About us
12 January 2009
We now have results for two participants (kit nos 134236 and 137947) who trace their ancestry to Leonard Willing, who married Ann Lewis in Plymstock, Devon, in 1607. Their results match on 34 out of 37 markers (a 34/37 match).
Two further results have been found in the database of the Sorensen Molecular Genealogy Foundation for descendants of Leonard Willing and Ann Lewis. Result no 1 on the SMGF database is a 25/25 match for kit no 134236, and result no 2 is a 25/26 match.
26 April 2009
The latest results are for a descendant of Michael Willing, who first appeared in Modbury, Devon, in 1602, with his wife Elianor. Modbury and Plymstock are about ten miles apart. Kit no 146527 is a 33/37 match for kit no 137947 and a 32/37 match for kit no 134236.
These results, together with the documentary evidence, would appear to show that the Willing family of Plymstock is related to this Modbury family, before the start of the parish registers (which began in 1591 and 1601 respectively).
16 August 2009
We now have a third result from a descendant of Leonard Willing and Ann Lewis. Kit no 134450 is a 36/37 match for kit no 137947, a 35/37 match for kit no 134236 and a 34/37 match for kit no 146527.
20 September 2009
We now have results from a descendant of Richard Willing, who married Miriam King in 1694, in Loddiswell, Devon. Richard was of Holbeton, but their descendants lived in Loddiswell. Holbeton is about four miles from Modbury and about eight miles from Plymstock.
Kit no 154127 is a 34/37 match for kit nos 134236 and 134250. These results, together with the documentary evidence, would appear to show that the Willing family of Loddiswell is related to both the Willing family of Plymstock, and the Modbury family descended from Michael and Elianor Willing.
23 September 2009
We now have the results of a Deep Clade test carried out on kit no 134236. Since all the participants who belong to the Plymstock, Modbury and Loddiswell families are quite closely related, these results apply to them as well.
18 October 2009
We now have a fourth result from a descendant of Leonard Willing and Ann Lewis. Kit no 161233 is a 36/37 match for kit no 134450, a 35/37 match for kit no 137947 and a 34/37 match for kit no 134236.
1 November 2009
We now have a result from a descendant of Mozes Barend Wing (d 1776), who first appeared in Amsterdam in 1740 and whose grandchildren changed their surname to Willing in 1812. This is kit no 162159.
27 February 2010
We now have a result from a descendant of William Willing, who married Esther Daye in St Pancras, London in 1841. Kit no 169402 does not match any other members of the project so far.
14 May 2011
We now have the results of a Deep Clade test carried out on kit no 169402.
20 May 2011
We now have the results of a Deep Clade test carried out on kit no 162159.
19 January 2012
Four members of the Willin Surname Project have joined our project. Three of them belong to an American family of German origin, and the other one is descended from a man who was adopted into this family.
19 June 2012
We have a new member, whose ancestry can be traced to 18th century Delaware, United States of America. Kit no 45200 does not match any other members of the project.
30 August 2012
We now have a result from another descendant of William Willing, who married Esther Daye in St Pancras, London in 1841. Kit no 246855 is a 35/37 match for kit no 169402.
6 November 2012
We have added a new member with the surname Webber, who matches the Devon Willing families. Kit no 102481 is a 35/37 match for kit no 134450.
29 October 2015
Between 2013 and 2015 we added seven autosomal tests (Family Finder) to the project. These people all have Willing ancestry.
1 July 2016
We have now added two more autosomal tests (Family Finder) to the project, for people with Willing ancestry.
30 August 2016
We have added a new member, whose ancestry can be traced to 19th century Maryland, United States of America. Kit no 526564 does not match any other members of the project.
31 August 2016
We have added a new member, a descendant of James Willing, who married Emma Banham, nee Skones, in 1841 in St Pancras. Kit no 525197 does not match the descendants of William Willing, who married Esther Daye on the same day at the same church. This suggests that James and William were probably step-brothers.
16 November 2016
For more information about the results please go the Results page.
This page was last updated on 13 March 2021.
We now have results for two participants (kit nos 134236 and 137947) who trace their ancestry to Leonard Willing, who married Ann Lewis in Plymstock, Devon, in 1607. Their results match on 34 out of 37 markers (a 34/37 match).
Two further results have been found in the database of the Sorensen Molecular Genealogy Foundation for descendants of Leonard Willing and Ann Lewis. Result no 1 on the SMGF database is a 25/25 match for kit no 134236, and result no 2 is a 25/26 match.
26 April 2009
The latest results are for a descendant of Michael Willing, who first appeared in Modbury, Devon, in 1602, with his wife Elianor. Modbury and Plymstock are about ten miles apart. Kit no 146527 is a 33/37 match for kit no 137947 and a 32/37 match for kit no 134236.
These results, together with the documentary evidence, would appear to show that the Willing family of Plymstock is related to this Modbury family, before the start of the parish registers (which began in 1591 and 1601 respectively).
