PENN, Christian b. Abt 2 Sep 1613 Sussex, England d. 16 Jul 1684 Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA: WETZEL Extended Family & More

PENN, Christian

Abt 1613 - 1684 (70 years)

Name	PENN, Christian [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
Birth	Abt 1606	England [5, 9]
Birth	Abt 2 Sep 1613	Sussex, England [3]
Gender	Female
Emigration	1623 [5, 8]
	aboard the ship Anne. Came to America on the Anne
Mayflower desc_1	On the show Finding Your Roots, Lithgow discovered that he is a descendant of eight Mayflower passengers, including colonial governor William Bradford.[5][7][8] He is also related to that show's host, the historian and literary critic, Henry Louis Gates Jr.,[9] in addition to being distant cousins with painter Frederic Edwin Church, chef Julia Child, author Thomas Pynchon, and actors Alec Baldwin, Clint Eastwood, and Sally Field.
Progeny	Francis & Christian had 9 children together (She'd brought 3 from a previous marriage) [11]
	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 __________
Death	16 Jul 1684	Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA [3, 5]
	age 70
Progeny	19 Nov 1831 [12]
	President James A. Garfield
FSID	L5VQ-2NS
Name	Christian (Widow Of Eaton) Penn [9]
	Christian (Widow Of Eaton) Penn
Name	wife #3
	wife #3?
Person ID	I32796	WETZEL-SPRING

Father	PENN, George, b. Abt 1582, Gloucestershire, England d. 4 Nov 1642, Brinkworth, Wiltshire, England (Age 60 years)
Relationship	natural
Mother	Brinksworth, Elizabeth, b. Abt 1584, Gloucestershire, England
Relationship	natural
Family ID	F4093	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family 1 BILLINGTON, Francis, b. 1606, Spalding, Lincolnshire, England d. 3 Dec 1684, Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA (Age 78 years)

Marriage Jul 1634 Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA [3, 9, 13]

Issue, jt 9 Francis & Christian had 9 children together (She'd brought 3 from a previous marriage)

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
__________________________________________________

Children

	1. Billington, Dorcas, b. 1645, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA d. Aft 1711 (Age > 67 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	2. Billington, Francis, b. Abt 1653, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	3. BILLINGTON, Mary, b. 1640, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA d. Aft 28 Jun 1717, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts, USA (Age > 77 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	4. Billington, Rebecca, b. 8 Jun 1647, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	5. Billington, Elinor, b. Abt 1638, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	6. Billington, Mercy, b. 25 Feb 1651, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA d. 28 Sep 1718, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts, USA (Age 67 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	7. Billington, Isaac Sr, b. Abt 1644, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA d. 11 Dec 1709, Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA (Age 65 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	8. Billington, Joseph, b. Bef 2 Feb 1637, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	9. Billington, Elizabeth, b. 10 Jul 1635, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	10. Billington, Martha, b. Abt 1638, Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA d. Aft 9 Jun 1704, Plainfield, Windham, Connecticut, USA (Age > 66 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]

Family ID F794 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Family 2 Eaton, Francis, b. 11 Sep 1596, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England d. 18 Nov 1633, Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA (Age 37 years)

Marriage Abt 1624 Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Plymouth Colony, Plymouth, MA

Children

	1. Eaton, Benjamin, b. 1 Jun 1627, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA d. 16 Jan 1712, Plympton, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA (Age 84 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	2. Eaton, Rachel, b. 1625, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA d. Abt 1660, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA (Age 35 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	3. Eaton, idiote child [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]

Family ID F4373 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Event Map

	Birth - Abt 1606 - England
	Birth - Abt 2 Sep 1613 - Sussex, England
	Marriage - Abt 1624 - Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
	Marriage - Jul 1634 - Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
	Death - 16 Jul 1684 - Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

= Link to Google Earth

Photos » Slide Show		Ship Anne 1623 to Plymouth, another angle …
		immigration fr England- ship Immigrated England tresieg1 tresieg1 originally shared this to Geisert Tree ?30 Dec 2009 ?Portrait / Family Photo Arrived Virginia 1651 ALBaker18 ALBaker18 added this to Durham/Smith Family Tree ?24 Jul 2011
		Ship Anne 1623 to Plymouth, HICKS on board
		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

