William Willis, of Mecklenburg County

Not the son of John Willis

William Willis

• Born about 1740 in Brunswick, Colony of Virginia
• Died about Apr 1793 at about age 53 in Mecklenburg, Virginia, United States
• Son of Richard Willis and Anne Crowder
• Brother of Sarah (Willis) Allgood
• Husband of Elizabeth Davis
• Husband of Mary Pulliam

Biography

William Willis, b. 22 Feb 1734, Brunswick Co., VA; d. 9 Apr 1792, Pittsylvania Co., VA; husband of Elizabeth (Davis) Willis.

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...

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-2467

Sarah Willis was the daughter of Richard Willis and Ann Crowder. Her Brother William Willis, died in Apr 1793 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. A lawsuit filed Joseph Hughes over a tract of land sold to him by William where the deed had not been filed names Sally (Willis) Allgood and her siblings. A later lawsuit was filed against Captain Howel Rose and Mary (Pulliam) Willis Rose, William's Widow in 1805. The Allgoods were living in Elbert County, Georgia at that point.

information from Janis Soulis as recorded on roots web

Property Purchased 12 Oct 1763 , Lunenburg County Virginia Lunenburg Co, Va Deed Book 9, p. 277, 12 Oct 1763, from John HIGHT of L. and Parish of Cornwall, to William WILLIS, for 30 pounds, tract of land on head branches of Bluestone Creek, part of a tract patented in name of William Harris 13 Nov 1752, by him conveyed to Wm. READ by deed dated 7 Oct 1755, and bounded by McNess Good. Mary, wife of John HIGHT, relinquished dower.

pmed8added this on 11 May 2010 (Michael Glen Willis, Ancestry.com)

Notes

This is from cousin in Kentucky, Suzy Willis-Horner. Number 1 is not correct. William (Bill) Willis is positive that Elizabeth Davis was Wm's first wife. We know Mary Pulliam was his last wife. See will info.

Little Blue Stone Creek. Property Description (William Willis died there) Mary Willis,William's widow and her husband, Howel Rose.