I69450: Sarah AVANT (ABT 1730

Notes

The Great Migration Begins Sketches PRESERVED PURITAN JOHN BILLINGTON
ORIGIN: Unknown; MIGRATION: 1620 on Mayflower; FIRST RESIDENCE: Plymouth
ESTATE: In the 1623 Plymouth land division John Billington received three acres as a passenger on the Mayflower [PCR 12:4]. In the 1627 Plymouth cattle division John Billington Senior, Hellen Billington and Francis Billington were the eleventh through thirteenth persons in the seventh company, and John Billington [Jr.] was the tenth person in the ninth company [PCR 12:11, 12].
BIRTH: By about 1582 based on estimated date of marriage.
DEATH: Hanged September 1630 at Plymouth [Bradford 234; WJ 1:43].
MARRIAGE: By about 1607 Elinor _____; she married (2) between 14 and 21 September 1638 Gregory Armstrong and was living as late as 2 March 1642/3 [MF 5:34].

CHILDREN:
i JOHN, b. say 1604; d. Plymouth between 22 May 1627 and September 1630.
ii FRANCIS, b. about 1606 (deposed 10 July 1674 "68 years of age" [MD 2:46, citing PCR 1:81]); in the Plymouth tax list of 25 March 1633 and 27 March 1634 assessed 9s. [PCR 1:10, 27]; m. Plymouth __ July 1634 "Christian Eaton" [PCR 1:31]. She was CHRISTIAN (PENN) EATON, widow of FRANCIS EATON.

COMMENTS: In his list of passengers on the Mayflower Bradford includes "John Billington and Ellen his wife, and two sons, John and Francis" [Bradford 442]. In his 1651 accounting of the Mayflower families, Bradford reported that "John Billington, after he had been here ten years, was executed for killing a man, and his eldest son died before him but his second son is alive and married and hath eight children" [Bradford 446]. (The man murdered by Billington was JOHN NEWCOMEN.) John Billington met a sad end. John Newcomen had interfered
with his (John's) hunting and was warned by Billington to desist. Newcomen apparently continued his annoyances until John Billington hid behind a tree and when Newcomen approached, Billington shot and killed him. For this act, John Billington became the first American to be executed for a crime.

In a Survey of 1650 for the manor of Spalding in Lincolnshire is a lease for three lives in which one of the lives is "Francis Billington son of John Billington." In describing the three lives involved, we are told that "Francis Billington (as it is informed) was living about a year since in New England aged forty years or thereabouts" [NEHGR 124:116-18]. The estimated age for Francis Billington is probably less accurate than his own deposition in 1674, but this record does provide an excellent clue for further research on the English origin of the family.

The family of John Billington has been treated thoroughly by Harriet Woodbury Hodge in the fifth volume of the Five Generations Project of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, and she lists the many occasions on which John Billington or his sons were in trouble with the Plymouth authorities in the first decade of the colony's existence [MF 5:31-34].
Among these incidents the most significant was Billington's outspoken support for Lyford and Oldham in their revolt against Bradford and the rest of the Leiden contingent [Bradford 156-57].

BILLINGTON, John Birth Date: 1605 Birth Place: Eng, Massachusetts Volume: 13 Page Number: 531 Reference: Gen. Column of the " Boston Transcript". 1906-1941.( The greatest single source of material for gen. Data for the N.E. area and for the period 1600-1800. Completely indexed in the Index.): Nov 18, 1901, 5166; Jul 15, 1907, 9362; Sep 11, 1907, 9362

John Billington may well have been a leading voice among the dissident passengers on the Mayflower who apparently argued that New Plymouth's government should be independent of the separatist church from Leiden. We do know that their was a bitter quarrel among the passengers which led to the formation of two factions called "the Saints" and the "Strangers." Before going ashore they had to "begin the first foundation of their govermente in this place" because they had heard of "discontented and mutinous speeches that some of the strangers "

1620, November 11: John Billington acknowledged and presumably accepted of the conditions by being the 25th signer of the Mayflower Compact on board ship while anchored in Provincetown Harbor at the tip of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts
"Bradford's History" pp. 75, 87-8, 156-7, 234 and 442; 1952

