The Andrew Jackson Willis of Alabama Group

Andrew Jackson Willis of Alabama was born in 1815 in the Mississippi Territory and in 1818 moved by covered wagon to Franklin County, Alabama with his mother Mary (or Maria) and two siblings. His father is unknown at this time. He married Atimissa Sparks and had numerous children. He fought and was wounded at Gaines Mill in the Civil War while serving in the 26th Alabama Regiment. He died in 1880. (65516, 883587)

The Barnwell County, South Carolina Group

Robert Willis of Williston, Barnwell County, South Carolina was born in 1772 and died in 1844 in Barnwell County. He had eleven children, including two sons who are ancestors of members of our project:

    John Turner Willis, born in 1798, died in 1841 in Barnwell County (383474)

    Patrick Vardell Willis (535848)

The Craven County, North Carolina Group

Jesse Willis of Georgia and Dale County, Alabama was born about 1810 in Georgia. He married Martha (last name unknown) and had two girls and a boy named Iverson Asbury Willis in Georgia before moving to Dale County, Alabama, where he was a farmer listed in the 1840, 1850, and 1860 censuses. His son Iverson Asbury Willis served in "I" Company, Alabama 33rd Infantry Regiment, in the Civil War and was killed on December 31, 1862 at the battle of Stone River at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. (60675)

(Rev.) Joseph Willis of Craven County, North Carolina was born in the early 1700s and died in 1784 in Craven County. In his will he named six sons:  Joseph, Thomas, Caleb, Richard, Jesse, and Ephraim. Project members who are descended from his sons are:

    Thomas/Merrill/William Wesley (46443)

    Caleb/Richard Harvey/Moses W./John Tyler/Omer (59200)

    Ephraim/Abner Sr./James S./John Hayes/James Porter/Cecil Ovil (239460)

Richard Willis of North Carolina was born in 1720 and died in 1800 in North Carolina. According to family tradition, he is descended from one of seven "brothers" who emigrated from England in 1647 and settled in New York, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Virginia. His son Richard Jr. married Catherine Brighan. Richard Jr. lived in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Illinois. (N4693)

Richard Willis Jr., husband of Martha, was imported to Middlesex, Virginia in 1699. A son of Richard Willis Jr. was James Willis, ancestor of three of our project members. James was born February 10,1716/17 in Virginia and died December 9, 1798 in Craven County, North Carolina. According to a Bible record, James’s children were John, William, Francis, Joshua, Joel Sr., Jacob, Joseph, and Isaac. James's son Joel Willis Sr., born May 4, 1752, is the ancestor of two members of our project. His son (1) William (son of Joel Sr.'s first wife, Amy) is the ancestor of project member 166363 through William Jasper Willis Jr., husband of Minerva Stafford. He was born August 11, 1815, and died August 5, 1887, near Barnesville, Upson County, Georgia. Joel Sr.'s son (2) Joel Jr. (son of Joel Sr.'s second wife, Sarah Gwaltney) is the ancestor of project member 931426, who is descended through William Willis, then down through Archibald Willis, and Leonard Appleton Willis. A published genealogy of the family, which includes the Bible record, is Two Centuries with a Willis Family and Their Kin, by Douglas M. Willis (Dallas, 1963). (166383, 205636, and 931426)

William W. Willis of Pike County, Alabama, was born about 1794 in North Carolina. On September 27, 1813 during the War of 1812 he enlisted in the Militia in Baldwin County, Georgia, where he served until March 10, 1814.  After the War, he married Elizabeth Middlebrook, who was born in Upson County, Georgia, on April 26/20, 1795. Later, the family moved to Pike County, Alabama, where William died May 7, 1874. Their known children were Frances (Willis) Pierson (1817-1888), James Monroe Willis, Thomas L. Willis, and William S. Willis.  William W. Willis’s son James Monroe Willis was born March 27, 1819, in Georgia. He married Mahala Woodin November 1838 in Monroe County, Georgia. He died January 13, 1885, in Clay County, Alabama. William’s son Thomas L. Willis was born in Georgia on June 27, 1824. He received his medical education at the Medical College of Georgia, which he entered in 1849. On June 17, 1858, in Decatur County, Georgia, he married Letitia Barnett Hutchison, who was born December 8, 1828. Thomas died March 31, 1889, in Denton County, Texas. Their known children were Thomas Middlebrook Willis, Jessie Elizabeth ("Bettie") Willis, and John P. Willis. William’s son William S. Willis was born about 1829 in Georgia. He married Harriet E. Slappy and they had several children. He died about 1874 in Lee County, Alabama. Project members who are descended from sons of William W. are:

    James Monroe/Jordan/Jonathan (283570)

    James Monroe/Francis/Marion/Huron Branton (96147)

    Thomas L. (718478)

William Alphus Willis was born in 1849 in Georgia and died in 1920. He lived in Drew County, Arkansas. (N40775)

The Gloucester County, Virginia Group

Francis Willis of Gloucester County, Virginia, husband of Sarah Lewis, was said to be born in 1666 in Ware Parish, Oxfordshire, England. Inferred from information in the will of an uncle, also named Francis, his father was Henry Willis, who was said to be born in England about 1638. Francis died before October 1692 in Gloucester County. His sons were (Col.) Francis Willis (b.abt.1690) and (Col.) Henry Willis (b.abt.1691). Col. Francis Willis married Ann Rich in 1715. Their children were Francis, John, and Mary. John (b.1719), the ancestor of one of our project members, married Mildred Smith and lived in Brunswick County, Virginia. The other son of Francis Willis of Gloucester County, Col. Henry Willis, lived in Fredericksburg, Virginia, which at that time was in Spotsylvania County. Project members descended from Henry include descendants of Byrd Charles Willis (husband of Mary Lewis) and William Champe Willis (husband of Lucy Taliaferro). Both Byrd Charles Willis and William Champe Willis are sons of Lewis Willis, who was a son of Henry Willis (born about 1696). Published genealogies of these families include A Sketch of the Willis Family of Virginia, by Byrd Charles Willis and Richard Henry Willis (1898) and A Sketch of the Willis Family, Fredericksburg Branch, by Byrd Charles Willis (1909). Project members who are descended from sons of Francis are:

    Francis Jr./John/John/Augustine Euler (196495)

    Henry/Lewis/Byrd Charles (76114)

    Henry/Lewis/William Champe/John Whitaker (29851)

The Henry Willis of Washington County, Virginia Group

Henry Willis of Washington County, Virginia was born about 1746.  He is possibly a son of John Willis, born between 1710 and 1720 in Botetourt County, Virginia and died about 1772, father of Levina Willis (m. Peter Kinder). Henry settled in the area of Maiden Springs Fort on the Clinch River in Washington County, Virginia. He married Mary Cochran. In 1774 he fought in Lord Dunmore's War. About 1799 he is believed to have moved to Pulaski County, Kentucky, where he died about 1818. His children were John, Daniel, George, Levina (m. William Clark),Margaret (m. Charles Dotson/Dodson), Elizabeth (m. Robert Hunt), Samuel (b.abt.1800, m. Minerva Moore), Henry Jr. (b.1793, m. Sarah Moore), Lewis (m. Rachel Cox), probably Nancy (m. Jesse Williams), Polly (b.1795), and Patsy (b.1805). DNA testing indicates that Henry is descended from Daniel Burford, who was born in 1684 in King William County, Virginia. Project members who are descended from Henry are:

    Henry Jr./Greenville/Henry/Mathias (198137)

    Henry Jr. (73949, 138115)

    Samuel (67855)

    Others (107970, 236121, and 377710)

Jackson Hal Willis was born in Missouri. He married Bernice Luthi in South Dakota. (478826)

The Henry Willis of Long Island Group

Five books have been published on the ancestry and descendants of Henry Willis of Long Island by David Willis, the administrator of this website. They are Henry Willis of Long Island, Vol. 1: 1550 - 1800  (2008); Henry Willis of Long Island, Vol. 2: Northern Branches  (2012); Henry Willis of Long Island, Vol. 3: Southern Ohio Branch (2013); Henry Willis of Long Island, Vol. 4: Isaiah Willis (2009); and Henry Willis of Long Island, Vol. 5: Other Branches (2010).

Henry Willis of Long Island, New York was born in 1628 in or near Warminster, Wiltshire, England, where he married Mary Peace, daughter of Thomas Pearce of Westbury, Wiltshire. His known patrilineal ancestors are his great grandfather William (c.1550-1621; m. (1) Eliza Clarke and (2) Alice Edmunds), his grandfather Henry (1573-1641; m. Elizabeth Rowland), and father William (1605-1665; m. Katharine Wolford or Woodford). He is an only son and his father was the only son who grew to maturity. Henry’s great grandfather William was born and died with the surname Willens. Henry Willis of Long Island and his father and grandfather were all born with the surname Willens but died with the surname Willis. This is helpful information, because men living today who share Henry’s Y-DNA are almost certain to be descended from Henry, not an earlier ancestor if their surname is Willis. A good reference is George Ingraham Willis, “The English Origins of Henry Willis of Westbury, Long Island,” The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, vol. 118, No. 2, April 1987, 65–74. 

