Willis Family 1760
The following is a copy of a typed document contained on Latter Day Saints microfilm reel number 0000302. The copy is exactly as the same as it was written, including spellling, underlining, asterisks, capitalization, and other punctuations. The document starts with the words "Copy of the genealogy of the Willis family..."The Document
Copy of the genealogy of the Willis family, written by Samuel Willis of Jerico in the year 1760 and taken from a transcript in the possession of Thomas Willis of Jerico.My great grandfather's name was Henry Willis and lived as suppose in Wiltshire England, had several children viz: Sarah Willis, born Sept. 10th 1626. Henry, (my grandfather) born Sept. 14th 1628, Alice, born October 13th 1630, Catharine, born January 1st 1632, Elizabeth, born Oct 30th 1636, Margery, born Oct 1638.
Henry Willis
My grandfather, born as above said, lived in Wiltshire in a town called the Devises and married one Mary Peace (born June 12th 1632}. They had several children viz: Mary, Elizabeth, William and then moved up to London about the year 1667, the year after the fire and had several children born in London, it being not long after the rise of the people called Quakers.) where he suffered many abuses from the rude rabble on account of his religion. After residing in London seven or eight years, he removed over to this country in the province of New York, with his family, all except his eldest daughter, whom he left in England. On arriving in America, he went to Oyster Bay and settled there and after living a year or two in that town he purchased a lot of ground of Captain John Seaman, lying in the township of Hempstead, L I where my grandfather settled with his family, having named the place Westbury. I suppose in remembrance of a town of the same name in Wiltshire, perhaps the village from which he came.My grandfather had several children, viz: Mary, Elizabeth, William, Henry, John, Sarah, Rachel and Esther. Some years after my grandfather came to this country, his eldest daughter whom he left in England, came to this country to him, and was subsequently married to George Masters, who with his wife settled in New York. They had two daughters, viz: Mary and Philadelphia. Mary married one William Hoge or Hage, and moved to Antizua, thence to North Carolina. They had several children viz: Mary and Sarah. Mary had several husbands, her present husband is Caleb Ellet or Ellot living in North Carolina by whom she has several children. Sarah her sister has, I believe, a husband and several children, and I am informed they live in North Carolina. Philadelphia Masters married a Jeremiah Williams, and had a daughter named Hannah and another child that died in infancy. Her daughter Hannah Williams married Benjamin Doughty and has several children viz: Philadelphia, Charles, Benjamin, Hannah, Elizabeth and William.
I now purpose to trace the stock of my father's sister Elizabeth, who married one Robert Lane a widower, who lived in West Jersey, not far from Philadelphia city and by whom she had several children viz Esther, Rachel and Robert. After the death of her husband, she married one William Reakstraw, and had one daughter whose name I do not remember. Her daughter Esther married one John Delaplane of New York; they lived together many years, and had several children, but two only arrieved at man's estate viz: Joshua and Joseph. Joshua married a young woman from Burlington, named Mary Bustill, and had several children. Joshua married a daughter of Abraham Farrington at Mount Holly near Burlington and had one daughter.
Rachel Lane came to Long Island and married one Samuel Pine, they lived several years together, and then Samuel died. She married a second husband named Johathan Peasley, an Englishman, and has one daughter named Elizabeth.
The daughter that my Aunt Elizabeth had by William Reakstraw, married a James Whiteall, and had several children one of whom James lives in Philadelphia. After the death of her husband, she married one Joseph Heritage, Jr. but whether she had any children by him or not, I cannot tell.
The next was my father William Willis who was born Oct 16th 1663 in Wiltshire England. He lived at Westbury and about the year 1687, married mary daughter of Edmund Tutus at the house of her father, according to the practice of Friends, as apperas by their certificate subscribed by many witnesses.My father had several children viz: William born April 14th 1688, Henry born July 19th 1690, John born Feb 15th 1693, Jacob forn Sept. 6th 1695, Silas born June 27th 1700 (died young)Samuel born June 30th 1704, Mary born May 23rd 1707 (died young).