Notes

AncestryView for Windows: Plymouth Colony, its History and People-
Eaton, Francis
Plymouth Colony, p.286
?A 1620 Mayflower passenger, Francis Eaton arrived with his wife Sarah and son Samuel. Bradford wrote "his first wife dyed in the generall sicknes; and he maried againe, and his 2 wife dyed, and he maried the 3 and had by her 3 children. One of them is maried and hath a child; the other are living, but one of them is an ideote. He dyed about 16 years agoe. His son Samuell, who came over a sucking child, is allso maried, and hath a child" (Bradford [Ford] 2:400, 410). Some genealogists believe that Eaton's second wife was Carver's unnamed maid servant who "maried, and dyed a year or two after, here in this place" (Bradford [Ford] 2:402). Eaton's third wife was Christian Penn. The first five generations of his descendants are given in MF 1. He died in the 1633 epidemic. His children were Samuel, Rachel, Benjamin, and a child, called by Bradford an idiot, of whom there is no further record. The first three children had issue. Eaton's inventory called him a carpenter and itemized a number of carpenter's tools (MD 1:197-99). Banks, English Ancestry, p. 52, found a record apprenticing a John Morgan to Francis Eaton, of Bristol, England, carpenter, but this was dated after Eaton was in Plymouth. However, first names and occupations frequently recur in the same family, and Waters, Genealogical Gleanings, 2:1034, summarizes the will of Christopher Cary of Bristol, England, dated 30 October 1615, in which he leaves to his wife a lodge and garden in the parish of St. Philip's, "now in the occupation of Frances Eaton, house carpenter;" this fact may be useful for further research. For additional information on the family of his daughter Rachel Eaton, who married Joseph Ramsden, see Robert S. Wakefield, "The Ramsden Family of Plymouth, Mass.," MD 36:187.
[Brøderbund WFT European Origins Vol. E1, Ed. 1, Tree #0361, Date of Import: 22 May 2001]

#2, #4#10 #12 #24 #31 #34 Marriage #45 #53 Came in "Ann" 1623
_________________________

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
__________________________________________________
20250919GHLn- LDS-
Relationship to parents is undocumented. Please read all notes before changing the record.

This family has been extensively researched by the best professionals in the the United States and England. Relationship to George Penn is NOT accepted by the best professional researchers in the Mayflower Society, as it cannot be documented and there is considerable evidence against it. Please review Note in Collaborate "Birth and Ancestry." See source (Potential Christening) for possible origins, which need further research to verify. If the Mayflower Society does not accept it as valid, it should not be added.

Last Changed: August 24, 2023
A
Anna Lenz Hetzel

Placement of children in other homes

An excerpt from "The Times of Their Lives: Life, Love, and Death in Plymouth Colony," by James Deetz and Patricia Scott Deetz
pages 116-117
In 1642, Francis and Christian Billington "put Elizabeth, their daughter, apprentice to John Barnes and Mary, his wife, to dwell with them and to do their services until she shall accomplish the age of twenty-three years (she being now seven years of age...)." Like Mary Moorecock, Elizabeth was to have all her basic needs provided, but nothing after her contract ended.
The Billington case raises the whole strange, unresolved question of the "putting out" of children to live in families other than their own that seems to have occurred on a fairly regular basis in Plymouth Colony. In part it may have had its roots in an English custom that dated back at least to the sixteenth centure, when children were brought up in families other than their own due to the belief that they would learn better manners than at home. Demos believes that children formed the greatest proportion of persons in servitude in the colony, and given the economic hardship of many families, and the shortage of cheap labor, these factors must also have played into the system. Children were apprenticed to learn a trade, obtain a general education in the household, including literacy, or were simply servants. Insofar as hard evidence is concerned, there is not a great deal, as the motivation of parents in putting their children to grow to adulthood away from their own family circle is only glimpsed. Sometimes it was both economicand a concern for the welfar of the child, as inthe case of seven-year-old Zachariah Eddy, put to live with John Browne of Rehoboth as a servant until he was twently-one, as his parents had "many children, & by reason of many wants lying upon them...they are not able to bring them up as they desire." Zachary's brother, John, had also been put out the live with Francis and Katherine Goulder as their servant the previous year, 1645, at the age of seven. Elizabeth Billington's brother, Joseph, was already living with John Cooke, the younger, and in trouble with the court because he kept running away and going home. In this case the court took a firm line with the Billington parents, and ordered that for every time he did this, Francis and Christian would be put in the stocks, In addition, fourteen-year-old Benjamin Eaton, living with the Billingtons (Christian's son by her previous marriage to Francis Eaton), if he should "counsel, entice or inveigle" Joseph from his master, would also be put in the stocks. Francis Billington was a Mayflower passenger, whose father, John, was executed in 1630 for murder. Francis had married Christian Penn, widow of Francis Eaton, four years later, and had to take responsibility for the four Eaton children, one of whom Bradford described as "an idiot," but he lived until 1651, presumably at home. With their own children as well, there seems to have been good reason as to why the two children were put out to service. It could have been a formof welfare relief that existed in the colony, but the system is not fully explained by that conclusion. Demos concludes that there is no clear pattern that emerges. Some were from reasonably well-off, educated families, some were orphans, others were from homes where exonomic hardship necessitated it. The historian Edmund Morgan, in his study of the Puritan family, has suggested another explanation, that parents in this culture "did not trust themselves with their own children, that they were afraid of spoiling them by too great affection," and so sent them to be brought up by others.

