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Group 1: Devon, Plymstock
We now have six participants who belong to the Plymstock tree. They all trace their ancestry to Leonard Willing, who married Ann Lewis in Plymstock, Devon, in 1607. Kit no 137947 is a 10th generation descendant of Leonard and Ann, and the other five, kit nos 134236, 134450, 161233, 556534 and 855370 are all 11th generation descendants.
The most closely related are kit nos 134236 and 134450, whose results match on 35 out of 37 markers (a 35/37 match). Their Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) is Nathaniel Wilcox Willing (1826-1899) who had twelve sons, although only six grew up to have children of their own. Kit no 134236 is a descendant of the fourth son Frederick Edgar Willing (1860-1928) and kit no 134450 of the twelfth and youngest son Ansell Fenn Willing (1873-1965). These two participants differ on DYS 576 and CDYb.
Kit no 161233 has a 36/37 match with kit no 134450 and a 34/37 match with kit no 134236. Their MRCA is John Willing (1717-1781, husband of Mary Payne and Elizabeth Page), who had two sons, John Willing (1748-1829, husband of Esther Horn) and Nathaniel Willing (1758-1819, husband of Mary Edwards and Sarah Lake), one with each of his two wives. Kit no 161233 is a descendant of John and kit nos 134236 and 134450 are descendants of his half-brother Nathaniel. Kit no 161233 differs from 134450 on DYS 389/1 and 389/2 (which count as one marker), and from 134236 on DYS 389/1 and 389/2, and also on DYS 576 and CDYb. This proves that the mutations at DYS 576 and CDYb are both on kit no 134236’s line.
Kit no 137947 has a 36/37 match with kit no 134450, a 35/37 match with kit no 161233, and a 34/37 match with kit no 134236. Their MRCA is Nathaniel Willing (1619-1666/7, husband of Barbara Harvey), youngest son of Leonard and Ann, who had two sons, Ralph Willing (1650-1717, husband of Sarah Willing, his first cousin) and John Willing (1653-1702, husband of Sarah Boger). Kit no 137947 is a descendant of Ralph and the others are descendants of John. Kit no 137947 differs from the others on DYS 458. He also differs from 161233 on DYS 389/1 and 389/2 (which count as one marker), and from 134236 on DYS 576 and CDYb.
Kit no 556534 has a 36/37 match with kit no 134450 and a 35/37 match with kit nos 137947 and 161233. This proves that his ancestor Thomas Willing (d 1761, husband of Sarah Cranmer) was indeed born in Brixton in 1688, and is descended from Leonard Willing and Ann Lewis, as the paper records had suggested. Leonard Willing (d 1634) was the MRCA of 556534, 134450, 137947 and 161233. 556534 is descended from Leonard’s eldest son John Willing (1610-1656, husband of Priscilla Jackman), and the others are descended from his youngest son Nathaniel Willing (1619-1666/7, husband of Barbara Harvey). 556534 differs from all of the others on DYS 570.
To see the results please go the Y-DNA results page.
The MRCA of kit nos 161233 and 855370 is John Willing (1748-1829, husband of Esther Horn), who had five sons. Kit no 161233 is a descendant of his third son William Willing (b 1792, husband of Mary Tomlinson), and 855370 is a descendant of his fourth son Samuel Horn Willing (b 1794, husband of Ann Shirwill). Kit no 855370 has a 37/37 match with kit no 134450, and a 36/37 match with kit nos 161233, 137947 and 556534.
The Plymstock results provide a further piece of evidence that Nathaniel Willing (1782/3-1855, husband of Ann Davis), whose baptism has never been found, belongs to this tree. Evidence from his will, mentioning his half-brother Joseph Willing, together with other circumstantial evidence, suggests that he was the son of Nathaniel Willing (1758-1819) and his first wife Mary Edwards, and the DNA results confirm this. Kit nos 134236 and 134450 are both descendants of Nathaniel, and all the others are not.
Group 1: Devon, Modbury
Kit no 146527 is an 11th generation 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 34/37 match for kit no 134450, a 33/37 match for kit nos 137947, 154127 and 161233, and a 32/37 match for kit no 134236.
