Francis Billington: Mayflower passenger

The names of those which came over first, in the year 1620, and were by the blessing of God the first beginners and in a sort the foundation of all the Plantations and Colonies in New England ; and their families… “John Billington and Ellen his wife, and two sons, John and Francis.” William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation 1620-1647, ed. Samuel Eliot Morison (New York: Knopf, 1991), p. 441-3. “The fifth day [of December, 1620] we, through God’s mercy, escaped a great danger by the foolishness of a boy, one of …Billington’s sons, who, in his father’s absence, had got gunpowder, and had shot off a piece or two, and made squibs; but there being a fowling-piece charged in his father’s cabin, shot her off in the cabin; there being a little barrel of [gun] powder half full, scattered in and about the cabin, the fire being within four foot of the bed between the decks, and many flints and iron things about the cabin, and many people about the fire; and yet, by God’s mercy, no harm done.” Mourt’s Relation, ed. Jordan D. Fiore (Plymouth, Mass.: Plymouth Rock Foundation), 1985, p. 27.

Francis Billington and the early exploration and settlement of Plymouth

“Monday, the eighth day of January … This day Francis Billington, having the week before seen from the top of a tree on a high hill a great sea [known today as Billington Sea, actually a large pond], as he thought, went with one of the master’s mates to see it. They went three miles and then came to a great water, divided into two great lakes; the bigger of them five or six miles in circuit, and in it an isle of a cable length square; the other three miles in compass, in their estimation. They are fine fresh water, full of fish and fowl. A brook issues from it; it will be an excellent place for us in time. They found seven or eight Indian houses, but not lately inhabited. When they saw the houses, they were in some fear; for they were but two persons and one piece.” Mourt’s Relation, ed. Jordan D. Fiore (Plymouth, Mass.: Plymouth Rock Foundation), 1985, p. 40.

Francis Billington and the 1627 Division of Cattle

Plymouth Colony Records Vol. I also tells of the 1627 Division of Cattle: “At a publique court held the 22th of May it was concluded by the whole Companie, that the cattell wch were the Companies, to wit, the Cowes & the Goates should be equally devided to all the psonts of the same company… so the lotts fell as followeth, thirteene psonts being pportioned to one lot… “The seauenth lott fell to Stephen Hopkins & his companie Joyned to (2) him his wife Elizabeth Hopkins (3) Gyles Hopkins (4) Caleb Hopkins (5) Debora Hopkins (6) Nickolas Snow (7) Constance Snow (8) Willam Pallmer (9) ffrances Pallmer (10) Willm Pallmer Jnor (11) John Billington Senor (12) Hellen Billington (13) ffrancis Billington. “To this lott fell A black weining Calfe to wch was aded the Calfe of this yeare to come of the black Cow, wch pveing a bull they were to keepe it vngelt 5 yeares for common vse & after to make there best of it. Nothing belongeth of thes too, for ye copanye of ye first stock: but only half ye Increase. To this lott ther fell two shee goats: which goats they posses on the like terms which others doe their cattell… The ninth lot fell to Richard Warren & his companie Joyned w’th him his wife (2) Elizabeth Warren (3) Nathaniell Warren (4) Joseph Warren (5) Mary Warren (6) Anna Warren (7) Sara Warren (8) Elizabeth Warren (9) Abigall Warren (10) John Billington (11) George Sowle (12) Mary Sowle (13) Zakariah Sowle. “To this lott fell one of the 4 black Heyfers that came in the Jacob caled the smooth horned Heyfer and two shee goats.”

Francis Billington: 1650

“John Billlington… his second son [Francis] is alive and married and hath eight children.” William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation 1620-1647, ed. Samuel Eliot Morison (New York: Knopf, 1991), p. 443-446.

Francis Billington in the Records of Plymouth Colony

January 1633: The inventory of Joh Thorp, carpenter, deceased of Plymouth, was entered into the Court records in January 1633. Among others, Thorp is listed as debtor “To ffr Billington 03 [pounds] 12 [shillings] 06 [pence].” The inventory of Francis Eaton, carpenter, deceased of Plymouth, was entered into the Court records in November of 1633. Listed is “The debts off ffr Eaton … It To ffr Billington for worke 01 [pounds] 10 [shillings].” Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 1, p. 160, 199.