Last Changed: March 28, 2022
B
BelMark

Draft of note about marriage date

Not married prior to 1626. Francis Eaton’s previous wife Dorothy appears in an apprenticeship agreement dated 4 December 1626 in Bristol. This suggests she was alive when Isaac Allerton went to England in the spring of 1626. Which means Francis remarried after that. Daughter Rachel was in the May 1627 Cattle Division. This leaves a narrow window for the marriage of Francis and Christian. Rachel’s placement as daughter of Christian depends on a short sentence by William Bradford writing in 1650 in which he did not remember Dorothy’s name. If Rachel was Dorothy’s daughter, the marriage of Francis and Christian could have been in 1627 before the May cattle division. Please see the articles by Thompson and Green in the source list for Francis Eaton.

Last Changed: February 12, 2022
B
BelMark
Christian Penn

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 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.

"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.

SOURCES:
EMIGRANT ANCESTORS, John Camden Hotten, 1874
Mayflower Increasings for Three Generations

Last Changed: January 12, 2022
A
Anna Lenz Hetzel

Birth and ancestry

7 July 2020, I (Anna Lenz Hetzel) received the following in a personal email from editor John Bradley Arthaud, FASG in reply to this question: Has anything ever been identified about Christian Penn Eaton's birth, parents, or ancestry? His reply: "Nada. There are many unproved statements about." (Harriet W. Hodge, Robert S. Wakefield, and John Bradley Arthaud, Mayflower Families through Five Generations: John Billington (Plymouth, 2014), pages 21, 23.)
.
No sources have been provided that indicate her parents were George Penn and Elizabeth Brinksworth.

Last Changed: March 15, 2021
A
Anna Lenz Hetzel
Biographical Notes and Sources regarding Christian and her descendants

(This was previously listed as a Life Sketch, but has been moved to this location in order for the Life sketch to focus specifically on Christian and her life.)

Pilgrim Francis Eaton married his third wife, Christian Penn, about 1624. She was a passenger on the Anne.
They had 3 children: Rachel. 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.

After Eaton's death, she married Francis Billington in July 1634. They had nine children. Their daughter Martha married Eaton's son from his first marriage.

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 Billington'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 th ____

Last Changed: July 5, 2020

A
Anna Lenz Hetzel
Possible relatives

She traveled on the same ship with the Oldhams. "Oldham's company granted ten acres in assignment of lands in 1623 presumably for each person in Oldham's family and for the following: Conant, Roger, Penn, and Christian." This also states that John Oldham had nine others with him, but doesn't name names.

Additional discussion regarding possibilities can be found at: https://www.ancestry.com/boards/thread.aspx?o=10&m=1546.4.1.1.1.1.1&p=surnames.penn

Last Changed: April 16, 2019

A
Anna Lenz Hetzel
Christian had a step-son and three children from her marriage to Eaton.

..."Francis Billington married the widow of Francis Eaton, four years later, and had to take responsibility for the four Eaton children."
One was Francis Eaton's son from his marriage to Sarah. Three were from Christian Penn and Francis Eaton's union.

Last Changed: March 13, 2019
A
Anna Lenz Hetzel

Children of Francis Billington and Christian Penn
A Plymouth County Court case of Sept 1722 brought by Isaac's daughter Desire (Billington) Bonney and her husband, James, shows that Francis died leaving issue of two sons and five daughters, viz sons Joseph and Isaac, daughters Elizabeth, Mary, Dorcas, Mercy and Martha. There was a total of 8 shares in the estate, with a double portion for Joseph as the eldest son. A 1719 quitclaim deed from Francis's grandson Francis Billington, 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 Plymouth records, it appears the deed was a clerical error. Original must have read "my father Joseph and grandfather Francis Billington." Indications are that the seven children named in the Bonney suit and their progeny were the only survivors of Francis.

