Billingslea of England, Virginia, Maryland; Harris, Jones & Wilkes Counties

The Billingslea or Billingsley family begins with William Billingsley of Shropshire, England, the son of William. His wife was Ciceley and they had issue: William, Richard, Joanne, John and William.

John Billingsley was born 1525 in Shropshire, England and married Frances Acton, a daughter of William and Cecilia (Cressett) Acton. They had issue: Janne, Francis (1549-1623), and Ciceleye (born 1553 in Shropshire).

Francis Billingsley was born 1549 in Shropshire, England and was married in 1575 at Hastington, Chester County, England, to Bridgett Vernon, the daughter of Sir Thomas Vernon. They had issue: John, died 1659; Dorothy, born 1575; Francis, christened 11 February 1578 at Astley, Shropshire, England, Mary, born 1580; Janne, born 1584; Thomas, born 1586; Margaret, born 1589; Jane, born 1591; William, born 1593; Rachel, born 1595; Judith, born 1597; Benjamin, born 1600; Edward, born 1602; and Bridgett, born 1604.

John Billingsley (died 1659) married Agatha, born 1593, died 1666 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. They had issue: John, born 1612 in Shropshire, came to America from Holland to Nansemond County, Virginia, died 1659 at Chuckatuck in Nansemond County; Agatha, born 1614 Shropshire; James, born 1616 Shropshire, died 9 November 1663 in Rappahannock County, Virginia; Thomas, born 1618 Shropshire, 1672/1673 in Dorchester, Maryland; Bridgett; Mary; Walter; Francis, born 1620 Shropshire, died 1684 in Calvert, Cecil County, Maryland; Joanne, born 1626 Shropshire.

William, born 1628 in Shropshire, died December 1657 in Richmond County, Virginia.

Francis Billingsley, born 1620 Shropshire, England, died 1684 in Calvert, Cecil County, Maryland married Ann. Their issue: John B. Billingsley, born 1647 in Holland, Netherslands, Maryland, christened 1649 in Nansemond County, Virginia, died 1693 when he was lost at sea during a storm; Ann, born 1650 Virginia, died infant; Francis, born 1653 in Maryland; Agatha, born 1656 Calvert, Maryland; Edward, born 1658 in Calvert, Maryland, died 1708; Ann Elizabeth, born 1660.

John B. Billingsley, born 1647, died 1693, lost at sea, was married on 1 January 1669 in Nansemond County, Virginia to Sarah (born 1652 in Richmond, Virginia, died 12 January 1713 in Richmond County, Virginia, on 1 January 1669. Sarah was a daughter of William Billingsley and his wife, Sarah (Bowman) Billingsley. Issue: Francis, died a child; Sarah Agatha, born 1672/1673 in Richmond County, Virginia; Elizabeth, born 1675 in Richmond County, Virginia, died 1752; John, born 1677 in St. Marys County, Maryland, died 1686 at "Mears Landing"; Susannah, born 1679/80 in Virginia, died young at "Mears Landing"; Walter, born 1685 St. Marys County, Maryland, died ca 1762 in York County, Pennsylvania; Francis, born 1683 Calvert, Maryland, died in infancy; William B., born October 1670 in Calvert, Maryland, died 4 August 1716 Calvert County, Maryland; and Mary, born September 1669, died 10 August 1710 in Chowan County, North Carolina.

William B. Billingsley, born October 1670 in Calvert County, Maryland, died 4 August 1716 in Calvert County, Maryland, married Clearanna Bowles, a daughter of Valentine Bowles. Issue: Clearanna, born January 1693 Calvert County, Maryland; Samuel, born January 1696 in Calvert County, Maryland; Ann Elizabeth Billingsley, born May 1699 in Calvert County, Maryland; William W. Billingsley, born November 1691 in Calvert County, Maryland, died 11 August 1745 in St. Marys County, Maryland; Bowles, born December 1694 in Calvert County, Maryland.