My eldest brother William in the year 1712, was married to hannah daughter of Thomas Powell and had several children viz: Mary, born April 11th 1713, Hannah, born Dec 27th 1714, Elizabeth, born August 8th 1716, Rachel, born July 5th 1718 (died young) Jacob born may 6th 1720, Samuel, born Dec 27th 1724, Mordecai, born Oct 14th 1725, Silas, born July 5th 1727 (died in 1750), Marthat, born July 29th 1729, William, born Dec 5th 1732; Joseph, born May 15th 1734.Mary Willis married William Beedle; has three children viz: Mordecai, Rachel and Jehiel. Hannah Willis married Micah Sprag sometime in 1742; they have two sons Richard and Samuel.Elizabeth Willis married Richard Post, being his second wife and has several children, viz: Stephen, Katy and several more. Jacob Willis married Elizabeth Dusenborow widow of Jervis, and daughter of James Denton, they have children viz: Amy, Phebe, Mary, Jane and Abigail. Samuel Willis married mary daughter of joseph Wright of Westbury. They are living and have no children.Mordecai Willis married Mary daughter of Joseph Clement of Westbury. They have several children viz: Silas, Oliver, Sarah, Daniel, Betsy, patty and Jane. Martha Willis unmarried. William Willis married Sarah daughter of the aforesaid Joseph Clement. Joseph Willis not married.Henry Willis was married on the same day as hos borther to Phebe daughter of Thomas Powell, Senr deceased. He has several children viz: Mary, born Feb 22nd 1713, Silas, born 4th of _______ 1715, Phebe, born Jan. 1st 1718, Henry died Oct 12th 1744.Mary Willis, daughter of the aforesaid Henry Willis married Richard Post in 1732, and had several children viz: Henry, Richard, Mary, Jotham, and James. Her youngest son James died young. Henry Post married mary daughter of Edmund Titus, and had one child named Edmund (1801). They have since had several more viz: Samuel, Daniel (Lydia who died young)Henry, Isaac, Sarah and James. Richard Post married Hannah Beedle of Hempstead, removed to Nine Partners, and has several children. (1801) Mary Post has since married Gilbert Seaman, and has several children).* (1801 Jotham Post also married a daughter of Benjamin Wright and has several children now living in New York.)* Silas Willis married Ann Daughter of Henry Pearsall deceased in Jan. 1740/41 and had several children viz: Phebe, and one who died young, Jordan and Phebe unmarried. Silas died April 17th 1745, Jordan has since married one Mary Townsend, a young woman living in West Jersey, they have two children, Hannah and Silas. (1801. Phebe has since married one Solomon Whitson, they have several children with whom they have removed to South Carolina).* *(Phebe willis, daugter of henry aforesaid married Benjamin downing both now living. (1801. Phebe is since deceased, and her son Silas has married Phebe, daughter of Isaac Rushmore of Cedar Swamp, and has three children, Isaac, Stephen and Sarah now living. Notes by Thomas Willis) John Willis married, Abigail, daughter of Richard Willets formerly of Jericho. They have several children and both are now living at Westbury. Their children were born as follows: Phebe, born Jan. 24th 1714, Richard, born Oct, 30th 1716, Elizabeth, born Jan. 4th 1718, William, born March 23 1720, John, born April 5th 1726, Stephen, born August 13 1736. John and Abigail died within ten days of each other in 1777.Phebe Willis daughter of john and Abigail Willis married john Post and has several children.Richard Willis married Elizabeth daughter of James Pine, and has one son named James.(Elizabeth married johathan Seaman of Jericho, and had three children. (1801. Only one survives Jemima by name, married to Elias Hicks and has several children. Notes by Thomas Willis)William married Mary daughter of Rumorne Townsend of Cedar Swamp, they have one son named Townsend and several daughters.John married Margaret daughter of Caleb Cornwall and has several children, viz: William, Joshua, Elizabeth, John, Charles, Cornwall and Mary.Stephen married Sarah, daughter of Jonathan Smith, they have two sons, Peter and Richard.Jacob Willis died in 1750, unmarried. Samuel Willis (the writer) married mary, daughter of John Fry, both are living and have ten children, viz: Mary, born July 3rd 1731, John, born Feb 8th 1734, Sarah, born July 14th 1747, Henry, born Sept. 13th 1749, Edmund, born Sept. 29th 1752 N.S.Phebe, born May 28th 1756.Mary married Thomas Jackson of Jerusalem and had a daughter named Mary. He died in 1750. She then