The Modbury result differs from the Plymstock and Loddiswell results on DYS 389/2 and 464c. The Modbury result matches the Loddiswell result on DYS CDYa. To see the result please go the Y-DNA results page.
These results, together with the documentary evidence, would appear to show that this Modbury family is related both to the Willing family of Plymstock, and to the Willing family of Loddiswell.
Group 1: Devon, Loddiswell
Kit no 154127 is an 8th generation descendant of Richard Willing and Miriam King, who married in Loddiswell, Devon in 1694. 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 134450, and a 33/37 match for kit nos 137947, 146527 and 161233.
The Loddiswell result differs from the Plymstock and Modbury results on DYS 442. The Loddiswell result matches the Modbury result on CDYa, and kit no 134236 on CDYb. The latter appears to be a parallel mutation. To see the result please go the Y-DNA results page.
These results, together with the documentary evidence, would appear to show that the Willing family of Loddiswell is related both to the Willing family of Plymstock, and to the Modbury family descended from Michael and Elianor Willing.
Richard may be the Richard Willing son of Richard and Elizabeth, baptised in Ermington in 1658. Ermington is only about two miles from Holbeton where Richard was living at the time of his marriage. But there are other candidates for Richard, so further investigation is required.
Deep Clade Test (Plymstock, Modbury and Loddiswell)
A Deep Clade Test was carried out on kit no 134236 in 2009. These results apply to anyone who belongs to the Plymstock, Modbury or Loddiswell families.
Family Tree DNA infers a haplogroup from the standard test and everyone in these three families was originally given the haplogroup of R1b1b2. The Deep Clade Test, carried out in September 2009, showed that they belonged to R1b1b2a*. The actual results were M269+ L49+ L23+ U106- P311- P310- L48-. These are the SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism markers) which were tested. Those with a + sign were found and those with a - sign were not found.
Most people who belong to this haplogroup, test positive for P310 and P311, and then test positive for either U106 or P312. It appears to be quite rare to belong to this haplogroup and to test negative for P310, P311 and U106.
On 4 March 2011, Family Tree DNA announced that it had updated its Y Chromosome Phylogenetic Tree to reflect new haplogroup sub-branches. This resulted in everyone who belongs to the Plymstock, Modbury or Loddiswell families being placed in a renamed subclade. This was called R1b1a2* (rather than R1b1b2). The Deep Clade Test then showed that they belonged to R1b1a2a1* (rather than R1b1b2a*).
Since then more changes have taken place. The latest version of the Y Chromosome Phylogenetic Tree shows that everyone who belongs to these families has been placed in the subclade R1b1a1a2a2c1a. However, this is more commonly referred to by the shorthand version R-CTS7822.
I added kit no 134236 to a project for the R1b haplogroup, now called R1b All Subclades. He is in a group of results called B (Z2013+). Other members of Group B come from families which originate in countries such as Turkey, Greece, Italy, Russia, Poland and Germany.
I also added kit no 134236 to the R1b Basal Subclades Project. He has been placed in a small group of results, with five other members. One member is from a family which originates in Greece, and another from a family which originates in Devon, England. The others do not state an place of origin.
Group 1: London
Kit no 102481 traces his ancestry to John Webber, a mariner, who married Jane Brown in 1803 at St Anne, Limehouse, London and lived in Wapping. John Webber was probably born in Wapping in 1765, a son of another John Webber, a sailmaker, and his wife Sarah Andrew. This John Webber was probably born in Wapping in 1734, a son of yet another John Webber, also a sailmaker, and his wife Anne, who first appeared in Wapping in 1717. The earliest John Webber was born around 1688, but his baptism has not been found in London.
Deep Clade Test (Devon)
A Deep Clade Test was been carried out on kit no 169402 in 2011, placing him in haplogroup E1b1b1b2 (or E-M183). The full results are M183+ M165-. These are the SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism markers) which were tested. Those with a + sign were found and those with a - sign were not found. E1b1b1b2 was subsequently reclassified as E1b1b1b1b.
This haplogroup has now been renamed E1b1b1b1a1. However, this is more commonly referred to by the shorthand version E-M183.
These results also apply to kit nos 246855 and IN55211.
