Thomas Billingsley (abt. 1630 - bef. 1673)

Born about 1630 in Com, Shropshire, England

Descendants

Died before 12 Mar 1673 before about age 43 in Calvert County, Maryland

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jack Day [send private message]

Biography

Birth and Parents

Thomas' father is variously shown as Francis or John Billingsley. No parentage has been confirmed at this time.

Thomas Billingsley was born about 1630. ^[1]

Date Estimation

In the absence of other evidence, birth dates can be roughly inferred from life events.

His wife Elizabeth was of age in 1664 when she was called as a witness in a murder case. Assume she was 21 in that year, she was not born later than 1643. Davis asserts that she married Thomas "before 1658" so take a date of 1657 and assume she was at least 17 by that date, giving an estimated birth date of 1650.

Thomas was transported into Virginia in 1650, with Edward James paying for passage, for which Thomas would have owed 7 years service. The precise date given for date of passage may actually have been the date of patent, with date of passage several months or a year earlier. Asssuming that Thomas was aged 20 at the time, his estimated birth date would be 1630.

1650 Virginia

Thomas and his brother William came to Virginia in 1650. They, with five others, were transported by Edward James on 22 May 1650, said James was granted 350 acres of land on Rapahannock. (Land Rec. Lib. 2, fol. X19).^[2]

Thomas settled in Nansemond County, Virginia, where his other brothers were residing. ^[2]

1656 Maryland

Thomas and was “transported” into the Province of Maryland Anno 1656 Calvert County by his brother Francis Billingsley.^[2]

The first land he shows possessed of is in Rent Rolls, 300 acres called “Teamoth” surveyed 27 Oct. 1651 for William James lying in the Cliffs adjoining land of Thomas Tolly. About 1663, 150 acres of this tract was possessed by Thomas Billingsley and 150 acres by David Morgan.^[2]

Thomas Billingsley presented a petition to the Provincial Court in 1661 in which he states that he bought and is seated upon 150 acres of land on the Cliffs in Calvert County from John James and Wm Toulson of Anne Arrundell County. He requests that the sellers of the property be forced to provided him with a good warrant for the property.^[3]

1658 Marriage

He married prior to 1658 Elizabeth born 16-- . ^[2]

1664 Elizabeth refuses oath in murder case

In 1664 Elizabeth was summoned as witness in the case of Eliza Green charged with murdering her own child, Elizabeth refused to take the oath (Ct. Rec. BB, 280 284).^[2]

1668 Juror

In 1668 Thomas Billingsley was in service as Juror. ^[2]

1669 Dorchester County

On 18 Jan. 1669 there was surveyed for him 300 acres of land in Dorchester County called “Billingsley Chance.” (Liv. 12, fo. 414). There was also surveyed for him about 1670, 100 acres of land in Dorchester County, near the first grant and called “Billingsley Folly.” He died in 1673 leaving the following will.^[2]

1672 Will and Death

Thomas Billingsley died before 12 MAR 1672/73 in Calvert County, MD ^[4]

The last Will and Testament of Thomas Billingsley Being in perfect memory and weak in Body committeth his Soul to God and his Body to a decent Burial. Items:

• I give to my brother Francis Billingsley all my Tools for fixing of Gunns and all my Coopers Tools and his choice of all my plains and Irons and my Bow Saw, and
• to John Troster I give a pair of roosted stockings and
• to my Daughters Elizabeth and Sarah Billingsley Three hundred acres of Land Lying in Chicanocomocoe River called by the name of Billingsley Chance adjoining to land of Henry Hooper to them and their heirs and
• to my daughter Mary Billingsley I give one hundred acres of Land Lying in the same River called by the name of Billingsleys Folly to her and her heirs for Ever and
• to my wife Elizabeth Billingsley I give the land I now live on till my son Thomas Billingsley be at age of Eighteen years and then to .possess the said Land with the rest of his Estate but if in case my wife Eliza: be then a widow she shall have her third of the said Land During her Widdowhood but if my son Thomas aforesaid happen to dye in his minority then my wife shall Enjoy all his seat of Land During her life called by the name of “Teamoth” and after her death it shall redound to the nearest and Next of my Kindred and I the said Billingsley do Engage my wife Elizabeth to give out of the remaining part of my Estate to my three children
• to say Thomas, Sara, and Mary Billingsley Three Mare Colts within Eighteen months after my Decease with their Increase to Run on for the benefit of my Three Children above said and forall the
• Remainder of my Estate after my Debts and Funeral Charges being paid I give to my wife to bring up and to maintain my children till they are at age and then to give them all four,
• Thomas and Elizabeth, Sara and Mary Billingsley Each of them a Servant apiece not to serve under four year apiece but such servants as the children like of Each of them a feather bed and furniture a piece which the children shall choose and
• I make my wife Eliza Billingsley my full and lawful Executrix and I do ordain these to be my
• Overseers, my brother Francis Billingsley and Richard Hooper, Dr. John Stansby and John Trostler (This man is closely connected to George Billingsley) to aid and assist my wife in this my last Will and Testament and I do empower my wife with consent of these my overseers that after my children have two Breeders apiece that then the Rest shall not be kept no longer than the age of three year and then to be disposed of and sold for Tobacco or money and that to be put out to use for the benefite of these my children at 8 or 10 in the hundred according as the Overseers Cann Raise it and that the Overseers give an account to Court Every year of produce and what they Raise Witness my hand and Seal March 26th, 1672.
• Thomas Billingsley. Signed Sealed & Delivered in the presence of us his David Morgan, Walter W. Watkins. her mark Ann M. Morgan marke
• On the Back Side of the foregoing Last Will and Testament of Thomas Billingsley was thus written: March 12, 1673 Came Walter Watkins and David Morgan both Living in Calvert County and took their oaths upon the Evangelists that this within written paper to be the last Will and Testament of Thomas Billingsley, Late of Calvert County, Deceased.