Last Changed: August 6, 2017
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Audrey07
children

Last Changed: August 26, 2013
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UnknownMMMC-YWSB

Discussions
Add Discussion
Any relationship to parents is NOT accepted by the best professional researchers in the Mayflower So
May 20, 2023
A personal email from editor John Bradley Arthaud, FASG in reply to this question: Has anything ever been identified about Christian Penn Eaton's birth, parents, or ancestry? His reply: "Nada. There are many unproved statements about." The sometimes given year (1607) and place (Birdham, Sussex, England) are supposedly based on an entry from William Bradford’s journal, which indicated her approximate age and that she came from Birdham. (No verifiable source text or link was cited.) John Bradley Arthaud, FASG states that although here are many unproved statements, nothing in known of her birth, place or ancestry. [Harriet W. Hodge, Robert S. Wakefield, and John Bradley Arthaud, Mayflower Families through Five Generations: John Billington (Plymouth, 2014), pages 21, 23.)Mayflower Families through Five Generations: John Billington (Plymouth, 2014), pages 21, 23.]

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Has anything ever been identified about Christian Penn Eaton's birth, parents, or ancestry?
July 7, 2020
On 7 July 2020, I received a personal email with this answer from John Bradley Arthaud, FASG: "Nada. There are many unproved statements about."
Reference:
Harriet W. Hodge, Robert S. Wakefield, and John Bradley Arthaud, Mayflower Families through Five Generations: John Billington (Plymouth, 2014), pages 21, 23.

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Sources

[S161] FamilySearch.com, (Name: AFamily Search Ancestral File;).
Husband's Name George PENN (AFN:1DGB-7MS) Born: Abt 1582 Place: Minety, Glouc, , England Died: Place: Brinkworth, Wilts, , England Father: William PENN (AFN:MRWK-42) Mother: Margaret RASTALL (AFN:MRWK-57) Wife's Name Elizabeth (AFN:1DGB-7N1) Born: Abt 1584 Place: Minety, Glouc, , England Father: Mother: Children 1. Sex Name F Elizabeth PENN (AFN:1DGB-7P7) Born: Abt 1602 Place: , , Bristol, England 2. Sex Name F Margery PENN (AFN:1DGB-7RM) Born: Abt 1604 Place: , , , Eng 3. Sex Name F Christian PENN (AFN:1DGB-7ST) Born: Abt 1606 Place: , , , Eng Died: 1630 Place: 4. Sex Name F Susanna PENN (AFN:1DGB-7T2) Born: Abt 1608 Place: , , , Eng 5. Sex Name F Eleanor PENN (AFN:1DGB-7V8) Born: 27 Oct 1611 Place: , , , Eng 6. Sex Name M William PENN (AFN:1DGB-8QL) Born: Abt 1613 Minety, Glouc, , England Died: Apr 1676 , Kinsale, Ireland
[S50] Plymouth Colony- Its History and People; AncestryView for Windows:, (Name: CD ROM;), biographical sketches.
Penn, Christian Plymouth Colony, p.335 -Christian Penn arrived on the Anne in 1623. At the time of the 1627 division she was married to Mayflower passenger Francis Eaton, and after his death she married Mayflower passenger Francis Billington. Information on her three children by Eaton, and their descendants, is given in MF-1, and on her nine children by Billington in Wakefield, TG 3:228. She died probably at Middleborough ca. 1684.
[S394] Ancestry.com, Public Member Trees, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006;), Database online., Skinner/Schinzel-Ahlemeyer/Haines Tree J_Ahlemeyer.
Record for Francis Eaton
[S161] FamilySearch.com, (Name: AFamily Search Ancestral File;).
Husband's Name George PENN (AFN:J3VF-9R) Born: 1571/1582 Of, Birdham, Sussex, Eng. Died: 4 Nov 1632 Of, Ply., Ply., Mass. Buried: 5 Jan 1632 Mintye, Bristol, Gloucester, England Married: 29 Jul 1581 Sussex, , England Father: William PENN (AFN:MRWK-42) Mother: Margaret RASTALL (AFN:MRWK-57) Wife's Name Elizabeth Mrs. PENN (AFN:J3VF-BX) Born: Abt 1587 Of, Birdham, Sussex, Eng. Married: 29 Jul 1581 Sussex, , England Father: Mother: Children 1. Eleanor PENN (AFN:P20N-5G) Born: Abt 1603 , , Of Eng. 2. Elizabeth PENN (AFN:P20N-6M) Born: Abt 1605 , , Of Eng. 3. William PENN (AFN:J3VF-C4) Born: 1609 Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts Died: 1669 , Westmoreland, Virginia 4. Eleanor PENN (AFN:J3VF-D9) Born: 1611 <Plymouth, Plymouth, Ma> Christened: 21 Oct 1611 Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass Died: Aft 1669 5. John PENN (AFN:P20N-95) Born: Abt 1611 , , Of Eng. Died: 1667 6. Eleanor PENN(AFN:NVBR-6P) Born: 1611 , Minety, , England 7. Elizabeth PENN (AFN:J3VF-FG) Born: Abt 1613 Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts 8. Elizabeth PENN (AFN:NVBR-7V) Born: Abt. 1613 , Minety, , England 9. Elizabeth PENN (AFN:NVC1-5L) Born: Abt. 1613 , Minety, , England 10. Sex F Christian PENN (EATON) (AFN:4J3T-WM) Born: 2 Sep 1613 Of Plymouth, Plymouth, Ma Died: Jul 1684 Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts Buried: , , Massachusetts 11. Sex Name F Christian PENN (AFN:NVBR-82) Born: Abt. 1615 Place: , Minety, , England Died: 1630 12. John PENN (AFN:NVBR-BD) Born: Abt 1626 Of, Minety, , Engl Died: 1677 Rappahannook