His signature is far down the list. As Willison puts it, " Billington may very well have been invited or commanded to sign". There is reason to believe that he was at the forefront of this mutiny because of subsequent events. It is reasonable to assume that Billington was sincere in his criticism, enough to be seen as "loyal opposition" by enough colonists that Bradford couldn't expell him.
1620, December 5: A few days after landing, one of the Billington sons, we are not told which, in his father's absence, fired a gun near an open half-keg of gunpowder in the crowed cabin of the Mayflower, endangering ship and passengers, "and yet, by God's mercy, no harm done".
"Mourt's Relation" pp. 31, 44, 69-70

1621, March: Bradford chronicled "the first Offence since our arrival is of John Billington and is this month converted before the whole company for his contempt of the Captain's (Miles Standish's) lawful command with oppobrious speeches, for which he is adjudged to have his neck and heels tied together. But upon humbling himself and craving pardon, and it being the first offence, he is forgiven.
"Pilgrim Reader" pp. 124-5

1621, November: William Tench and John Cannon (surely the same man as "Carman") came to Plymouth on the "Fortune" and were allotted two acers in the 1623 Land Division, near Billington Mayflower Descendants" I:151-2 and 228

1623: In the Division of the Land at Plymouth, John Billington received three acres "on the South side of the Brooke to the Baywards. " Why the Billingtons, who all four miraculously survived the first bitter winter, received only three acres is a mystery. Families were allotted one acre for each household member, including servants. Possibly John, Jr. had been indentured as a servant to some other family.

1625, June 9: William Bradford, in a letter to Robert Cushman in England, wrote: "Billington still rails against you and threatens to arrest you, I know not wherefore. He is a knave, and so will live and die [Pilgrim Reader (284)."

1627: In the Division of Cattle, we know that young John Billington was listed with the Warren and Soule families, while his parents and brother Francis were grouped with the Hopkinses. Mayflower Descendants" I:151-2 and 228

So we know that Billington was willing to publicly acknowledge his dissident role while no others would and that he attempted to actually organize a sort of opposition party by conducting meetings at his home. After this "trial", Oldham and Lyford were banished from Plymouth Colony, but nothing is said of punishment for Billington. Perhaps his signing of the Compact insolated him in some way, as his signing made him thereafter, a member of the group, whether Bradford liked it or not.

1627: Evidently they had died or already left the colony before the Division of Cattle, having named John Billington their heir. Elinor, often witten "Ellen" or "Helen" by Bradford or by Plymouth Court clerks, invariably was called "Ellinor" in her own and her son's land records. "Plymouth Colony Records" XI:33-4; XII:28-9, 37and 93-4

1630: The tradition that the execution took place in September is borne out by John Winthrop who wrote merely: "Billington excuted at Plymouth for murdering one.
"New England History" p. 43.

1630, June 12: In as much a Winthrop had arrived at Cape Ann. "Massachusetts Pioneers" p. 508

1630, June 17 Winthrop arrived at "Mattachusetts", he was "lately come over" that summer when consulted about the legality of the trial. "Massachusetts Pioneers" p. 508

A number of other disgruntled settlers left voluntarily about this time. One wonders that John Billington was not expelled or at least urged to depart, but he remained at Plymouth, an outspoken critic and persistent rebel.

The story of John Billington's execution for murder has often been embellished with fanciful details in prose and poetic fiction. But the only contempory eyewitness account was written by 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 his 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. "Bradford's History" pp. 75, 87-8, 156-7, 234 and 442; 1952

"One of John Billington's bitterest enemies was John Newcomen, a neighboring settler. Their feud raged for a number of years.
1630: Billington decided to end it with murder. Hiding behind a rock, Billington waited in the woods until Newcomen, hunting for game, appeared. Leveling his blunderbus, Billington shot and killed him at close range. He was quickly tried by the little band of pilgrims and hanged." Now all this is conjecture based on the word "waylaid" in Bradford's account. We have no idea if the killing was truely "premeditated" and where does he get the idea that it was a "speedy trial" rather than a near linching. The use of these words colors our interpretation of what we read and make the capital sentence seem justified when we have heard only from the prosecution. He ends his account with the words, "Ironically, dozens of present-day Americans lay claim to being related to Billington, murderer or not." What does he expect us to do, falsify or distort history as he does!