After being persecuted in England because of his Quaker religion, Henry Willis emigrated to Long Island in 1674 (or possibly 1675). His elder son, William (1663-1736; m. Mary Titus), remained in Long Island, as did William's sons. One of our project members is descended from William's son John (1693-1777; m. Abigail Willits). All our other project members are descended from Henry’s younger son, John (1669-1745; m. Esther Brinton), who settled in Chester County, PA. John had five sons. His eldest son, William (b.c.1693), died young and did not marry. John's second son, John Jr. (c.1695-1732; m. Mary Webb) left three children including one son, John III, who died while still an orphan. John’s middle son, Henry (c.1699-1761; m. Mary), moved to York County, PA in 1746. Henry's four sons, Joseph (c.1725-1809, Mercer Co., KY; m. Hannah), John (c.1732-1800, Franklin Co., VA; m. Phebe Bennett), Henry Jr. (c.1734-c.1768, York Co., PA; m. Susanna Stanton), and Isaiah (c.1742-aft.1809, Franklin Co., VA; m. (1) Hannah Johnston and (2) Catharine) founded branches of Willis-surname descendants in Virginia (Franklin County), Kentucky (Mercer County), southern Ohio (Lawrence County), Missouri (Monroe County), and elsewhere. John's second youngest son Edward (c.1705-1732; m. Catharine Maris) died young, leaving two sons, William (b.c.1727; m. (1) Elizabeth Harlan and (2) Hannah Matthews), who moved to York County, PA, and Joel (b.c.1730; m. (1) Mary Harvey and (2) Esther), who lived in Chester County, PA . Both had many children. John's youngest son was Benjamin (b.c.1709, d.c.1756), for whom there is no known evidence of marriage or children. Project members who are descended from Henry Willis of Long Island are:

    William/John/Richard (1716-1784)/James (1742-1802)/John/William/John/William (171536)

    John/Henry/Joseph/Joseph (c.1752-1818)/Henry (1785-1863)/John/John/Jesse (557388)

    John/Henry/Joseph/John (c.1762-1795)/James E. (c.1791-c.1829)/Felix H./Gustavus (30786)

    John/Henry/John/Henry (c.1758-1812, VA)/George Washington Sr.(OH)/John Gilbert/Theodore N. (10862)

    John/Henry/John/Henry (c.1758-1812, VA)/Henry (OH)/Thompson/Greenberry (10381, 85974, 10862)

    John/Henry/John/Henry (c.1758-1812, VA)/Henry (OH)/Greenbury/Jedidiah (403708)

    John/Henry/John/Henry (c.1758-1812, VA)/John (OH)/William/Charles/James Walter Pridemore (258748)

    John/Henry/John/Bennett (c.1774, Franklin Co., VA-1814, Norfolk)/Hugh (NC)/Richard Baxter (8404)

    John/Henry/Henry Jr./Joseph (c.1758-1813, Lancaster Co., PA)/Henry/Dedrich William Sr. (168427)

    John/Henry/Henry Jr./William (1765-1831, Coshocton Co., OH)/Henry/William/Henry (943840)

    John/Henry/Isaiah/William (c.1765-1813)/Jubal (c.1791-1851, Franklin Co., VA)/William (141333)

    John/Henry/Isaiah/William (c.1765-1813)/Lee (1798-1869, Monroe Co., MO)/Charles Cobb (8430)

    John/Henry/Isaiah/William (c.1765-1813)/James (1800-1861, Monroe Co., MO)/James Robert (27840)

    John/Henry/Isaiah/William (c.1765-1813)/Isaiah (c.1803-1872, Lewis Co., MO)/Samuel (10112)

The Jesse Willis Group

Jesse Willis of Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Indiana was born May 3, 1761 in York County, Pennsylvania. He was raised in the household of Joseph Hutton and Betty (Willis) Hutton. He was a Quaker who sought to abolish slavery. About June 1783 he married Sarah Copeland, also of York County. Their children were William, Isaac, John, Jesse, David, Rachel, Mary, and Abner. Jesse’s early descendants lived in Wayne County, Indiana and Dallas County, Iowa. Two members of our project are descended from sons of Jesse’s son Isaac (1787-1860, Wayne Co., IN):

    Jonathan (1826-1903, Dallas Co., IA)/Lewis/Jonathan/Lewis (31966)

    Harvey S. (1831-1931, Dallas Co., IA)/Arthur E./Blake (77992)

The New Jersey Group

Jacob Willis of Morris County, New Jersey was born about 1770 in New Jersey. They had the following children:  David (m. Mary), Mary (m. Peter Beatty), Sarah (m. John Sheldon), Nancy (m. Nicholas Valentine), Phebe (m. Isaac Morgan), Jacob (m. Sally Beatty), Isaac (m. Sally),Eliza (m. Ira Little), Benjamin (m. first Nancy, m. second Sally--research by maverick1338 has shown that Benjamin did not have a wife named Mary Eakley), Aaron (m. Louisa Estler), and Hannah (m. Thomas Morgan). Jacob died in 1841 in Morris County, New Jersey.  (205702)

James Willis was born about 1822 in Ohio and died in 1865 in Cotton Township, Switzerland County, Indiana. He was a farmer and a cooper. He was married twice, first to Laura Lawton, who died after giving birth to their first child, and second to Mary Lawton, her sister. Our member is descended from his son George W. Willis, who was born in 1851 and died in 1899 in Boone, Boone County, Iowa. (481949)

Joseph Willis of Morris County, New Jersey, born c. 1680 (wife Patience Thompson), was a blacksmith. He is the ancestor of two members of our project. He had four children, Joseph (II), born around 1721 (wife Abigail), Benjamin, Mary, and Anne. Benjamin married Abigail Winans; when she died he married her cousin Anna Winans. Son Joseph (II), in turn, had a son named Joseph (III), born 1759 (wife Grace Winans). Joseph (III) moved from Essex County, New Jersey, to Greene County, Pennsylvania, prior to 1780, to Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1822, and died in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1843. Our member 95119 is descended from Joseph III’s son Isaac. (95119, 101870, and B1041836)

The North Carolina Group

David Willis was born in 1720 and died in 1749. (320311)

Elijah Willis was born in Georgia in 1809, married Elizabeth Daniel in 1834 in Talbot County, Georgia, and about 1836 or 1837 settled in Autauga County, Alabama. Elijah's father was born in North Carolina. Children of Elijah and Elizabeth were William (born in 1835 in Georgia), John, Mary Francis, James Wesley, George, and Joseph P. (99629)

Henry Willis of Goochland County, Virginia was born in Goochland County in 1731/1732 and died in Rutherford County, North Carolina in 1813.  Descendants of at least three of his sons are members of the Willis project: Joseph, Henry Jr., and Benjamin:

Joseph, who was born in 1753 and died in 1848, lived in Cleveland County, North Carolina. His son Joseph Jr., who was born 1789 and died in 1829, lived in Lincoln County and Cleveland County. Member 491893 is descended from Joseph Jr.’s son Banister. (491893, 636482, 966417)

Henry Jr. married Mary Haddock in May 1783 in Caswell County, North Carolina. He died in 1820 in Caswell County. His sons were William, Nicholas, Benjamin, Henry Jr., and Anderson. His son Benjamin was born in Caswell County in 1790, married Susannah Chandler, and died in Webster County, Missouri in 1867. He is the ancestor of member 219583. Henry’s son Joseph, who was born in Caswell County in 1835 and died in 1863 in Webster County, is the ancestor of member 219583. Henry’s son Anderson was born Dec.17, 1800 in Caswell County and moved to Habersham County, Georgia, where his sons W. A., John C., and Drury Dobbins were born. Drury Dobbins’s son Harmon A. is the ancestor of our member 127670. (127670, 219583)

Benjamin Willis was born in North Carolina about 1765. According to a recollection of his grandson Stephen Morgan Willis (1844-1931), when Benjamin was a young man he moved from Cleveland County to Mitchell County. Records show that in 1796, Benjamin was living in Rutherford County, which is just west of Cleveland County. A known son of Benjamin is Rev. Thomas Willis (husband of Keziah Grindstaff), whose Willis-surname descendants lived in Mitchell County for many generations.(90449)

James Willis of North Carolina was born about 1755 in Cumberland County, Virginia, and died in 1796 in Chatham County, North Carolina. He married Elizabeth Wilson, daughter of Benjamin Wilson, also of Cumberland County. Three of his descendants are members of the Willis DNA Project. Children mentioned in James' will were Rebecca Caudle, Sally Crow, Suckey Willis, Jemima Willis, Wilson Willis, Larkin Willis (born in 1777), Molly Willis, Nannie Willis, Elijah Willis, and Elisha Willis. Larkin Willis had a son James Larkin. Our member 118615 is a descendant of James Larkin’s son Iredell C., and our member 415085 is a descendant of James Larkin’s son Larkin Wilson. (118615, 348289, 415085)

Martin Van Buren Willis born about 1848 in Cleveland County, North Carolina. (N66750)