[S394] Ancestry.com, Public Member Trees, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006;), Skinner/Schinzel-Ahlemeyer/Haines Tree J_Ahlemeyer.
Record for John Billington (128) facts
20251104GHLn- edited
John Billington

The Billington family may have originated from around Cowbit and Spaulding, in Lincolnshire, England, where Francis Longland named young Francis Billington son of John Billington an heir. In 1650, a survey indicated that Francis Billington was then in New England. However, research has thus far failed to turn up any other records of the family's residence there.

The Billington family was Plymouth Colony's troublemakers. Just after arrival, young Francis Billington shot off his father's musket in the Mayflower's cabin, showering sparks around open barrels of gunpowder, nearly causing a catastrophe. A few months later in March 1621, father John was brought before the company for "contempt of the Captain's lawful command with opprobrious speeches", and was sentenced to have his neck and heels tied together: "but upon humbling himself and craving pardon, and it being the first offence, he is forgiven." Son John wandered off in May 1621, and was brought by Nauset Indians to Cape Cod, where he was later retrieved. In 1624, Billington was implicated in the Oldham-Lyford scandal (a failed revolt against the Plymouth church), but played ignorant and was never officially punished for involvement. In 1625, Governor Bradford wrote a letter to Robert Cushman saying "Billington still rails against you, ... he is a knave, and so will live and die." In 1630, Billington shot and killed John Newcomen, they having been common enemies of one another for some time. Billington was tried by jury and hanged in September 1630 for the murder. In 1636, wife Eleanor (sometimes Helen) was sentenced to sit in the stocks and be whipped for slandering John Doane. Eleanor would later remarry to Gregory Armstrong in 1638.

- taken from MayflowerHistory.com
KarenGray90added this on 3 Apr 2009 srichardson219originally submitted this to McKee / Rice / Richardson Family Tree on 14 Jan 2009
___________________________________

Mayflower Passenger

John Billington was a signer of the Mayflower Compact and was also the first man to be hanged for a crime in the Plymouth Colony.
John Billington (c. 1580- September 30, 1630) was the first Englishman,[1] to be convicted of murder in what would become the United States and the first to be hanged for any crime in New England.

He came to the Plymouth Colony on the famous voyage of the "Mayflower" in 1620 with his wife and two sons. He soon made enemies with many aboard the ship. He was known as a "foul mouthed miscreant" and "knave." He was not a member of the separatist Brownist congregation that dominated the colony's life, but rather, he fled England to escape creditors. His sons were also seen as troublemakers.

In March, 1621 Billington was convicted of contempt for insulting Captain Miles Standish. His punishment was to have his heels tied to his neck. Billington apologized profusely and was spared from the penalty.

