Generations

The Billington family may have originated from around Cowbit and Spaulding, in Lincolnshire, England. Francis Longland named young children Francis Billington son of John, and Francis Newton son of Robert, as heirs. In 1650, a survey of lands indicated that Francis was "about 40" and living in New England. Francis' himself stated in a 1674 deposition that he was 68 years old, so he was about 14 years old when he made the voyage on the Mayflower to Plymouth in 1620 with his parents John and Eleanor, and older brother John.

Francis was clearly an active and troublesome youth. He nearly caused a disaster onboard the Mayflower shortly after arrival, when he shot off his father's musket inside the Mayflower's cabin and sent sparks raining down near an open barrel of gunpowder. After he got to shore, he climbed up a tree and spotted a "great sea," which turned out to be a lake that even today is still known as "Billington's Sea". He and one of the Mayflower's crewmembers went to explore the sea, but became alarmed when they saw some abandoned Indian houses (they were alone with only a single gun).

Francis' father was hanged for murder in September 1630, and his brother John had died not to long before. 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.

http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/Passengers/FrancisBillington.php

Voyaged to America on the Mayflower

On the passenger list of the Mayflower(with his parents).

GEDCOM Note

Francis Billington was named as one of the heirs of Francis Longland of Cowbit, co. Lincolnshire, England. A manorial survey taken in 1650 indicated that Francis Billington was then living in New England and was about 40 years old. Francis himself gave his age as 68 in a deposition from 1674, making him about fourteen when he came on the Mayflower with his parents John and Eleanor Billington. Francis was an active, rambunctious youth. He nearly caused a disaster onboard the Mayflower shortly after arrival in Plymouth Harbor, when he shot off his father's gun inside a cabin, sending sparks towards an open barrel of gunpowder. After he came ashore, he climbed up a tree and claimed to have spotted a "great sea" in the distance: a small pond that still carries the name "Billington's Sea" even today. Following his brother's death shortly after 1627, and his father's execution for murder in 1630, he married Christian (Penn) Eaton, the widow and third wife of Mayflower passenger Francis Eaton. The couple had nine children, raised their family in Plymouth, and moved in their later years to the town of Middleboro, where they both died in 1684. mayflowerhistory.com

Mayflower Passenger Age at Landing

12

Francis Billington traveled with his father John, mother Elinor, and brother John on Mayflower. He was born around 1606. While aboard Mayflower, Francis provoked trouble when he shot a gun inside a cabin, narrowly missing a barrel of gunpowder.

In 1634, Francis married Christian (Penn) Eaton and had 9 children. He died in 1684 in Middleboro.

"We, through God's mercy, escaped a great danger by the foolishness of a boy, one of ...Billington’s sons, who, in his father's absence, had got gunpowder, and had shot off a piece or two, and made squibs but there being a fowling-piece charged in his father's cabin, shot her off in the cabin; there being a little barrel of [gun] powder half full, scattered in and about the cabin, the fire being within four foot of the bed between the decks, and many flints and iron things about the cabin, and many people about the fire; and yet, by God's mercy, no harm done."