25 March 1633: “According to an order in Court held the 2d of January, in the seaventh yeare of the raigne of o’r soveraigne lord, Charles, by the grace of God King of Engl., Scotl., France, & Irel., defendor of the faith &c, the psons heere under menconed were rated for publike use… “Francs Billington, … 00:09:00 [9 shillings].” Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. 1, p. 9-10. Francis Billington was also “rated” 9 shillings in 1634 (Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. 1, p. 28).

July 1634: “Francis Billington and Christian Eaton, widdow, wer married.” Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. 1, p. 31.

1636: [The Town of Plymouth established “teams” for cutting and providing wood]: “for goodman Winters Teame Willam Hoskins ffrancis Billington Nicolas hodgis Will Spon.” Records of the Town of Plymouth, Vol. 1, p. 33.

20 March 1637-8: “Memorand that Mrs Elinor Billington Widdow the twentyeth day of March Anno Dni 1637 by her deede in writing vnder her hand and seale bearing date the eight day of January 1637 in the thirteenth yeare of the Raigne of or now Souaigne Lord Charles by the grace of God Kind of England Scotland ffranc & Ireland &c Hath giuen graunted enfeoffed and confirmed All and singuler her lands meadowes pastures commons wth all & singuler the apprtences therevnto belonging scituate and being at Playne Dealing together wth all her right title and interrest of and into the said prmisss & every part and pcell thereof All which wth some pvisoes and reservacons appeareth more fully and plainely in the wordes of the deed hereafter following, viz. To all xpian people to whom these prnts shall come Ellinor Billington of New Plymouth Widdow sendeth greeting in the Lord God eulasting Know yee That I the said Elinor for and in consideraon of the naturall loue that I beare vnto ffrancis Billington my naturall sonn and for diuers other good causes and consideracons me thervnto especially mooueing Haue giuen graunted enfeoffed and confirmed, and by these prnts doe giue graunt enfeoffe and confirme vnto the said ffrancis Billington his heires and Assignes foreuer All and singuler those my lands meadowes pastures and comons wth all and singuler thapprtences therevnto belonging scituate lying and being neere Playne Dealeing wthin the gouerment of New Plymouth aforesaid, together wth all my Right title and interrest of and into the said prmisss and euery pte and pcell thereof To haue and to hold the said lands meadowes pastures and commons wth all and singuler the prmisss and their apprtences vnto the said ffrancis Billington is heires and Assignes for euer to the onely pper vse and behoofe of him the said ffrancis Billington his heires and assignes for euer Provided always & reserued vnto me the said Ellinor Billington such a pcell or quantitie of lands out of the prmisses as will make a thousand and a halfe of hills to sett wth Indian corne or sowe wth English graine wthin some pte of the prmisss wch shalbe nfenced during my naturall life if I shall please to use yt And also puided & excepted out of the prmisss a smale pcell of ground to make a garden place & erect a house vpon together wth such a quantitie of land in a new feild as the said Ellinor shall please to be at charge to manure and take in wth the said ffrancis to be hers to use during her naturall life ; Provided lastly that the said ffrancis Billington doe not sell bargaine alliene or assigne the said prmisss or any pte thereof during the life of the said Ellinor wthout her consent and approbacon And the said Ellinor Billington all and singuler the said prmisses and euery pte and pcell thereof vnto the said ffrancis Billington his heires and Assignes and euery of them against all men doth couenant and graunt by these prnts foreu to warrant and defend. In witnesse whereof I the said Ellinor Billington haue herevnto set my hand and Seale the Eight day of January in the Thirteenth yeare of the Raigne of our Souaigne Lord Charles by the grace of God of England Scotland ffrance and Ireland Kinge Defendor of the fayth 1637. “Ellinor Billington her mark. “Sealed & deliued in the prsence of Nathaniell Sowther, James Hurst, & Robte Lee.” Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. 12, p. 28-29.

