Genealogy of Craig Harmon, NC:Information about Francis Billington
Francis Billington (b. 1606, d. 03 Dec 1684)
Notes for Francis Billington:
Biographical Summary
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.
Children of Francis Billington and Christian Penn are:
- +Mercy Billington, b. 25 Feb 1651, Plymouth, Massachusetts, d. 28 Sep 1718, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts.