Edward Elbert Willett (1702 - 1794)

Born 6 Feb 1702 in Flushing, Queens, Long Island, Province of New York

Ancestors

Husband of Alletta (Clowes) Willett — married 9 May 1722 in Jamaica, Queens County, New York

Descendants

Died 8 Dec 1794 at age 92 in Flushing, Queens, Long Island, New York, USA

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Biography

Edward Willett is the son of Elbert Willett and Johanna Van Varick.

"Willett, Marinus (31 July 1740-22 August 1830), revolutionary war officer and mayor of New York City, was born near Jamaica, New York, the son of Edward Willett, tavern keeper, farmer, and teacher, and Aletta Clowes. In 1749 the family moved to New York City, where Edward Willett owned an inn that was popular with the city’s elite."^[1]

Following is his biography from Albert James Willett: "Edward Willett was born in 1702 at Jamaica, Queens County, Long Island. He was orphaned when he was barely two years old and raised by his mother in Flushing; thus, he never really knew his father. He also inherited (1706) all the lands of his father that were in Flushing. He married at Grace Church, Jamaica, at 9 PM on Wednesday, May 9, 1722, Aletta Clowes (d. Oct 3, 1780, at age 76), the daughter of Samuel Clowes, Esquire, of Jamaica, and Katherine Douw. They lived at Jamaica, Long Island. “Termed himself of Flushing, the only son of Elbert, deceased, when on November 18, 1723, he sold Jamaica lands bought by his father in 1706” (Bailey, page 156). Presumably, his brother Elbert had died young or in infancy between 1706 and 1723. [Edward] was the Mr. Willett of exemplary life and conversation who taught school with diligence, and who in 1732 was voted £15 a year. He taught school for the Honorable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts in New York City from January, 1734, until October, 1741. In 1737, he was teaching 43 scholars. “Edward Willett had an interest in the New York City region as early as 1732, when he offered for sale a large brick house near the New York Ferry on Long Island, recently occupied by James Hardin.” He did not remove to New York City until the 1740s, since the son, Marinus, is said to have been born in Jamaica. Edward acquired the privilege of operating the New York to Long Island ferry. Edward subleased the ferry privilege in 1745, and his rent of it was reduced in 1747. For over 25 years, he was a prominent tavernkeeper in New York. He was proprietor of at least 4 taverns there. One had been erected in 1743. He operated other taverns in 1752 to 1754, 1754 to 1762, and in 1775. The best known of these taverns was the Province Arms (or City Arms, York Arms, etc.) at the present 115 Broadway near Trinity Church (then known as Broadway at Thames Street). Previously, this tavern was a mansion of the Honorable James de Lancey (DeLancey), Lieutenant Governor of the Province of New York. The mansion was of stone, 2 storeys high, with a cupola, and from the back piazza, across a sloping lawn, one had an unobstructed view of the Hudson River and the Palisades. Edward Willett opened the mansion as a tavern in 1754. Under his able management, it became a very popular rendezvous and was patronized by the elite of the city’s society. Assembly Balls were held there fortnightly during the season. It was the outstanding hostelry of the town. It had five adjoining tables, and was handy to the Boston Post Road and the North River and Brooklyn Ferries. Its proximity to the fashionable “church walk” added to its distinction. In 1774, Samuel Adams stopped here on his way to Philadelphia. Edward Willett was an ardent Loyalist and “a great Tory.” It must have been a great contradiction to him when his son, Marinus, became a foremost leader in the Sons of Liberty. Probably because of his personal sentiments, Edward Willett retired to Jamaica, Long Island, when the Revolutionary War began. In July, 1776, as Edward Willet, Jr., the patriots ordered him arrested for the action of (his cousin) Thomas Willett, Sheriff, as well as the latter’s brother, Edward, and others of the Willett family. Long Island remained garrisoned by British soldiers throughout the war. In November, 1777, the town of Jamaica appointed him to inspect wood. Edward Willett, of Jamaica, advertised for sale in Rivington’s Gazette in March, 1778, a tract of 12,000 acres in Minisink country (probably New Jersey) along with a first rate negro wench with two very fine children. . . . Edward must have overcome any animosity he may have felt for his patriot son, Marinus. Edward left no will of record. He died at the age of 93 in 1794 in the home of his son. The tombstones of Aletta and Edward Willett are in the burial yard of the Episcopalian Grace Church, Jamaica. Edward’s stone says: “Died the 1st of December, 1794, aged 93 years; The husband of one wife 58½ years.” Also in the burial yard is a tombstone to Samuel Clowes, who died August 27, 1760, age 86 years (Baily, page 156). Edward Willet wrote the little book The Matrimonial Life of Edward Willett, published in New York in 1812 by his son. The little book of 35 pages is unusual in its size of only 2 inches by 3 inches. The only known original copy in existence may be seen in the rare book room of the Queensborough Public Library."^[2]

