Person:Thomas Billingsley (4)

The Billingsley Family in America, Harry A. Davis 1936, p 10.

Born County Salop, England circa 1618 moved to Holland with his parents. He and his brother William came to Virginia in 1650. They, with five others, were transported by Edward James on 22 May 1650, said James was granted 350 acres of land on Rapahannock. (Land Rec. Lib. 2, fol. X19). Thomas settled in Nansemond County, Virginia, where his other brothers were residing and was “transported” into the Province of Maryland Anno 1656 Calvert County by his brother Francis Billingsley. The first land he shows possessed of is in Rent Rolls, 300 acres called “Teamoth” surveyed 27 Oct. 1651 for William James lying in the Cliffs adjoining land of Thomas Tolly. About 1663, 150 acres o: this tract was possessed by Thomas Billingsley and 150 acres by David Morgan. He married prior to 1658 Elizabeth born 16-. In 1664 Elizabeth was summoned as witness in case of Eliza Green charged with murdering her own child, Elizabeth refused to take the oath (Ct. Rec. BB, 280-284). In 1668 Thomas Billingsley was in service as Juror. On 18 Jan. 1669 there was surveyed for him 300 acres of land in Dorchester County called “Billingsley Chance.” (Liv. 12, fo. 414). There was also surveyed for him about 1670, 100 acres of land in Dorchester County, near the first grant and called “Billingsley Folly.” He died in 1673 leaving the following will. The last Will and Testament of Thomas Billingsley Being in perfect memory and weak in Body committeth his Soul to God and his Body to a decent Burial. Items: I give to my brother Francis Billingsley all my Tools for fixing of Gunns and all my Coopers Tools and his choice of all my plains and Irons and my Bow Saw, and to John Troster I give a pair of roosted stockings and to my Daughters Elizabeth and Sarah Billingsley Three hundred acres of Land Lying in Chicanocomocoe River called by thename of. Billingsley Chance adjoining to land of Henry Hooper to them and their heirs and to my daughter Mary Billingsley I give one hundred acres of Land Lying in the same River called by the name of Billingsleys Folly to her and her heirs for Ever and to my wife Elizabeth Billingsley I give the land I now live on till my son Thomas Billingsley be at age of Eighteen years and then to .possess the said Land with the rest of his Estate but if in case my wife Eliza: be then a widow she shall have her third of the said Land During her Widdowhood but if my son Thomas aforesaid happen to dye in his minority then my wife shall Enjoy all his seat of Land During her life called by the name of “Teamoth” and after her death it shall redound to the nearest and Next of my Kindred and I the said Billingsley do Engage my wife Elizabeth to give out of the remaining part of my Estate to my three children to say Thomas, Sara, and Mary Billingsley Three Mare Colts within Eighteen months after my Decease with their Increase to Run on for the benefit of my Three Children above said and forall the Remainder of my Estate after my Debts and Funeral Charges being paid I give to my wife to bring up and to maintain my children till they are at age and then to give them all four, Thomas and Elizabeth, Sara and Mary Billingsley Each of them a Servant apiece not to serve under four year apiece but such servants as the children like of Each of them a feather bed and furniture a piece which the children shall choose and I make my wife Eliza Billingsley my full and lawful Executrix and I do ordain these to be my Overseers, my brother Francis Billingsley and Richard Hooper, Dr. John Stansby and John Troster to aid and assist my wife in this my last Will and Testament and I do empower my wife with consent of these my overseers that after my children have two Breeders apiece that then the Rest shall not be kept no longer than the age of three year and then to be disposed of and sold for Tobacco or money and that to be put out to use for the benefite of these my children at 8 or 10 in the hundred according as the Overseers Cann Raise it and that the Overseers give an account to Court Every year of produce and what they Raise Witness my hand and Seal March 26th, 1672. Thomas Billingsley Signed Sealed & Delivered in the presence of us his David Morgan, Walter W. Watkins her mark Ann M. Morgan marke On the Back Side of the foregoing Last Will and Testament of Thomas Billingsley was thus written: March 12, 1673 Came Walter Watkins and David Morgan both Living in Calvert County and took their oaths upon the Evangelists that this within written paper to be the last Will and Testament of Thomas Billingsley, Late of Calvert County, Deceased. So done John Stansbey and John Troster both of Calvert County came before me and -took their oathes as appraising of the Estate of the said Thomas Billingsley Deceased before me. Edward Keene (Sealed)