16 August 2009
We now have a third result from a descendant of Leonard Willing and Ann Lewis. Kit no 134450 is a 36/37 match for kit no 137947, a 35/37 match for kit no 134236 and a 34/37 match for kit no 146527.
20 September 2009
We now have results from a descendant of Richard Willing, who married Miriam King in 1694, in Loddiswell, Devon. Richard was of Holbeton, but their descendants lived in Loddiswell. Holbeton is about four miles from Modbury and about eight miles from Plymstock.
Kit no 154127 is a 34/37 match for kit nos 134236 and 134250. These results, together with the documentary evidence, would appear to show that the Willing family of Loddiswell is related to both the Willing family of Plymstock, and the Modbury family descended from Michael and Elianor Willing.
23 September 2009
We now have the results of a Deep Clade test carried out on kit no 134236. Since all the participants who belong to the Plymstock, Modbury and Loddiswell families are quite closely related, these results apply to them as well.
18 October 2009
We now have a fourth result from a descendant of Leonard Willing and Ann Lewis. Kit no 161233 is a 36/37 match for kit no 134450, a 35/37 match for kit no 137947 and a 34/37 match for kit no 134236.
1 November 2009
We now have a result from a descendant of Mozes Barend Wing (d 1776), who first appeared in Amsterdam in 1740 and whose grandchildren changed their surname to Willing in 1812. This is kit no 162159.
27 February 2010
We now have a result from a descendant of William Willing, who married Esther Daye in St Pancras, London in 1841. Kit no 169402 does not match any other members of the project so far.
14 May 2011
We now have the results of a Deep Clade test carried out on kit no 169402.
20 May 2011
We now have the results of a Deep Clade test carried out on kit no 162159.
19 January 2012
Four members of the Willin Surname Project have joined our project. Three of them belong to an American family of German origin, and the other one is descended from a man who was adopted into this family.
19 June 2012
We have a new member, whose ancestry can be traced to 18th century Delaware, United States of America. Kit no 45200 does not match any other members of the project.
30 August 2012
We now have a result from another descendant of William Willing, who married Esther Daye in St Pancras, London in 1841. Kit no 246855 is a 35/37 match for kit no 169402.
6 November 2012
We have added a new member with the surname Webber, who matches the Devon Willing families. Kit no 102481 is a 35/37 match for kit no 134450.
29 October 2015
Between 2013 and 2015 we added seven autosomal tests (Family Finder) to the project. These people all have Willing ancestry.
1 July 2016
We have now added two more autosomal tests (Family Finder) to the project, for people with Willing ancestry.
30 August 2016
We have added a new member, whose ancestry can be traced to 19th century Maryland, United States of America. Kit no 526564 does not match any other members of the project.
31 August 2016
We have added a new member, a descendant of James Willing, who married Emma Banham, nee Skones, in 1841 in St Pancras. Kit no 525197 does not match the descendants of William Willing, who married Esther Daye on the same day at the same church. This suggests that James and William were probably step-brothers.
16 November 2016
We have added a new member, a descendant of Thomas Willing who married Jane Cranmer in 1711 in Malborough. He matches the other Plymstock results, confirming that Thomas descends from Leonard Willing and Ann Lewis.
17 July 2018
We have added a new member, another descendant of Leonard Willing and Ann Lewis, who had previously tested with SMGF. Kit no 855370 has a 37/37 match with kit no 134450 at 37 markers.
21 July 2018
We have now added six more autosomal tests (Family Finder) to the project, for people with Willing ancestry.
15 March 2019We have added a new member, another descendant of Leonard Willing and Ann Lewis, who had previously tested with SMGF. Kit no 855370 has a 37/37 match with kit no 134450 at 37 markers.
21 July 2018
We have now added six more autosomal tests (Family Finder) to the project, for people with Willing ancestry.
We have added a new member, a descendant of Robert Willing, son of Stephen Willing who married Joan Borgoyne in 1797 in Sampford Spiney, Devon. Kit no IN55211 matches kit nos 169402 and 246855, thus proving that they are also descendants of Stephen Willing, and that kit no 525197 is not descended from Stephen Willing.
31 July 2019
We have added a new member, the first with the surname Willings. He is a descendant of Edward Willing, who lived in Castle Camps, Cambridgeshire and was married to Elizabeth Waples. He does not match anyone else in the project, suggesting that Willings is a separate surname and not a variant of Willing.
We have added a new member, the first with the surname Willings. He is a descendant of Edward Willing, who lived in Castle Camps, Cambridgeshire and was married to Elizabeth Waples. He does not match anyone else in the project, suggesting that Willings is a separate surname and not a variant of Willing.
21 February 2021
We have added a new member whose ancestors have the surname Tozer, and who matches the Devon Willing families. Kit no 947709 is a 36/37 match for kit nos 134450 and 855370
This page was last updated on 13 March 2021.