Willis
In 1640 or before, Colonel Francis Willis came to York County, Virginia from England. Noted, but in question—the ubiquitous colonial three brothers motif, are his two brothers, Henry and William. The first of these was the father of a son named Francis and possibly by his cousin Hugh, who is said to have been the son of John Willis of Oxford, England, said to have been the grandson of Francis Willis also of Oxford. Before 1690, a Lewis Willis was living in Virginia, and said to have been the father of Henry Willis who married the Widow Mildred (nee Washington) Brown, by whom he was the father of Lewis, Anne and Francis; this Henry is said to have been the founder of Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1720. The name might better be Said-Willis.
[Source: B.C. and R.H. Willis, A sketch of the Willis Family in Virginia, 1898; Sorley, Lewises of Warner Hall]
Generation No. 1
Francis Willis, scholar St John's College 1557, BA February 16, 1562-3, MA February 16, 1565-6, BD and DD July 17, 1587; president of his college 1577-90, vice-chancellor 1587; vicar of Embley, Northamptonshire 1569-72; rector of Kingston Bagpuze 1581; vicar of Cumnor, Berkshire 1579; canon of Bristol 1576; dean of Worcester 1587; and vicar of Cropthorne, Worcestershire 1589; died October 29, 1596.
[Sources: Joseph Foster's 'Alumni Oxonienses', Oxford University Archives, Bodleian Library (5/2003) ]
Generation No. 2
Francis Willis, presumption based on hearsay "Francis Willis of East Greenwich 'got his Christian name from his father and grandfather'"
Generation No. 3
Francis Willis, presumption based on hearsay "Francis Willis of East Greenwich 'got his Christian name from his father and grandfather'"
-
William Willis, died before 1691, will dated Dorset, November 1679
-
Henry Willis, died before 1689
-
Colonel Francis Willis, born St. Algate's Parish, Oxford, of parish of Ware River, Gloucester, Virginia, will proved East Greenwich England 1691, married Jane, no issue.
-
Grace Willis, married Feilder, son Charles
Generation No. 4
Henry Willis, died before 1689
-
Francis Willis, born circa 1660, inherited Virginia estates of grandfather of East Greenwich
-
William Willis, born circa 1662
-
Susanna Willis, born circa 1664
-
Mary Willis, born circa 1666, married Herren
-
Alice Willis, born circa 1668
Generation No. 5
Francis Willis, born circa 1660, inherited Virginia estates of grandfather of East Greenwich
-
Colonel Henry Willis, founder of Fredericksburg Virginia, widow snatcher
-
Colonel Francis Willis, born 1690 in Ware River, member of House of Burgesses 1748, married Lady Anne Rich, daughter of Edward Rich (1695-1727)
Generation No. 6
Henry Willis, born 1691-2, died September 14, 1740. Founded city of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Married (1) Ann Alexander, widow of John Smith of Purton, eldest son of John Smith of Purton and Mary Warner, married November 2, 1714, six children in nine years, no wonder she died; (2) Mildred Howell, daughter of John Howell, the "widow Brown" October 30, 1726, she died November 1732; (3) Mildred Washington, widow of Roger Gregory, cousin of her predecessor, her third marriage also, married January 5, 1733-4, she died September 5, 1747.
Children from #1 Ann Alexander:
-
Mary Willis, born August 5, 1716, married Hancock Lee 1733
-
Francis Willis, born 1718
-
David Willis, born 1720
-
Henry Willis, born 1722, married stepsister Elizabeth Gregory, no male issue
-
John W. Willis, born 1724, married Elizabeth Madison
-
Robert Willis, born 1725
Children from #2 Mildred Howell:
-
John Willis, born July 16, 1728 and died March 5, 1750, no issue
-
Elizabeth [Mary/Isabel?] Willis, born January 12, 1729
-
Ann Willis, born September 14, 1731 married Duff Green about 1756
Children from #3 Mildred Washington:
-
Colonel Lewis Willis, born November 11, 1734, married Anne Carter and Mary Champe
-
Isabell Willis, born June 10, 1733
-
Ann Willis, born January 30, 1736
Generation No. 7
Elizabeth [Mary/Isabel] Willis, born January 12, 1728/9, died after 1782, married Howell Lewis.
-
Mildred Lewis, was almost certainly the oldest child of her parents as she was married when her father was but thirty-eight years old and (died before her father's will was written August 17, 1812. She married in Granville County, North Carolina, September 6, 1769 John Cobbs (born Goochland County, Va., 1740), son of John and Susannah (Addison) Cobbs of Goochland
-
Mary Howell Lewis, married her first cousin Charles Lewis Kennon. They were married on Apr. 19. 1770 at Oxford, Granville Country, North Carolina, where the record of their marriage is still preserved. The date of her death is not known, but she was already deceased when her father wrote his will in 1812. Children.
-
Elizabeth Lewis (born April 10, 1761), married in Granville Co., North Carolina, Feb 7, 1780, William Ridley of that county.... was already deceased when her father's will was written in 1812. Four children.
-
Howell Lewis (born Goochland Co., Va., Apr. 2, 1759), made his home in Goochland County. He married in that county on May 3, 1780 Betsy Coleman, daughter of Robert Coleman of Goochland; the ceremony was performed by the Rev. William Douglas, and is recorded in the well-known Douglas Register. He was probably the Howell Lewis of Virginia who served in the army as captain of the 3rd Infantry form March 5, 1792 to July 25, 1797. No trace of descendants.
-
Willis Lewis, was a captain in the North Carolina infantry during the Revolution. He later represented Granville County as a state senator in 1816 and 1817, and as a representative to the legislature in 1826. Nothing further is known.
-
Frances Lewis, married Samuel Bugg. Only one child in each succeeding generation has been traced.
-
Jane Lewis
-
Charles Lewis, of whom nothing is known.
-
Isabella Lewis, married a Mr. Jeffries and had two sons and one daughter.
-
Ann Lewis, married a Mr. Morton. Nothing further is known.
go back | page up
© 1993-2008 Helen Glenn Court | All rights reserved
