Ezekiel Billington - Doubtful Descendant of Mayflower

I hate to say this, but I don't believe that Ezekiel of New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee is a descendant of the Mayflower Billingtons.Would love to hear what other's researching Ezekiel Billington have to say.

Is there any solid proof (i.e. any sort of documentation in primary sources) that indicates Nanthaniel Billington, son of Isaac Billington & Eleanor Warren and wife, Mary Dunham, were ever in New Jersey.Where were their children born?

Yet Ezekiel Billington of New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee states in his pension application that he was born inNewark, Essex County on 22 or 27 March 1759.I am of the opinion that Ezekiel is the son of James Billington, schoolmaster, and Anna America Garner who were in New Jersey as early as 1742.James most likely dies abt 1763.Anna remarries in 1764 in New Jersery and 3rd marriage in 1767 also in New Jersey, which indiates the family remained in New Jersey throughout the time period 1742-1780.While a resident of Newark, New Jersey, Ezekiel enlisted in the service of his country in the spring of 1776 at Elizabethtown point.

Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, 1975-, General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Plymouth, Mass,Harriet Wood Hodge wrote the following:

"Genealogical researchers should be aware that the surname Billington is not rare in England, and that immigrants of the name, with no discernible relationship to Pilgrim John, have arrived in America almost continuously since 1620. Descendants of John Billington of the Mayflower, with the Billington surname, are actually a very small group. A few of many unconnected Billingtons are here mentioned as a guide. This is by no means a complete list.Many later Billingtons in Tennessee, as well as in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York, apparently descend from James Billington, living at Newark, NJ by 1742. No connection to the Plymouth family has been found, as James himself was probably the immigrant. James Billington, school master of Newark, married at the Acquacanonk (Dutch) Church 1 May 1742 "Anna America," (perhaps surname Garner). Anna Billington, widow of James, "of Barbados Neck: (near Newark) m. (2) at Second River Dutch Church, 22 Jan 1764 James Rolson "born in Old England. "{NJ Archives 22:614}. A later marriage (her third) shows that 1 Aug. 1767 John Roskrow, from Cornwell in England, married Aany Garner, widow of James Rolson of Barbados Neck, {NJ Archives 12:346}. James and Anna America (?Garner) Billington seem to have been the parents of at least five sons. "_The Society of Mayflower Descendants does not have records pertaining to these "other Billingtons"

1. James Billington was born 1723 in England, and died Abt. 1763 in New Jersey.He married Anna America Garner May 01, 1742 in Acquackanonk Ch, Newark, Essex, New Jersey.

Speculation only that these could be the children of James:
ii. Edward Billington, born Abt. 1750 in Essex, New Jersey; died Bef. December 1780.
iii. Ezekiel Billington, born March 22, 1759 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey; died September 29, 1848 in Marshall, Tennessee.
iv. Samuel Billington, born Abt. 1761 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey.
v. Thomas Billington, born Abt. 1763 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey.

Edward Billingtonwas born Abt. 1750 in Essex, New Jersey, and died Bef. December 1780.He married Marietje Gerbrants Abt. 1772 in Essex, New Jersey.
Children of Edward Billington and Marietje Gerbrants are:
i. John3 Billington, born July 02, 1772 in Acquackanonk, Essex, New Jersey.
ii. Elizabeth Billington, born April 28, 1774 in Essex, New Jersey.

Samuel Billingtonwas born Abt. 1761 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey.He married Mary Condit.
Child of Samuel Billington and Mary Condit is:
i. Jothan3 Billington, born Abt. 1785 in Essex, New Jersey.

Ezekiel Billingtonwas born March 22, 1759 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey, and died September 29, 1848 in Marshall, Tennessee.He married (1) Elizabeth Penny November 08, 1784 in Johnston, North Carolina.He married (2) Esther Sargent November 05, 1829 in Bedford, Tennessee.

A couple of bio's from mug books confuse the issue with similar stories that make one wonder what is truth.

Following is a quote fromBIO on Hardy Billington, (Samuel, Ezekiel, James?) Portrait and Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope and Hardin Counties Illinois, Chicago Biographical Publishing Co., 1893.page 367-368. Call # 977.399 8615 1979 DPL.