Thomas Willis of Carroll County, Georgia was born in 1815 in Craven County, North Carolina and died in 1880. According to his 1880 census record, both his parents were born in Virginia. (277501) 

Thomas Willis of Twiggs County, Georgia was born September 2, 1786 in Craven County, North Carolina. In 1811 he married Julia Anna Fleming, who was born December 13, 1787 in Georgia. They had a son named James Alexander Fleming. The family moved to Twiggs County in the early 1800s. (926445)

William Willis of North Carolina married Elizabeth McNeil, who was born September 9, 1770 and died in February 1857 in Georgia. A son John Erastus Willis was born in North Carolina and died December 11, 1854 in Talbot County, Georgia. (126061)

William Robert Willis was born in 1700 and died in 1749. (286654)  

William S. Willis was born on January 27, 1836 in Cleveland County, NC. In the censuses he states that both his parents were also born in NC. He married Mary Ettie Meadows on March 8,1861 in Estill Co., KY. He lived in Millers Creek, Estill Co. for most of his life with a brief move in 1900 to Hazel Green, Wolfe Co. and another move towards the end of his life to Rogers Chapel, Powell Co. They had six daughters--Susan M., Mary Belle, Fanie E., Nanie Green, Clevie, and Pattie Ann--along with four sons--Jesse, Henry R., William Jr., and Floyd. He died on February 8, 1921, in Powell Co., KY, at the age of 85, and was buried there. (473665)

The Northeastern Group

Abraham Willis of Herkimer County, New York was born 1796 in NY. He married Hannah Whaley in 1819. They appeared in the 1820 census in Schuyler, Herkimer County, NY. In the 1850 census they were in Fairfield Township, Huron County, Ohio. They both died in Huron County, Ohio, 1880/1881. Children included: Alpheus David (b.1822 NY - d.1916 OH);James (b.1827 NY); Horace (b.1831 NY - d.1890 OH); Rebecah (b.1834 NY); Sarah E. (b.1839 NY - d.1917 OH); Joseph W. (b.1844 OH - d.1829 OH). The father of Abraham may possibly be Joseph Willis (appearing in the 1810 census of Schuyler, Herkimer, NY).  (64317)

Melatiah Willis of Vermont was born in 1767 and died in Vermont in 1823. He married Martha Seaver, who was born in 1767 and died in Vermont in 1813. Both are buried in Corinth Center Cemetery, Orange County, Vermont. Their children were Lucinda (b.1790 - d.1845 VT), Melatiah Jr. (b.1791 - d.1872 VT), Shubeal (b.1794 - d.1865 VT), and Benjamin (b.1798 VT- d.1891 VT), all buried in Corinth Center Cemetery, and Delia (b. abt. 1800 VT). Both Benjamin and Delia were in the same household in the 1880 census in Corinth VT. Shubeal Willis married Lydia Bagley, of Vermont, in 1822. A son was Jonathan Bagley Willis, who was born September 23, 1825 in Corinth, and moved to Pueblo County, Colorado. (178713)

Stephen Willis of New York was born in 1802 in Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer County, New York. (246488)

The Old Rappahannock, Virginia Group

Members of the Old Rappahannock, Virginia Group and the Maryland Group were once in a single group but were split into separate groups in 2014. The patrilineal ancestor common to both groups will probably never be identified because he lived too far back in time.

John Willis of King George County, Virginia was born in 1648 and died in 1715. A history of the early years of the family is The Willis Family of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1669-1737, by Peggy Frances Rush (1998). John acquired land in King George County in 1669. His first wife was Sarah (last name unknown), by whom he had sons John Jr. and William. His second wife was Matilda (last name unknown) by whom he had a son named Charles. John Sr.'s eldest son John Jr. died without heirs, son 2. William inherited John Sr.’s estate. William was born in 1680. His wife was Sarah Hudson and their children were John, William Jr., and Sarah. After William’s death in 1717, William’s son 3.John inherited the estate. John was born in 1710 and died in 1762. He married Elizabeth Plunkett in 1734. He lived in King George County and had 12 children. One of his sons was 4. William Willis Sr., who was born in 1742. He married Elizabeth “Betsy” Garnett, and they had 13 children. William Sr. died May 21, 1833 in Boone County, Kentucky. Descendants of three of William's sons, William Jr., Edmund Terrill, and Benjamin Garnet, all born in Culpeper County, Virginia, are members of this project:

    William Jr. (b.1760)/Paschal (73893)

    Edmund Terrill (b.1764)/Byrd Thomas/William G./John Owen (193434)

    Benjamin Garnet/James Dickens (335383)

James Willis died in Wilkes County, Georgia about 1827. He was in the Revolutionary War. His son Benjamin Franklin Willis was born 1805 in Georgia and died in 1864 in Mississippi. Benjamin's son Alfred Augustine (or Augustus) Willis was born 1834 in Wilkes County, Georgia and died 1900 in Liberty County, Texas. (967637)

Joseph Willis was born in 1782 in Orange County, Virginia. He died August 19, 1855. (683166)

Joshua Willis was born February 6, 1814 and died April 30, 1875. He was married to Mary Rachel McIntosh, who was born January 19, 1824 and died February 7, 1905. They moved to Missouri in 1858. (500353)

The Rowan County, North Carolina Group

Thomas Willis of Rowan County, North Carolina was born about 1734, married Ann about 1754 in Rowan County, and died before February 8, 1794 in Rowan County. His children were James, Rachel (b. abt. 1756, m. first Jonathan Wiseman abt. 1774 in Rowan Co.), George (b. 1757, m. Marjorie bef. 1780 in Rowan Co., d. 1834 in Davidson Co., NC), Adam (b. 1760, d. 1850), Thomas Jr. (b. abt. 1765, m. Martha Wiseman abt. 1780 in Rowan Co., d. abt. 1820 in Rowan Co.), and Hannah (b. 1767 in NC, m. Hazel Moreland Sr. Jan. 8, 1785 in Rowan Co.). (145181)

William Willis of Rowan County, North Carolina married Cicily Coats in Rowan County in 1810. His eldest known son was James Wilburn/Wilber Willis (b. Feb. 1812; m. Mary Posey in Coosa Co., AL). Another son was Joseph Yerby Willis (b. about 1819; m. Lettice Ann Williams in Coosa Co., AL). William moved to TN, possibly Lincoln County, with the Coats family, and had at least two children there: Mary M. Willis (b. 1827; m. James William Usrey in Shelby Co., AL) and John Wesley Willis (b. 1830; m. Winifred Williams in Shelby Co., AL). William and Cicily and these four children were in Shelby County, AL by 1837. (123758)

The South Carolina and Westmoreland, Pennsylvania Group

George Washington Phillips was born in 1806. According to family tradition, he was born in South Carolina. About 1840, he married Mary Jane McCreight in Talladega County, Alabama. During the 1840s, he settled in Cherokee County, Texas, where he died in 1877. (76670)

John Daniel Willis of Edgefield County, South Carolina was born in 1780 in Edgefield County and died before 1840.  He married Margaret Williams, who was born in 1790 and died in1880. Their children were Daniel, Edenton, Darling, and Sarah (Willis) Sawyer. Two of our members are descendants of his son Daniel, who was born December 15, 1812, in Edgefield, married Emaline Fox, and died May 10, 1893, in South Carolina. Children of Daniel and Emaline were John, Darling, Solon Horace (died in Georgia), and Sally (died young). Our member 83516 is a descendant of Daniel’s son Darling. (83516)

Robert Willis of Pennsylvania was, according to family tradition, born in Scotland about 1760, went to Ireland with his family as a youth, then immigrated to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in the Colonies. His first confirmed record in America is his membership in Captain John Allen's Company of Militia, 2nd Battalion of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, on June 15, 1782. He lived in Westmoreland/Fayette County, Pennsylvania, through at least 1800, and died in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1830. Two of our members are descendants of Robert. He had several children, among them William, an ancestor of our member N32550. William was born in Pennsylvania in 1790 and died in Iowa in 1854. (N32250, 148698)

The Southwest Virginia and Kentucky Group

Abner Willis of Southwest Virginia was married to Eve Sifers in 1803 in Wythe County, Virginia. He owned property in Saltville Gap, Washington County, Virginia. Sometime between 1810 and 1820, he moved to Russell County, Virginia. Known children are Isaac (b.1804), David (b.ca.1804), John (b.ca.1807), Nancy C. (b.1809), Alexander (b.1811), Jane H. (b.1812), Mary (b.ca.1818), Richard J. (b.1818), Amos (b.1818), and Biddy Ann. (b.1822). Abner died sometime after 1840. Four members of our project are descendants of Abner:

    Richard J. (64544)

    Amos/Johnathon (15233)

    Amos/James C./William (238129)

    Amos/James C./Londy/William C. (203117)

    Not stated (518287)

McKinzie Willis was born about 1799 in Kentucky. He married Mary Ann Logsdon on May 3, 1820, in Madison County, Kentucky. He later moved to Estill County, Kentucky. He died in 1866. His children were Edward D. Willis, Anna Rice Willis, Susan Willis, Amanda Willis, Merrill (Merle) Willis (husband of Mahala Jane Coyle), Martha Willis, William A. Willis, Mariann Willis, and Lucinda Willis. Three members of our project are descendants of McKinzie’s son Merrill:

     Merrill/Cash/James/Minter (809080)

     Merrill/William/Sidney (211916)

     Merrill (10022913)

 

The Alabama and Kentucky Group

Y-DNA test results indicate that members of this group are patrilineal descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages, who established a dynasty of chieftains that dominated Ireland for six centuries. 