married Thomas Jackson of Jericho and has two children.John married Elizabeth daughter of Adam and Phebe Mott, and had three children.Sarah married Adam son of the aforesaid Adam and Phebe Mott and had three children.Henry Willis was the next to my father. he was born in Wiltshire and was about a year old when my grandfather moved to London which I am informed was the next year after the fire in london, commonly called the great fire, which occurred in the year 1666, and after residing there several years he died.John Willis next in order of time, was by the best account I have, born in London Jan. 6th 1668 and came over with his family and wwent to Pennsylvania, Chester Co, and married the daughter of _________ Brinton. My uncle and jis wife lived to be as I suppose eighty years of age.Sarah Willis, my father's sister, was born in London, May 5th 1671, came to this country with her father very young and was educated at Westbury. She was there married to my mother's brother, John Titus and afterward settled in the north part of Westbury, where they lived many years together and had several children viz: Mary, John, Philadelphia, Jacob, William, Sarah and Phebe.Mary, married Henry, son of Thomas Pearsall of Herricks and had several children, viz: Phebe, Ann, Thomas, Rowland and John.Phebe, married one Richard Osborne of Little Egg Harbor and had several children.Rachel Willis, my father's sister married Nathaniel Seaman, and had several children, viz: Rachel, Nathaniel, Esther, Jacob, Abraham, Hezekiah, Thomas and Samuel.William, son of John and Margaret Willis was born 1748, died Jan 19th 1838. He married Jane Robbins, who was born in 1748, and died in 1816. They had several children, viz: John Robbins, born Dec 5th 1779 died Dec 7th 1844, Benjamin, born March 27th 1782, died March 27th 1783, Walter, born april 24th 1784, died June 20th 1820, Mary, born April 9th 1786, died Feb. 17th1871, Sarah Robbins, born June 18th 1788, died Dec 3rd 1871, Eliza, born Feb. 17th 1791, died Feb 5th 1763, Cornwall, born Feb. 15th 1793, died Sept. 12th 1793, Richardson Cornwall, born Jan. 28th1795, ddied in 1838, Margaret, born May 31st 1798, died July 7th 1802.John, married Martha Willets.Walter, married Eliza Van Buskirk, they had several children, viz: Bailey, Caroline, Emily, Mary and Jane. Bailey died in childhood, Caroline, married Henry Powell of England and died leaving several children. Emily, married Walter M. Haydock of New York, died leaving a son and daughter; Mary, married Silas, son of Samuel Mott of Manhasset, L.I. has I believe, a son and daughter; Jane, married George I. Goff and died in 1846, leaving two or three sons.Mary, on the 16th of Dec. 1802 married Elijah Cornell, who was born on Long Island, they had several children, viz: Ann, Samuel Mott, William Willis, Eliza Ann, Sidney, Walter and Mary Jane ________ Ann died in infancy; Samuel, in Nov.1831 married Emeline J. daughter of James Howland, 2nd of New Bedford, Mass., who died in 1854 leaving two daughters, Mary Elizabeth who married Henry Hopkins of New York and Sarah Lavender who died in 1837. In Jan. 1859, Samuel married his second wife, Jane, daughter of Laban Gardner of Troy, N.Y.William, who died in Oct. 1859, married Elizabeth Tait of Arkansas, who died leaving one son. His second wife was Sarah Drake of Plainfield, N.J., who had six children, five now living ________Eliza Ann, in May 1839 married William Binns of England, who died in 1870, they had no children ________ Sidney, married in 1838, Sarah Ann daughter of Foster Nostrand of New York. They had several children,viz: Emma, who died in infancy, Thomas Lavender, who married Elizabeth E. daughter of Edward N. Shelton of Birmingham, Conn. and has one son, E. Shelton C., Samuel Mott, who married Rebecca, daughter of T.S. Gold of W. Cornwall Conn. and has one child, Anna, who died in 1852 and Sidney, who died in 1875.Eliza, in Sept. 12th 1811 married John Fitz Randolph of New Jersey they had several children, viz: William, James, Edmund, John and Caroline. William, married and died in leaving a son and daughter. James, married Mary, daughter of Abram Brooke of Manhasset, L.I., and died in Feb. 1845 without children, Edmund, died in July 1834 unmarried, John, married Matilda Reynolds of New York, who died leaving a daughter and son. He married again, and has several daughters by the second wife: Caroline, married Josiah L_______ son of Isaac Harvey of Philadelphia and has eight