William W. Billingsley, born November 1691 in Calvert County, Maryland, died 11 August 1745 in St. Marys County, Maryland, married Mary Sumner (born 1696 in Calvert County, Maryland), a daughter of William Sumner and his wife, Mary (Clement) Sumner. Issue: Clearanna, born 1732 St. Marys County, Maryland; Siase (son), born 1737/1738 St. Marys County, Maryland; Margaret, born 1728/1729 St. Marys County, Maryland; Francis, born 1734/1735 St. Marys County, Maryland, died before 4 January 1799 in Wilkes County, Georgia; Mary Sumner, born 1718 in St. Marys County, Maryland; William Sumner, born 1720 in St. Marys County, Maryland; Ann, born 1723/1724 St. Marys County, Maryland, died in Monongalia County, Virginia; James B., born April 1726 in St. Marys County, Maryland, died 25 January 1776 in Guilford County, North Carolina (hung during the American Revolution by the Tories); and Elizabeth, born December 1740 in St. Marys County, Maryland.

Francis Billingsley, born 1734/1735 in St. Marys County, Maryland, died before 4 January 1799 in Wilkes County. He married Asenath Howell, born 31 January 1748 in Baltimore County, Maryland, died 22 December 1798 in Wilkes County, Georgia, a daughter of Samuel E. Howell and his wife, Sarah (Durbin) Howell. Issue:

1. William Billingsley, born in Baltimore County, Maryland.
2. Samuel Billingsley, born 1765 in Baltimore County, Maryland, died 18 January 1807 in Wilkes County. He married Mary Winston in 1788 in Wilkes County. She was born 1768/69 in Georgia, died before 1820. Issue:

1. Francis B. Billingsley, born 27 December 1790 in Wilkes County, Georgia, died 15 August 1852 on his plantation in Madison County.
2. Winston Billingslea, born 1792 in Wilkes County, Georgia, died 12 July 1858. He married Malinda Johnson (born 1816 Georgia) on 12 January 1843 in Harris County. Issue:

1. Mary A. Billingslea, born 1844 Harris County. Georgia.
2. Martha Billingslea, born 1845 Harris County.
3. Ophelia Billingslea, born 1847 Harris County.

Mary Billingslea, born October 1793 in Wilkes County, Georgia

John Billingslea, born February 1795 in Wilkes County, Georgia, died 1876/1877.

Howell Billingslea, born 1798 in Wilkes County, Georgia, died before 1860.

James Billingslea, born 1800 in Wilkes County, Georgia, died 1833. His LWT was dated 19 March 1829 in Jones County, naming wife, Elizabeth. He mentioned "his children."

Charity Billingslea, born 1802 in Wilkes County.

Samuel Billingslea, born 1805 in Wilkes County, Georgia, died 1808.

Sarah Ann Billingsley, born 1766/7 in Baltimore County, Maryland.

Walter Billingsley, born 1770 in Baltimore County, Maryland.

Francis J. Billingsley, born 28 October 1774 in Baltimore County, Maryland.

Cyrus Billingsley, born 1775/1776 in Baltimore County, Maryland.

James Billingsley, born 23 January 1778 in Baltimore County, Maryland.

John Billingsley, born 1780 in Baltimore County, Maryland.

Clinton Billingsley, born 1783 in Baltimore County, Maryland.

Clement Billingsley, born 1784 in Baltimore County, Maryland, died 1808 in Baldwin County.

Nancy Billingsley, born 7 November 1786 in Baltimore County, Maryland.

Howell Billingsley, born 1788 in Baltimore County, Maryland.

Map of Astley (Shropshire)


Astley Church. The village was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 A. D. as a small settlement having no church but with a manor called "Hesleie". During the medieval era the area was partly administered by Haughmond Abbey, now in ruins. The oldest dwelling church is Church House, built during the early 17th century.


St. Mary's, Maryland.