John Billington didn't just sign the Mayflower Compact -- he was also the colony's first criminal, and had the dubious honor of being the first European to be convicted of murder in this new place. But how did it happen? Tune in to this classic episode to find out.
# Summary
This classic SYSK episode dives into the murky real history behind America's pristine Pilgrim mythology, exploring how the Billington family—a rowdy, rule-breaking bunch—produced the colonies' first murder victim. The hosts reveal that the official Plymouth accounts were basically glossy brochures designed to attract investors, glossing over the darker reality that included everything from bestiality to sodomy to random violent crimes that wealthy "saints" got away with regularly. John Billington, an original Mayflower signer with a rebellious streak, shot a young poacher named John Newcomen over disputed hunting rights, leading to his execution and cementing his place as America's first murderer—a distinction shaped as much by William Bradford's biased historical accounts as by the actual crime itself.
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