children.Richardson, married Adaline, daughter of James Bogart of New York, and died without children.Joshua, son of John and Margaret Willis, married and had three children, viz: Zipporah, William and Cornwall.Elizabeth, daughter of John and Margaret Willis, married Hewlett Cornwall of Manhasset, L.I., and had several children, viz: John, Charles, Walter, Martha and Margaret _______ John, married Miriam Treadwell of Manhasset, L.I., Charles, died unmarried. ________ Walter, married and had two children Martha, married Richardson Cornwall of Manhasset, L.I., and had a daughter Elizabeth, who married ________ Smith, of ________ L.I., _________ Margaret, married Whitehead Mitchel of Manhasset, L.I., and had two children, Elizabeth, who died unmarried, ________ and Charles, who married a daughter of Jacob Covet.John, son of John and Margaret Willis, married Sarah, daughter of Samuel Jones of Oyster Bay, L.I., and had several children, viz: Samuel Jones, William, John Phebe and Margaret ________ Samuel married _________ and had four children, viz: Virginia, Mary, John and William. ________ William, died ______ unmarried, ________ John, married Phebe, daughter of Hewlett Cornwall, and had several children ________ Phebe died unmarried. ________ Margaret, married __________ Townsend, of ________ L.I.Charles, son of John and Margaret Willis married Hannah ________ and had two children, Charles and Hannah.Cornwall, son of John and Margaret Willis, married Elizabeth Hicks, of Manhasset, L.I., and had two children, Benjamin who married Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Mott, and had two sons, Samuel and Epenetus; and Hannah, who married Leonard, son of Samuel Mott, and had several children.Mary, daughter of John and Margaret Willis,; married Benjamin Cornwall of Brooklyn, L.I., and had several children, viz: Matilda, Mary, Grace, John and James. _________ Matilda married Lieut. Ellery of Newport, R.I., had one son and married twice afterward ________ Mary, married George Fletcher, and died leaving one son.END OF DOCUMENT
COMMENTS ON THE ABOVE DOCUMENT
(BODY)Comments are by Dave Willis, and are not part of the above document) 1. This is a very important document for the genealogy of our Willis family. This document links the immigrant Henry Willis of Long Island with his ancestry in Wiltshire, and with son John Willis of Chester County, who is the grandfather of Henry Willis of Monroe County. 2. This document was written by three different people. The following is from a letter written by George I Willis, 1885 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, Conn. 16117 to Mr William P Hunt dated march 19, 1983. "The document written by Samuel Willis was in the possession of Thomas Willis of jericho, NY in 1836. Most of the information was included in a family Bible. "Concerning the Willis Family Bible on which Samuel Willis and Hinshaw base their Willis data, I know that Richard Willis (1770-1826) gave this to his eldest son, James (1807-1866) of Fordham, NY, but I have not been able to locate the original or copy through this descendeants. James' daughter, Sarah Carpenter (Willis) Cape in an undated (ca. 1910) letter mentions she was aware of it and thought it was in the Lenox Library (?) NY. The NYG&B could provide no information."The Lenox library merged into the New York Public Library around the year 1900. 3. Note the document's reference to Henry's son, John Willis, who moved to Chester County, PA.: "John Willis next in order of time, was by the best account I have, born in London Jan. 6th 1668 and came over with his family and went to Pennsylvania, Chester Co., and married the daughter of ________ Brinton. My uncle and his wife lived to be as I suppose eighty years of age." 4. Samuel Willis' part of the document contains several errors. None of the errors are so signigicant as to cast doubt on the honestyh of his recollection. One error is where Samuel says that Henry's father was named "Henry". This is not true. The St. Denys parish recoords prove without any doubt that Henry's father was named "William", not "Henry". Henry's grandfather, not father, is the one who was named Henry. A second error is where Samuel says that Henry's wife was named Mary Peace. Her last name was Pearce, not Peace. The accuracy of Samuel Willis' recollection, and also the few errors noted, is proven from the birth, marriage and burial records of the St. Denys church (Warminster, Wiltshire, England).