7 July 1637: “…wee allowe a way from Francis Billingtons ground through the nooke, as it now lyeth, to the ferry, and from the ferry to Steephen Tracies house, and so through the meaddow to the bridg.” Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. 1, p. 58.

26 July 1638: “The stock at this tyme was thus disposed. John Shawe – foure shares, ffrancis Billington sixe shares, Mrs Hodgkinson two shares in the pyde cowe wch was Goodman Shawes.” Records of the Town of Plymouth, Vol. 1, p. 4.

28 August 1638: “Articles of agreement made and concluded vpon the xxviijth of August 1638 Betweene Gregory Armestrong of thone pty and Ellinor Billington, Widdow, of thother pty concning a marriage to be solempnized betweene the said pties as followeth viz. “In primis it is concluded and agreed vpon betweene the said pties to these prnts and in consideracon of the said Marriage That whereas the said Ellinor hath two Cowes w’ch the said Gregory is pr’sently to enter vpon The said Gregory doth couenant and graunt by these p’rnts That if it please God that he happen to outliue the said Ellinor that then he shall and will at his decease giue two heiffers of a yeare old & advantage a peece to the benefitt of the naturall children of ffrancis Billington the said Ellinors naturall sonn out of the estate that he shall then haue left, and if it happen that the said Gregory dept this life before the said Ellinor that then the estate shalbe at the disposeing of the said Ellinor, except some thinges to his frends at his death according to his estate at his death. “Itm It is also concluded vpon that the said two heiffers shalbe put forth when they fall to the benefitt of the said children by the ouersight & discretion of the Goun’r and Assistants of New Plymouth for the tyme being Alwayes puided that the said ffrancis Billington haue the vse of them before any other, if he be then liueinge. “Itm it is concluded vpon betweene the said pties And the said Ellinor doth couenant and graunt to and w’th the said Gregory That if hee the said Gregory shall surviue and outliue the said Ellinor that then hee the said Gregory shall enjoy the house they now lieu in and the lands they occupye during his life. Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. 12, p. 33-34.

“Memorand the fourteenth day of Septembr 1638 That wheras Willm Tench and John Carman did bequeath two acres of lands vnto John Billington deceased Now Ellinor Billington his wyfe and ffrancis Billington his sonn doe acknowledg that for and in consideracon of the sume of foure pounds sterl in hand payd haue freely and absolutely bargained and sould vnto Mr Thom Prince Goun’r the said two acres of land lying on the South side of the second brooke & next to the lnads of Mr Willm Bradford w’th all & singuler the app’rtences therento belonging and all their right title & interrest of & into same & euery pte & pcell thereof To haue and to hold the said two acres of lands w’th their app’rtences vnto the said Thomas Prence his heires and Assignes for euer to the onely pper vse and behoofe of the said Thomas Prence has heires and Assignes foreu. There was one third pt of one of the sia dacres excepted w’ch was giuen to Mr Bradford & was rateably to be abated for, except Mr Bradford would release the same w’ch he did in consideracon of the bargaine followinge.

“Memorand the xxjth of Septemb’r 1638 That Gregory Armestronge Ellinor his now wyfe and ffrancis Billington her naturall sonn doe acknowledge that for and in consideracon of the sume of fourty shilling sterl in hand payd by Mr Willm Bradford as also for that the sd Mr Bradford hath released his interrest vnto them in third pte of an acre of land lately sould to Mr Prince Haue freely & absolutely bargained & sould vnto the said Mr Wm Bradford one acre & a halfe of land lying on the north side of the lands of the said Will’m Bradford vpon the lowest diuision next the water side in the feild on the North side of the Towne of Plymouth together with all their Right title & interrest of and into the same w’th all & singuler thapp’rtencs therevnto belonging To haue & to hold the said acre & half of land w’th all & singuler the app’rtences therevnto belonging vnto the said Willm Bradford his heires & Assignes for euer to the onely pp use and behoofe of the said William Bradford his heires & Assignes foreu’r.” Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. 12, p. 37-38.

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