Francis Billington

Francis was about 14 when he traveled on the Mayflower with his parents John and Elinor, and older  brother John.  Francis nearly caused a disaster onboard the Mayflower shortly after arrival in Plymouth Harbor, when he shot off his father's gun inside a cabin, causing a fire that sent sparks towards an open barrel of gunpowder.  Another time, about the beginning of January 1620/21, while exploring about three miles from Plymouth, Francis climbed a tree and thought he had discovered a great sea. This turned out to be two ponds which are still called “Billington’s Sea” today.

Following his brother's death shortly after 1627, and his father's execution for murder in 1630, he married Christian (Penn) Eaton, the widow and third wife of Mayflower passenger Francis Eaton and step-mother of Samuel Eaton (Mayflower passenger).  The couple had nine children. Their third child, Martha Billington married step-brother Samuel Eaton. Francis and Christian raised their family in Plymouth, and moved in their later years to the town of Middleboro, where they both died in 1684. "Deaths and Burials..."Francis Billington aged 80 years: Deceased on the third day of December in the year one thousand six hundred eighty and four." Middleborough, Massachusetts, Vital Records, Vol. 1, p. 4.

According to the Pilgrim Museum, both are buried at Nemasket Hill Cemetery. 

Additional historical fact:  3 January 1663-64: It is noted in the third volume of Plymouth Colony Deeds that "Francis Billington of Plymouth gives to son in law Samuel Eaton and daughter Martha, land on
Namasket river; after their deaths land to go to their daughter Sarah Eaton."
From: Susan E. Rose, Mayflower Deeds & Probates. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co.,
c1994. Page 57.

Please visit:  https://billingtonfamilysociety.org/

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