Born County Salop, England in 1620 moved to Holland with his parents. He came
to Virginia with his brothers John and James prior to 1649. He was married
about 1647 to Ann; this marriage probably took place in Holland. He had a grant
of land 200 acres, called "Selby Clifts" lying on the West side of the
Chesapeake Bay as assignee of Edward Selby, for transportation of Thomas Forby
Anno 1649, from Caecilius, Absolute Lord and Proprietor of the Province of
Maryland and Avelon Lord Baron of Baltimore, the 26th day of November in the
27th year of our Dominion over said Province of Maryland, Anno, 1650.
He came into the Province of Maryland in Anno 1652 at which time he
"transported his wife and son John."
In Anno 1653 he transported into the Province a "Maid servant, named Ann." At a
Court held at Patuxent 5 December 1654 Francis Billingsley was made Constable
for the Clifts and was ordered to be present at the next Court to take charge
of the office of Constable. (Ct. Rec. also Md. Arch. Vol. 10, 410.)
In Anno 1656 he transported into the Province his brothers James and Thomas
Billingsley.
In Anno 1657 he transported another maidservant also named Ann.
In Assembly proceedings 1657 in a list of several charges to be Satis-fied by
way of Levie out of the County of Patuxent is:
"ffor Fran. Billingsley for one wolfe, 100 pounds of tobacco."
In Anno 1658 he transported into the Province "Sarah Billingsley." She is known
to be the widow of his brother, William, deceased.
In all these Transportations it is to be noted they all came from Virginia.
During the year 1658 he had a resurvey made upon "Selby Clifts" in his name. In
March 1659 at the beginning of the year he refused to' take the oath as
Constable (a yearly appointment) and was fined 591 pounds of tobacco. His
refusal appears to be based upon the fact that he removed to Richmond County,
Virginia, USA with his sister-in-law where he operated the farm and a sloop
owned by her. This is where John and Edward became interested in seafaring. In
the later part of the year 1659 Samuel Chew made claim in Court for 1200 pounds
of "Tobacco & Caske" of Francis Billingsley which has never been paid.
While still living in Virginia he applied for additional land in Maryland and
on 4 May 1663 there was surveyed for him "Corne Hill," for 350 acres- and "Deer
Quarter" for 250 acres, both tracts patented to him 11 Sept. 1663.
On 9 Nov. 1663 his brother James made his will and mentions "my three cousins
(Nephews) who live on the Rapahannock, etc. leaving each a Cow Calfe.
On 7 Dec. 1663 Susannah, widow of James made her will and provides for "3 Cow
Calves to "Cozens" in compliance with will of my husband, James Billingsley,
deceased.
On or about February 1663-64 he returned to Culvert County, Mary-land, his
sister in law having remarried.
On 2 March 1663-4 there was surveyed for Francis Billingsley and Christopher
Beard 350 acres of land near the "Cliffs" in the woods, patented to Francis
Billingsley 26 mV 1664. Early in 1668 he sold 30 acres of this tract to John
Mears. According to the will of said Mears 1675 said Mears appears to own the
whole 350 acres of this tract with no record to show how acquired.
On 3 June 1668 there was surveyed for and patented to Francis Billings-ley 100
acres of land adjoining "Deer Quarter" this was called "Addition."
In the spring term of Court 1668 is the case of Francis Billingsley vs George
Atkins, etc. (While he is known to have been a Quaker this shows he was not as
strict in the faith as is common, as they do not, as a rule, have recourse to
law, but hold to their Meetings to mete out justice.)
On 26 Nov. 1668 is record of case of Ann Billingsley versus William Kay, said
Kay having been indicted for criminal assault and attempted rape upon Ann, the
wife of Francis Billingsley. (Prov. Ct. Lib. FF, 601-652.)
In 1672 he was named as overseer in the will of his brother Thomas Billingsley.
In 1677 he was named as one of the guardians in the will of Thomas Paget.
In Oct. 1678 Mr. Francis Billingsley was a delegate from Calvert County to the
Lower House but did not appear. On 21 Oct. 1678 he was present as a member of
the Lower House at a meeting held at St. Mary's.
On the 23 Aug. 1681 Francis Billingsley and three other members of the Lower
House sent a message to the Upper House regarding certain Laws governing the
Lower House.
On 29 August 1681, Francis Billingsley and others sent a message on the same
matter to the Upper House.
On 9 November 1681 at a meeting of the Upper House there was presented "a
message from the Lower House from Mr. Cheseldvne and Francis Billingsley
Desiring Perusal of the Book of Laws and an answer to the last Bill relating to
the Land Offices."
In Nov. 1683 Francis Billingsley was appointed one of the Commission-ers for
Calvert County for the purpose of purchasing town lands, ports, and survey of
the town and ports, and to stake lots, etc. (Arch. .11'd. and Proc. and Acts of
Gen. Assembly Oct. 1678-Nov. 1683.)
This appears to be the last record of him and he died intestate in the year
1684 as his sons appear to be in possession of lands laid out to him. No record
of any administration of his estate has so far been discovered. That his sons
succeeded to his land is shown in their records. It is not known the date of
the death of Ann, she was living Nov. 1668 and from the fact she does not
subsequently show in any of the records after 1668 it is believed- she did not
long survive her trying ordeal of that year. We have endeavored to show every
record so far found concerning this man for the reason that while five brothers
came to America he is the one who left male issue to the third generation and
he is therefore the founder of the family of 1649 in Maryland and Virginia.
Children: (known)
i. John: b 1647
ii. Ann: b 1650 Va., died in infancy
iii Francis: b 1653 Md.
iv. Agatha: b ca 1656 Md., in 1672 Thomas Paget, his 2d wife.
He died Mar. 1677 named Capt. Cobreath, Capt. Bourne, Francis Billingsley, and
Jonathan Hunt as guardians. There were three sons by his lst wife, and three
daughters by his last wife, Agatha.
v Edward (4): b 1658 Md.
vi Ann Elizabeth: b 166- in Virginia, in Thomas Sadler, had
Three living children in 1692 who were legatees in will of Francis Billingsley,
Jr.
From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996.
36. Ann BILLINGSLEY
From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996.
From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996.
From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996.
From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996.
From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996.
From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996.
From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996.
Born County Salop, England 1628, moved to Holland with his parents. He came to
Virginia with his brother Thomas in 1650, "Transported" by Edward James with
five others said James was granted 350 acres of land on Rapahannock 22 May
1650. (Land Rec. Lib. 2, fol. 219.)
He married about 1651 Sarah Bowman, born Essex County, Virginia, USA circa
1635. They settled in Richmond County where he owned a small farm and also a
small vessel and were mostly engaged in transporting commodities in coast.
trade. He died Dec. 1657 having been struck by a boom on his vessel. Sarah
moved to Talbot County, Maryland, USA early in 1656 having been "Transported"
by her brother-in-law Francis Billingsley. She remained at his home during the
year and then returned to Virginia with Francis and his family in 1659. She
remarried (2) in 1663 a William Evart, and is stated to have died about 1690.Children:
I Sarah Ann: b 1652 Va., married John Billingsley
ii William: b 1655 died infancy.
iii Martha Agatha: b 1658 ,Md. posthumous, died at. 13 years.
iv Marv Evart: b ca 1665 2d marriage, no Billingsley blood. m a Mr. Johnson.
From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996.
From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996.
From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996.
From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996.