Christian Penn (mtDNA)

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Status summary

As of October 24, 2021

  • Page created for Christian Penn, wife of (1) Francis Eaton and (2) Francis Billington
  • Reached out to the Billington Family Society They stated they are willing to pay for a full mtDNA test for someone who can prove they are a matrilineal (mtDNA) descendant of Christian Penn.
  • recruitment of individuals who are matrilineal (all female line) descendants of Christian Penn. Those individuals who believe they are should Read me First and contact BillingtonFamilySociety@gmail.com

IMPORTANT: Read me First

Paper Trail

For more information see: Hodge, Harriet Woodbury, rev. by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families through Five Generations vol. 21 Billington and Van Antwerp, Lee Douglas, revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families through Five Generations vol. 9 Eaton as well as Walsh Throop, Louise, Francis Eaton of the Mayflower (1596-1633) Who Landed at Plymouth Massachusetts in December 1620, privately published

First Generation

Like most women of her period, almost nothing is known about Christian (Christiana) Penn. She came to New Plimoth Colony aboard the Anne in 1623 (as a servant to Mrs. Alice CARPENTER Southworth, who was soon to marry Gov. William Bradford), and became the third wife of Mayflower Passenger Francis Eaton about 1624.[1] He died sometime in 1633 and she married Francis Billington in July 1634.[2]

Christian and her first husband, Francis Eaton, had three children: Rachel (c1625), Benjamin (c1627/8)[3], and a third child, who was called an idiot by Bradford in 1651. Rachel married Joseph Ramsden, but is only known to have had one son, so Christian's mtDNA is only found through descendants of her second marriage.

Christian and her second husband, Francis Billington, had nine children; two sons, an infant (sex unknown), and six daughters (Elizabeth, Martha, Mary, Rebecca [died young], Dorcas and Mercy)

Second Generation

Rachel Eaton was born New Plimoth about 1626[4] and died Plymouth before Oct 1661.[5] She married there 2 Mar 1646 Joseph Ramsden and they had one child: Daniel.

Elizabeth Billington was born in Plymouth 10 Jul 1635. She married three times, first to Richard Bullock at Rehoboth on 21 Sep 1660. They had four children before his death (which occurred on 22 Oct 1667): Three sons and a daughter Marcy, who died in infancy. Elizabeth married second, Rehoboth 25 Jun 1673 to Robert Beere (died 28 Mar 1676). They had only one son. Elizabeth's final marriage was about 1679 to Thomas Patey. They had no children and Elizabeth was living as late as 22 Mar 1709/10. In conclusion, there is no mtDNA descendants from Elizabeth Billington.

Martha Billington was born in Plymouth in 1639. She married her step-brother, Samuel Eaton 10 Jun 1660. She died in Rehoboth on 9 Jun 1704. Martha and Samuel had four children: Samuel, Sarah, Mercy and Bethiah.

Mary Billington was born in Plymouth about 1640. She married Rehoboth 20 Jan 1663/4 to Samuel Sabin. She was living as late as 28 Jun 1717 in Rehoboth, when she signed a deed. Samuel & Mary had six children: Samuel, Mercy, Sarah, Mary, Israel, and Experience (died young).

Dorcas Billington was born in Plymouth about 1650. She had a son out of wedlocked and was fined for committing fornication on 7 Jun 1672. She married before 20 May 1686 Edward May as his second wife.[6] He died at Plymouth 10 Aug 1691, but she was living as late as 1 Aug 1707. Edward had three children, but it is unknown which of them were by his first wife and which were by his second: Israel (b1679)[7], Charity (1678) and Edward (c1680).

Mercy Billington was born in Plymouth 25 Feb 1651. She married at Rehoboth 27 Jun 1681 to John Martin. Mercy died at Rehoboth 28 Sep 1718. John & Mercy had four children: John, Robert, Desire and Francis.

Third Generation

Sarah Eaton was born Duxbury bef Jan 1663/4[8] and died Plainfield, CT aft 24 Feb 1726.[9] She married about 1685 Philip Bump (later Bumpas) and they had eight children (the first six were recorded in Bristol, but may have been born in Middleborough before the family moved to Bristol. Last two births not recorded): Jemima (7 Jan 1686/7 m. Thomas Smith but no children in his will), Samuel (20 Feb 1687/8), Philip (13 Feb 1689/90), Lydia (2 Apr 1692), Matthew (8 Jun 1695), Josiah (9 Apr 1698), Bethia (c1700) and Sarah (c1702).