Group 3: London
Kit no 525197 is a 5th generation descendant of James Willing and Emma Banham (nee Skones), who married in St Pancras, London, on the same day in 1841 as William Willing and Esther Daye (see Group 2). The two couples were each others’ witnesses. On his marriage, James’s father was stated to be S. Willing, deceased. James stated in the 1851 census that he was born in St Giles around 1810/1. Later censuses gave his birthplace as St James or St Pancras, but efforts to find his baptism have so far failed.
The descendant of James, kit no 525197, does not match descendants of William, kit nos 169402 and 246855. Nor does he match the descendant of Robert, kit no IN55211. This indicates that he was not the son of Stephen Willing. It is very likely that he was a son of Stephen’s second wife Diana (or Dinah) by a previous relationship, and was thus a half-brother of William.
Group 4: Netherlands
Kit no 162159 is a 7th generation descendant of Mozes Barend Wing (d 1776) and his wife, whose name is unknown. Mozes first appeared in Amsterdam in 1740, and his grandchildren changed their surname to Willing in 1812.
Kit no 162159 is descended from Elias Salomon Willing, also known as Edward Samuel Willing, who was born in Amsterdam in 1848 and migrated to England with his family around 1860. He married Laura Fanny Burland in 1872 in Manchester.
He belongs to haplogroup E1b1b1, one of the most common Jewish haplogroups, and his result is typical of those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. (E1b1b was previously known as E3b.) Close matches are found to people whose ancestors originated all over Europe from France to Belarus, but none of them has the surname Willing (or Wing).
Deep Clade Test (Netherlands)
A Deep Clade Test was carried out on kit no 162159 in 2011, placing him in haplogroup E1b1b1c1a (or E-M84). The full results are M84+ M34+ M123+ V13- M290- M136- L143-. These are the SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism markers) which were tested. Those with a + sign were found and those with a - sign were not found.
This haplogroup has now been renamed E1b1b1b2a1a. However, this is more commonly referred to by the shorthand version E-M84.
I added kit no 162159 to a project for this haplogroup, the E-M35 Project. Kit no 162159 has been placed in a group with others in haplogroup M84. Other members of this group come from families which originate in Germany, France and Russia.
I also added kit no 162159 to a project for those who belong to haplogroup E and who have known Jewish ancestry in their paternal line, the Jewish E Project. He has been placed in a group called E1b1b1c1a-B. Other members of this group come from families which originate in Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine.
Group 5: Germany
Kit nos 10910, 14720 and 44912 are all descended from Frederick John Willin who was born in Germany on April 20, 1832. He was married to Elizabeth Lavigne (1838-1888) and died in Chicago on December 29, 1906.
Kit no 18978 is descended from a man who was adopted into this family.
See www.chloeannamiller.com/Willin/index.htm for more information.
Group 6: Delaware, USA
Kit no 45200 is descended from Charles Willin and his second wife Eliza Allen. Charles was born about 1790 in Delaware, and died on March 20, 1869 in Seaford, Sussex County, Delaware. His other wives were Henrietta Taylor (first), and Evelyn Cannon (third). It is fairly likely that Charles was the son of Thomas Willin and Leah Adams, who married on February 9, 1780 in Lewes, Sussex County, Delaware. Thomas was born about 1757, and died about 1794 in Sussex County, Delaware.
Group 7: Maryland, USA
Autosomal Tests (Family Finder)
We now have fifteen members with Willing ancestry who have done autosomal (Family Finder) tests. These are designed to show relationships on all lines of descent, but are in theory only likely to show relationships within about 4 or 5 generations. Seven of them, kit nos 134236, 134450, 137947, 855370, 102481, 162159 and 45200 have also done YDNA tests which are included in the project.
Kit no 134236 is a descendant of Leonard Willing and Ann Lewis (see Devon, Plymstock above).
Kit no 141880 is a first cousin of 134236 and this is confirmed by the Family Finder.
Kit no 855370 is a fifth cousin of B115587 and a sixth cousin of 134236, 134450 and 141880. There are no matches with their DNA, as the relationship is too distant to show up in a Family Finder.
Kit no 137947 is an eighth cousin once removed of 134236, 134450, 141880 and 885370. There are no matches with their DNA, as the relationship is too distant to show up in a Family Finder.