So done John Stansbey and John Troster both of Calvert County came before me and took their oathes as appraising of the Estate of the said Thomas Billingsley Deceased before me. Edward Keene (Sealed)^[2]

1693 Widow Elizabeth marries Samuel Bourne

Elizabeth survived him and married (2) Samuel Bourne . who died after 16 May 1693. Bourne left a will dated 16. May 1693, no probate recorded on this will:

• To Thomas Billingsley, Mary Polard, and daughter Roberts, personality.
• Eldest son, Samuel and male heirs 2000 acres and plantation Drum Point part of Great Eltonhead Manor.
• Son, Thomas and male heirs 2000 acres part of Great Eltonhead Manor. *Daughter, Rebecca & male heirs 1000 acres part of Great Eltonhead Manor. *Wife, Eliza: Y3 personality and rest to three children aforesaid. Sons to be of age at 21 and daughter at 18.
• Overseers: Richard Johns, Francis Billingsley, and Robert Roberts. (Lib. 2, fol. 30,x).^[2]

Elizabeth survived him some years, dated her will 23 Feb. 1715, Elizabeth Bourne, Widow and Executrix of Samuel Bourne, Gent, Calvert Co. This will was probated 7 June 1720:

• Son, Thomas & heirs, personality if he die without heirs then to children of William Young and Rebecca his wife.
• To grand son, Samuel Young, if he die without heirs to oldest surviving child of Rebecca.
• Daughter Rebecca Young; grand daughter Elizabeth Young at 16 years or marriage personality.
• Son Thomas Billingsley, personality & 20 shillings in full of any claim he may have on the estate as eldest son of Testator.
• Grand son, John Clare & heirs if he died without heirs then to grand son, John Hance.
• Daughters, Sarah Harris, Mary Howell & Rebecca Young

Executor, Thomas Bourne. (Lib. 16, fol. 63).^[2]

Children of Thomas Billingsley

1. Elizabeth: b ca 1658 was deceased 1693. Elizabeth Billingsley b: AFT 1658. A "child" on 23 Sept 1676 when a court case notes that Samuel Bourne was granted administration on behalf of Elizabeth and Thomas Billingsley, minors, children of Thomas Billingsley deceased of Calvert Co. of a will made by Levin Johnson at the house of John Hance, Cliffs, Calvert Co. ^[5]
2. Sarah Billingsley b: ABT 1665. Sarah: b 166 married (1) prior to 1692 John Roberts; m (2) John Clare, and (3) John Hance, and (4) Harris. he is mentioned in will of Francis Billingsley 1692. John Hance dated his will 14 Feb. 1708 and it was probated 22 May 1709, Calvert Co., Md. Wife, Sarah, one half of plantation and one half of personality: She to pay daughter Elizabeth 100 pounds at 16 years of age, and said daughter to have sd lands at death of her mother. My wife’s two sons, Robert Roberts and John Clare, personalty. Son in law: Christopher Kellet, devised land in Maryland, no wife or children mentioned and his wife was probably a daughter by a prior marriage. It may also be that he is a step son. Christopher Kellet dated his will 17 Feb. 1710 and it was probated 17 May 1710. Leaves part of estate to Sarah Hance and John Leveal, residue to Brother Benjamin Hance who is named executor. Son, Benjamin Hance, residue of land in Md. at about 18 years of age & if he died without heirs to daughter Elizabeth and Christopher Kellet aforesaid and heirs. Sarah married (4) a Mr. Harris prior to 1715 and was living at that date and mentioned in will of her mother. They had, known