Mercy Eaton was born Duxbury about 1665 and died aft 1704.[10] She married Plymouth 7 Jan 1685/6 Samuel Fuller (III) and they had eleven children: Nathaniel (14 Nov 1687), Samuel (30 Aug 1789-18 Apr 1728), William (14 Feb 1691-26 Aug 1692), Seth (30 Aug 1692), Ebenezer (24 Mar 1695), Benjamin (7 Mar 1696), Elizabeth (30 May 1697), John (19 Dec 1698), Jabez (abt 1 Jun 1701), Mercy (3 Oct 1702) and James (27 Feb 1704).

Bethiah Eaton was born Duxbury about 1668 and died before 12 Jan 1735/6.[11] She married Taunton 5 Nov 1691 to Joseph Bassett (II). They had three daughters: Bethiah (25 Dec 1693 m. aft 1736 William Coddington, no children), Mehitable (22 Jun 1697, m. 1733 Nathaniel Holloway, no children), and Lydia (29 Apr 1703).


Mercy Sabin was born Rehoboth 8 Mar 1665/6 and died (likely at Plainfield, CT) aft 18 Jun 1728. She married Rehoboth 9 Nov 1683 James Welch (d. Plainfield, CT bef 22 Nov 1726) and they had nine children: John (25 Jun 1685, d. bef 1699), Elizabeth (27 Sep 1688), Mercy (1 Mar 1690), James (27 Jul 1692), Samuel (15 Oct 1693), Thomas (1 Mar 1694/5), Ebenezer (13 Feb 1696/7), John (17 Apr 1699) and Martha (25 Oct 1704).

Sarah Sabin was born Rehoboth 10 Aug 1667 and died Windham, CT 9 Mar 1709. She married Rehoboth 1 Jul 1686 John Kingsley and they had seven children: Mary (1 Mar 1687 d. unm. 7 May 1707), Tabitha (22 Sep 1688), Sarah (9 Oct 1690), Elizabeth (29 Dec 1692 unknown if married), John (26 Feb 1694/), Josiah (18 Jan 1696) and Amos (12 Jan 1697)

Mary Sabin was born Rehoboth 4 Mar 1678 and married there 8 Dec 1696 Nathaniel Cooper. They had at least three children (all born Rehoboth): Judith (3 Jan 1697/8-17 Mar 1727 m. John Lyon, unknown if any children), Peter (20 Dec 1699) and Nathaniel (13 Dec 1701).


(poss.) Charity May was born Plymouth 26 Jul 1678 and died there about 1720. She married likely by 1703/4 John Curtis (Curtice).[12]: The children of John Curtis are: Francis (1696), Hannah (1698 poss. the Hannah Curtis died 1772 unm.), John (1702), Elizabeth (1704 m Jacob Amidon, no known ch.), prob. Edward[13] (1706), poss. Charity[14] (1708 said to have married ___ Perkins), Ruth (1710) and Sarah (1711). Targeted mtDNA tesing (of matrilineal descendants of John Curtis) may help identify whether any/all of the daughters of John Curtis were by Charity and possibly even whether Charity was a matrilineal descendant of Christian Penn.


Desire Martin was born Rehoboth 20 Mar 1684/5 and died there 12 Sep 1727. She married there 10 Jul 1707 Jotham Carpenter and they had seven children: Jotham (1 Aug 1708), Amos (1 Sep 1710), Hannah (6 Jun 1712), Renew (6 Jun 1714), Desire (3 Jun 1716), Esther (abt 1720), and Hezekiah (6 Jan 1724)

Fourth Generation

Lydia Bump was born Bristol (now part of RI) 2 Apr 1692 and died Plainfield, CT 14 May 1750. She married Plainfield about 1719 Thomas Hurd and they had Bethiah (1720 m. Ebenezer Yerrington), Sarah (1722-p1751 unknown if ever married), Thomas (twin 1724), John (twin 1724), Josiah (1726), Jacob (1729), Mary (1731 m. Obed Benjamin) and Amy (1735, unm. in 1751).