In 1624, Billington became a follower of the Reverend John Lyford, who was banished from Plymouth Colony in 1625 for being a danger to the community. Though Billington was nearly convicted as Lyford's accomplice, he was permitted to remain in Plymouth Colony.

In September 1630, after a heated argument over hunting rights, Billington fatally shot fellow colonist John Newcomen in the shoulder with a Blunderbuss. After counseling with Governor John Winthrop, Governor William Bradford concluded that capital punishment was the necessary penalty. Billington was convicted of murder and hanged at Plymouth, Massachusetts.

KarenGray90added this on 3 Apr 2009 smonsma00originally submitted this to Labbee/Robinson Family Tree on 20 Nov 2007
_________________________________________

Mayflower Compact

John Billington was a signer of the Mayflower Compact in 1620, the first document in America to establish rule by the people.

Mayflower Compact (1620)
The following is a very careful letter-for-letter and line-by-line transcription made by me of the Mayflower Compact, as it is found in the original page of William Bradford's History Of Plymouth Plantation. Spelling and punctuation have not been modernized. The original from which this transcription was made can be seen in the graphic at the bottom of this page.

In ye name of God Amen· We whose names are vnderwriten,
the loyall subjects of our dread soueraigne Lord King James
by ye grace of God, of great Britaine, franc, & Ireland king,
defender of ye faith, &c
Haueing vndertaken, for ye glorie of God, and aduancemente
of ye christian ^faith and honour of our king & countrie, a voyage to
plant ye first colonie in ye Northerne parts of Virginia· doe
by these presents solemnly & mutualy in ye presence of God, and
one of another, couenant, & combine our selues togeather into a
ciuill body politick; for ye our better ordering, & preseruation & fur=
therance of ye ends aforesaid; and by vertue hearof, to enacte,
constitute, and frame shuch just & equall lawes, ordinances,
Acts, constitutions, & offices, from time to time, as shall be thought
most meete & conuenient for ye generall good of ye colonie: vnto
which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witnes
wherof we haue herevnder subscribed our names at Cap=
Codd ye ·11· of Nouember, in ye year of ye raigne of our soueraigne
Lord king James of England, france, & Ireland ye eighteenth
and of Scotland ye fiftie fourth. Ano: Dom ·1620·

SIGNERS:

John CarverEdward TilleyDegory PriestWilliam BradfordJohn TilleyThomas WilliamsEdward WinslowFrancis CookeGilbert WinslowWilliam BrewsterThomas RogersEdmund MargessonIsaac AllertonThomas TinkerPeter BrownMyles StandishJohn RigsdaleRichard BritteridgeJohn AldenEdward FullerGeorge SouleSamuel FullerJohn TurnerRichard ClarkeChristopher MartinFrancis EatonRichard GardinarWilliam MullinsJames ChiltonJohn AllertonWilliam WhiteJohn CrackstoneThomas EnglishRichard WarrenJohn BillingtonEdward DotyJohn HowlandMoses FletcherEdward LeisterStephen HopkinsJohn Goodman

KarenGray90added this on 3 Apr 2009 smonsma00originally submitted this to Labbee/Robinson Family Tree on 15 Jul 2008
____________________________________________
20251104GHLn-
https://famouskin.com/family-group.php?name=2810%20john%20billington&ahnum=1
Notes:
BIOGRAPHY: Mayflower passenger. DEATH: Hanged for the murder of John Newcomen. The only contemporary eyewitness account was written by William Bradford, "1630 - 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 wilful 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 this trial and took the advice of Mr. Winthrop and other the ablest gentlemen in Bay of the Massachusetts, that were then newly come over, who concurred with them that he ought to die, and the land to be purged from blood. 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 by 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." - Taken from Mayflower Families 5 Generations Vol. 21.

