- http://www.mayflowerfamilies.com/enquirer/billington.htm
Billington: Not a Bradford Favorite!
John Billington, his wife Elinor, and two adolescent sons, John and Francis were passengers on the Mayflower. Billington, who was not one of the Leyden group, became a Mayflower Passenger at Southampton. Ten years later he was executed for the murder of "one John Newcomen. . ." (Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, V, 31+)
It seems that nearly all that we know of the Billingtons comes from Governor William Bradford's references to the family, and, for good reason or not, it is evident that he felt a hearty dislike for the family.
Billington troubles are noted from the start. While still on board ship in Provincetown Harbor, one of the young sons (unknown) fired a gun near an open half-keg of gun powder posing a near disaster for the ship and passengers. Of this Bradford writes "and yet, by God's mercy, no harm done." (MF5G V:31) In 1621 Billington was sentenced to have his neck and heels tied together for "oppribrious" speeches against Miles Standish. "Craving pardon," he was forgiven." (MF5G V:32)
On a more cheerful note, Francis Billington, shortly after the settlement of Plymouth, climbed to the top of a tree on a hilltop and discovered two lakes known from then until now as "Billington Sea." (Actually I think this was John Billington, his brother- jcw 29.02.2012)
Bradford's writings, however, continue to present Billington as contentious, unmanageable and undesirable. In a 1625 letter to Robert Cushman in England (Governor Bradford's Letter Book,MD V:79, New-Plymouth, June 9, 1625), Bradford writes: "Billington still rails against you, and threatens to arrest you, I know not wherefore; he is a knave, and so will live and die." [Mr. "Cusksnan" died before this letter arrived.]
Finally, in the only known eyewitness account, Bradford relates (Bradford History MF5G V:33) that in 1630 "John Billington the elder, one that came over with the first, was arraigned, and both by grand and petty jury found guilty of wilful murder, by plain and notorious evidence. And was for the same accordingly executed . . ." " He and some of his had been often punished for miscarriages before, being one of the profanest families amongst them; they came from London, and I know not what friends shuffled into their company. 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."
Upon his death he left his wife Eleanor (Elinor) and son Francis -- his son John having died previously. About eight years later, his wife would remarry a Gregory Armstrong.
Son Francis married Christian Penn Eaton in 1634, widow of Pilgrim Francis Eaton. She brought to the marriage three children Rachel, Benjamin and another of unknown name. Together they had an additional nine children.
In 1642 (Records of the Town of Plymouth 1:12) numerous of the children were put out. "Concerneing the placeing and disposing of ffrancis Billingtons children according to the Act and order of the Court:
"It is ordered and agreed upon that John Cooke the yonger shall have Joseph until hee shalbe of the age of twenty and one years (being now about vi or vii years old) and fynd him meat drink and apparell during the said terme."
One can imagine the psychological hurt of a young child being put out of his home, and it is noted in the records that as a child (MF5G V:39) "he (Joseph) repeatedly ran away from his master to return to his parents; in July 1643 he and they were sternly admonished." This Joseph, who is later found at Block Island, was apparently considered lazy and shiftless. He is repeatedly ordered in the town records to go to work and support his family.(NEHGR 105:179, Notes on Block Islanders of Seventeenth Century.) A probable son Elisha is cited as having following his father's shiftless ways. (NEHGR: 106:105, Two Block Island Documents)
It is ordered that Benjamin Eaton his eldest Boy shalbe with John Winslow upon these conditions untill he shall accomplish the age of xxi years being about xv years in march next . . ."
It is ordered and agreed also that Gyles Rickett shall take another of his children a gerle aboute five years of age and shall keepe her and find her meat drink and apparell . . ."
It is ordered and agreed likewise That Gabriell ffallowell shall have another of his children a gerle about ______ years of age . . ."
Tragedy seemed to follow some members of the early family. A surviving daughter Elizabeth, one of those apprenticed out, married first Richard Bullock in 1660, Rehobeth, who died in 1667. She married second in 1673 a Robert Beere who was killed by the Indians in March of 1676. She married third Thomas Patey/Patte of Providence who drowned in the Seekonk River 1695. (MF5G V:37,38).
Sources:
Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, V, John Billington, General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1991
Records of the Town of Plymouth, Volume 1, 1636-1705, Plymouth, Avery & Doten, Book and Job Printers, 1889.
New England Historic and Genealogical Register, V 105,106.
Mayflower Descendant,Volume V, Editor,George Ernest Bowman, Published by the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants.
For additional information on this family visit the Mayflower Site
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