Bethia Bump was born Bristol (now part of RI) about 1700 and died in Frederickstown, NY 1731. She married Plainfield, CT 23 Aug 1721 Peleg Ballard. It is unknown if they had any children.

Sarah Bump was born Bristol (now part of RI) abt 1702 and died Plainfield, CT after 13 Dec 1782. She married ___ Harris.[15] It is unknown if they had any children.


Elizabeth Fuller was born Plymouth 30 May 1697 and died Pomfret, CT 30 Aug 1753. She married Plympton 30 Jan 17023/4 James Raymond/Rayment and they had (all born Middleborough): Patience (1724), Elizabeth (1727/8), Martha (1728/9), Rachel (1730), Bathsheba (1731/2), James (1732/3), Amaziah (son)(1734), Joshua (1735/6) and Ithamar (1737).

Mercy Fuller was born Plymouth 3 Oct 1702. She married Plympton 28 Jul 1726 Ebenezer Raymond/Rayment and they had at least two children (born Middleborough): Samuel (1732) and Mercy (1739).


Lydia Bassett was born Bridgewater 29 Apr 1703 and died Norton aft 17 May 1764. She married Bridgewater 17 Nov 1726 Samuel Phillips and they had three children: Daniel (c1726), Joseph (c1728) and Lydia (c1735 m. George Wetherell).


Elizabeth Welch was born Rehoboth 27 Sep 1688 and died Killingly, CT 16 Nov 1730. She married before 1710 Daniel Lawrence and they had nine children (order unknown): Daniel, Joseph, Mary (m. Stephen Covell), Esther (m. Enoch Ballard), Eleazer (1714), Elizabeth (1716 d. young), James, Samuel (bp 1721) and Abigail (bp 1721 m. Nathaniel Allen).

Mercy Welch was born Rehoboth 1 Mar 1690 and died Plainfield, CT 19 Oct 1784. She married about 1715 Thomas Spaulding and they had: Elizabeth (1716 m. Joseph Coit & John Tyler), Sarah (1717 m. Nathaniel French), Elizabeth (1719, unk. if married), Andrew (1720), Eunice (1720 m. John Baldwin & Elisha Williams), Hannah (1722 unk. if married), Hezekiah (1723/4), Abigail (1727 m. Ebenezer Gallup) and Lydia (1729 m. Benjamin Andros).

Martha Welch was born Plainfield, CT 25 Oct 1704, living 1759[16] is said to have married Joseph Robson/Robinson. It is unknown if she had any children.


Tabitha Kingsley was born Rehoboth 22 Sep 1688 and died after 13 Aug 1733. She married Windham, CT 10 May 1709 John Broughton (III) and they had four children: Mary (1710 m. Stephen Walcott), Tabitha (1712 m. David Green), Amos (1718) and Phebe (1721 m. Ichabod Palmer).

Sarah Kingsley was born Rehoboth 9 Oct 1690 and died there 17 Oct 1727. She married Swansea 10 Feb 1709 (Elder) Ephraim Hicks/Hix and they had five children: Benjamin (1710), John (1712), Ephraim (1714), Barnard (1719) and Alethea (1723/4 m. Enoch Kelton).


Ruth Curtis was born Plympton 20 May 1710 and died Woodstock, CT 18 Mar 1771. She married twice, first Dudley, MA 5 Jun 1736 Ithemar Amidon and second, Woodstock, CT 1 Jan 1746 Daniel Child. By her first husband, Ruth had two children: Ithemar (1736) and Ebenezer. By her second husband, she had seven more children: Priscilla (1737), Asa (1745), Daniel (1747), Zeruiah (1748), Stephen (1749) and Abel (1752).

Sarah Curtis was born Plympton 10 May 1711 and died at Plympton West Parish (now Hanson), 27 Jun 1781. She married Kingston 30 Aug 1737 Samuel Wad and they had: Isaac (1734), Sarah (1737 m George Osbourne), Samuel (1738), Levi (1739), Anna (1741-1753), Betty (died 1789 m 1771 John Jackson), Edward (1748), James (1750) and Isaac (1753).