Kit no 365296 is a second cousin of 137947 and this is confirmed by the Family Finder. 365296 is also an eighth cousin once removed of 134236, 134450, 141880 and 855370. There are no matches with their DNA, as the relationship is too distant to show up in a Family Finder.
Kit no 238620 is a child of 365296 and this is confirmed by the Family Finder.
Kit no 227828 is a fifth cousin once removed of 137947 and 365296 and a ninth cousin of 134236, 134450, 141880 and 855370. There are no matches with their DNA, as the relationships are too distant to show up in a Family Finder.
This page was last updated on 13 April 2021.
We now have six participants who belong to the Plymstock tree. They all trace their ancestry to Leonard Willing, who married Ann Lewis in Plymstock, Devon, in 1607. Kit no 137947 is a 10th generation descendant of Leonard and Ann, and the other five, kit nos 134236, 134450, 161233, 556534 and 855370 are all 11th generation descendants.
The most closely related are kit nos 134236 and 134450, whose results match on 35 out of 37 markers (a 35/37 match). Their Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) is Nathaniel Wilcox Willing (1826-1899) who had twelve sons, although only six grew up to have children of their own. Kit no 134236 is a descendant of the fourth son Frederick Edgar Willing (1860-1928) and kit no 134450 of the twelfth and youngest son Ansell Fenn Willing (1873-1965). These two participants differ on DYS 576 and CDYb.
Kit no 161233 has a 36/37 match with kit no 134450 and a 34/37 match with kit no 134236. Their MRCA is John Willing (1717-1781, husband of Mary Payne and Elizabeth Page), who had two sons, John Willing (1748-1829, husband of Esther Horn) and Nathaniel Willing (1758-1819, husband of Mary Edwards and Sarah Lake), one with each of his two wives. Kit no 161233 is a descendant of John and kit nos 134236 and 134450 are descendants of his half-brother Nathaniel. Kit no 161233 differs from 134450 on DYS 389/1 and 389/2 (which count as one marker), and from 134236 on DYS 389/1 and 389/2, and also on DYS 576 and CDYb. This proves that the mutations at DYS 576 and CDYb are both on kit no 134236’s line.
Kit no 137947 has a 36/37 match with kit no 134450, a 35/37 match with kit no 161233, and a 34/37 match with kit no 134236. Their MRCA is Nathaniel Willing (1619-1666/7, husband of Barbara Harvey), youngest son of Leonard and Ann, who had two sons, Ralph Willing (1650-1717, husband of Sarah Willing, his first cousin) and John Willing (1653-1702, husband of Sarah Boger). Kit no 137947 is a descendant of Ralph and the others are descendants of John. Kit no 137947 differs from the others on DYS 458. He also differs from 161233 on DYS 389/1 and 389/2 (which count as one marker), and from 134236 on DYS 576 and CDYb.
Kit no 556534 has a 36/37 match with kit no 134450 and a 35/37 match with kit nos 137947 and 161233. This proves that his ancestor Thomas Willing (d 1761, husband of Sarah Cranmer) was indeed born in Brixton in 1688, and is descended from Leonard Willing and Ann Lewis, as the paper records had suggested. Leonard Willing (d 1634) was the MRCA of 556534, 134450, 137947 and 161233. 556534 is descended from Leonard’s eldest son John Willing (1610-1656, husband of Priscilla Jackman), and the others are descended from his youngest son Nathaniel Willing (1619-1666/7, husband of Barbara Harvey). 556534 differs from all of the others on DYS 570.
To see the results please go the Y-DNA results page.
Two further results were previously found in the database of the Sorensen Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF) for descendants of Leonard Willing and Ann Lewis. They are both great-grandsons of James Parker Willing (1857-1971), through his son Albert George Willing (1887-1971) born at Cicero, Illinois, USA. James Parker Willing married Margaret Stephenson in Great Marlow, Buckinghamshire, in 1882, and then disappeared from the English records. He is a descendant of John Willing (1717-1781, husband of Mary Payne and Elizabeth Page), see above, through his son John Willing (1748-1829, husband of Esther Horn), and is thus most closely related to kit no 161233.
The SMGF database has now been closed down, but one of these participants has now tested with FTDNA, kit no 855370.