The Pilgrims doubted their authority to carry out the sentence and appealed to Massachusetts Bay Colony Governor John Winthrop, who with typical self-contradictory Old Testament flair advised that Billington "ought to die and ye land be purged from blood". The fact that the Governor felt compelled to have the sentenced sanctioned by the Bay Colony might presumably indicate that there were extenuationg circumstances which led Bradford to believe that he might be tried for murder if he carried out the sentence. Billington was then hanged, drawn and quartered--the first casualty in a 360-year-long debate over capital punishment. And perhaps the first American executed because society didn't much care for him or his opinions in the first place.

Note: It has often been pointed out that almost all we know about the Billington family was written by William Bradford, who obviously disliked and criticized the entire family from the beginning, and didn't know them well enough to know Ellinor's name. The Billingtons were not in sympathy with the aims and tenents of the Plymouth Church, but one wonders that they were not more cooperative with those in authority who heavy-handedly struggled to establish and maintain such a fragile colony on the hostile shores of New England. John Billington, however, stoutly supported individual choice and freedom of speech, raising the voice of America's first 'opposition' to governing authority, undoubtedly at great personal sacrifice, when he disagreed with the rule of government. He and his descendents surely have contributed to that integral part of the American character by having the courage to just say "No."

[349432]
or b 1605

[349433]
William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation, 1620-1647, Samuel Eliot Morison, ed. (New York 1952)

Notes

"Robert Vicars & Family were residence of Botetourt, Fincastle, Washington, & Russell Counties, but always lived in the same location. Will of Robert VICARS, Russell Co, VA Will Book 3 p355 ("?" = unreadable in document)."

Father: Harold Fred Vickers and Mother: Jennifer Herschey

Children of ROBERT VICARS and LYDIA JACKSON are:
i. JOSEPH3 VICARS, b. Abt. 1774, Fincastle Co., VA; d. 5 April 1841, Warren Co., TN.
ii. WILLIAM VICARS, b. Abt. 1775, Fincastle Co., VA; d. 1827, Warren Co., TN.
iii. NANCY VICARS, b. Abt. 1777, Russell Co., Virginia; d. Aft. 1840, prob. TN.
iv. THOMAS VICARS, b. 22 June 1779, Washington Co., VA; d. 17 March 1861, Riceville, McMinn Co., TN.
v. JOHN VICARS, b. Abt. 1782, Russell Co., Virginia; d. Abt. 1829, Scott Co., VA.
vi. LIDDA "LYDIA" VICARS, b. Abt. 1785, Washington Co., VA; d. Aft. 1860, prob. Mercer Co., KY.
vii. PAUL VICARS, b. January 1787, Russell Co., Virginia; d. 28 August 1855, Russell Co., Virginia.
viii. MARY "MOLLIE" VICARS, b. Abt. 1787, Russell Co., VA; d. Abt. 1830, prob. Russell Co., VA.
ix. JAMES VICARS, b. 1788, Russell Co., Virginia; d. 11 December 1855, Russell Co., Virginia.
x. MARTHA "MATTIE" VICARS, b. 2 January 1790, Russell Co., Virginia; d. 1 July 1844, Scott Co., VA.
xi. ELLENDER VICARS, b. Abt. 1793, Russell co., VA; d. Bef. 1850, prob. Washington Co., VA.
xii. JACOB VICARS, b. 8 April 1795, Russell Co., Virginia; d. 11 July 1829, Russell Co., Virginia.
(1) A genealogy written by Conley Abraham Vicars - copy of his notes given to Helen Arnett in 1936.
(2) Letter from A.M. Vicars to Conley Abraham Vicars, 1929.
Vicars Family Newsletter: VOL. 1, Number 2 - Winter 1990

