Christian Penn (mtDNA)

Status summary

As of September 26, 2020

• Page created for Christian Penn, wife of (1) Francis Eaton and (2) Francis Billington
• recruitment of individuals who are mtDNA descendants of Christian Penn. Folks who are mtDNA descendants are encouraged to contact Raymond T. Wing (email: wing.genealogist AT gmail DOT com)

Background

Biography

Like most women of her period, almost nothing is known about Christian (Christiana) Penn. She is said to have came to New Plimouth Colony aboard the Anne in 1623, then she became the third wife of Mayflower Passenger Francis Eaton about 1624. Francis died sometime in 1633 and she married Francis Billington in July 1634.

Christian and her first husband, Francis Eaton, had three children: Rachel, Benjamin, 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 her mtDNA is currently 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

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 five children; one son and four daughters (Elizabeth, Sarah, Mercy & Bethia)

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; 2 sons and four daughters (Marcy, Sarah, Experience [died young] & Mary).

Dorcas Billington was born in Plymouth about 1650. She had a son out of wedlocked and was fined and whipped for committing fornication on 7 Jun 1672. She married before 20 May 1686 Edward May. He died at Plymouth 10 Aug 1691, but she was living as late as 1 Aug 1707. By Edward she had at least one son and possibly one daughter. At the present time, it is not known if the presumed daughter exists, and if so, whether she ever married and had children, so there is currently no known mtDNA descendants of Dorcas.

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; three sons and daughter, Desire.

mtDNA Results

To date, no known mtDNA descendants of Christian have come forward and provided their mtDNA results for analysis. Individuals who believe they are mtDNA descendants of Christian (ie persons who believe their mother's mother's mother's etc. mother was Christian) are encouraged to contact Raymond Wing (email wing DOT genealogist AT gmail DOT com) and take a full mtDNA test for analysis.