Ann Willis

From http://www.blankensteingenealogy.net/Willis.htm

Children of UNKNOWN WILLIS are:

1. JOHN WILLIS.
2. DRURY WILLIS.
3. THOMAS WILLIS.
4. SHERWOOD WILLIS.
5. ANN WILLIS, m. WILLIAM HOPWOOD.
6. SARAH WILLIS, m. JOHN ALLGOOD.
7. ELIZABETH WILLIS, m. THOMAS DANIEL.
8. EDWARD WILLIS.
9. STERLING WILLIS.
10. RICHARD WILLIS, SR., b. February 25, 1745/46, Virginia; d. December 25, 1837, Spartanburg, South Carolina.
11. WILLIAM WILLIS d. April 1792 Mecklenburg County, Virginia, m. Mary

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Notes

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/L89Q-M7C

... now so it is may your worships that the said William Willis hath departed this life intestate, without ever making a deed to your orator for said land, leaving a widow named Mary Willis, without any children, also leaving seven brothers, viz Richard Willis, Jno Willis, Edward Willis, Sterling Willis, Drury Willis, Thomas Willis, Sherwood Willis, also two sisters, viz Anne who hath intermarried with a certain William Hopwood, & Sarah intermarried with John Allgood, that another sister of the said William Willis who intermarried with a certain Thomas Daniel is deceased, leaving an infant daughter named Elizabeth Daniel, which said seven brothers & the said two sisters, together with the said infant Eliza Daniel, are by law entitled to the real estate whereof the s. Wm. Willis died seized in fee...

Notes

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Willis-16071

16, August 1756,Land patent granted to Richard Willis(1734-1776) and his brother William Willis in the margin of which Richard is referred to as Richard Willis Jr. also in 1729, prior to Richard Willis birth (1734), major Richard Willis is reported to own land along Buffalo Bed Creek, Amelia County, Virginia. This same land is then deeded to William Lee by Richard Willis and wife Ann in 1750.

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https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Crowder-2740

It has generally been believed that the heirs named in the lawsuit of William Willis were his children. After thoroughly researching the records, I've concluded that William Willis was brother to the defendants, and that Richard Willis, Sr., and Ann, his wife were the parents. I base my conclusion on the following circumstantial evidence:

First: Mary Willis, wife of William Willis is believed to have been the daughter of Benjamin Pulliam. Shortly before William Willis died, Benjamin Pulliam in 1792 made provisions in his will for his daughter, Mary Willis. A clause in the will states that "...if my daughter Mary Willis should have an heir or heirs lawfully begotten..." The implication is that Mary (Pulliam) Willis was a younger woman, who did not have children. If this is the case, then William may also have been younger.

Second: Court records prove that Drury Willis had a brother named William. In about 1790, "Drury Willis and by William Willis his brother and next of friend, plaintiff in a suit of tresspasing and assault and battery against the defendant John Chamberlain. "If William Willis were a sibling to the other Willis heirs, he should have been listed among the heirs. The implication is that he was dead, and that the heirs were his siblings.

In November 13, 1775, Richard Willis Sr. of Mecklenburg Co., Virginia named in his will his wife Ann, of which he bequeathed the land where he lives and all worldly estate. Witnesses: James Brown, John Crowder and Sherod Willis. In June 1777, the will was probated on the oaths of James Brown and Sherod Willis. Anne Willis was executrix; Benjamin Sampson and Sherod Willis were securities.

In January 1787, Ann Willis sold the Mecklenburg Co. land, and is next on the Pittsylvania County, Va tax list in April 1787.Between 1787 and 1802, Ann Willis was listed on the Pittsylvania Co., Virginia tax list. She was listed variously alongside of John, Thomas and Sterling Willis. In 1793, Ann Willis listed on the tax list as a male of 21 years of age, T. Willis. T. Willis is assumed to be Thomas Willis. In 1797, Ann Willis was not on the tax list, but John Willis paid the tax for his mother. The assumption is that Ann Willis was the mother of the Willis heirs. In August of 1795, Mary Willis, adm of estate of William Willis, deceased filed a court action against Anne Willis of Pittsylvania Co., Virginia. In March 1805, Ann Willis, widow and relict of Richard Willis, deceased, John Willis, Thomas Willis and Sterling Willis plaintiffs against John Hopwood in a court case. After the death of Richard Willis, the association of Ann Willis with the heirs of William Willis of Mecklenburg County, Virginia strongly suggests that she was the mother of the heirs, and that she and Richard Willis were the parents of this Willis family.

By: James Dwinell Jan 24, 1998 Shared with me in 1999

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Willis-2468

Last Will and Testament of Richard Willis

The last will and testament of Richard Willis was proved by the oaths of James Brown and Sherod Willis witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of Anne Willis the executrix therein named remained thereto and together with Benjamin Sampson and Sherod Willis for securities entered bond in penalty of one hundred pounds conditioned as the law orders. Certificate is granted for obtaining a probate thereof in due form. page 362

An inventory of the estate of Richard Willis, deceased was returned and is ordered to be recorded. page 365[1][2]

Mecklenburg County, Virginia Court Order Book 8, [1792-1795]

Chancery Suit

Page 178 (9th day of September 1793)

There were two Chancery lawsuits in Halifax and Mecklenburg Counties of Virginia concerning the heirs of William Willis, deceased.

The first lawsuit was filed in Halifax Co on about August 1794 and was Joseph Hughes, paintiff vs Mary Willis, heirs of William Willis, Richard Willis, John Willis, Edward Willis, Sterling Willis, Drury Willis, Thomas Willis, William Hopewood and Ann his wife, John Allgood and Sarah his wife, Elizabeth Daniel an orphan of Thomas Daniel and Elizabeth his wife.

This lawsuit sued the heirs of William Willis for the upkeep of Elizabeth Daniel, orphan of Thomas and Elizabeth Daniel. William and Mary Willis were her guardians. In May 1796, the case was found in favor of Thomas Daniels and the Willis heirs lost a farm in Halifax County.

The second lawsuit was filed in Mecklenburg County, Virginia by the heirs of William Willis against Howell Rose and Mary his wife (former widow of William Willis), administrator of William Willis, deceased in about 1799. The defendants named were Richard Willis, William Hopwode and Nancy his wife, Sherwood Wilis, Thomas Daniel and Elizabeth his wife, John Willis, Sterling Willis, Edward Willis, Drury Willis, Thomas Willis, Anna Willis, John Algood and Sarah his wife. These were siblings of William Willis not children

The second case was settled in favor of the heirs in 1811.

Mecklenburg County, Virginia Court Order Book 12 [1803-1805]

Page 22 Chancery Court

Richard Willis, William Hopewode and Nancy his wife, Sherwood Willis, Thomas Daniel and Elizabeth his wife, John Willis, Sterling Willis, Edward Willis, Drury Willis,Plaintiff Thomas Willis, Anna Willis, John Algood and Sarah his wife, heirs of William Willis deceased

against

Howel Rose and Mary his wife, administrator of William Defendant Willis, deceased

By consent of the parties commissioners are worded that for thirty days to examine or take the despositions of the witnesses in this cause giving each other legal notice of the times and plans of executing the same. And it is ordered that the said cause retain as place on the dockett.

• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Dec 24 2019, 21:28:07 UTC