The MRCA of kit nos 161233 and 855370 is John Willing (1748-1829, husband of Esther Horn), who had five sons. Kit no 161233 is a descendant of his third son William Willing (b 1792, husband of Mary Tomlinson), and 855370 is a descendant of his fourth son Samuel Horn Willing (b 1794, husband of Ann Shirwill). Kit no 855370 has a 37/37 match with kit no 134450, and a 36/37 match with kit nos 161233, 137947 and 556534.
The Plymstock results provide a further piece of evidence that Nathaniel Willing (1782/3-1855, husband of Ann Davis), whose baptism has never been found, belongs to this tree. Evidence from his will, mentioning his half-brother Joseph Willing, together with other circumstantial evidence, suggests that he was the son of Nathaniel Willing (1758-1819) and his first wife Mary Edwards, and the DNA results confirm this. Kit nos 134236 and 134450 are both descendants of Nathaniel, and all the others are not.
Group 1: Devon, Modbury
Kit no 146527 is an 11th generation 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 34/37 match for kit no 134450, a 33/37 match for kit nos 137947, 154127 and 161233, and a 32/37 match for kit no 134236.
The Modbury result differs from the Plymstock and Loddiswell results on DYS 389/2 and 464c. The Modbury result matches the Loddiswell result on DYS CDYa. To see the result please go the Y-DNA results page.
These results, together with the documentary evidence, would appear to show that this Modbury family is related both to the Willing family of Plymstock, and to the Willing family of Loddiswell.
Group 1: Devon, Loddiswell
Kit no 154127 is an 8th generation descendant of Richard Willing and Miriam King, who married in Loddiswell, Devon in 1694. 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 134450, and a 33/37 match for kit nos 137947, 146527 and 161233.
The Loddiswell result differs from the Plymstock and Modbury results on DYS 442. The Loddiswell result matches the Modbury result on CDYa, and kit no 134236 on CDYb. The latter appears to be a parallel mutation. To see the result please go the Y-DNA results page.
These results, together with the documentary evidence, would appear to show that the Willing family of Loddiswell is related both to the Willing family of Plymstock, and to the Modbury family descended from Michael and Elianor Willing.
Richard may be the Richard Willing son of Richard and Elizabeth, baptised in Ermington in 1658. Ermington is only about two miles from Holbeton where Richard was living at the time of his marriage. But there are other candidates for Richard, so further investigation is required.
Deep Clade Test (Plymstock, Modbury and Loddiswell)
A Deep Clade Test was carried out on kit no 134236 in 2009. These results apply to anyone who belongs to the Plymstock, Modbury or Loddiswell families.
Family Tree DNA infers a haplogroup from the standard test and everyone in these three families was originally given the haplogroup of R1b1b2. The Deep Clade Test, carried out in September 2009, showed that they belonged to R1b1b2a*. The actual results were M269+ L49+ L23+ U106- P311- P310- L48-. These are the SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism markers) which were tested. Those with a + sign were found and those with a - sign were not found.
Most people who belong to this haplogroup, test positive for P310 and P311, and then test positive for either U106 or P312. It appears to be quite rare to belong to this haplogroup and to test negative for P310, P311 and U106.
On 4 March 2011, Family Tree DNA announced that it had updated its Y Chromosome Phylogenetic Tree to reflect new haplogroup sub-branches. This resulted in everyone who belongs to the Plymstock, Modbury or Loddiswell families being placed in a renamed subclade. This was called R1b1a2* (rather than R1b1b2). The Deep Clade Test then showed that they belonged to R1b1a2a1* (rather than R1b1b2a*).
Since then more changes have taken place. The latest version of the Y Chromosome Phylogenetic Tree shows that everyone who belongs to these families has been placed in the subclade R1b1a1a2a2c1a. However, this is more commonly referred to by the shorthand version R-CTS7822.
I added kit no 134236 to a project for the R1b haplogroup, now called R1b All Subclades. He is in a group of results called B (Z2013+). Other members of Group B come from families which originate in countries such as Turkey, Greece, Italy, Russia, Poland and Germany.
I also added kit no 134236 to the R1b Basal Subclades Project. He has been placed in a small group of results, with five other members. One member is from a family which originates in Greece, and another from a family which originates in Devon, England. The others do not state an place of origin.