Hannah Carpenter was born Rehoboth 6 Jun 1712 and died Tiverton, RI after 21 Jul 1773. She married Rehoboth 6 Oct 1730 David Round and they had (born Rehoboth): Jerusha (1731 m. Benjamin Cleveland), David (1733/4), Hezekiah (1739), Hannah (1741/2), Amos (1744), Nathan (1746) and Mary (1749 m. Benjamin Sawdey).

Renew Carpenter was born Rehoboth 6 Jun 1714 and died there 9 Feb 1787. She married Rehoboth 26 Apr 1733 Jabez Rounds and they had (born Rehoboth): Isaac (1733/4), Jabez (1735/6), Isabel (1737), Abigail (1740), Isaiah (1741), Rebeckah (1742), Sybel (1744), Oliver (1747), Rhoda (1750 m. William Parker), Esther (1752) and Simeon (1755)

Desire Carpenter was born Rehoboth 3 Jun 1716 and died there 28 May 1800. She married Rehoboth 15 Apr 1737 Hezekiah Hicks/Hix and they had (born Rehoboth): Hannah (1740), James (1742), Hezekiah (1744), Mary (1746/7), Desire (1750 m. Abel Burt), Gideon (twin 1752) and Jotham (twin 1752).

Esther Carpenter was born Rehoboth about 1719 and died there 28 Oct 1794. She married twice: First 4 Jan 1735 Nathan Bardeen (d. 1736) and second Swansea 4 Jan 1737/8 Nathaniel Bowen. By her first husband (Nathan Bardeen) Esther had one child: Nathan (b. Swansea 1736/7). By her second husband (Nathaniel Bowen) Esther had ten additional children: Nathan (1737/8), Peleg (1739/40), Thomas (1743), Anne (1749 d. young), John (1751), Reuben (1753), James (1755), Mary (1757 m. Benjamin Cranston), Avis (1758 m. Joseph McMillen), William (1760) and Anne (1766, likely never married).


  1. ↑ Unmarried in 1623 Land division, yet had her second child shortly after the May 1627 Cattle Division.
  2. ↑ PCR 1:31, MD 2:115
  3. ↑ Not named in the May 1627 Cattle Division, but was in the 1643 "Able to Bear Arms List" so likely was then at least 16.
  4. ↑ Named in the 1627 Cattle Division.
  5. ↑ Widow remarried 16 Oct 1661.
  6. ↑ Edward married first bef 29 Mar 1673 Hannah Hing. It is unknown when she died and she may have been the mother of some or all of Edward's children.
  7. ↑ Israel married in Feb 1700, so almost certainly was then at least 21.
  8. ↑ named in a deed from her grandfather Francis Eaton to her parents.
  9. ↑ Agreement of heirs of her late husband.
  10. ↑ Birth of youngest child.
  11. ↑ Deceased in her husband's will.
  12. ↑ John Curtis was likely married more than once, with Charity being the wife of at least the youngest two children. The Plymouth VRs (as recorded in MD 4:110) fail to state the name of the mother of the first four children. The mother of the two youngest children (MD 5:183 from orig. Plympton VRs p. 152) was called Charity. John Curtis purchased land from Edward May (brother to Charity) 12 May 1703 and mortgaged this (plus other) property 21 Feb 1703/4. These deeds hint where John was married to Charity at this time. See TAG 67 (1992):2-8 for more information.
  13. ↑ TAG 67(1992) p. 3.
  14. ↑ Ibid.
  15. ↑ Per the 1757 will of her brother Josiah.
  16. ↑ Named (without a surname) in will of brother Ebenezer

mtDNA Results

To date, no known matrilineal (all female line) descendants of Christian have come forward and provided their mtDNA results for analysis. Individuals who believe they are matrilineal descendants of Christian (ie persons who believe their mother's mother's mother's etc. mother was Christian) are encouraged to contact MayflowerDNA1620@gmail.com and take a full mtDNA test for analysis.

The Billington Family Society has gone on record as being willing to pay for a full mtDNA test for any documented matrilineal (all female line) descendant of Christian PENN. They can be reached at: BillingtonFamilySociety@gmail.com

References and External Links


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