Henry Willis of Adair County, Kentucky was born about 1913 in Kentucky. He married Angela Farris. (178713)

James Willis of Jackson County, Alabama was born in 1827 in Alabama, and died between 1870 and 1880. He married Margaret Isbell between 1845 and 1847 in Jackson County. She was the daughter of James Isbell and Elizabeth Birdwell. Their children were Susannah A., Calvin Ceveire, John Henry, Mary Arezine, Nancy A., James Monroe, William Z., and Anna M.  (126553)

John Willis of Virginia and Alabama was born between 1760 and 1770 in Virginia. He died after 1830 in Alabama. (MI54075)

William Willis was born in 1819 in Kentucky. His father was Henry Willis. In 1839 in Jackson County, Alabama, he married Jane (last name unknown), who was born in 1825 in Tennessee. He died in 1859 in Tishomingo County, Mississippi. (247483)

William Willis of Alabama was born in Alabama in 1824. His father was born in Kentucky according to the 1880 census. Children by William's first wife, Elizabeth Striplin, were Martha, John H., Andrew Jackson, Robert Fillmore, Elizabeth, and Newton. Children by his second wife, Martha Rooks, were William Seaborn and David. Two members of our project are descended from William’s son Andrew Jackson Willis. William had a brother Andrew Jackson Willis born about 1840 in Alabama who served in the Civil War. (25499 and 86546)

The Agerton Willis Group

Agerton Willis was born about 1727, and died about 1777 in Bladen County, North Carolina. His son Joseph Willis, a Baptist Minister, was born in Bladen in 1752 and died in 1854 in Allen Parish, Louisiana. (562747, 961839, B100616)

The Berkshire, England Group

George Willis of Berkshire, England married Elizabeth Binfield in Sunningwell, Berkshire, England, in 1708. (183189)

Thomas Willis/Willats of Berkshire, England was born about 1570 and died in Reading, Berkshire, in 1627. He was a (horse)collar maker by trade. In his will he mentions, among other, sons Moses, and Moses' son Aaron. Moses lived his life as a "Willis," but over the course of Aaron's life, his name evolved into "Willats". Thomas' patrilineal descendants remained in Reading until 1750 when a John Willats married a girl in Wokingham, to the southeast of Reading, where he settled down and raised his family. During the time in Wokingham the name is generally spelled as "Willatts". ( 289737)

The Delaware Group

John Willis of Sussex County, Delaware was born about 1745. He married Ann Short in Sussex County on June 6, 1768. He served in a Maryland militia unit in 1781.  He died in Sussex County in 1817. A son Short Adam Willis, husband of Mary Rich, was born April 13, 1783 in Sussex County. He served in the Delaware Militia in 1813. He moved to Caroline County, Maryland before 1820, and died November 6, 1860 in Caroline County. Children of Short Adam Willis included Arthur John Willis, Peter James Willis Sr., Sarah Ann Willis, William Henry Willis, Richard Short Willis, Mary Willis, and Thomas Alexander Willis. Several sons moved to the Houston/Galveston area of Texas in the early to mid-1800s. Two of our project members are descendants of Peter James Willis, through his son William, grandson Peter, and great grandson Peter Jr. (279781 and 294076)

The Ireland Group

Christopher Willis was born about 1830 in Ireland, possibly in Dublin. He immigrated to Taylor Creek, Hardin County, Ohio about 1850 where he married Honora Curran, also from Ireland. (110342)

William Willis of Robeen, Mayo, Ireland lived from 1763 to 1838 and married Margaret (last name unknown). Descendants lived in the Ballinrobe/Hollymount are of South Mayo, with some emigrating to Scranton, Penn., Chicago, Ill., and Youngstown, Ohio. (41076)

The Maryland Group

Members of the Maryland Group and the Old Rappahannock, Virginia Group were once in a single Group, but were split into separate Groups in 2014. The Willis-surname ancestor common to both groups will probably never be identified because he lived too far back in time. Most of the descendants of the Maryland Group are descended from John Willis of Dorchester County, Maryland, who was born between 1650 and 1660, probably in Berkshire County, England.

Andrew Willis of Maryland died intestate in Caroline County, MD in 1778. He was a Quaker who owned a tract called Friendship/Friendship Regulated in Fork Hundred about five miles north of Federalsburg. His proved children were five sons Thomas (m. Sina Rickets), Andrew (m. Sarah), Joseph, and the youngest Elijah (who died before 1778, m. unknown). Eldest son Thomas Willis, ancestor of two of our members, inherited Friendship Regulated under the law of primogenitor. In 1778 and in accordance with his father's wishes, Thomas deeded parts of Friendship Regulated to the three surviving sons and to Isaac Collins. Collins likely was the husband of deceased Elijah's daughter who would have been entitled to Elijah's share of the land. (MK60331, MK60332)

Jacob Willis of Rutherford County, North Carolina was born in 1781 and died in 1828. He married Lydia Black. He had twelve children. His seven sons were William Q. Willis, James Black Willis, Johnson Willis, John Willis, Jacob Craven Willis, Jesse Richardson Willis, and Joseph Gallishaw Willis. James, Johnson and John moved to Boone and Marion Counties in Arkansas in the late 1840s. The remaining four sons stayed in and around Rutherford/Cleveland County, but their later descendants spread into Tennessee, South Carolina, and Virginia. (423854) 

John Willis of Dorchester County, Maryland was born between 1650 and 1660 and died in 1712 in Dorchester County. He was the Crier for the Court of Dorchester County. He owned a parcel of land named "Wantage", indicating that he may have originally been from the village of the same name in Berkshire County, England. Known children were John Willis Jr. (born before 1690 and died in 1764 in Caroline County, Maryland), William Willis, Grace Willis, Eliza Willis, and Andrew Willis (born about 1690 and died in 1738). John Willis Jr. and Andrew had children. John Jr. had sons John, Joshua (b.1710), and Richard (b.1718) by his first wife, and John (b.1731) and Jarvis (b.1735) by his second. John Jr. owned land in Caroline County that he willed to his second son John. John Jr.'s son Richard, who was born about 1718, died about 1763 in Caroline County. A son of this Richard Willis was Richard Willis Jr., who was born in 1760 and died in 1823 in Caroline County. He is the ancestor of two members of our project. John Willis Sr.'s son Andrew had sons William, Thomas (b.1715), and Andrew by his first wife and Richard, George, and John by his second. Andrew owned land in Dorchester County that he left to sons Richard and George. Andrew's son John had a son Jarvis (b.1758), who received a Revolutionary War pension for his service with the Second Continental Line, having enlisted in February 1777 in Maryland. He later moved to Stokes County, North Carolina, Franklin County, Tennessee, and Lawrence County, Alabama. Members in our project include descendants of four different sons of Jarvis: Charles B., Henry, William, and John. Andrew's son William (b.1717) had grandsons--James (b.1780), Jacob (1782-1828) and William (1775-1866) --who also are ancestors of members in our project. Members of our project known to be descended from John are the following:

    John Jr./Richard/Richard/Zachariah/Francis Asbury (90447)

    John Jr./Richard/Richard/Zachariah/Henry Fisher (10590, 508395, 508627))

    Andrew/John/Jarvis (b.1758 MD)/Charles B./George Washington (B9291)

    Andrew/John/Jarvis (b.1758 MD)/Henry/Charles Monroe/Charles Miles (201363)

    Andrew/John/Jarvis (b.1758 MD)/William/Harmon (20484)

    Andrew/John/Jarvis (b.1758 MD)/John/James (56029)

    Andrew/William/William/James/William (655491)

    Andrew/William/William/Jacob/Jacob (423854)

    Andrew/William/Jacob/William/John (148947)

John William Willis of Baltimore, Maryland and Warren County, Ohio married Nancy Hite (or Hill) on Dec. 13, 1798 in Baltimore, Maryland, at the 1st Presbyterian Church. George Willis signed the wedding certificate and James A. Willis was a witness. A son Shelah Willis, ancestor of member 785030, was born in June 20, 1805 in North Carolina and died May 4, 1885 in Pipestone, Berrien Springs, Michigan. A son William H. (Billy) Willis, a minister, ancestor of member 50374, was born March 27, 1812 in Warren County, Ohio. (50374, 785030)

Robert Lee Willis of Cass County, Texas was born in 1799 and died in 1892. (426414)

The Northern Ireland Group

Phillip Willis was born in 1795 in either Glasgow or Ireland and died in 1839 in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. A descendant David Willis was born in Manchester, England and died in 1947 in Akron, Ohio. (894459)

The Southern Group

The Southern Group is America's largest group of related Willises. It is not known whether their most recent common patrilineal ancestor lived in England or in America. The ancestors of the earliest known American descendants originated in eastern Virginia and from there migrated southward, through south central and southeastern Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia. Earliest known ancestors in America include Robert Willis, born about 1700 and moved to Georgia; Stephen Willis, born about 1703, probably in Kent County, Virginia; and Richard Willis of Goochland County, Virginia, born about 1720.