Group 1: London
Kit no 102481 traces his ancestry to John Webber, a mariner, who married Jane Brown in 1803 at St Anne, Limehouse, London and lived in Wapping. John Webber was probably born in Wapping in 1765, a son of another John Webber, a sailmaker, and his wife Sarah Andrew. This John Webber was probably born in Wapping in 1734, a son of yet another John Webber, also a sailmaker, and his wife Anne, who first appeared in Wapping in 1717. The earliest John Webber was born around 1688, but his baptism has not been found in London.
Webber is a surname which is most common in Devon, so it is possible that the earliest John originally came from Devon, but the name John Webber is fairly common there, so proof would be difficult. At any rate, this line most likely originated in Devon at some point. The fact that the member matches several people called Willing is most likely due to an adoption or out of wedlock birth, which could have occurred at any point after surnames came into use, around the 14th century.
Group 1: Connecticut, USA
Kit no 947709 is descended from Jared Tozer, who was born in 1764 at Lyme, Middlesex County, Connecticut, as stated on his Revolutionary War Pension Application. It has not been proved who his father was, but circumstantial evidence indicates that he may have been Charles Tozer of Lyme, Connecticut. Charles is said to have been born in 1715 and died in 1780, but no evidence has been found to confirm this information.
Kit no 947709 is descended from Jared Tozer, who was born in 1764 at Lyme, Middlesex County, Connecticut, as stated on his Revolutionary War Pension Application. It has not been proved who his father was, but circumstantial evidence indicates that he may have been Charles Tozer of Lyme, Connecticut. Charles is said to have been born in 1715 and died in 1780, but no evidence has been found to confirm this information.
Group 2: Devon
Kit no IN55211 is a 5th generation descendant of Robert Willing (1799-1857) who was transported to Australia in 1818. He subsequently married three times. His second wife was Elizabeth Nettleton (nee Anson). Robert was the eldest son of Stephen Willing (1777-1830) who married Joan Borgoyne in 1797 at Sampford Spiney, Devon and subsequently moved to London. Stephen was a son of John Willing or Wheeling, who married Grace Jutsham in 1772 at St Andrew, Plymouth. Since John’s DNA does not match the other Devon Willings it seems likely that he was originally from elsewhere. Wheeling is a name which is most common in Lancashire.
Kit no 169402 is a 4th generation descendant of William Willing and Esther Daye, who married in St Pancras, London, on the same day in 1841 as James Willing and Emma Banham (see Group 3). The two couples were each others’ witnesses. On his marriage, William’s father was stated to be S. Willing, deceased. William stated in the 1851 census that he was born in St Pancras around 1815/6, but efforts to find his baptism have so far failed.
Kit no 246855 is also a 4th generation descendant of William Willing and Esther Daye. He is descended from their third son Richard James Willing (1849-1907, husband of Mary Ann Morpeth), whereas kit no 169402 is descended from their second son William Edmund Willing (1847-1914, husband of Caroline Hoare). Kit nos 169402 and 246855 match on 35 out of 37 markers.
Kit no IN55211 matches both kit nos 169402 and 246855 on 35 out of 37 markers, proving that William was a son of Stephen Willing. Stephen’s wife Joan died in 1814, and he subsequently married Diana (or Dinah), although their marriage has not been located. It is very likely that Diana was William’s mother.
Kit no IN55211 is a 5th generation descendant of Robert Willing (1799-1857) who was transported to Australia in 1818. He subsequently married three times. His second wife was Elizabeth Nettleton (nee Anson). Robert was the eldest son of Stephen Willing (1777-1830) who married Joan Borgoyne in 1797 at Sampford Spiney, Devon and subsequently moved to London. Stephen was a son of John Willing or Wheeling, who married Grace Jutsham in 1772 at St Andrew, Plymouth. Since John’s DNA does not match the other Devon Willings it seems likely that he was originally from elsewhere. Wheeling is a name which is most common in Lancashire.
Kit no 169402 is a 4th generation descendant of William Willing and Esther Daye, who married in St Pancras, London, on the same day in 1841 as James Willing and Emma Banham (see Group 3). The two couples were each others’ witnesses. On his marriage, William’s father was stated to be S. Willing, deceased. William stated in the 1851 census that he was born in St Pancras around 1815/6, but efforts to find his baptism have so far failed.
