Abraham Willis

From the History of Paterson City and Passaic County, NJ., 1901

Abraham, b. Sept. 7, 1762, m. Catrina Post (probably daughter of Peter-Adrian Post and Grietje Westervelt), d. Dec. 3, 1810

He was a well-educated man, particularly in civil engineering, and was employed very generally in laying out farms, in cases of partition and the like. He was engaged by the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures in running the lines of its extensive purchases of lands when the town of Paterson was laid out in 1792, and continued in the Society's service until his death. He frequently drew deeds and wills, and the confidence reposed in him by those who knew him is attested by his frequent appointment as executor of estates. He lived in a small story-and-a-half frame house on the north side of Willis Street (which was named after him), next west of the Willis Street Baptist Church.

His tombstone says: "The world is vain/and full of pain/and grief and trouble sore/ but thay are blestst/who are at rest/with Christ forevermore."

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