The Southern Group - Subgroup A

Austin Willis of North Carolina was born about 1820 in North Carolina. He married Edney Cook on December 26,1846. Austin was a blacksmith for the North Carolina railroad, in "Company Shop," North Carolina. He served as a private in the Civil War in Company K, 47th North Carolina Regiment (Alamance Minutemen). He died about 1880 in North Carolina. His son, John Willis, was born in 1850 and died about 1900 in Nottoway County, Virginia.  (20880)

William Austin Willis was born in 1808 in North Carolina. In 1850 he was living in New Madrid County, Missouri, where he is listed in the 1850 census with wife Sarah (age 39, born in North Carolina), his four eldest children William Cicero Willis, Henry Thomas Willis (born 1838 in Georgia, ancestor of our member 84019), Eli Samuel Willis, and Elizabeth A. Willis, all born in Georgia between 1835 and 1843, and his two youngest children Sarah E. Willis and James Wesley Willis, born in Missouri after 1847. William Austin married second to Lydia A. Arterbury, born 1830 Crittenden Co., KY; died between 1870-1876. Their children were John Harvey Willis (born 18 July 1860, ancestor of our member 202117), Laura Willis, and Pamelia (Mely) Willis. (10505, 84019, 136099, 202117)

The Southern Group - Subgroup B

Robert Willis (Sr.), born about 1700, whose biography is below, is the known ancestor of four members of Subgroup B, and is very possibly also the ancestor of the other members in Subgroup B as well, through his son Price.

Britton Willis (the elder) (1758-1845) (Compiled by Betty Boone and Joy Herron, 5 March 2010) was born in North Carolina and all information which has surfaced, including his Revolutionary War pension application, place his year of birth as 1758. He also tells us, via his pension application, that he moved to South Carolina when young, and at age 17 or 18, while living at Saluda Old Town, he was recruited as a Minute Man to serve "on the frontiers of Georgia." He remained in Georgia for several years after the Revolution before returning to South Carolina where he settled in the Pendleton area. It is not known exactly in which year he moved back to South Carolina, but he was there by the time of the 1790 census. In 1806 he sold his lands in South Carolina and moved his family to Muhlenberg Co., Kentucky, where he lived for the remainder of his life. His death occurred April 1845 in Muhlenberg County, and his grave has been located on property which he owned at the time. Britton's wife was Ann, and there are clues which suggest she likely was a Gillespie; however, no proof to support this conclusion has been located. Sadly, Gillespie is stated as fact on many internet sites, yet no one has ever, as far as we know, been able to offer the needed documentation.

Their eight children were Winnifred (b ca 1781 GA), James (b ca 1783 GA), Matthew G. (b 20 Sep 1785 GA/SC), Thomas (b ca 1790/1794 SC), Ann G (b 27 Aug 1797 SC), David Gillespie (ca 1799 SC), Jane (b ca 1801 SC) and Peggy (b ca 1803 SC-d bef 1810 KY).  Winnifred and Peggy left no known descendants. By the early 1820s the migration of the first generation of Willis descendants is beginning. Jane is the first child of Britton and Ann to leave Kentucky. She and husband James Wright arrive in Illinois about 1822. Next to leave Kentucky is Winnifred and her husband Thomas Garrard and members of his family; by 1830 the Garrards are living in Alabama. Thomas Willis and his wife Francis Welborn and children settle in Hancock County, Illinois in February 1832. In 1836 James Willis and his brother David Gillespie Willis are moving their families into the newly opened public lands in Marshall County, Mississippi. And in 1840 Matthew G. Willis is moving his family into Johnson County, Arkansas. Ann was Britton and Ann’s only child who lived to adulthood and did not migrate; Ann and her husband Stephen Wright remained in Muhlenberg County.

Britton Willis (the elder) is very possibly a grandson of Robert Willis (Sr.) through his son Price (born 1735). Lineages of members of our project who are descended from Britton (the elder) are:

    James/David Gillespie (b.1803 SC)/David Gillespie (b.abt.1840)/Claude Edward (b.1880 TN) (246086)

    James/James Hamilton (b.1811 KY)/Raleigh Britton (b.1853 OK) (129808)

    James/Benjamin H. (b.1821 KY)/James Jesse (b.1855 AR) (974086)

    James/Valentine Williford (b.1828 KY, d.1905 TX) (87203)

    Thomas/Britton (b.1821 KY) (155223)

    Thomas/William (b.abt.1837 IA, d.1907 IL)/David Wilbur (b.1879 IL)/William Vaughn (48626)

Isaiah Willis is very possibly a grandson of Robert Willis (Sr.) through his son Price (born 1735). Isaiah was born in Virginia in 1764. In 1793 he married Susannah Cooper. He lived on Pistol Creek, in Lincoln County, Georgia, where he bought land on December 24, 1800. He died in 1815 in Lincoln County. His widow, Susannah, married second Guilford Pullin. Known children of Isaiah are Enos, Martin, Jane, Mary, Isaiah Carter, Cynthia, and Brittain. Isaiah's son (1) Enos Willis married Sarah Jane Pullen in Lincoln County. Isaiah’s son (2) Martin Willis was born in 1794, married Elizabeth Russell in 1815 in Lincoln County, and died in 1823. Martin's orphaned son John I.M. Willis was born in Georgia, probably Lincoln County, about 1817. John married Louisa Adeline Jones and moved to Coosa County, Alabama, where a son John Williams Willis was born in 1858. He is the father of Walter Warren Willis, who is an ancestor of our member 277736. Isaiah's son (3) Isaiah Carter Willis (1808-1880) married Eveline Wilkinson in 1830 in Wilkes County, Georgia. His son Edward Wilkinson Willis was born in 1836 and died in 1905. Edward's son Carter Isaiah Willis (1876-1934) is an ancestor of our member 786985. (277736, 786985)

Robert Willis (Sr.) was born about 1700 and married twice. His first marriage was to a woman possibly named Agnes, with whom he had a daughter Zeney, born about 1719, and a son Robert Willis (Jr.), born 1721 and died 1767. His second marriage, about 1734, was to Mary Price of Goochland County, Virginia. She was born about 1711 and was a daughter of John Price and Hannah Williamson. From his marriage to Mary, Robert Sr. had at least four children, including sons Price Willis (born 1735) and Williamson Willis (born 1737), both known to be in Orange County, North Carolina just before the Revolution. Price Willis had a son Robert (possibly a brother of Britton Willis the elder, born 1758), who was born about 1765 and died about 1813. Lineages of members of our project known to be descended from sons of Robert Sr. are:

    Robert Jr./William (b.1760)/William Fountain (b.1811/12 TN)/Maston Green (b.abt.1845 AL) (319387)

    Price /Robert/Britton (b.1797 GA?)/John R. (b.1833 AL)/John Morgan/Ralph Eulee (453576)

    Price /Robert/Robert (b.1799)/Wilson Lumpkin/Francis Marion (294258)

    Price /Robert/Robert (b.1799)/Price/William Ramon (b.1820 GA)/John Price (b.1846 MS) (234464)

The Southern Group - Subgroup C

Richard Willis Sr. of Goochland County, Virginia was born about 1720 and died probably before 1770. His children were (1) William, (2) Richard Jr. (3) Sterling, (4) Sherod (Sherwood), (5) John, (6) Drury, (7) Thomas, (8) Edward, (9) Sarah, and (10) Anne (Nancy). Evidence indicates that sometime between 1754 and 1767, it became necessary for Richard’s son (1) William to take over responsibility for care of the family. William and his wife Mary were childless. He died before April 9, 1793 in Mecklenburg County, NC. (2) Richard Jr. was born 25 Feb.1746, moved to Spartanburg County, SC, and married Druscilla Barnett. (3) Sterling was born in 1758 and moved to Todd County, KY. (4) Sherod (Sherwood) moved to Jessamine County, KY. (5) John was born in 1756 and died 11 Nov. 1829 in Jessamine County, KY. He had several sons. The first was Richard (born 4 Sep. 1795, Pittsylvania County, VA, died 1863, Sullivan County, IN), who had a son named William, born 1838. The second was John Augustine Willis (born 12 Apr. 1800, Pittsylvania County, died 27 Jan. 1886, Sullivan County), who had a son named William, born 1839. Another son of John Willis of Jessamine County was James A. Willis, who married Mahala Walters. (6) Drury moved to Madison County, KY. (7) Thomas married May Yates 18 Aug. 1789 in Pittsylvania County. They moved to Lincoln County, TN. (8) Edward was born about 1764 and died in Grant, Garrard County, KY in 1818. Edward's son William T. Willis was born about 1811 in Madison County, KY and died sometime between 1800 and 1900. (9) Sarah married John Allgood. (10) Anne (Nancy) married William Hopwood. Project members who are descended from Richard Sr. are:

    Richard Jr./Richard of Spartanburg/Sterling/James (b.1782, VA)/Anderson (b.1816, KY) (149433)

    Richard Jr./Richard of Spartanburg/John/William/Jabez (b.abt.1805, Spartanburg) (176129)

    Richard Jr./Richard of Spartanburg/John/Hezekiah/Abel Smith (209704)

    John/John Augustine/James A. (153009)

    Thomas (113965)

    Edward/William T./William Sterling (b.1829, Garrard Co. KY) (153703)

Stephen D. Thomas Willis of Marshall County, Tennessee was born in Marshall County on November 12, 1812, and died January 15, 1887. (483080)

William Sterling Willis was born in April 1829 in Kentucky (according to the 1900 census). Per the 1880 census, he was born in Kentucky about 1828 and his wife, Catherine Hopkins or Hoskins, was born about 1840 in Kentucky. (153703)

The Southern Group - Subgroup D

Major Willis of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, and Maury County, Tennessee married Mary Jones in Sumner County, Tennessee, in 1807. Major Willis and a William Willis are reported to have migrated from Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to Tennessee about 1800. His children were Ann Willis, Dorcas Willis, and Seaborn Willis. His daughter Ann Willis married William Scott in Maury County, Tennessee. His son Seaborn Willis, who was born about 1809 in North Carolina and died before January 1860 in Maury County, married Elizabeth Southall, daughter of John and Judie Flippen Southall of Williamson County, Tennessee. Seaborn's son, William M. Willis (born about 1833, Maury County) states his father was a son of Major Willis (ref: Moore questionnaire of Wm. M. Willis in state archives, Century Review of Maury County, page 235). Seaborn's other children are Henry, Lola L., Richard T., John, Fanny, Eliza and Susan. (150854)

William Willis of Pittsylvania County, Virginia was born in Pittsylvania County and died in Henry County, Kentucky. A branch of the family moved to Missouri about the time it reached statehood, where a Willis cemetery is located in the town of New Hartford, Pike County. A son of William was Joel W. Willis. A son of Joel was John W. Willis. (177338)

The Southern Group - Subgroup E

Daniel Campbell Willis was born 29 Jul 1807 in VA, near Wash. D.C. according to family information. His father is believed to be Robert. He had a brother, Robert, and two sisters, Elizabeth (Betsey) and Catherine. In 1814, the family moved to southern KY near the TN border, according to family information. Daniel moved to Greene Co, IL ca 1826, where he m. 1) Elizabeth Green 2 Feb 1832. He m. 2) Frances Fears, b. 25 Dec 1813, Grainger Co.TN, on 17 Nov 1834 in Greene Co, IL. Their children were Robert, William, Susan, James (all b. Greene Co, IL), Catherine, John, Samuel, Frances, Sarah (all b. Des Moines Co, IA), Luther, and Alfred (both b. Adair Co, MO). Frances (Fears) Willis d. 22 Jul 1863, Adair Co, MO. Daniel m. 3) Frances' sister Martha Ann (Fears) Butler, 11 Jul 1869, also in Greene Co, IL. Daniel was a Methodist. He d. 17 Jul 1882 in Adair Co, MO. (54942)

Robert Willis of Indiana was born about 1784 in Virginia according to the 1850 census, Randolph County, Indiana. According to family tradition Robert's family was from North Carolina. Robert married first Mary Blair, widow of Eli McVay, on May 17,1806 and second Mary Mumpower on February 14, 1816, both marriages in Grainger County, Tennessee. Robert died in Randolph County, Indiana, in 1857. Robert's sons were Eli (b. January 24, 1815), Benjamin A. (b.1817), William Henry (b. January 31, 1828), and Thomas S. (b. May 9, 1829) and his daughters are believed to be Louisa J., Frances M., and Sarah. Robert's sons, except for Benjamin, moved to Van Buren County, Michigan, in 1864 or shortly after. (99549)

The Southern Group - Subgroup F

Stephen Willis of Virginia was born in 1703 probably in New Kent County, Virginia. He married Susan Dabney, daughter of George Dabney of King William County. They had a son, Stephen Willis, born in 1725, who lived in Hanover County, Virginia. He is the ancestor of three members of our project. He married first Elizabeth Dabney, widow of John Crutchfield. Their son George Willis, who was born 1754 in Hanover County and died 1827 in Wilkes County, Georgia, is the ancestor of our project members 250529 and 250704. Stephen Willis of Hanover County married second Susannah Terrell, widow of Edward Garland. One of their sons, Stephen Dabney Willis, who was born 1760 in Hanover County, is the ancestor of our project member 489049.  (250529, 250704, 489049)

The Southern Group - Subgroup G

Louden Willis was born in February 14, 1786, in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. He may possibly be closely related to the William Willis who died in Mecklenburg County about 1792. Louden moved with his mother to Georgia. On May 27, 1815, he married first Priscilla Thompson in Greene County, Georgia. On September 30, 1819, in Greene County, Louden married second Susan D. Terrell. He died February 19, 1856, in Greene County. (248674, 270059)

The Southern Group - Subgroup H

Daniel Hicks Willis was born in 1775 in Virginia and died in 1859 in Monroe County, Georgia. He is the ancestor of two members of our project. He married Rachel Irvin on October 26,1813, in Jasper County, Georgia, daughter of Joseph Irvin and Jean. Their children were Jesse Wright Willis (born 1821, Georgia), Robert J. Willis (b. May28, 1819), Susan O. Willis (b. 1817), Martha M. Willis (b. Oct. 22, 1823), and John Daniel Willis (b. Dec. 31, 1824). John Daniel’s son Robert Asbury Willis is the ancestor of our project member 431037. (294259 and 431037)

The Southern Group - Subgroup I

John S. Willis was born in Virginia in 1770. A son, Joseph S. Willis Jr., said to be born in Lee County, Virginia, was born in 1810 and died in 1854. Joseph S. Willis Jr.'s son David C. Willis was born in 1833, died in 1905, and is buried in Virginia. (938212)

Joseph Willis of Patrick County, Virginia was born in 1772. He married Sally Nowlin on June 4, 1794. Their children were Elizabeth, Greenville (ancestor of three of our project members), Sarah, Delia, Charlotte, Ruth, John, Patsy, and James. Greenville's line stayed primarily in the Patrick/Floyd County area. According to family oral tradition, some of Joseph's and Greenville's sons moved to Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio. Greenville’s son Greenville Jr. is the father of Andrew, ancestor of one of the members of our project (819549). (51081, 445133, 819549)

The Southern Group - Ungrouped

Edward Willis was born in Virginia between 1808 and 1810. He was a blacksmith. He married Sarah Twitty, who was born in South Carolina. They were living in Tennessee in 1840, and in Tippah County, Tishomingo County, and Prentiss County, Mississippi between 1850 and 1880. Their youngest child was Robert Rowan Willis, who married Rebecca Ann McClung and had a child Edward Eddington Willis, born in Arkansas. (293884)

Henry S. Willis of Scott County, Kentucky was born October 19, 1810 either in Virginia or in Kentucky. On April 7, 1836 he married Jane Parker Robinson. His son Richard Perry Willis was born January 16,1837, married Keturah Ann Yates in Alabama on January 16, 1860, and had twelve children. Henry's other known children were Mary, Catharine, Henry, Jane, William, Robert, James E., and Nannie. (136256)

Peter Willis of Rutherford County, North Carolina and Coffee County, Tennessee was born ca. 1765 and first appears in the 1790 census of Rutherford Co. NC.  Peter married Frances, daughter of Jesse Tate of Rutherford Co.  In 1816 Peter sold 650 acres on the Broad River and moved to Tennessee with his sons Joseph, Anderson F[owler] (?], David, William Bryson and George, and his sons-in-law Saul Camp (wife Mary) and Jesse Reynolds (wife Frances). Daughter Lucinda married John Russey in 1819. Peter and his family all settled near Hillsboro in Franklin County, which became Coffee Co. TN in 1836. He died in 1839 leaving a deed of gift which names his children. (30700)

Stephen Wylie Willis was born in 1807 in Virginia. He married Susan Harmon in South Carolina in 1830. He died in South Carolina in 1874.  (254784)

William Henry Willis was born about 1818, possibly in Ohio. In 1835 he moved to Waddams Grove, Stephenson County, Illinois. In August 31, 1841 he married Olive Adiline Hartson in Freeport, Illinois. He died September 27, 1848 in Waddams Grove. (B42785, 737822)

The Tennessee Group

Daniel Solomon Willis was born in 1776 in North Carolina and died in 1868 in Clinton, Dewitt County, Illinois. One of his sons was David G. Willis, ancestor of two members of our project. David was born in 1799 in North Carolina or Tennessee and died in 1868 in Clinton. One of the sons of David G. Willis was David Lowery Willis, born Dec 24, 1829 in Edgar County, Illinois, who married Caroline Bruner. (37263,  643468)

