Francis Eaton facts for kids

Francis Eaton (born September 11, 1596 – died autumn, 1633) was an important passenger on the famous ship Mayflower in 1620. He was one of the people who signed the Mayflower Compact, which was an agreement for how the new colony would be governed.

Early Life in England

Francis Eaton was born in Bristol, England, and was baptized on September 11, 1596. His parents were John and Dorothy (Smith) Eaton. Francis worked as a carpenter, which means he was skilled at building things with wood. Around 1618, he married a woman named Sarah, and they had a son named Samuel. In 1620, Francis, Sarah, and their son Samuel decided to leave England and sail to North America on the Mayflower.

Life in the New World

The journey to the New World was very difficult. Sadly, Francis Eaton's first wife, Sarah, passed away during the first winter of 1620-1621 in the new colony.

After some time, Francis married again. His second wife was named Dorothy, who had been a servant to John Carver, one of the leaders of the Plymouth Colony. However, Dorothy also passed away shortly after their marriage, and they did not have any children together.

In 1623, the colonists divided the land among themselves. Francis Eaton received four shares of land. This was because he was a Mayflower passenger himself, and he also received shares for his first wife Sarah, his son Samuel, and his second wife Dorothy, all of whom had also been Mayflower passengers.

Around 1626, Francis Eaton married for a third time to a woman named Christiana Penn. Together, they had three children: Rachel, Benjamin, and another child whose name is not known, but who was described as having special needs.

Final Years

In 1631, Francis Eaton began to face some financial difficulties. He had to sell some of his land, some of his farm animals, and even his house to manage his money problems.

Francis Eaton passed away in Plymouth sometime between October 25 and November 8, 1633. He died owing money to others. His belongings at the time of his death included some farm animals, corn, clothes, his carpenter's tools, some wooden boards, fishing supplies, and various kitchen items. He was buried in Burial Hill in Plymouth, which was part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.