Nathaniel Billing (abt. 1610 - 1673)

Born about 1610 in England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 24 Aug 1673 at about age 63 in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Nathanial Billing migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 29) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Nathaniel Billing was most likely born in England and the name of his wife is not known. He immigrated to New England by 1640.^[1][2][3] and settled in Concord, Mass., where he was admitted a freeman June 2, 1641.^[4][5]

He died in Concord in 1673 and his heirs were sons John and Nathaniel. The continuing male line runs only through John Billing (1640-1704) and his first wife Elizabeth Hastings, born in 1643, daughter of John Hastings. Of his sons, only Samuel survived his father.^[3]

Name

Nathaniel Billing,^[1] also known as Nathaniel Billings.^[6][7]

His sons signed their last name as "Billing" in their father's probate record.^[7]

Parents

Unknown.^[1]

Birth

About 1610, exact date and location unknown.^[1]

He most likely was born in England. His birth year is estimated based on the assumptions that he was married by 1640^[6] and would have been about 30 years old at that time.

Marriage

Husband: Nathanial Billing

Wife: Name not known.^[6] No widow is mentioned in Nathaniel's probate records, so it's likely he was a widower when he died.^[7]

Marriage: Before 1640.^[6]

Children

Nathaniel had the following children:^[2]

• John Billing
• Nathaniel Billing

The identity of his children is proved by a remark included in his probate record. His sons, John and Nathaniel, attested that the inventory recorded by Timothy Wheler and Robert Meriam was accurate to the best of their knowledge:

This is the undisposed estate

of our much respekted father

so fare as we are abel:

[Signed:]

Nathaniel Billing : John Billing^[7]

Property

The family originally settled in the south part of town which is now Lincoln. He owned in 1655 seven lots containing fifty-four acres, which was later (1880) owned by Amos Baker.^{[citation needed]}

Death

Date: 24 August 1673

Place: Concord, Middlesex Co., MA^[8]

Probate

Case Number: 1770^[7]

Probate date: 8 September 1673

Inventory: 16 September 1673^[9]

Inventory taken by: Timothy Wheler, Robert Meriam

Memorial

Inscription: IN MEMORIAM. NATHANIEL BILLINGS, ONE OF THE EARLIEST SETTLERS IN AND SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE TOWN OF CONCORD, DIED AUG. 24, 1673. A PATRIOT AND A FREEMAN, HE WAS ONE OF THE SIGNERS TO THE MEMORIAL IN 1664 TO THE GENERAL COURT, WHO PLEDGED THEIR LIVES AND ESTATES TO MAINTAIN THEIR CHARTER RIGHTS. ERECTED AUG. 24, 1890 BY SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS.^[10]

Research Notes

Disputed Parents: Without supporting sources or adequate evidence, the following persons were previously identified in this profile as parents of Nathaniel Billing of Concord:

• Roger Billings of Taunton, Somerset, England
• Richard (Billings) Billing of Prescot, Lancashire, England
• Elizabeth (Strong) Billings of Prescot, Lancashire, England

The work, The Great Migration Directory, Immigrants to New England, 1620 - 1640, reports the origins of Nathaniel Billings as 'unknown'.^[1]

Identity of Wife: Some have his wife as Jane, the "Mrs. Jane Billing ye wife of mr Nathanl Billing dyed Decembr ye 6th day, 1708".^[11] However, it's more reasonable to think Jane was his daughter-in-law due to the 35-year difference in their death dates and the fact that she was not recorded as the widow of Nathaniel. Also, no widow was recorded in Nathaniel's 1673 probate records, which implies Nathaniel's wife died before 1673.^[7]

Son: Nathaniel Billings (abt.1640-1714) Daughter-in-Law: Jane (Goodenow) Billings (abt.1649-1708) Married 19 Mar 1679^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Directory, Immigrants to New England, 1620 - 1640. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. p. 152; Billing, Nathaniel.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Shattuck, Lemuel. A History of the Town of Concord; Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Boston, MA: Russel, Odiorne and Company, 1935. p. 364. Available on Archive.org.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Dana, Harold Ward, A.B., MD. John Billings of Deer Isle, Maine. New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 97 (Oct 1943), p. 347. Available on AmericanAncestors.org.
4. ↑ Shurtleff, Nathaniel B., M.D., Ed.. Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England. Boston, MA: William White Press, 1853. Vol. 1, Pp. 378 - 379. Available on HathiTrust.org.
5. ↑ Paige, Lucius R., Rev.. List of Freemen. New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol. 3 (Apr 1849), p. 188. Available on HathiTrust.org.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} Torrey, Clarence Almon. New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011. Vol. 1, p. 144. Has sources, available on AmericanAncestors.org.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5} Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized images provided by FamilySearch.org. Citing case number 1770.
8. ↑ Tolman, George. "Concord Registers, Book I" in Concord, Massachusetts Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1635-1850. (Beacon Press, Boston, Mass., 1895), p 17. "nathaniel Billings sen died 24. agust. 1673"
9. ↑ Pulsifer, David. Probate Records of the County of Middlesex, Massachusetts. Middlesex Co., MA : 1850. Vol. IV, Pp. 125-6. Images 77-78 of 450, available on FamilySearch.org.
10. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 07 February 2021), memorial page for Nathaniel Billings (1600–24 Aug 1673), Find A Grave: Memorial #24398950, citing South Burying Place, Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Bill Boyington (contributor 46800933).
11. ↑ "Concord Registers, Book II" in Concord, Massachusetts Births, Marriages, and Deaths, p 70.
12. ↑ "Middlesex County Registers" in Concord, Massachusetts Births, Marriages, and Deaths, p 23. "Nath. Billins & Jane Banister maryed 19.3.79"

See also:

• Great Migration Newsletter. Great Migration Newsletter, V.1-20. Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2018. Volume 17 (Jan-Mar 2008), p. 30.
• Pope, Charles Henry. The Pioneers of Massachusetts. Boston, MA: self-published, 1900. p. 49. Available on Archive.org.
• Rodgers, Robert H.. Middlesex County in the colony of the Massachusetts Bay in New England: Vol 3: Records of probate and administration, March 1660/61-December 1670. Boston : New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001. Pages 220 - 221.
• Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England. Boston, MA: Little, Brown & Co., 1860. Vol. 1, p. 178. Available on HathiTrust.org.
• Taylor, G. A.. Stay Wills at Suffolk County (MASS.) Probate Registry. The American Genealogist, Vol. 14 (1397), p. 131. Available at AmericanAncestors.org. Mentioned in the will of George Wheeler, adjoining property.
• http://dunhamwilcox.net/me/me_bio_billings.htm
• http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/s/c/h/Barbara-j-Schwartz-CA/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-1520.html