Sources for John Billington
1 NEHGS NEXUS: New England Across the United States, 1988, Vol. 5, p. 21.
2 Anderson, Robert Charles, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Vol. 1, A-F, Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society (1995), 173-174, 609.
3 Anderson, Robert Charles, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Vol. 3, P-W, Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society (1995), 1423.
4 Anderson, Robert Charles, The Great Migration Directory: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1640, A Concise Compendium, Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society (2015), 29.
5 Originally compiled by Harriet W. Hodge; Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, F.A.S.G., Mayflower Families Through Five Generations: Vol. 21, John Billington, Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants (2001), 5.
6 Roberts, Gary Boyd, "No. 74 Royal Descents, Notable Kin, and Printed Sources: The New England Ancestry of Actor Richard [Tiffany] Gere", (accessed 10/10/2014).
7 Roberts, Gary Boyd, Notable Kin, Volume 2, Santa Clarita, California: Carl Boyer, 3rd (1999), 95.
8 Roberts, Gary Boyd, The Mayflower 500: Five Hundred Notable Descendants of the Founding Families on the Mayflower, Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society (2020), 4, 255, 314, 370, 378, 585, 603, 682, 787.

	passenger ship, The Mayflower The Mayflower Nov 1620 , Plymouth Colony KarenGray90added this on 3 Apr 2009
	Signing the Mayflower Compact Signing the Mayflower Compact Nov 1620 , Plymouth Colony KarenGray90added this on 3 Apr 2009

[S161] FamilySearch.com, (Name: AFamily Search Ancestral File;).
Christian PENN (EATON) (AFN: 4J3T-WM) Birth: 2 Sep 1613, Of Plymouth, Plymouth, Ma Death: Jul 1684, Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts Burial: , , Massachusetts Parents: Father: George PENN (AFN: J3VF-9R) Mother: Elizabeth Mrs. PENN (AFN: J3VF-BX) Marriage(s): Spouse: Francis EATON (AFN: J3VB-LW) Marriage: 1624/1625, Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass Spouse: Francis EATON (AFN: 1KX7-2MB) Marriage: 1624/1625, Plymouth, Plymouth, Ma Spouse: Francis BILLINGTON (AFN: 4J3T-VG) Marriage: 16 Jul 1634, Plymouth, Plymouth, Ma
[S167] GEDCOM: 224075 Robert Kingsley d.1534, (Name: Cf also gen rep 224075 John BILLINGTON b1580.doc;), 224075.
2. FRANCIS2 BILLINGTON (JOHN1) ... married CHRISTIANA PENN, daughter of GEORGE PENN and ELIZABETH UNKNOWN. Note: "Christiana", vs "Chriastian" in other references. This one makes more sense, hence the change- jcw 12.08.00 2. FRANCIS2 BILLINGTON (JOHN1) He married CHRISTIANA PENN, daughter of GEORGE PENN and ELIZABETH UNKNOWN. Children of FRANCIS BILLINGTON and CHRISTIANA PENN are: 3. i. MARY3 BILLINGTON. ii. ELIZABETH BILLINGTON, b. 10 July 1635, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; m. (1) THOMAS PATTE; b. 1635; m. (2) RICHARD BULLOCK; b. 1635. 4. iii. JOSEPH BILLINGTON, b. Bef. 02 February 1636/37, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts. iv. ELINOR BILLINGTON, b. Abt. 1638, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; m. SAMUEL (1) WARREN; b. 1638. 5. v. MARTHA BILLINGTON, b. Abt. 1638, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; d. Aft. 09 July 1704. 6. vi. ISAAC BILLINGTON, b. Abt. 1644, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; d. 11 December 1709, Middleboro, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts. vii. DORCAS BILLINGTON, b. 1645, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; d. Aft. 1711; m. EDWARD MAY; b. 1645. viii. REBECCA BILLINGTON, b. 08 June 1647, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts. ix. MERCY BILLINGTON, b. 25 February 1650/51, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; d. 28 September 1718, Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Massachusetts; m. JOHN MARTIN, 27 June 1681, Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Massachusetts; b. 1651. x. FRANCIS BILLINGTON, b. Abt. 1653, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; m. ABIGAIL CHURCHILL; b. 18 February 1679/80, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts.
[S181] djohnson@c.net.gt, GEDCOM: Kingsley 75434, (Name: Ancestry.com;), 75434.
cf World Family Tree, vol 11, Ed. 1: tree #1599
[S341] Brøderbund Software, Inc., World Family Tree European Origins Vol. E1, Ed. 1, (Name: Release date: September 15, 1997;), Tree #0361.
Date of Import: 22 May 2001

[S3064] Famous Kin off the Mayflower-.
20260304GHLn-
Family Relationship of
John Billington (c1580 - 1630)
Mayflower passenger 1620
9th Great-grandfather to John Lithgow
Stage, TV, and Movie Actor