Will of Robert VICARS, Russell CO, VA Will Book 3 p355 ("?" = unreadable in document)

"In the name of God Amen, I Robert Vicars of the County of Russell and State of Virginia being sick and weak in body, but of sound mind and disposing memory for which I thank God and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and being desireous to dispose of all such in my estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with. I give and bequeath the same in manner following that "?" to say I desire that all the perishable part of my estate be immediately sold after my disease. Such as follows I give and bequith to my beloved wife Milly Vicars all my stock of horses hogs sheep and cattle. Also the plantation with all the crops "?" in the ground. Or outhouse and household and kitchen furniture and plantation utentials of all this things mention I give and bequith to my beloved wife Milly Vicars, desiring her natural life or widowhood. In property I give and bequith unto Joseph Vicars five dollars after the death of my wife Milly. I give and bequith unto my son William Vicars ten dollars i property after the death of my wife Milly. I give and bequith unto mydaughter Nancy Burton ten dollars in property after the death of my wife Milly Vicars like manner I I give and bequith unto my son James Vicars the land that he "?" proper that we bought between us in "boath ferways" immediately after my disease. I give and bequith unto my son Jacob Vicars a pease of land being joining end Dorton's land running down the main road to the fork of said road and corning and running witht he constitional line to him and his heirs forever for he paid me one hundred dolars in money and the right to be in immediate after his disease. I give and bequith unto my sons Thomas Vicars John Vicars and Paul Vicars Joel Vicars likewise my daughter Lidda Brickey Molly Gilbert, Martha Culbertson and Ellender Barker after the death of my wife Milly all my estate real and personal to be equally divided between the above names riten. I do herby comstitute and appoint my friend John Dorton executor of this my last Will and testament hereby revoking all other former wills or testaments by me heretofore made. In "?" whereof I have here cent set my hands and affixed my seal this 14th day of February in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and twenty one.
Robert Vicars (seal)
Signed and seal published and delivered as and for the Last Will and Testatment of the above named Robert Vicars in presents of us:
Robert Fugate
William Dorton
Stephen "x" Hieghs (his mark)Per DAR Membership Application of Virginia F. Stewart:

Robert"Robin" Vicars came from England to Norfolk Co Va in 1767. He served in the Rev War, according to "History of Va." p 287-88. But according to Vicars family stories, he was not a Revolutionary soldier, he is quoted as saying that he would not shoot at a red coat (the British Uniform) because he had worn one himself, but if a red skin (Indian) needed shooting, he was as good as any to pull the trigger .He did serve 99 days (the full term of the war) in Lord Dunmore's War, the "battle of Point Pleasant", against Indian raiders in 1774 ,under Captain William Russell. At one time he took two horses loaded with beaver skins and other furs to Abindgon to be carried and hauled to Norfolk, there to be sold for supplies for the American soldiers.

^[S2034] ^[S2034]

My Southern Family

Sarah AVANT

ABT 1730 - ____

ID Number: I69450

Sources

John BILLINGTON "the Immigrant"

1582 - Sep 1630

ID Number: I70108

Notes

Sources

Rebecca BOONE

ABT 1690 - ____

ID Number: I63195

Sources

Willie LEE BURTON

Laura M. CHERRY

ABT 1850 - ____

ID Number: I32300

Sources

Sir JOSCE de DINAN

ABT 1116 - 1167

ID Number: I59279

Notes

Sources

Dana Grace JONES

Floyd Dixie LOFTON

Andrew MCKAY

29 Dec 1736 - 12 Oct 1804

ID Number: I78733

Notes

Sources

James Ray MURRAY

ABT 1890 - ABT 1947

ID Number: I84

Notes

Sources

Andrew NORRIS

1765 - ____

ID Number: I94654

Sources

Susannah STROTHER

ABT 1753 - 1830

ID Number: I50591

Sources

Robert "Robin" VICARS "the Immigrant"

8 Nov 1747 - 13 Mar 1821

ID Number: I55958

Notes

Sources

Tabitha WALKER

ABT 1750 - ____

ID Number: I22129

Notes

Sources