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Francis Eaton

Additional Reading

Volume 9: Francis Eaton Through Five Generations
1996. 188pp. + Index 
Order This Book (Amazon.com) Francis Eaton 

Francis is among the more difficult lines.  He apparently left no will, thus we include here information about Benjamin, Rachel and Samuel, the known surviving children. The recent Volume 9 of Francis Eaton Through Five Generations will undoubtedly assist researchers of this family.

[MD2.2.115] Francis Eaton.

Died at Plymouth, between March 25th 1633 (tax list) and 8 November, 1633 (estate inventory). He married, first, SARAH , who died at Plymouth, early in 1621, but after 11 January. His second wife, whom he married at Plymouth, was possibly Governor Carver's  maid servant. He married, third, at Plymouth, in 1624 or 1625, Christian Penn, who died at Middleborough about 1684. She married, second, Francis2 BILLINGTON (John1).

His children were 

Samuel, a child of Francis and 1st Sarah; 

Rachel, Benjamin, a child (idiot) unm. who died after 1651 by 3rd wife Christian Penn. 

[MD2.2.117] SAMUEL2 EATON. Son of FRANCIS and SARAH. Born in 1620. Died at Middleborough, in 1684, before 8 November. He married, first, before 20 March, 1647, Elizabeth —, who died before 1661. He married, second, at Plymouth, 20 January, 1661, Martha3 Billington (Francis2, John 1), who died after 8 November, 1684. [MB&D Rosser 1:442] There were two daughters of his first marriage, about which nothing is known.   From his marriage to Martha Billington, he had children Sarah, Samuel and Mercy that are known. 

[MF5G:438+] Benjamin was apparenty born about 1627 and married Sarah Hoskins, daughter of William Hoskins and Sarah Cushman. Their children were Benjamin Eaton, William Eaton, Ebenezer Eaton, Rebecca Eaton, and possibly [MF5G:193] Experience Eaton.

Rachel Eaton married Joseph RAMSDEN of Plymouth [Joseph Ramsden and Rachell Eaton marryed the second Day of march 1645 Plymouth Co. VR] .JOSEPH RAMSDEN of Plymouth was twice married, his first wife being Rachel, the daughter of Francis Eaton of the Mayflower. The second wife was Mary Savory. By his first wife he had a son Daniel, whom he called "eldest son" in 1674. No other child by either wife is named on the records. The two marriages and Daniel's birth are recorded as follows:

Joseph Ramsden and Rachell Eaton marryed the second Day of march 1645. [Court Orders, II: 125.]

Daniell Ramsden the sonne of Josepth Ramsden was born on the 14th of September [Births, Marriages and Burials, page 7, under the heading "1649 Plymouth Regester of the beirth of theire Children "]

Josepth Ramsden married to Mary Savory the 16 Day of october 1661 [B., M. & B., p. 26]

Samuel2 Eaton Inventory and Estate Settlement.

Transcribed from the Original Records,
BY GEORGE ERNEST BOWMAN. [MD 2.3.172+]
"The record of the settlement of the estate of Samuel2 Eaton (Francis1) of Middleboro, which is found in the Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories, Volume IV, Part I, page 83, is most unsatisfactory, since the meagre facts it contains serve only to show that there are probably many descendants of Francis Eaton whose connection has never been suspected and may always remain unknown.
Samuel Eaton married, first, before 1647, Elizabeth , who was living 5 (15) October, 1652, and Bradford's History states that she had one child living in 1651. She died before 1661, for Samuel married, second, on 10 (20) January, 1660 - 61, Martha3 Billington (Francis2, John1), who survived him.
The record shows that the first wife must have had at least two daughters who had married and had children living when the estate was settled, and that at least one of these daughters was dead. No other construction can be put upon the statement "and the Children of the first wife to have the sume of twenty shillings a peece & such of them as are Dead the sume to be payed amonge theire Children."
The record also proves that the surviving children by the second wife were a son and three unmarried daughters, the daughters all under age. The "Daughter provided for by her Grand father" must have been the one named in the deed dated 313 January 1663—64, in which Francis Billington conveyed land at Middleborough to Samuel and Martha Eaton (calling them his son-in-law and daughter) for their lifetime and then to their daughter Sarah."

for the settleing of the estate of Samuell Eaton of Middlbery Deceased this Courts orders that the eldest shall have the house and Land that was Graunted to the said Eaton by the Towne of Middleberry after his mothers Decease ; the Daughter provided for by her Grand father ; and to have ten shillings att Marriage or when shee is of age the which first happens ; and the Children of the first wife to have the sume of twenty shillings a peece & such of them as are Dead the sume to be payed amonge theire Children and twenty shillings for the two youngest Children each to have theire prte att age or Marriage which shall first happen ; and the widdow to have the remaindr for her releiffe ;

The Inventory of Samuel Eaton.   
An Inventory of the estate of Samuell Eaton of Middlbery Late Deceased exhibited to the Court held att Plymouth the 20th of October 1684