? ? John Billington
Elinor - - - - - -

Francis Billington
Christian Penn

Mercy Billington
John Martin

Desire Martin
Jotham Carpenter

Jotham Carpenter
Mehitable Thompson

Elizabeth Carpenter
Nathaniel Carpenter

Elizabeth Carpenter
Salmon Root

Amanda Root
Warren Mattoon Graves

Albert Mattoon Graves
Mary E. Bronson

Eva Bronson Graves
Rev. Orlo Josiah Price

Sarah Jane Price
Arthur Washington Lithgow

John Lithgow
Stage, TV, and Movie Actor

John Lithgow image by David Shankbone ( CC BY-SA 3.0)

_________________
20260305GHLn-
Arthur Lithgow Obituary
Arthur Lithgow, a producer and director who was a pioneer in American regional theater, specializing in Shakespeare, died March 23 at his home in Amherst, Mass. He was 88.

The cause was congestive heart failure, said his son, the actor John Lithgow.

Mr. Lithgow (pronounced LITH-go) first appeared onstage in December 1920 at age 5 as a cherub in a Christmas pageant at the Unitarian Church in Melrose, Mass. He made his New York City debut in November 1938 as a soldier in Jacques Deval ' s anti-Nazi drama, " Lorelei. "

But his long-lasting theatrical achievements came through his work in regional theater around the country, in creating new theater programs or taking charge of older ones.

He established the Antioch Shakespeare Festival, eventually known as Shakespeare Under the Stars, at his alma mater, Antioch College, in Yellow Springs, Ohio, in 1952; he was artistic director until 1957. By the early 1960s, it had moved and had grown into the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival in Lakewood, Ohio. He was the artistic director of the McCarter Theater in Princeton, N.J., where he staged classic and original plays, from 1963 to 1971.

He later worked at the Brattleboro Center for the Performing Arts in Vermont, at the University of South Florida at Tampa, Fla., and in Ithaca, N.Y., where he was co-founder of the Ithaca Theater Guild.

At Antioch, Mr. Lithgow eventually put on productions of every play in the canon, sometimes running as many as seven in a season. Directing and acting in many of these productions, he played Petruchio in " The Taming of the Shrew " opposite Nancy Marchand ' s Kate, and also played Stephano, Peter Quince, Dr. Caius and Henry IV. The festival drew the praise of major reviewers of the day.

Arthur Washington Lithgow III was born on Sept. 9, 1915, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, the third child of Arthur Washington Lithgow II, an entrepreneur, and Ina Berenice Robinson Lithgow, a nurse. He graduated from public school in Melrose. At Antioch, Mr. Lithgow acted in student productions and received his B.A. in 1938.
He took an M.A. in playwriting at Cornell in 1948.

In 1939, he married Sarah Jane Price, an actress whom he had met at Antioch. She survives him, as do their four children,
John and Robin, both of Los Angeles,
David, of New York, and
Sarah Jane Bokaer, of Ithaca;
two sisters, Marion James, of Melrose, and
Jeannette Peverly, of Milton, Mass.; and
13 grandchildren.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Diego Union-Tribune on Apr. 9, 2004.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sandiegouniontribune/name/arthur-lithgow-obituary?id=51179060

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	Lithgow, arthur-benjamin-john-lithgow1 20260306GHLn- Arthur Benjamin and actor John Lithgow at The Art of Film event in Dallas. http://smgigroup.com/gallery/arthur-benjamin-john-lithgow/ Arthur Lithgow (Performer) Obituary Arthur W. Lithgow, a director, actor, administrator and producer with a wide array of regional theatre credits, including work when resident theatre was in its…
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[S595] Colonial Gazzette, the, (Location: www.mayflowerfamilies.com;).
http://www.mayflowerfamilies.com/enquirer/billington.htm Billington: Not a Bradford Favorite! cf Notes.- jcw 29.02.2012
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
__________________________________________________
[S192] Genealogy- Mayflower desc Presidents.html, (Name: http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/glimpse/presidents/html/jg20.html;).
James A. Garfield (Eliza Ballou, Mehitable Ingalls, Sybil Carpenter, Jotham Carpenter, Desire Martin, Mercy Billington, FRANCIS BILLINGTON, JOHN BILLINGTON)
[S341] Brøderbund Software, Inc., World Family Tree European Origins Vol. E1, Ed. 1, (Name: Release date: September 15, 1997;), ****Tree #0361.
Date of Import: 22 May 2001 ...................... (199)

20200918HAv-
Date of Import: 22 May 2001 (6) facts ....... (200)
Edmund BANGS

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