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     William Billing was born about 1629 in England.² He was married by Major Atharton to Mary (?) in Dorchester, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, on 12 February 1657/58 ("12. 12. 57").³ He died on 16 March 1712/13 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.⁴ He was buried at Great Plain Cemetery in North Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.⁵
     In 1861 Horatio G. Somerby was hired by Frederick Billings to compile a Billings ancestry. The resulting manuscript traced the Billings line back to Sir Thomas Billing, who was a prominent political figure during the Wars of the Roses, was knighted for "taking a prominent part with the Lancastrian party," and became lord chief justice under King Henry VI. The immigrant William Billing is listed in Somerby's manuscript as one of Sir Thomas's descendants. He is said to have emigrated from Taunton, Somersetshire, England, to New England sometime before 1649, after selling the family estate called Deanes, in Taunton, to his brother Ebenezer.^6,1
     This Billings line has been repeated in various publications, but was shown to be fraudulent, basically concocted by Somerby, in a 1999 article by Paul C. Reed.⁷ A recent article by Rachelle Child and Helen Schatvet Ullmann indicates that William Billing may have actually been a son of Richard and Elizabeth Billings, baptized 24 April 1631 in Prescot, Lancashire, England, and that he and his siblings Roger and Ann emigrated to New England with George Moxon, curate of St. Helen's chapel in Prescot, in 1637.⁸
     William served in the militia during King Philip's War, in 1675. In 1701 he received one of the Cedar Swamp Lots in Narragansett Twp. (now Voluntown), New London Co., Connecticut, that was granted by the Connecticut Court to those who volunteered during the war.⁹
     He moved to Stonington, New London Co., by 1677, when he bought 100 acres of land there on Cosatuc Hill from Daniel Mason on 10 May. He later bought additional land¹⁰, and built a large house.¹¹ He and his wife Mary were admitted to the First Congregational Church in Stonington on 29 April 1677.¹²
     His will was made 3 October 1712 and proved 14 April 1713. He left his wife Mary all his movables in his house, and one mare. She also received 1/3 of his real estate, plus one room in his house and cellar, for her use during her lifetime. His son William had previouslt been given all his land in Preston, "and all southward to the south part of that I bought of Robert Holmes, except only what is given to my daughter Lydeah." His daughter Lydia received the land where she was then living, consisting of 100 acres or more, plus £5. He left £5 to his daughter Margaret, £20 to his daughter Mary, £15 to his daughter Mercy, £10 to his daughter Dorothy, and £15 to his daughter Patience. He also left £15 to his grandson Beriah Grant, "provided he stayes with me or my wife till he be of lawful age," but nothing otherwise; £10 to his granddaughter Mary Belays(?); and £5 to each of the daughters of his daughter Abigail. The remainder was to go to his son Ebenezer, who was named executor.⁴
     His estate was inventoried on 31 March 1713 and valued at £718, including his farm of 400 acres valued at £400, and additional land valued at £140.⁴

More Information / Background

• King Philip's War.
  

     Mary (?) was married by Major Atharton to William Billing in Dorchester, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, on 12 February 1657/58 ("12. 12. 57").² She died in 1718.³ She was buried at Great Plain Cemetery in North Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.⁴
     She and her husband William were admitted to the First Congregational Church in Stonington on 29 April 1677.⁵
     In her husband's will, dated 3 October 1712 and proved 14 April 1713, she was left all his household movables, and one mare. She also received 1/3 of his real estate, plus one room in his house and cellar, for her use during her lifetime.⁶
     Her own nuncupative (i.e., oral) will was made "in the fall of the year next following the spring in wch Mr. William Billings ... deceased" (i.e., in the fall of 1713). She was "very sick" at the time, but apparently recovered, as it was not presented in court until 8 July 1718. She left various items of clothing to her daughters Margaret, Mary, Lydia, Mercy, Dorothy, and Patience. Other items were left to her granddaughters Mary Ceay, Elizabeth Randal, and Mary Randal. The remainder of her estate was to go to her daughters equally.³

