Roger Willis, of Sudbury

Biography

Roger Willis arrived in Dorchester by the date of his marriage on 19 Jul 1664 to Ruth Hill. No evidence of him is found in New England before this date. Some of his children are recorded there. He was by 1670 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, when he received Lot # 16 in New Grants. Roger was a member of the Sudbury East Side Church before 1678. They moved back to Dorchester when King Philip's War threatened and they were not among the inhabitants of Sudbury who described their losses in a 11 Oct 1676 petition. The Willises returned to Sudbury between 1680 and 1684. Roger Willis died between 14 Sep 1690 and 10 Dec 1700, when a deed mentions his heirs. John Hill's children sold interests in his rights to land in Stoughton by a deed dated 14 Feb 1733/4; one of the signers, on behalf of her eight children, was Ruth Willis of Sudbury, "Widow of Roger Willis of Sudbury, Yeoman". Ruth acknowledged 15 Apr 1734.[1][2][3][4][5]

Children

1. Mary WILLIS b: 7 JAN 1669/70 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts
2. Ruth WILLIS c1670
3. Samuel WILLIS b: 1 APR 1675 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts
4. Elizabeth WILLIS b: 9 MAR 1677/78 in Dorchester, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts
5. Hannah WILLIS b: 11 FEB 1679/80 in Dorchester, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts
6. Sarah WILLIS b: 20 MAR 1683/84 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts
7. Josiah WILLIS b: 8 DEC 1686 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts
8. Thankful WILLIS b: 14 SEP 1690 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts

References

1. McTeer, Frances and Frederick C. Warner, "The Willis Family of Sudbury, Mass.," New England Historical and Genealogical Register," (1960) 114:22-43, 96-113
2. Leatherbee, Ethel Brigham, “Ancestors and Descendants of Elijah Sparhawk Brigham,” typescript (n.p., 1915–16) 21
3. New England Historical and Genealogical Register vol. 58 no. 2 (April 1904):157-168. John Hill of Dorchester, Mass and His Descendants, by J. Gardner Bartlett
4. J. Gardner Bartlett, John Hill of Dorchester, Mass., 1633 (Boston 1904) 4
5. Torrey 3:1687 1664 Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States: WILLIS, Roger & Ruth HILL (-1736); 19 Jul 1664; Dorchester/ Sudbury {Hill (,1) 14; Reg. 58:158; Dorchester Ch. Rec. 25; Brigham Anc. 21}