Edward was the writer of the following book: Edward Willett, The Matrimonial Life of Edward Willett (New York: E. P. Thomas, 1824). Which is reprinted in it's entirety in: Albert James Willett, The Willett Families of North America volume II (Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1985), 1023-1030. https://archive.org/details/willettfamilieso02will

Edward and Alletta had these children:^[3]

1. Alletta Willett (1723-1741), who was a teacher in her father’s school beginning at age eleven.

2. Elbert Willett (1724-1738), student in his father’s school 1734-1737.

3. Samuel Willett (1726- ? ), married and lived at Black Rock, near Flushing.

4. Joanna Willett (1728-1749), student at her father’s school from 1734-1741.

5. Edward Willett (1731-1774), my seventh-great-grandfather, of whom more later.

6. Isaac Willett (1732-1759), married in 1752 and died at sea in the Seven Years War.

7. Catherine Willett (1734-1746), studied in her father’s school from 1738-1741.

8. Margaret Willett (1736-1811), studied in her father’s school in 1741.

9. Elbert Willett (1738-1828), studied in his father’s school in 1741. He was a private in Captain Wine’s Company in New York from 1757-1767. He married Catherine Abeel (1735-1823) on 19 November 1763. They lived in Fishkill, Dutchess; Troy, Rensselaer; and Albany, Albany, New York.

10. Marinus Willett (31 July 1740 – 22 August 1830), my seventh-great-granduncle, who was a hero of the Revolutionary War and was Mayor of New York City 1807-1808.^[4]

11. Catherine Willett (1747-1772).

12. Joanna Willett (1750- ? ).

Sources

1. ↑ Harry M. Ward, “Willett, Marinus (31 July 1740–22 August 1830),” in American National Biography (Oxford University Press, 1999).
2. ↑ Albert James Willett, The Willett Families of North America (Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1985), 111-113.
3. ↑ Information on the following list of children, where not otherwise cited, taken from: Willett, The Willett Families of North America, 113-114.
4. ↑ see Harry M. Ward, “Willett, Marinus (31 July 1740–22 August 1830),” in American National Biography (Oxford University Press, 1999).

• Find A Grave: Memorial #68903151. See headstone photographs.
• The Willet Family, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 1848) Vol. 2, Page 376.

• He had 13 children, 6 were sons. (Beware of this chart; it it not entirely accurate).

Other

Children of Edward and Alletta include:

1. Alletta Willett, born February 12, 1723, died September 17, 1741, (at age 19) buried in the Grace Episcopal Churchyard in Jamaica, Queens County, New York;
2. Elbert Willett, born September 12, 1724, died August 19, 1738, (at age 14) buried in the Grace Episcopal Churchyard in Jamaica, Queens County, New York;
3. Joannah Willett, born October 22, 1728, baptized October 27, 1728, in the Grace Episcopal Church in Jamaica, Queens County, New York, died May 25, 1749 (at age 21);
4. Cathrine Willett, born December 8, 1734, died August 17, 1746 (at age 12), buried in the Grace Episcopal Churchyard in Jamaica, Queens County, New York;
5. Marinus Willett (1740 - 1830), married Margaret Bancker (1774-1819)
6. Alletta Willett, born December 7, 1742. This is the second child that was named Alletta, after her older sister died the previous year.

Edward and his wife are buried in the Grace Episcopal Churchyard, in Jamaica, Queens County, New York, where they buried so many of their children who died too young.