     William Billing was born in 1660.¹ He was baptized on 1 September 1672 in New London, New London Co., Connecticut (Dana says in Stonington).^1,2 He married Hannah Sterry, daughter of Roger Sterry and Hannah Palmer, about 1688.¹ He was buried on 8 June 1738.¹
     On 13 May 1703, and later, William Billing served as deputy from Preston, New London Co., Connecticut.¹ He was an ensign in the Preston Company on 15 March 1704, and a captain on 11 October 1716.¹
     In his father's will, dated 3 October 1712 and proved 14 April 1713, it was noted that he had already received all his father's land in Preston, "and all southward to the south part of that I bought of Robert Holmes, except only what is given to my daughter Lydeah."³ His own will was dated 4 July 1737 and proved 12 July 1738.¹

     Ebenezer Billing was born about 1661.¹ He was baptized on 1 September 1672 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.² He married Anne Comstock, daughter of Daniel Comstock and Paltiah Elderkin, on 28 February 1680/81 or 1 March 1680/81.^1,3 He died on 16 September 1727.¹ He was buried at North Stonington cemetery in New London Co., Connecticut.¹
     He fought in King Philip's War in 1675.¹ He was admitted to the church in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut, on 18 May 1712.¹
     He was named executor of his father's will, dated 3 October 1712 and proved 14 April 1713, and was left the remainder of the estate after all other legacies had been distributed.⁴ His own will was dated 20 February 1726/27 and proved 5 October 1727.¹

More Information / Background

• King Philip's War.
  

     Joseph Billing was baptized on 1 September 1672 in New London, New London Co., Connecticut (Dana says in Stonington).^1,2 He died young.¹

     Mary Billing was baptized on 1 September 1672 in New London, New London Co., Connecticut (Dana says in Stonington).^1,2
     In her father's will, dated 3 October 1712 and proved 14 April 1713, she was left £20.³

     Lydia Billing was baptized on 1 September 1672 in New London, New London Co., Connecticut (Dana says in Stonington).^1,2 She died in August 1747 at age 74.¹
     In her father's will, dated 3 October 1712 and proved 14 April 1713, she was left the land where she was then living, being 100 acres or more, plus £5.³

     Mercy Billing was born on 27 October 1674 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.¹ She was baptized on 14 March 1674/75 in New London, New London Co., Connecticut.¹
     In her father's will, dated 3 October 1712 and proved 14 April 1713, she was left £15.²

     Abigail Billing was baptized on 1 July 1677 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.¹ She probably died in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut, in 1705.¹

     Dorothy Billing was baptized on 1 July 1677 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.¹
     In her father's will, dated 3 October 1712 and proved 14 April 1713, she was left £10.²

     Elizabeth Billing was baptized on 28 September 1679 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.¹

     Patience Billing was baptized on 9 April 1682 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.¹
     In her father's will, dated 3 October 1712 and proved 14 April 1713, she was left £15.²

     William Fanning was born on 25 March 1679 (or 26 March).¹

     Edmund Fanning was born probably in 1682.¹ He married first Hannah Parke, daughter of William Parke and Hannah Frink, about 1710.¹ He married second Hopestill Elliot, daughter of Henry Elliot and Deborah York, on 11 June 1735.¹ He died in March 1768.¹

     Hannah Parke was born on 10 September 1685.¹ She married Edmund Fanning, son of Edmund Fanning and Margaret Billing, about 1710.¹ She died between 1732 and 1735.¹

     Hopestill Elliot was born on 18 August 1684.¹ She married first Joseph Coates.¹ She married second Edmund Fanning, son of Edmund Fanning and Margaret Billing, on 11 June 1735.¹ She died in June 1772 at age 87.¹

     Jonathan Fanning was born in 1684.¹ He married Elizabeth Way, daughter of Thomas Way and Ann Lester, on 17 May 1714.¹ He died on 28 April 1761.¹

     Elizabeth Way was born on 20 April 1695.¹ She married Jonathan Fanning, son of Edmund Fanning and Margaret Billing, on 17 May 1714.¹ She died on 24 July 1772 at age 77.¹

     Hannah Sterry was born on 18 August 1672.¹ She married William Billing, son of William Billing and Mary (?), about 1688.¹

     Mary Billing was born on 24 April 1689 in Preston, New London Co., Connecticut.^1,2 She was baptized on 29 May 1692 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.¹ She married John Boardman in 1713.¹

     John Boardman married Mary Billing, daughter of William Billing and Hannah Sterry, in 1713.¹