Wrenacres
Ancestors and Family of Brian Scott Dickson and Kathleen Ann Boyle Dickson
Mercy Billington
1652 - 1718 (66 years)1. Mercy Billington was born on 25 Feb 1651/2 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States (daughter of Francis Billington and Christian Penn); died on 28 Sep 1718 in Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States. Other Events and Attributes:
- _AMTID: 162485322740:1030:191555462
- _FSFTID: LH3R-GWQ
- _UID: 9A6D6B86A2B247F39F6C182D24162A104ACD
Notes:
Probably unmarried.
2. Francis Billington was born in 1606–1609 in Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom (son of John Billington and Elinor); died on 3 Dec 1684 in Middleboro, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. Other Events and Attributes:
- _AMTID: 162485322744:1030:191555462
- _FSFTID: L5VQ-JGP
- _UID: 7E622C3F940C428E9FACA0C9B20E0689BE1F
- Immigration: 1620, Plymouth, British America
- Residence: 25 Mar 1633, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; in the Plymouth tax list
- Residence: 27 Mar 1634, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; in the Plymouth tax list, assessed 9s
- Possessions: 8 Jan 1637/8, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; received from his mother the deed for all of her land
- Residence: 1666, Middleboro, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; moved to Middleboro
- Residence: 1669, Middleboro, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; moved and occupied land granted to him as one of the "First Comers"
Notes:
From Findagrave:
A Mayflower passenger.
Francis, born about 1606. He married Christian (Penn) Eaton in Plymouth in July 1634 and had nine children. A survey in 1650 indicated that Francis Billington was then in New England. He died in Middleboro on December 3, 1684.Francis married Christian Penn in Jul 1634 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. Christian (daughter of George Penn and Elizabeth) was born in CA 1607 in England, United Kingdom; died in CA 1684 in Middleboro, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
3. Christian Penn was born in CA 1607 in England, United Kingdom (daughter of George Penn and Elizabeth); died in CA 1684 in Middleboro, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. Other Events and Attributes:
- _AMTID: 162485322747:1030:191555462
- _UID: 630E6E5B8B2C411C937E7C0732F2612A9132
- Immigration: Bef 1623, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States
- Misc: 1623, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; received one share in the division of 1623 as Christian Penn
- Misc: 1627, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; received one share in the division of 1627 as Christian Eaton
Notes:
From FindaGrave:
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.
Immigration:
Traveled aboard the Anne.Notes:
Married:
Francis Billington and Christian had 9 children.Children:
- Elizabeth Billington was born on 10 Jul 1635 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; died after 22 Mar 1709/10 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States.
- Joseph Billington was born before Feb 1636/7 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; died on 7 Jan 1684/5–1692 in Block Island, Rhode Island Colony, British North America.
- Martha Billington was born about 1638 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; died after 9 Jun 1704 in Plainfield, Windham, Connecticut, United States.
- Mary Billington was born about 1640 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; died after 28 Jun 1717.
- Isaac Billington was born in 1644 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; died on 11 Dec 1709 in Middleboro, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States.
- Billington was born about 1646 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; died about 1646 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States.
- Rebecca Billington was born on 8 Jun 1647 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; died in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States.
- Dorcas Billington was born about 1650 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; died after 1711.
- 1. Mercy Billington was born on 25 Feb 1651/2 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; died on 28 Sep 1718 in Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States.
Generation: 3
4. John Billington was born in 1580 in Spalding, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom; died on 30 Sep 1630 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. Other Events and Attributes:
- _AMTID: 162485322743:1030:191555462
- _FSFTID: LYTM-KVW
- _UID: 733022528FB649CCADEB9B8BC98ADF6BCCAB
- Misc: 1620; MAYFLOWER PASSENGER
- Residence: 1620, Cowbit, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom
- Misc: 11 Nov 1620, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; signed the Mayflower Compact
- Immigration: Dec 1620, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States
- Misc: Mar 1621, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; tried for contempt of Cap't Standish lawful orders
- Possessions: 1623, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; received three acres as a Mayflower passenger
- Misc: 1627, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; listed in Cattle Division
Notes:
From Findagrave:
A Mayflower passenger.
John Billington (also spelled Billinton) was born in Lincolnshire around 1580. He lived in Cowbit, Lincolnshire before emigrating to the New World.
Billington departed on the Mayflower in September 1620 with his wife Eleanor and sons John Jr. and Francis. Thanks to inclement weather, the ship arrived in America hundreds of miles further north than intended. Along with forty others, Billington signed the Mayflower Compact on November 11 (O.S.), while the ship lay at anchor. Disembarking at Cape Cod, the Pilgrims founded Plymouth, a colony that would lose almost half its inhabitants the first winter.
The Billingtons thoroughly established themselves as troublemakers among the Pilgrims. John Sr. challenged Myles Standish's authority on multiple occasions. Though implicated in a 1624 revolt against the Plymouth church, Billington insisted that he was innocent and escaped punished. In 1625, William Bradford wrote a letter to Robert Cushman denouncing Billington as a "knave."
Other incidents only contributed to the Billington family reputation. Francis nearly blew up the Mayflower. John Jr. got lost in the woods and was captured by the hostile Nausets. Eleanor was pilloried and whipped for slander.
John Billington is best remembered for an event in September 1630, on a day he went out hunting for deer. He stumbled across his mortal enemy, a young settler named John Newcomen. Newcomen, fearing for his life, hid behind some trees. Billington, deadly marksman to the last, struck Newcomen in the shoulder, a shot that spelled death for both of them. Billington was tried by jury, convicted, and hanged for the murder.
Two contemporary sources record the details.
"This year John Billington the elder (one that came over with the first) was arraigned; and both by grand, and petty jury found guilty of willful murder; by plain and notorious evidence. And was for the same accordingly executed. This as it was the first execution amongst them, so was it a matter of great sadness unto them; they used all due means about his trial, and took the advice of Mr. Winthrop, and other the ablest gentlemen in the Bay of Massachusetts, that were then newly come over, who concurred with them that he ought to die, and the land be purged from blood. He and some of his, had been often punished for miscarriages before, being one of the profanest families amongst them; ... His fact was, that he waylaid a young man, one John Newcomen (about a former quarrel) and shot him with a gun, whereof he died."
- William Bradford
"So when this wilderness began first to be peopled by the English where there was but one poor town, another Cain was found therein, who maliciously slew his neighbor in the field, as he accidentally met him, as he himself was going to shoot deer. The poor fellow perceiving the intent of this Billington, his mortal enemy, sheltered himself behind trees as well as he could for a while; but the other, not being so ill a marksman as to miss his aim, made a shot at them, and struck him on the shoulder, with which he died soon after. The murderer expected that either for want of power to execute for capital offenses, or for want of people to increase the plantation, he should have his life spared; but justice otherwise determined."
- William Hubbard, clergyman
http://mayflower.americanancestors.org/john-billington-biography
From http://mayflower.americanancestors.org/john-1 (NEHGS)
John Billington traveled on Mayflower with his wife Elinor and sons John and Francis.
John and his family were particularly troublesome for the order-loving Puritans. He was hanged in 1630 for the crime of killing a fellow colony member, John Newcomen, with whom he had a long-running feud. He was the first man executed by hanging in the colony.
Misc:
The first offence since our arrival is of John Billington ... and is this month convented before the whole company for his contempt of the Captain's [Myles Standish] lawfull commands with opprobrious speeches, for which he is adjudged to have his neck and heels tied together. But upon humbling himself and craving pardon, it being the first offence, he is forgiven.
Misc:
John Billington Senior, Hellen Billington, and Francis Billington were the 11th through 13th persons in the 7th company. John Billington Jr was the 10th person in the 9th company.John married Elinor in BY 1604 in Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom. Elinor was born on 10 Sep 1585 in London, England, United Kingdom; died after 2 Mar 1642/3 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
5. Elinor was born on 10 Sep 1585 in London, England, United Kingdom; died after 2 Mar 1642/3 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. Other Events and Attributes:
- _AMTID: 162485322748:1030:191555462
- _UID: 0F48C3F3CAD448218F79D40D8FF4E5AE1346
- Misc: 1620; MAYFLOWER PASSENGER
- Immigration: Dec 1620, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States
- Possessions: 8 Jan 1637/8, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; deeded all her land to her natural son, Francis
- Possessions: 21 Sep 1638, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; sold one acres and a half, with her husband George Armstrong, and her son Francis Billington to William Bradford
Notes:
Possessions:
George Armstronge, Ellinor his now wife and Francis Billington her natural son sold to Mr William Bradford one acre & a half of land lying on the north side of the lands of the said William Bradford upon the lowest division next the water side in the field on the north side of the town of Plymouth.Children:
- John Billington was born in CA 1604 in Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom; died in 22 May 1627–SEP 1630 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States.
- 2. Francis Billington was born in 1606–1609 in Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom; died on 3 Dec 1684 in Middleboro, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States.
6. George Penn and died. Other Events and Attributes:
- _AMTID: 162485322752:1030:191555462
- _FSFTID: MN2D-D9T
- _UID: 9F96666257004692966637174AAF4F6A28AE
George + Elizabeth. Elizabeth and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
7. Elizabeth and died. Other Events and Attributes:
- _AMTID: 162485322754:1030:191555462
- _UID: 3EEAA512D6724D29B15E9A003BAECB0D0736
Children:
- 3. Christian Penn was born in CA 1607 in England, United Kingdom; died in CA 1684 in Middleboro, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States.