Person:Francis Billingsley (4)

Born Calvert County, Maryland in 1653, moved to Richmond County, Virginia with his parents in 1659 and turned to Calvert County, Maryland with them Feb. 1663-64. He married prior to 1677 Susann born Maryland 16-. After his marriage he became very active in the Quaker Meetings. Some years ago we had the custodian of these old Meeting records go over them and abstract every item containing the name of Billingsley therein. These items are mostly routine but in two instances there is controversy in which Francis Billing­sley is concerned and which are settled in the Meetings and no recourse to court or law. He appears to have been very rigid in his discipline and at no time is his name found in court proceedings. Francis and Susanna appear to be the only members of the family who took an active part in the church work tho the others are known to have belonged to the order, and after the passing - of -Francis the name does hot appear in these Meeting records from 1699 to 1782, no later search made. These Meeting records cover Cliffs, Joppa, Deer Creek, Patuxent and Herring Creeks, and West River. He seems to have been a favorite son, or else was present when his father passed on and took possession of the greater portion of the lands. There. was .an estrangement between John and Francis from this date which does not appear to have been settled. In 1684 he appears in possession of “Selby Clifts,” 200 acres, “Deer Quarter,” 250 acres, and “Corne Hill,” 350 acres. He dated his will 7 Mar. 1692, died 10. 6mo. 1695 and was buried in Friends Burying ground at ye Clifts. His will probated 21 Jan. 1695. The following items are abstracted: . Item: To William Richardson Sr. of West River, personality for Quakers on Western Shore. Item: To three cousins, Thomas Billingsley, Sarah Roberts, and Mary Pollard, personality. (These are known to be children of Thomas Billingsley III, the uncle of this Francis and are cousins in fact.) Item: To Thomas Sadler’s three children, personality. Item: Wife, Susanna and daughter Rebecca Birckhead, executors. Residue of entire estate, real and personal, to revert to daughter Sarah and heirs at death of wife aforesaid. In event daughter Sarah die without heirs, sd wife to have entire estate if she be living and at her death sd estate to be divided among cousins aforesaid, Thos. Billingsley, Sarah Roberts, and Mary Pollard, and the “eldest son of brother Edward.” In 1697 “Selby Clifts,” 200 acres was owned by Susanna Billingsley, she sold it 16 Apr.1717 to John Beckett. “Deer Quarter” was transferred to daughter Rebecca Birckhead at the time of her marriage, she sold this land to Eleazer Birckhead 15 May 1729. “Corne Hill,” 350 acres was owned by Susanna from 1697 to about 1710 when she turned it over to daughter Rebecca and her husband who sold it 12 Oct. 1719 to John Mackall. At a Meeting 10 mo. 1699 Robert Gover and Susanna Billingsley laid their intention of marriage first time; Richard Harrison and GeorgeRoyston to make inquiry into their clearness from former marriage engagements and what she hath done for her children, etc. At a Meeting 2.12 mo. 1699 they laid their intention before the Meeting for second time (rest of page is missing). This marriage took place as later deeds and Rent Rolls show her as Susanna Billingsley also Gover, etc. She was living in 1717 Calvert Co., Md.