From THE STORY OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS by EDWARD ARBER PG 355 Richard Warren and John Billington Sr.and his family who came from London Pg 371 John Billington, Sen. " 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 " Bradford MS., folio 342 He was hanged in October 1630, for the murder of John Newcomen. ----------------------------------------------------------------- His wife Ellen Billington married Gregory Armstrong in 1638 ( from W. T. Davis ) ----------------------------------------------------------------- From LINEAGE REGISTER OF THE ARIZONA MAYFLOWER SOCIETY 1992 John Billington, wife Elinor, and two sons were among the London contingent abroad the Mayflower, There is some evidence that they were from Lincolnshire. John was probably born about 1580. Although John was one of the signers of the Mayflower Compact aboard the Mayflower at Cape Cod on 11 Nov. 1620, historians feel that he was one of the dissidents on the ship who wanted to be independent of authority now that they had arrived in America, and whose actions led to the hastened drafting of the Compact. William Bradford recorded that in March 1621, " the first offense since our arrival is of John Billington." He was tried before the whole company for disobeying a command of Captain Miles Standish and was sentenced to have his neck and heels tied together, but " on humbling himself and craving pardon. and it being the first offence, he is forgiven." Bradford recorded that in 1630 John Billington was arranged and found guilty of murder and accordingly executed. His crime was the shooting of John Newcomen. The son, John, died before his father; widow Elinor and son Francis remained in Plymouth, and she married a Gregory Armstrong in 1638. There is no known children by her second marriage. Descents from John Billington has been proven only through son, Francis. ----------------------------------------------------------------- From SIGNERS OF THE MAYFLOWER COMPACY by Annie Arnoux Haxton Pt 1 He was the 16 th signer of the Mayflower Compact. Governor Bradford in his history says " The said Billington was one of the profanest men among us. He came from London and I know not by what friends shuffled him among us " The Billingtons were people of high standing in England belonging to the Judges in Henry Eight's time. and I am inclined to think that the John Billington of the Mayflower, being too much for the family, was shown that " his room was better than his company" and the where with all in unstinted measure to secure foreign travel for him -his destination not considered a matter of consideration. There really was no real consideration as to who got on the Mayflower. Most were from the Separatists church at Lyden, Holland, but some were from London, including Christopher Martin and his wife, Richard Warren and John Billington with wife and family. The Billington makeup was not in favor of obedience. Although he knew the power vested in Standish, that his mandates would be carried out by the strong arm of the law, he refused to obey him, uttering threats for his own satisfaction full well knowing that they could not be of avail. For his insubordination punishment " converted" to him was the " he was adjudged to lay for a time in a public place with his neck and heels tied together." An opportunity of thought for which to hatch more mischief. John Billington had many faults perhaps he deserved his sad end. John Newcomen had interfered with his hunting and was warned by Billington to desist. Not appreciating the manner of man he was dealing with, he continued his annoyance until on one occasion, Billington hid behind a tree on the approach of his enemy . The irresistible impulse to rid himself of this " cumberer of the ground" was too much for him and he fired a shot that proved fatal. The offence was a matter of great moment in the colonies. It was a proceeding that must be made an example of. The question of their rights in the case was a matter of much discussion. They decided to ask advise from Winthrop and other leaders of the Bay and they with much sorrow and prayerful regard decided that Billington ought to die and the land be purged from blood. A life for a life. The death sentence was carried out September 1630 memorable in American history as the first execution in the colonies. For more information on the family look under Eleanor, his wife, John Jr. and Francis Billington. ----------------------------------------------------------------- From THE MAYFLOWER AND HER LOG by Azel Ames John Billington, after he had been here 10 years was executed for killing a man, and his eldest sone dyed before him but his 2 sone is alive and married and hath 8 children. ----------------------------------------------------------------- From BOWMAN FilES - Mass Soc. of Mayflower Descendants- Mass.Ed.pg 435 " and was ye execution which they had since they came, being both for WILLFULL murder as hath been before related " Bradford notes- ----------------------------------------------------------------- From THE FAITH OF THE PILGRIMS by Robert M. Bartlett. It was inevitable that some misfits should make their way to Plymouth. John Billington was the chief transgressor. He was arranged, and both by grand and petty jury found guilty of willful murder, by plain and notorious evidence. And was for the same accordingly executed. This, as it was their first execution ( 1630 ) among them, so it was a matter of great sadness unto them. He and some of his had been punished for miscarriages before, being one of the profanest among them, they came from London, and I know not be what friends shuffled into their company. His fact was that he waylaid a young man, John Newcomen, about a former quarrel and shot him with a gun whereof he died. ----------------------------------------------------------------- From BRADFORD'S HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH PLANTATION from original documents. This year "John Billington ye elder ( one that came over with ye first ) was arranged and both by grand & petit jurie found guilty of willful murder, by plaine and notorious evidence. and was for the same accordingly executed. This, as it was ye first execution amongst them, so was it a mater of great sadness unto them. They used all due means about his trial, and took ye advice of Mr. Winthrop and other ye ablest gentle-men in ye Massachusetts, that were then newly come over, who concurred with them ye he ought to dye, and ye land be purged from blood. He and some of his had been often punished for miscarriage before, being one of ye profanist families among them." ----------------------------------------------------------------- From THE MAYFLOWER STORY -by General Society of Mayflower Descendants- Mayflower House, Plymouth, Mass. John Billington was hanged in Plymouth, Sept. 1630 for murder of John Necomen. Married Eleanor ???? who died after 12 March, 1643. She married second, Sept.1638, Plymouth Gregory Armostrong, who died 5 Nov. 1650. ----------------------------------------------------------------- From NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER VOL 1 PG 51. REGARDING MAYFLOWER PASSENGERS- JOHN BILLINGTON, MRS HELEN BILLINGTON, HIS WIFE,, FRANCIS BILLINGTON, SON OF JOHN, JOHN BILLINGTON JR,, SON OF JOHN _________________________________________________________ From a loose typed page found in the Jonesville Library was a page that explained both sides of the Billington matter. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Verification of dates from MAYFLOWER INCREASING FOR THREE GENERATIONS George E. Bowan by Susan E. Roser
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From GENERAL HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND by William Hubbard - Billington maliciously slew his neighbor in the field as he accidently met him. The poor fellow perceiving the intent of Billington, hid behind trees as well as he could for a while but the other not being an ill marksman made a shot at him and struck him on his shoulder with which he died soon after.
----------------------------------------------------------------rfrom PLYMOUTH COLONY by Eugene Aubrey Stratton - On Sept. 14, 1638, Wiliam Tench and John Carmon gave two acres o land to John Billington, deceased, and the land was now being sold by Billington’s widow, Eleanor, and son Francis