William Willis (1685 - 1754)

Born 7 Jul 1685 in Medford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Rebecca (Watson) Willis — married 23 Jun 1709 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 30 Sep 1754 at age 69 in Medford, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Chris Hoyt [send private message]

Biography

William Willis was born on July 7, 1685 at Medford, Massachusetts ^[1] He was the son of Thomas and Grace (Tay) Willis. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

• 1719: 21: 26: 27: Served as Town Clerk at Medford. ^[5]
• 1726: 27: Served at Town Treasurer. ^[5]
• 1734: 37: 39: 42: Member of the House of Representatives, for Medford. ^[5]

He married Rebecca Watson of Cambridge, born c 1692, daughter of Abraham Watson, on June 23, 1709. ^{[1] [2] [3] [5]}

He died on August 27, 1754 and Rebecca died on September 30th of the same year. ^[1]

They are buried in the Salem Street Burying Ground, at Medford where his inscription reads: Here lyes Buried ye Body of Mr William Willis, who Departed this Life Aug. 27 1754 in ye 69th Year of His Age ^[6]

They had one son named Thomas who may have died young. ^[1]

Research notes

Medford Births

Willis, William, s. Thomas and Grace, July 7, 1685. (p. 167)

Willis, Thomas, s. William and Rebekah (Watson), Apr. [Aug., written in margin] 30, ––––. (p. 167)

Medford Marriages

Willis, William and Rebeckah Watson of Cambridge, June 23, 1709, in Cambridge. (p. 324)

Medford Deaths

Willis, w. William, Oct. 7, 1754. (p. 461)

Willis, Rebeckah w. William Sept. 30, 1754, in 63d yr. GR 1.(p. 461)

Willis, Thomas s. William and Rebekah Dec. 4 ___ (torn page). (p. 461) ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Vital Records of Medford, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, NEHGS, Boston, Massachusetts, 1907
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Brooks,Charles and Henry Whitmore. History of the Town of Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts: From Its First Settlement in 1630 to 1855, James Usher, Publisher, 1855: Rand, Avery & Co., 1886, Boston, Massachusetts, p. 566-7,
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Paige, Lucius R. History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877, Volume 2, Genealogical Register. H. O. Houghton, Boston, Massachusetts, 1877 p. 200: 571 679: 694
4. ↑ Whitemore, W. H., compiler. Register of Families Settled at the Town of Medford, Mass., John Wilson & son, Boston, Massachusetts, 1855, p. 66
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} Schutz, John. Legislators of the Massachusetts General Court, 1691-1780: A Biographical Dictionary, Northeaster University Press, Boston, Massachusetts, 1997, p. 385
6. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial# 26920598

Acknowledgements

This person was created on 10 February 2011 through the import of James_s Complete Family Tree.ged.