1 Mary Roberts: b 16 living in 1722 and named in will of Thomas Billingsley, Jr. 2 Robert Roberts: b 16 Vas named in will of Thomas Billingsley Jr. in 1722. 3 John Clare: b 16 was living 1722 and named in will of Thomas Billingsley, Jr. 4 Elizabeth Hance: b 1 . 5 Benjamin Harris: b 1 . ^[2]

1. Mary: b 166 m. prior to 1692 Richard Pollard. She is mentioned in will of Samuel Bourne 1693. Richard Pollard dated his will 15 Oct. 1702 and it was probated 18 Nov. 1702, names wife, Mary and heirs all estate real & personal, wife named as executrix, no children mentionned. She m (2) a Mr. Howell and is mentioned in will of her mother in 1715. No children mentioned in any record.^[2]
2. Thomas: b 166 . He was under age of 18 in 1672. Was devised land by his father called “Teamoth” to possess at 18 years of age. He sold this land to George Parker 2 May 1710. He owned 800 acres of land in Kent County, Md. called “The Dining Room,” and “Viaven,” he also owned 200 acres in Kent Co., called “Chance.” He married prior to 1694 Hannah, believed to be daughter of Richard Chambers who died Mar. 1700 leaving his personal estate to Hannah Billingsley, and Thomas Billingsley named as executor and residuary legatee. Thomas dated his will 2 Nov. 1722 and it was probated 26 Nov. 1722. Wife, Hannah, executrix, dwelling & plantation during her life. Nephew; Robert Roberts, named executor, and to be in charge of plantation and to receive A of produce yearly and at death of wife nephews Robert Roberts and John Clare to have all or to the survivor, also 800 acres land in Kent Co., Md. “The Dining Room” and “Viaven:” Mary, daughter of John and Sarah Roberts & heirs 200 acres land Kent Co., Md. called “Chance.” He left no children.^[2] Thomas Billingsley b: AFT 1654. A "child" on 23 Sept 1676 when a court case notes that Samuel Bourne was granted administration on behalf of Elizabeth and Thomas Billingsley, minors, children of Thomas Billingsley deceased of Calvert Co. of a will made by Levin Johnson at the house of John Hance, Cliffs, Calvert Co. ^[5]

Research Notes

Who were Thomas Billingsley's Parents?

A major writer on the Billingsley Family, Harry Alexander Davis, writing in 1936 the Billingsley Family in America ^[2], shows Thomas born in 1618 and his father as John Billingsley. In Davis' narrative, Thomas as a child accompanied his family on their moves to Holland and then to Virginia. Documentation for such a linkage has not, however, been found.

Norma Lundgren's sites^[4] shows Thomas Billingsley born in 1630 and his father to be Francis Billingsley, born in 1620. Beyond the suspect dates, there is no indication that Francis had a son named Thomas.

Thomas may be the son of John Billingsley.

Sources

1. ↑ Norma Lundgren, "Sarah Billingsley" My Bunch. http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=nlndgrn&id=I36207
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14} Harry Alexander Davis. The Billingsley Family in America, Part I. Washington, D. C., 1936. Republished Tuttle Antiquarian Books, Rutland, VT (802) 773 8229. pp. 16-20
3. ↑ Archives of Maryland Vol. 41 pg. 517
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Norma Lundgren, "Thomas Billingsley" My Bunch, Rootsweb. http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=nlndgrn&id=I40710
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} 23 Sept 1676 TP; 8A: 205. George Parker, procurator for Samuel Bourne, gent, Calvert Co., exhibited that Levin Johnson, cooper, Calvert Co. made a will at the house of John Hance, Cliffs, Calvert Co. and said will was proved but since last. Bourne was granted administration on behalf of the devisees (minors) Thomas and Elizabeth Billingsley, children of Thomas Billingsley deceased of Calvert Co. Harrison Dwight Cavanaugh, Colonial Chesapeake Families: British Origins and Descendants, Volume 2, p. 168. https://books.google.com/books?id=kYOgAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA168&lpg=PA168&dq=Hannah+Calvert+%22John+Clare%22&source=bl&ots=33aalDhr9A&sig=L0WLb5KvqQXa3iD3N5foY-SM5Ok&hl=en&sa=X&ei=H8hPVfveMYaigwSs-oGYBw&ved=0CEIQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=Hannah%20Calvert%20%22John%20Clare%22&f=false

Acknowledgements

Billingsley-257 was created by Dana Jones through the import of WillHobJones.ged on May 26, 2014.