Kit no 246855 is also a 4th generation descendant of William Willing and Esther Daye. He is descended from their third son Richard James Willing (1849-1907, husband of Mary Ann Morpeth), whereas kit no 169402 is descended from their second son William Edmund Willing (1847-1914, husband of Caroline Hoare). Kit nos 169402 and 246855 match on 35 out of 37 markers.
Kit no IN55211 matches both kit nos 169402 and 246855 on 35 out of 37 markers, proving that William was a son of Stephen Willing. Stephen’s wife Joan died in 1814, and he subsequently married Diana (or Dinah), although their marriage has not been located. It is very likely that Diana was William’s mother.
A Deep Clade Test was been carried out on kit no 169402 in 2011, placing him in haplogroup E1b1b1b2 (or E-M183). The full results are M183+ M165-. These are the SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism markers) which were tested. Those with a + sign were found and those with a - sign were not found. E1b1b1b2 was subsequently reclassified as E1b1b1b1b.
This haplogroup has now been renamed E1b1b1b1a1. However, this is more commonly referred to by the shorthand version E-M183.
These results also apply to kit nos 246855 and IN55211.
I added kit no 169402 to a project for this haplogroup, the E-M35 Project. Kit no 169402 has been placed in a group with others in haplogroup M183. Other members of this group come from families which originate mainly in Spain or former Spanish colonies such as Mexico, or in various parts of the UK.
Group 3: London
Kit no 525197 is a 5th generation descendant of James Willing and Emma Banham (nee Skones), who married in St Pancras, London, on the same day in 1841 as William Willing and Esther Daye (see Group 2). The two couples were each others’ witnesses. On his marriage, James’s father was stated to be S. Willing, deceased. James stated in the 1851 census that he was born in St Giles around 1810/1. Later censuses gave his birthplace as St James or St Pancras, but efforts to find his baptism have so far failed.
The descendant of James, kit no 525197, does not match descendants of William, kit nos 169402 and 246855. Nor does he match the descendant of Robert, kit no IN55211. This indicates that he was not the son of Stephen Willing. It is very likely that he was a son of Stephen’s second wife Diana (or Dinah) by a previous relationship, and was thus a half-brother of William.
Group 4: Netherlands
Kit no 162159 is a 7th generation descendant of Mozes Barend Wing (d 1776) and his wife, whose name is unknown. Mozes first appeared in Amsterdam in 1740, and his grandchildren changed their surname to Willing in 1812.
Kit no 162159 is descended from Elias Salomon Willing, also known as Edward Samuel Willing, who was born in Amsterdam in 1848 and migrated to England with his family around 1860. He married Laura Fanny Burland in 1872 in Manchester.
He belongs to haplogroup E1b1b1, one of the most common Jewish haplogroups, and his result is typical of those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. (E1b1b was previously known as E3b.) Close matches are found to people whose ancestors originated all over Europe from France to Belarus, but none of them has the surname Willing (or Wing).
Deep Clade Test (Netherlands)
A Deep Clade Test was carried out on kit no 162159 in 2011, placing him in haplogroup E1b1b1c1a (or E-M84). The full results are M84+ M34+ M123+ V13- M290- M136- L143-. These are the SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism markers) which were tested. Those with a + sign were found and those with a - sign were not found.
This haplogroup has now been renamed E1b1b1b2a1a. However, this is more commonly referred to by the shorthand version E-M84.
I added kit no 162159 to a project for this haplogroup, the E-M35 Project. Kit no 162159 has been placed in a group with others in haplogroup M84. Other members of this group come from families which originate in Germany, France and Russia.
I also added kit no 162159 to a project for those who belong to haplogroup E and who have known Jewish ancestry in their paternal line, the Jewish E Project. He has been placed in a group called E1b1b1c1a-B. Other members of this group come from families which originate in Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine.
Group 5: Germany
Kit nos 10910, 14720 and 44912 are all descended from Frederick John Willin who was born in Germany on April 20, 1832. He was married to Elizabeth Lavigne (1838-1888) and died in Chicago on December 29, 1906.
