George Billings
George Billings, whose ancestry is unknown (or not traced here), was born at Pennsylvania, about 1 October 1795.1,2,3 He died at Chana, Ogle Co., Illinois, 21 April 1861, aged "65y 6m 20d," and was buried at Cooley/Seaworth Cemetery, Pine Rock Township, Ogle Co., Illinois.4,5
George married (1) Elizabeth Towner, daughter of Elijah Towner and Mary Knapp, at Sheshequin, Bradford Co., Pennsylvania, about 1820;6 he married (2), as her 2nd husband, Lydia Horton, whose ancestry is unknown (or not traced here), at Sheshequin, about 1838;6 he married (3) Lucy Ann (…), whose ancestry is unknown (or not traced here), at Sheshequin, about 1846.7
There is a second George Billings in counties around Bradford, but he is somewhat younger than "ours." That George was born c. 1802-04, the son of Renselaer Billings and can be traced through Renselaer's probate, guardianship, land, and census records. This younger George finally leaves a will in Minnesota in the late 1870's.
Our George was a resident of Sheshequin from 1822 to 1850. Sometime after that, he and third wife Lucy Ann removed to Illinois.
It appears he was married to his second wife for only a short time, perhaps about 1843 to 1844 when it appears she died. There is a marker (or perhaps this is a cenotaph) at Lawnridge Cemetery, Ogle Co., Illinois, identifying her as the wife of David S. Blackman. There are deeds in Bradford Co., showing George buying her dower rights from the heirs of David Blackman to a portion of the Blackman property in 1843, and selling that property back to the heirs in 1845, which corresponds roughtly to the date on the marker (1844).
Federal Census records (1850 & 1860) consistently show him to be born about 1795, but in different states: Pennsylvania or New York. He simply appears in Bradford Co., Pennsylvania in 1822 according to the county histories.
There is a Henry Billings who was in Warren Township, Bradford county, by 1804 but was gone from the records by 1812.8,9,10,11
George left a will dated at La Salle Co., Illinois, 27 February 1861, and proved 26 Apr 1861.
George married (1) Elizabeth Towner, daughter of Elijah Towner and Mary Knapp, at Sheshequin, Bradford Co., Pennsylvania, about 1820;6 he married (2), as her 2nd husband, Lydia Horton, whose ancestry is unknown (or not traced here), at Sheshequin, about 1838;6 he married (3) Lucy Ann (…), whose ancestry is unknown (or not traced here), at Sheshequin, about 1846.7
There is a second George Billings in counties around Bradford, but he is somewhat younger than "ours." That George was born c. 1802-04, the son of Renselaer Billings and can be traced through Renselaer's probate, guardianship, land, and census records. This younger George finally leaves a will in Minnesota in the late 1870's.
Our George was a resident of Sheshequin from 1822 to 1850. Sometime after that, he and third wife Lucy Ann removed to Illinois.
It appears he was married to his second wife for only a short time, perhaps about 1843 to 1844 when it appears she died. There is a marker (or perhaps this is a cenotaph) at Lawnridge Cemetery, Ogle Co., Illinois, identifying her as the wife of David S. Blackman. There are deeds in Bradford Co., showing George buying her dower rights from the heirs of David Blackman to a portion of the Blackman property in 1843, and selling that property back to the heirs in 1845, which corresponds roughtly to the date on the marker (1844).
Federal Census records (1850 & 1860) consistently show him to be born about 1795, but in different states: Pennsylvania or New York. He simply appears in Bradford Co., Pennsylvania in 1822 according to the county histories.
There is a Henry Billings who was in Warren Township, Bradford county, by 1804 but was gone from the records by 1812.8,9,10,11
George left a will dated at La Salle Co., Illinois, 27 February 1861, and proved 26 Apr 1861.
In the name of God Amen; I George Billings of the town of ophir in the County of LaSalle and state of Illinois of the age of sixty five years and being of Sound mind and memory do make publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner following that is to say
First I give and devise to my wife Lucy Ann Billings Aforesaid her heirs and assigns all that tract or parcel of land situated in the county of Adair and State of Iowa Discribed as follows viz: the North half of the south East quarter of section Eighteen (18) in Township sieventy six (76) of Range Thirty three (33) Containing Eighty acres more or less together with all the hereditaments and Appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining to hold the premises above described to the said Lucy Ann Billings her heirs and assigns forever.
