Billington Sea
Encyclopedia
Billington Sea is a 269 acres (1.1 km²) warm water pond located in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Morton Park
lies on the pond's northern shore. The pond is fed by groundwater and cranberry bog outlets. The average depth is seven feet and the maximum depth is 11 feet (3.4 m). The pond provides the headwaters to Town Brook
. Seymour Island is located in the center of the pond.
Billington Sea was named after its discoverer, Francis Billington, one of the passengers on the Mayflower who sighted the pond from a tree in January 1621. By tradition, he had climbed a tree and, seeing a body of water, had the idea that he had found the "great South Sea" or the Pacific Ocean. In memory of his error, the pond has been called "Billington's Sea" since.
Francis was clearly an active and troublesome youth. He nearly caused a disaster on board the Mayflower shortly after arrival, when he shot off his father's musket inside the Mayflower's cabin and sent sparks raining down near an open barrel of gunpowder. After he got to shore, he climbed up a tree and spotted a "great sea," which turned out to be a lake that even today is still known as "Billington's Sea". He and one of the Mayflower's crew members went to explore the sea, but became alarmed when they saw some abandoned Indian houses (they were alone with only a single gun).
Francis' father was hanged
for murder in September 1630, and his brother John had died not too long before. In July 1634, Francis married Christian Eaton, the widow of Mayflower passenger Francis Eaton who had died the previous year autumn. Christian brought three of her own children, and one stepchild from her deceased husband's previous marriage, all under the age of 14. With Francis Billington, she had nine more children. They raised their family at Plymouth, and moved in their later years to Middleboro
, where they both died in 1684.
and northwest of Lout Pond
. Briggs Reservoir
is located within the village south of Black Cat Road.
Morton Park (Massachusetts)
Morton Park is a park in Plymouth, Massachusetts, located west of Route 3 and northwest of Lout Pond with its main entrance off Summer Street and its rear entrance off Billington Street...
lies on the pond's northern shore. The pond is fed by groundwater and cranberry bog outlets. The average depth is seven feet and the maximum depth is 11 feet (3.4 m). The pond provides the headwaters to Town Brook
Town Brook (Massachusetts)
Town Brook is a stream in Plymouth, Massachusetts that provided drinking water to the Pilgrims who made their homes adjacent to the brook on Leyden Street in Plymouth. Town Brook's headwaters are the Billington Sea, a freshwater pond. The brook passes through numerous small ponds, including Deep...
. Seymour Island is located in the center of the pond.
Billington Sea was named after its discoverer, Francis Billington, one of the passengers on the Mayflower who sighted the pond from a tree in January 1621. By tradition, he had climbed a tree and, seeing a body of water, had the idea that he had found the "great South Sea" or the Pacific Ocean. In memory of his error, the pond has been called "Billington's Sea" since.
Background
The Billington family may have originated from around Cowbit and Spaulding, in Lincolnshire, England. Francis Longland named young children Francis Billington son of John, and Francis Newton son of Robert, as heirs. In 1650, a survey of lands indicated that Francis was "about 40" and living in New England. Francis' himself stated in a 1674 deposition that he was 68 years old, so he was about 14 years old when he made the voyage on the Mayflower to Plymouth in 1620 with his parents John and Eleanor, and older brother John.Francis was clearly an active and troublesome youth. He nearly caused a disaster on board the Mayflower shortly after arrival, when he shot off his father's musket inside the Mayflower's cabin and sent sparks raining down near an open barrel of gunpowder. After he got to shore, he climbed up a tree and spotted a "great sea," which turned out to be a lake that even today is still known as "Billington's Sea". He and one of the Mayflower's crew members went to explore the sea, but became alarmed when they saw some abandoned Indian houses (they were alone with only a single gun).
Francis' father was hanged
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
for murder in September 1630, and his brother John had died not too long before. In July 1634, Francis married Christian Eaton, the widow of Mayflower passenger Francis Eaton who had died the previous year autumn. Christian brought three of her own children, and one stepchild from her deceased husband's previous marriage, all under the age of 14. With Francis Billington, she had nine more children. They raised their family at Plymouth, and moved in their later years to Middleboro
Middleborough, Massachusetts
Middleborough is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,117 as of 2008.For geographic and demographic information on the village of Middleborough Center, please see the article Middleborough Center, Massachusetts....
, where they both died in 1684.
Billington Sea village
Billington Sea is also the name of a small village on the southern shore of the pond along Black Cat Road, northeast of Micajah HeightsMicajah Heights, Massachusetts
Micajah Heights is a neighborhood in Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States, in the West Plymouth section of the town, southwest of Billington Sea. The neighborhood surrounds Micajah Pond.-See also:* Neighborhoods in Plymouth, Massachusetts...
and northwest of Lout Pond
Lout Pond
Lout Pond is an kettlehole pond in Plymouth, Massachusetts, east of Billington Sea, southeast of Morton Park, and northwest of Cooks Pond. The pond has an average depth of and a maximum depth of . The northern and southern shores have been developed extensively. Cranberry bogs are along the...
. Briggs Reservoir
Briggs Reservoir (Plymouth, Massachusetts)
Briggs Reservoir is a reservoir in Plymouth, Massachusetts located in Billington Sea village south of that pond. The reservoir suffers from shoreline erosion and the water quality is impaired due to non-native aquatic plants in the reservoir....
is located within the village south of Black Cat Road.
See also
- Town Brook Historic and Archeological DistrictTown Brook Historic and Archeological DistrictTown Brook Historic and Archeological District is an historic district associated with the seventeenth century Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The Town Brook provided drinking water for the Pilgrims after landing in 1620....
- Neighborhoods in Plymouth, MassachusettsNeighborhoods in Plymouth, MassachusettsThere are several neighborhoods in Plymouth, Massachusetts. With a total area of 134.0 mi² , Plymouth is the largest municipality in Massachusetts by area. In addition, with a population of 51,701 at the 2000 census and an estimated population of 57,901 in 2007, Plymouth is the second-largest town...
- Plymouth, Massachusetts