Margaret (Grey) Willis (abt. 1840 - abt. 1862)

Born about 1840 in County Leitrim, Ireland

Wife of Edward Willis — married 11 Jul 1861 in Cloon, County Leitrim, Ireland

Died about 1862 at about age 22 in County Leitrim, Ireland

MARGARET GREY

Margaret Grey, whose dates of birth and death in Ireland are unknown, but must have been about 1840 - 1862

Margaret Grey's father, Owen Grey was a farmer at Lough Rynn, near Mohill in Leitrim. (transcribed as Oliver Grey in the marriage record). Margaret became the house keeper for William Sidney Clements, third Earl of Leitrim at Castle Lough Rynn in County Leitrim. Margaret left the Earl's employment just before she married Edward Willis.

The earl of Leitrim has a most unpleasant reputation as one of the most notorious landlords of 19th century . His housekeepers were usually young and lasted only a few years in his employment. Several were paid off with funds to emigrate. The earl's ill treatment of his tenants was such that he was ambushed and killed in 1878. The assassins were known but never prosecuted for Leitrim's murder.

Edward Willis was a young draftsman/architect employed by the earl of Leitrim in designing improvements for his mansion at Lough Rhynn. In those days Housekeepers, in fact all house servants in general were expected to be unmarried. Margaret would have had to leave her employment in order to marry Edward. She died shortly after marriage. Edward left Leitrim a year or so later with Anne, Margaret's sister. Whether or not Edward and Anne were ever married we don't really know. Edward and Anne emigrated to Australia and raised their family there.

Sources

• "Ireland Marriages, 1619-1898," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGCC-9J1 : 12 December 2014), Edward Willis and Margaret Grey, 11 Jul 1861; citing Cloon, Leit, Ireland, reference p145 ln59; FHL microfilm 101,429.
• Margaret Grey [1]