John Billington facts for kids
John Billington was an English traveler who sailed to the New World on the famous ship, the Mayflower. He was also one of the people who signed the important Mayflower Compact. He lived from about 1580 to 1630.
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Early Life in England
Not much is known about John Billington's life in England. We do know that his son, Francis, was mentioned in a property agreement in 1612. This suggests that the Billington family had some connection to the areas of Cowbit and Spalding in Lincolnshire, England.
The Mayflower Journey
John Billington, his wife Elinor, and their two sons, John and Francis, began their journey on the Mayflower on September 6, 1620. They left from Plymouth, England. The Mayflower was a small ship, only about 100 feet long. It carried 102 passengers and a crew of about 30 to 40 people. Conditions on board were very crowded.
After about two months at sea, the ship faced strong storms. The ship's wooden parts shook badly, and water leaked in. Passengers were often wet and sick. This, along with a lack of good food and poor hygiene, made many people ill. Sadly, almost half of the passengers died during the cold, harsh winter after they arrived in the New World.
On November 9, 1620, after three months of travel, they finally saw land. It was the tip of Cape Cod, which is now called Provincetown Harbor. They tried to sail south to their planned destination in Virginia, but strong winter storms forced them back. They anchored at Cape Cod on November 11. On that very day, John Billington signed the Mayflower Compact. This was an important agreement for how the new colony would be governed.
Life in Plymouth Colony
The Billington family often caused trouble in the early Plymouth Colony. They are remembered as being quite difficult. For example, soon after arriving, Francis Billington played with gunpowder and fired a musket on the Mayflower while it was still anchored. Francis also went exploring and found a body of water now called Billington Sea.
In March 1621, John Billington Senior openly challenged Captain Myles Standish's orders. He was punished for this. He continued to challenge authority many times.
In May 1621, John Billington (the younger son) got lost in the woods for several days. Luckily, some Native Americans from the Nauset tribe on Cape Cod found him and brought him home safely.
In 1624, John Billington was thought to be involved in a disagreement against the Plymouth church's rules. However, he said he was innocent and was not officially punished.
In 1625, Governor Bradford wrote a letter saying that Billington continued to speak badly about others.
In 1636, John's wife, Elinor, was punished for speaking badly about another colonist, John Doane. She had to sit in the stocks and was whipped.
The Billington Family
John Billington married Elinor in England. Her last name before marriage is not known for sure. They had two sons:
- John: Born around 1604. He passed away in Plymouth sometime between 1627 and 1630.
- Francis: Born around 1606. He married Christian (Penn) Eaton in Plymouth in July 1634. They had nine children together. Francis lived in New England and passed away in Middleboro on December 3, 1684.
After John Billington Senior's death, his wife Elinor married Gregory Armstrong in September 1638. Elinor passed away after March 1642. Gregory Armstrong died in Plymouth in November 1650.
John Billington's Death
In September 1630, John Billington faced a serious trial. He was accused of a conflict with another colonist, John Newcomen, whom he saw as an enemy. After a jury trial, he received the most serious punishment in Plymouth Colony. This was the first time such a punishment happened in the colony. Governor Bradford said John Billington was about 40 years old at the time. His burial place is unknown.