James Willis of Tennessee was born in the 1790's in North Carolina. He later moved to Tennessee. (9461)

James Monroe Willis of Georgia was born September 29, 1858. On December 5, 1882, in Meriwether County, he married Alice Cordelia Clark. Their children were Ola, Grover Cleveland, Effie Lou, and Henry Grady. He died August 9, 1896 in Rex, Clayton County, Georgia. (403999)

James Washington Willis was born in North Carolina about 1800 and married there Mary Rebecca (last name possibly Carpenter). Their eldest son Daniel was born in North Carolina in 1820. Daughters Lucretia, Avis, and Lucina were born 1822-1826 in Tennessee. Sons John and Moses and daughter Mary (Polly) were born 1828-1832 in Alabama. Rebecca, Sarah, Nancy Jane, and William were born 1835-1842 in Tennessee. James and his wife are buried at the Antioch Freewill Baptist Church (Possum Trot) Cemetery near Burnsville, Tishomingo Co., Mississippi, where they moved about 1840. Their son Daniel is reputed to have been in the "Old Army" (U.S. Army prior to the Civil War) and to have been stationed "out West." Daniel married Elizabeth Freeze and had seven children: Lucretia, Lucina, Lucy C., Rebecca C., Sarah A.M., James Reynolds, and William M. James Reynolds Willis was born and raised in Mississippi, married Laura Zetty Burcham, and about 1903 followed his in-laws to Upshur Co., Texas. His children were:  William Clifton, Priscilla, Timothy Asbury, Agbert Amacie (Bert), Thomas Earl, Vinnie E., Tessie Lee, Avis Dee, and Damond Clark Willis. William Clifton Willis, born in Booneville, Mississippi, married Mary Ollie Pepper, and had Julian Rex, Dalton Garth, Eugene Dale, Gordon Bert, William Cecil (Billy), Shirley Marie, Laura Marilynn (Toley), and Janey Cliftine Willis. (182643)

William Willis of Grainger County, Tennessee and Harrison County, Missouri was born July 22, 1813 in Grainger County, Tennessee. He married Mary Ann "Polly" Seymour in Buchanan County, Missouri, on October 6, 1844. They had ten children, all born in Harrison County. William died September 14, 1871 in Harrison County.  (61051)

The Williston/Willis Group

John Williston was born about 1705 in Massachusetts and moved to Carteret County, North Carolina about 1723. Williston research has shown that John Williston of Carteret appears to be the grandson of John Williston and Abigail Salisbury of Milton, Massachusetts. He died about 1775 in Williston, Carteret County. He married Mary (last name possibly Martin). His children were Thomas Martin, Ann, Mary, Samuel, Ebenezer, Sarah, Esther, Tamer, Abigail, Daniel, Sabra, and John. By 1810, many of his patrilineal descendants had shortened their last name to Willis. (79985, 165036, 268264)

Josiah Q. Williston, grandson of John and Abigail, was born about 1793 in Massachusetts. He was a tailor. He married Elizabeth Farnham, who was born about 1804 in New Hampshire. Josiah lived in Rockingham, Windham County, Vermont. His children were Helen Marie, Lucy A., Harriet E., Mary C., Josiah F., Christopher Lincoln, and Angeline. (268264)

The Wiltshire Group

John Willis of Kent County, Maryland died in 1699. He married Dorothy Jones. His children were Mary, John, and Richard. Richard was born in 1697 and died in 1748. He married Elenor Crowley. His children were John, Richard Jr., Cornelius, William, Mary, Agnes, and Ellin. Richard's son Richard Jr., who is an ancestor of one of our members (568741), died in 1789. One of Richard Jr.'s sons was Joel Willis (born in 1765), who is an ancestor of another one of our members. (312741, 568741)

Robert Willis/Willes of Wiltshire, England (son of Robert) was born in 1702 in the village of Rowde, Wiltshire. He died in 1761 in Southampton, Hampshire, England. A descendant Robert Willis (or Willes) of Hampshire was born in Hampshire in 1764 and died in London in 1806. (276165)

The Kent County, Maryland Group

Thomas N. Willis was born in 1810 in Maryland and died in 1852 in Kent County. (46774)

Cavassa Mason Willis was born in 1846 in Kent County, Maryland, and died in 1929 in Kent County. According to his death certificate, his father's first name was Thomas. A descendant of his son Arnold Wellington Willis is a member of this Project. (295195)

Not Matched (Willis)

Abner Willis of Pennsylvania was born about 1754 in Cumberland/York/Lancaster counties and died in 1804. He was a blacksmith and a member of the Silver Spring Presbyterian Church. (10917)       

Amiel Willis of Greenbrier County, (West) Virginia was born about 1772 in North Carolina, according to a census record of his daughter Peggy. A grandson thought he was born in Scotland. Amiel married Polly Hix in Greenbrier County on February 19, 1799. They had many children. (197455)

Daniel Willis was born 1805-20 in Stafford, England. He married first a Gaelic-speaking woman of Scottish descent whose first name may have been Seana/Savannah. After she died, Daniel, with his son Thomas, who was born in 1843 in England, emigrated to Louisiana between 1851-1855. Daniel built steam-powered rice mills in Bohemia/Grand Prairie/Ronquillo, and Plaquemine Parish. Thomas took over Daniel's rice mill, became a rice producer, and also ran a hotel in New Orleans. (419069)

Eugene Willis of Mt. Vernon, Knox County, Ohio, was born in 1847 and died in 1933. His parents are believed to be Seth and Mary Willis of Liberty Township, Knox County. (228106)

Evan Etter Willis of York County, Pennsylvania, moved to Texas Township, DeWitt County, Illinois in 1870. His sons were Harry (died young), John, and William. (244418)

Fair Milton Willis was born in 1821 in South Carolina. He spent most of his life in Laurens County. He married Laurissa Adams (her other name was Eloise) on Christmas Day, 1842. He was a farmer and a member of Dials Methodist Church near Gray Court SC. He had several sons and daughters. Our project member is descended from Fair's son James Perry Willis, grandson Fair Milton Willis, and great grandson George Kenneth Willis. (250198)

Henry Willis of Herefordshire was born in 1805 in Colwall, Herefordshire, England. He is believed to be the son of Thomas and Mary. He married Susanna Taylor. Known sons were Joseph Willis, born in Colwall in 1844, and Henry Willis, born in 1845. (493437)

Jack Willis was born in Ketchum, Idaho, about 1901. He was a mining engineer. (113004)

James Willis of Sunderland, England (middle name probably Wattson) was born in 1844 in Sunderland (historically part of County Durham), on the northeast coast of England. He came to America and in 1861, during the Civil War, enlisted in the 198th Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was captured in September 1864 and imprisoned in Andersonville prison. After the War, he returned to England, and in 1868, in Stepney (now part of London), he married Charlotte Emily Snowden, who was born in London. She gave birth to their son Albert Edward Willis in 1877. Albert emigrated to Calgary, Canada. (272878)

James Willis of Wedmore, Somerset, England was born in 1741 in Wedmore, married Lynda Wade on April 11, 1762, in Wedmore, and died in 1812, also in Wedmore. He is descended from John Willis, born in 1670 in Wedmore. James’s son James Willis Jr. was born in 1771 in Wedmore, married Hester Bunn in on April 27, 1796, in Wedmore, and died in 1841 in Anaford, Somerset. James Willis Jr.'s son John Willis was born in 1813 in Wedmore. He married Mary Rogers on May 12, 1835, in Wedmore. Their children were Samuel George, Benjamin, Phoebe, Charles, Mary, and Hester. Their son, Samuel George Willis, was born November 23, 1843, in Wedmore, married Mary Willey, who was born in 1855, and died in 1919 in Devonport, New Zealand. Samuel had a son Albert Willis, who was born in 1884 in New Zealand. Albert married first Ellen Sargent Montague, who was born in 1878, and married second Margaret Mary Thompson, who was born in 1921. Albert came to Ontario, Canada to live and raise his family. He died in 1972. Another son of John Willis (b.1813) and Mary Rogers--Charles Willis--was born February 7, 1841, in Wedmore, married Mary Ann Moses on October 28, 1871, in Emmetsburg, Palo Alto County, Iowa, and died May 9, 1919, in Ruthven, Iowa. (275376)

James H. Willis of Greene County, Tennessee and Grundy County, Missouri married Hila Martha Johnson on September 13, 1847 in Greene County. They moved to Grundy County, Missouri in 1851. (47200)

John Willis of Ireland was born in 1828 in Ireland (possibly Mallow, County Cork). His parents may have been James Willis and Catherine Deluhery. He emigrated to Canada about 1850. He married Harriette, who was born about 1814 in Canada. About 1857 he emigrated to the U.S. and lived in Waddington, New York.  His children, all born in Canada, were John (born about 1852), William (born about 1854), and Jane Anne (born about 1855). He died in December 1863 in Andersonville Civil War Prison, Macon. Georgia. (B2816)