Second I give and devise all the rest residue and remainder of my Real Estate of Every name and nature whatsoever to my sons Ezney Billings and Leonard Billings to be divided Equally between them share and share alike
Third [I] give and bequeath to my sons Enoch T. Billings, Alphonzo Billings and Joseph Billings one Dollar Each; to my daughters Olive Elliott the sum of one Dollar to my Daughter Emily Horton the sum of one Dollar to my Daughter Eunice Paterson deceased the sum of one Dollar Which said several lagacies . . . or sums of money I direct and order to be paid to the said respected legatees Within two years
And Lastly I bive and bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of my personal Estate goods and chattels of what nature or kind soever to my wife Luce Ann Billings whom I hereby appoint sole executrix of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 27 day of February AD 1861
George Billings
Witnesses: Edmund Dodge residing at Ophir in LaSalle Co., Illinois
Andrew Swoap [?], residing at Ophir in LaSalle Co., Illinois.10
First I give and devise to my wife Lucy Ann Billings Aforesaid her heirs and assigns all that tract or parcel of land situated in the county of Adair and State of Iowa Discribed as follows viz: the North half of the south East quarter of section Eighteen (18) in Township sieventy six (76) of Range Thirty three (33) Containing Eighty acres more or less together with all the hereditaments and Appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining to hold the premises above described to the said Lucy Ann Billings her heirs and assigns forever.
Second I give and devise all the rest residue and remainder of my Real Estate of Every name and nature whatsoever to my sons Ezney Billings and Leonard Billings to be divided Equally between them share and share alike
Third [I] give and bequeath to my sons Enoch T. Billings, Alphonzo Billings and Joseph Billings one Dollar Each; to my daughters Olive Elliott the sum of one Dollar to my Daughter Emily Horton the sum of one Dollar to my Daughter Eunice Paterson deceased the sum of one Dollar Which said several lagacies . . . or sums of money I direct and order to be paid to the said respected legatees Within two years
And Lastly I bive and bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of my personal Estate goods and chattels of what nature or kind soever to my wife Luce Ann Billings whom I hereby appoint sole executrix of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 27 day of February AD 1861
George Billings
Witnesses: Edmund Dodge residing at Ophir in LaSalle Co., Illinois
Andrew Swoap [?], residing at Ophir in LaSalle Co., Illinois.10
Family 1 | Elizabeth Towner b. 8 Dec 1801, d. 21 Jun 1838 |
| Children |
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Family 2 | Lydia Horton b. abt. 10 Sep 1793, d. 21 Mar 1844 |
Family 3 | Lucy Ann (…) b. abt. 1810, d. aft. 1874 |
| Children |
| This person was last edited on | 1 Jan 2021 |
Citations
- [S458] Ancestry.com, 1860 United States Census [on-line database and images] (http://www.ancestry.com), Ophir, LaSalle Co., Illinois, population schedule, sheet #713/734, dwelling #125, family #126, George Billings household, age 64, born in New York, a farmer with $1800 in real estate and $275 in personal estate; original data: NARA micropublication M653, Eighth Census of the United States, 1438 rolls, roll #115.
- [S457] Ancestry.com, 1850 United States Census [on-line database and images] (http://www.ancestry.com), Sheshequin, Bradford Co., Pennsylvania, population schedule, sheet #286, dwelling #127, family #130, George Billings household, age 55, born in Pennsylvania, a farmer with $300 in real estate; original data: NARA micropublication M432, Seventh Census of the United States, 1009 rolls, roll #757.
- [S1330] Estimated from age at death ("65y 6m 20d").
- [S851] Laurie Hendrickson, Cooley/Seaworth Cemetery, Ogle Co., Illinois (On line: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilogle/CooleySeaworth.txt : Ogle Genweb, June 2003).
- [S1546] Ben Jacobson, Find A Grave memorial #31671840, added 24 Nov 2008, online http://www.findagrave.com, accessed Jan 2012, further cited as Find A Grave.
- [S13] James W. Towner, A Genealogy of the Towner Family: the Descendants of Richard Towner, who came from Sussex County, Eng., to Guilford, Conn., before 1685 (Los Angeles, California: Times-Mirror Printing & Binding House, 1910), 75-76, further cited as Towner, Towner Family.
- [S457] 1850 United States Census, Sheshequin, Bradford Co., Pennsylvania, pop. sch., sheet 286, dwelling 127, family 130, George Billings hshld.
- [S1939] Marjorie Templeton, George Billings, Photocopy of transcribed records and research papers, Gregory Cooke, Clarkdale, Arizona, #11, #30; Bradford Co. deeds between George Billings and heirs of David Blackman; book & page not cited.
- [S21] Clement F. Heverly, Pioneer and Patriot Families of Bradford County Pennsylvania 1800-1825 (Two vols., Towanda, Pennsylvania: Bradford Star Print, 1915), further cited as Heverly, Pioneers of Bradford Co.
- [S19] La Salle Co., Illinois, Wills, 1847-1923, B:56, FHL microfilm 1428800, further cited as La Salle Co. Wills.
- [S1939] Templeton, George Billings.
- [S458] 1860 United States Census, Ophir, LaSalle Co., Illinois, pop. sched., sheet #713/734, dwelling #125, family #126, George Billings household.
- [S1546] Find A Grave, memorial #41885761.