Joseph Willis, Sr.

Joseph fought as a Minute Man for Georgia, under Elijah Clark. Elijah Clark's nephew married Joseph's cousin in Craven County. Joseph Willis, Sr. is on a wall dedicated to the Veterans of Effingham County, GA. as a Revolutionary War Soldier.

4 Males under 16 on 1790 Census

1.Robert, b.Jan. 4, 1781- 1830 Effingham Census b. 1780-1790

2.Gideon, b. Dec. 29,1789-1830 Effingham Census b. 1780-1790

3.Joseph Jr.? (The Land Grant says Joseph Sr.) 1830 &1840 **Jefferson Co., Ga.Census b.1780-1790

4.John b. 1780-1790- 1830 Effingham Co.Census

5. Furney b. 1790-1800 (later) 1830 Effingham Co.Census Furney _________________________________________________ From: https://archive.org/stream/Muscogiana192CSU/Muscogiana19-2_CSU_djvu...

In 1756, twelve miles from New Bern, brothers James and Joseph Willis helped found the Swifts Creek Baptist congregation. Due to the lack of readily available trained ministers, such frontier congregations made wide use of lay preachers. Both James Willis and brother Joseph became ordained Baptist ministers, beginning a family tradition that would last through the next century.