John C. Willis was born August 28, 1834 in Ireland (probably in County Down). He married Margaret Caldwell, who was born May 21, 1830 in Drumballyroney, Drumarkin Township, Barony of Dromore, County Down, Ireland. He immigrated to San Francisco in 1851. He was a Methodist. A son Robert John Willis was born June 11,1862 in San Francisco, California, and a son James was born May 30, 1867. (69640)

John H. Willis, possibly a son of Isaac Willis (son of Robert B. Willis) was born probably in Maryland. He married Rachel Weekly in Belmont, Ohio, on September 20, 1855. A Civil War veteran, he probably enlisted October 21, 1862, Suffolk, Virginia, and reenlisted February 1, 1864 at Portsmouth, Virginia. He deserted the 4thArtillery, Company D, on May 26, 1865, at the War's end. He had a son Henry Lincoln Willis, who is believed to have been born in Ohio in 1864. (181410)

John Henry Willis was born on June 23, 1851, in Wilmington, Delaware. He died on March 14, 1931, in Middleburg, Pennsylvania. His father was possibly John Willis. (232991)

Mathew Willis of Yorkshire, England was born in 1799 in Carperby Cum Thoresby, Yorkshire, England.  He came to the United States and is buried in a family farm cemetery near Mineral Point and Linden, Wisconsin. His son was Anthony. His father is believed to be John Willis and John's father is believed to be Thomas Willis. (78106)

Richard Willis of Derbyshire, England was baptized on October 26, 1765 in Whitwell, Derbyshire, England, married Sarah Varah on May 24, 1790 in the parish of Braithwell, in south Yorkshire, England, lived in Bramley/Wickersley in Braithwell, and died on October 23,1814. They had at least four children (Joseph, Mary, Sarah, and William). His brother, Joseph, married Mary Varah (sister of Sarah). Richard's father was probably Joseph Willis, born 1732, who married Elizabeth Starkey, lived in Whitwell, and fathered at least seven children. At one time the Willis family in Wickersley appear to have been quarry owners providing grind stones to the steel industry in Sheffield. (127927)

Roger Willis of Sudbury, Massachusetts married Ruth Hill in Dorchester, Massachusetts, in 1664. (32435)

Rush Willis of Hinds County, Mississippi, son of Spencer, was born about 1843. He and his father were slaves on a plantation whose owner was named Smith. (225368)

Solomon Willis was a slave born in 1810 in North Carolina, possibly in New Hanover County. His children included Joshua, Solomon Jr., Fred, Wesley, Julia, Jesse, and Martha. Solomon Willis Jr. married Clara Cutler, and lived in Houston County, Georgia. Solomon Sr's son Fred Willis lived in Houston County in 1870, then moved to Eastman, Arkansas. Solomon Sr's son Wesley Willis lived in Eastman, Arkansas.  (B4183)

Thomas Willis of Maryland, a Quaker, married Sinai Ricketts on July 10, 1767. His son William Williss of Caroline County, Maryland married Henrietta Chance, also of Caroline County, in a Quaker marriage on August 9, 1792. (13266)

Thomas Willis of Hampshire, England was born about 1775. In 1818 he was living in Hartlerow, Hampshire, England.  His son, William, emigrated to Canada with his wife, Elizabeth Snelling, shortly after they were married.  William's son, Benjamin Willis, was born in Nova Scotia, Canada. (102820)

Thomas Willis of Berkshire, England was born in 1781 and died in 1853. He married Hannah Lambell (born in 1789) in Wantage, Berkshire (now Oxfordshire), England. (IN46135) 

Valentine Willis of Tasmania enlisted in World War I in 1914 and was married in January 1916. (IN73294)

William Willis of Cambridgeshire, England was born in 1674 in Linton, Cambridgeshire, and died in Linton in 1716.  He married Sarah (surname unknown), who died 1737. He was the son of a man whose last name was also written Willows and Willowe, first name unknown, whose wife was Hellen, maiden name unknown, who died in 1677 in Linton. One of William's descendants, James Brand Willis, emigrated to Australia in 1852-53. (N12521)

William Willis of Delaware County, Pennsylvania was born roughly 1763. He was a farmer in Concord Township. He died January 2, 1837, in Ashton Township. He is believed to have married twice. The two children of his first wife were Charles Willis of Kingsessing, in southwestern Philadelphia County (husband of Phebe Robinson), and Mary Willis (wife first of a Mr. Pierce, and second of Septimus Flounders). Children of Charles Willis were Joel Willis, Samuel Willis, William Willis, Thomas Morris Willis, and Edward Robinson Willis. William had three daughters by his second wife, including Elizabeth (wife of a Mr. Campbell), Susannah (wife of a Mr. Brown), and Rebecca (wife of a Mr. Pyle). (215146)

William Willis of Laurens County, South Carolina was born August 24, 1805, in Laurens County, and died July 9, 1870, also in Laurens County. He married Sara Thomason, who was born October 26, 1811, in Laurens County, and died January 14, 1897, in Laurens County. (282708)

William Willis of Manchester, England was born about 1781 in Manchester and died January 27, 1843 in Bristol, Somerset, England. George Willis arrived in Philadelphia in 1848. (555745)

William Willis of Missouri was born about 1894. His wife was Jesse Lee, and a son was Daniel. (500393)

William Willis of North Yorkshire, England was born in 1729. He was master mariner. He married Dorothy Doughty in 1752 at Lythe, North Yorkshire, a small village about four miles away from Whitby. He died in 1808 and is buried at Whitby. (223315)

William Willis, father of Thomas Willis of Spartanburg, South Carolina was born in Virginia between 1750 and1760. Between 1790 and 1800, he moved to an area several miles east of Spartanburg, SC, known as Pacolet. Between 1805 and his presumed death in 1829, he began deeding assets to "my beloved son, Thomas," and between 1810 and 1825 to four females he referred to as daughters, and another "son," all with the last name of Shores. William's son Thomas was born in Virginia about 1781. Thomas married Susan/Susannah Thompson, daughter of Robert and Ursula Thompson about 1813/14 in Spartanburg County. They had four sons: (1) William Willis, born about 1815, married Frances Stone. They had one daughter, Elvira Paralee Willis. They moved to Carroll County, TN about 1838, and returned to the Spartanburg area in the late 1850s; (2) Robert Willis, born about 1817, married Sarah Ann Knuckles Stone, sister of Frances Stone. About 1838, he moved to Carroll County, TN. In 1862 he was killed in the Civil War in Jackson, MS. His children moved to MO, IL, and AR; (3) Wiley Willis, born about 1819; married first (first name unknown) Thompson, daughter of David and Milla Thompson, with whom he had two sons, Thomas (b.1840) and Almarine (A.W., b.1841). He married second Malinda Thompson, a younger sister of his first wife, with whom he had six children. In the early 1870s, he moved to the Greenville/Anderson, SC area; and (4) Israel Willis, born about 1822; married Permilia Thompson, daughter of David and Milla Thompson. Their children were Elbridge Gary Willis, Corden Winfield Willis, Curonomous Almarine Willis, Alice Willis, Nancy Ann Willis, Pantha Letitia Willis, and Fletcher E. Willis. Israel died December 1863 in Orange Courthouse, VA in the Civil War. His children continued to live in the greater Spartanburg area. (146055)

William Willess was born n 1787 in New York and died in 1850. (298185)

William W. Willis of New England was born about 1812 in New Hampshire. Research indicates that at the time of the Revolution his immediate paternal ancestors lived in Duxbury, MA. His Willis line in America originates in the early 1600s, when five brothers, first John, then Francis, Lawrence, Jonathan, and Nathaniel, settled in Bridgewater, MA, Plymouth colony. On November 7, 1839, William W. Willis, who was living in Winchester, New Hampshire, married Jane Gale, who was born in Massachusetts. In 1850 William was living in Massachusetts. William was an inventor and maker of agricultural tools, which required him to travel to New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and other states.  William's son, George W. Willis, was born about 1844 in Massachusetts and married Emma Striffler, from French parents who had immigrated to New York. During the Civil War, George signed up in Tompkins County, NY, August 16, 1862, fought with the 137th New York Infantry and was wounded at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863. After the War, George settled in Atchison County, Kansas. He died of heart failure on March 11, 1874, and is buried in Pardee, Kansas. George's son, Clayton Willis, was raised by his grandfather, William. (99264)

 

♂  ♂  ♂ ♂ ♂  ♂

 

 “I saw behind me those who had gone, and before me, those who are to come.  I looked back and saw my father, and his father, and all our fathers, and in front, to see my son, and his son, and the sons upon sons beyond. 

“And their eyes were my eyes. 

"As I felt, so they had felt, and were to feel, as then, so now, as tomorrow and forever. Then I was not afraid, for I was in a long line that had no beginning, and no end, and the hand of his father grasped my father's hand, and his hand was in mine, and my unborn son took my right hand, and all, up and down the line that stretched from Time That Was, to Time That Is, and is not yet, raised their hands to show the link, and we found that we were one, born of Woman, Son of Man, had in the Image, fashioned in the Womb by the Will of God, the Eternal Father.

“I was of them, they were of me, and in me, and I in all of them.”

From How Green Was My Valley, by Richard Llewellyn