"He (Ezekiel) came over the sea with his parents at fifteen years of age, and followed farming in this country."

BIO on Joseph A Billington, (James, Ezekiel, James?) Another source:History of Texas, Biographical History of Tarrant and Parker Counties, page 269-270) Mesquite Public Library RG976.4 T176. in a write up
about Joseph A. Billington stated the following

that his father …" was a boy of twelve years when he went to Tennessee with his father, Ezekiel Billington.The latter was born near London, England, was educated in a military school, and during the war of the Revolution the cadets,of which he was one, were requested to volunteer for service and come to America.He volunteered and came to this country, but with the intention, however of deserting the English and joining Washington's army as soon as opportunity offered, which he did.He received a sabre wound from the Tories, his shoulder blade being split, and, although he lived to the advanced age of ninety-nine years, he never recovered from that wound.He received a pension the rest of his life.After the war he settled in North Carolina, where he married, and from whence at an early day he removed to Tennessee, rearing his family in the latter State."

Children of Ezekiel Billington and Elizabeth Penny are:
i. Samuel Billington, born December 1785 in Johnston, North Carolina; died 1846 in Ballard, Kentucky.
ii. Elias Billington, born 1787 in Johnston, North Carolina; died 1839 in Marshall, Tennessee.
iii. Penuel Billington, born December 24, 1790 in Johnston, North Carolina; died April 20, 1857 in Mt. Calm, Limestone, Texas.
iv. James Billington, born 1792 in Johnston, North Carolina; died 1864 in Marshall, Tennessee.
v. John Billington, born 1794 in Johnston, North Carolina.
vi. Martha Billington, born 1794 in Johnston, North Carolina.She married James Walker Abt. 1815 in Tenn/N.C..
vii. Elizabeth Billington, born 1794-1800 in Johnston, North Carolina.She married Robert W. Bloodworth November 30, 1837 in Marshall, Tennessee.
viii. Ezekiel Billington, born May 29, 1799 in Johnston, North Carolina; died November 16, 1857 in Kirksville, Adair, Missouri.
ix. Jarad Billington, born Abt. 1800 in Johnston, North Carolina; died January 1853 in McCracken, Kentucky.
x. Jane Billington, born 1800-1810 in Johnston, North Carolina.She married George W. Burns November 08, 1843 in Marshall, Tennessee.
xi. Alice Billington, born 1800-1810 in Johnston, North Carolina.
xii. Allison Billington, born 1805 in Johnston, North Carolina; died July 25, 1860 in Texas.
xiii. Anny America Billington, born 1815-1820 in Bedford, Tennessee.

Children of Ezekiel Billington and Elizabeth Penny:

Samuel Billington was born December 1785 in Johnston, North Carolina, and died 1846 in Ballard, Kentucky.He married Tabitha Moore January 02, 1810 in Cumberland, North Carolina.

Elias Billington was born 1787 in Johnston, North Carolina, and died 1839 in Marshall, Tennessee.He married Treacy Phillips Abt. 1803.

Penuel Billington was born December 24, 1790 in Johnston, North Carolina, and died April 20, 1857 in Mt. Calm, Limestone, Texas.He married Nancy Wadsworth Abt. 1815.

James Billington was born 1792 in Johnston, North Carolina, and died 1864 in Marshall, Tennessee.He married Sarah Walker September 02, 1815 in Johnston, North Carolina.

Ezekiel Billington was born May 29, 1799 in Johnston, North Carolina, and died November 16, 1857 in Kirksville, Adair, Missouri.He married Polly Ann Ivie December 09, 1830.

Jarad Billington was born Abt. 1800 in Johnston, North Carolina, and died January 1853 in McCracken, Kentucky.He married Farraby (Phoebe) Wageworth/Wadsworth Abt. 1820.

Allison Billingtonwas born 1805 in Johnston, North Carolina, and died July 25, 1860 in Texas.He married Elizabeth Hamilton Abt. 1824.

Anny America Billingtonwas born 1815-1820 in Bedford, Tennessee.She married William Ashley December 13, 1833 in McCracken, Kentucky.