Kit no 18978 is descended from a man who was adopted into this family.
See www.chloeannamiller.com/Willin/index.htm for more information.
Group 6: Delaware, USA
Kit no 45200 is descended from Charles Willin and his second wife Eliza Allen. Charles was born about 1790 in Delaware, and died on March 20, 1869 in Seaford, Sussex County, Delaware. His other wives were Henrietta Taylor (first), and Evelyn Cannon (third). It is fairly likely that Charles was the son of Thomas Willin and Leah Adams, who married on February 9, 1780 in Lewes, Sussex County, Delaware. Thomas was born about 1757, and died about 1794 in Sussex County, Delaware.
Group 7: Maryland, USA
Kit no 526564 is descended from George Willin and his first wife wife Dolly Insley, who married on June 7, 1826 in Somerset County, Maryland. Their son James A Willing was born on August 11, 1827 at Tyaskin, Wicomico County, Maryland. George died in 1877 in Wicomico County. His date of birth was May 3, 1802.
Group 8: Cambridgeshire
Kit no IN67868 is a descendant of Edward Willings who married Elizabeth Waples in Cambridge in 1635. They lived in Castle Camps, Cambridgeshire. Most people with the surname Willings belong to this tree. The DNA results prove what the paper research had already indicated, that Willings is unrelated to Willing.
Autosomal Tests (Family Finder)
We now have fifteen members with Willing ancestry who have done autosomal (Family Finder) tests. These are designed to show relationships on all lines of descent, but are in theory only likely to show relationships within about 4 or 5 generations. Seven of them, kit nos 134236, 134450, 137947, 855370, 102481, 162159 and 45200 have also done YDNA tests which are included in the project.
Kit no 134236 is a descendant of Leonard Willing and Ann Lewis (see Devon, Plymstock above).
Kit no 141880 is a first cousin of 134236 and this is confirmed by the Family Finder.
Kit no 134450 is a third cousin of 134236 and 141880, but matches only 141880 and not 134236, due to the random nature of DNA inheritance.
Kit no B115587 is a fifth cousin of 134236, 134450 and 141880. There are no matches with their DNA, as the relationship is too distant to show up in a Family Finder.
Kit no B59218 is a child of B115587 and this is confirmed by the Family Finder.Kit no 855370 is a fifth cousin of B115587 and a sixth cousin of 134236, 134450 and 141880. There are no matches with their DNA, as the relationship is too distant to show up in a Family Finder.
Kit no 137947 is an eighth cousin once removed of 134236, 134450, 141880 and 885370. There are no matches with their DNA, as the relationship is too distant to show up in a Family Finder.
Kit no 365296 is a second cousin of 137947 and this is confirmed by the Family Finder. 365296 is also an eighth cousin once removed of 134236, 134450, 141880 and 855370. There are no matches with their DNA, as the relationship is too distant to show up in a Family Finder.
Kit no 238620 is a child of 365296 and this is confirmed by the Family Finder.
Kit no 227828 is a fifth cousin once removed of 137947 and 365296 and a ninth cousin of 134236, 134450, 141880 and 855370. There are no matches with their DNA, as the relationships are too distant to show up in a Family Finder.
Kit no 102481 has done a Y DNA test, and closely matches 134450, although he has the surname Webber, indicating probable Willing ancestry somewhere is his ancestry. But his Family Finder does not match any of the above descendants of Leonard Willing and Ann Lewis, indicating that the relationship is too distant to show up in a Family Finder.
Kit no 162159 is a descendant of Mozes Barend Wing (see Group 4: Netherlands above). He has some possible matches with relatives.
Kit no 660192 is a descendant of William Willing and Hannah Godfrey, who married in 1751 in Churchstow, Devon. She has no matches with anyone else named Willing.
Kit no 386203 is not known to be related to any of the other project members. She is a descendant of William Willing who was born in 1699, and lived in Somerset County, Maryland, USA. So far, her Family Finder test has not indicated a match with anyone else named Willing.
Kit no 45200 is not known to be related to any of the other project members (see Group 4: Delaware, USA above). So far, his Family Finder test has not indicated a match with anyone else named Willing, although he has a couple of possible matches with relatives.
This page was last updated on 13 April 2021.