John Willis (abt. 1709 - bef. 1762)

Born about 1709 in Hanover Parish, Richmond, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Plunkett) Willis — married 17 Jan 1733 in St. Paul's Parish, King George County, Virginia

Descendants

Died before 25 Mar 1762 before about age 53 in Orange, Virginia

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Biography

John Willis was born in 1709 in Hanover Parish, Richmond, Virginia. His parents were William Willis and Sarah Rozier. He married Elizabeth Plunkett on January 17, 1733 Together they had 13 children:

1. Reuben Willis
2. Margaret Willis
3. Sarah Willis
4. Frances Willis
5. William Willis
6. Benjamin Willis
7. John Willis
8. Lewis Willis
9. Moses Willis
10. Joshua Willis
11. James Willis
12. Mary Willis
13. Joshua Willis

John also had the following child:

1. Lewis Willis

He died on March 25, 1762 in Orange County, Virginia

Daughter Sarah married William Shropshire. Daughter Margaret married Edmund Terrill.

Pages 51-55- 22-23 July 1741. Benja. Smith of St. Thomas' Parish, Orange County, planter, to Thomas Smith of Washington Parish, Westmoreland County. Lease and release; for L60 current money. 100 acres ... corner to James Taylor ... in Francis Taliaferro's line ... George Taylor's line ... Benja. (X) Smith Wit: Zach. Taylor, William Plunckett [Plunkett], John Williss 23 July 1741. Acknowledged by Benja. Smith. 23 July 1741. Bond of Benja. Smith of St. Thomas' Parish, Orange County, to Thomas Smith of Washington Parish, Westmoreland County. For L120 current money. If the deeds prove not to be sufficient according to law, Benja. Smith will make any other deed required. Benja. (X) Smith Wit: Zach. Taylor, Wm. Plunckett, John Willis. 23 July 1741. Acknowledged by Benja. Smith. ^[1]

Will

Will of John Willis. Orange Co., VA, WB 2, p. 323, w. 25 Nov 1761, p. 25 Mar 1762. Digital image at Ancestry.com - https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/62347/images/007645702_00367?pId=1013478

son William - slaves and “lott in Culpeper”
Edmund Terrill (no relationship given) - slaves
Walter Shropshire (no relationship given)
every child viz. John, Benjamin, Joshua, James, Rhewbin, Francis, Lewis, Moses & Mary
beloved wife (unnamed)
Exrs: son William, Edmund Terrill
Wit: Archd Campbell, Elizabeth Willis

^[2] Will of John Willis, dated 25 Nov. 1761.

• To my son William I give Thom and Judith and the Lott in Culpeper.
• Daniel and Miller I give to Edmund Terrell.
• Walker Shropshire I allow him one shilling and three pence.
• And every child viz. John, Benjamin, Joshua, James, Rhewbin [Reuben], Francis, Lewis, Moses and Mary equally to be divided [sic].
• My beloved wife shall keep in possession the aforesaid estate during her life.
• The place formerly belonging to Mr. Marks belongs to Benjamin.
• This place where I live belongs to John.

John (X) Willis Wit: Archd. Campbell, Elizabeth (W) Willis. My son William and Edmond Terrell executors. 25 March 1762. Presented into Court by William Willis. Proved by Archd. Campbell and Eliza. Willis.

Land

John Willis Sr. patented land on Oct. 21, 1669 next to land patented to John Washington which now lies in Hanover Parish, King George County, Virginia. This is referred to in a deed made by his grandson^[3]

JOHN WILLIS of Hanover Par., King Geo. County, Virginia., Planter to William Robinson, Gent, of same place... "... whereas JOHN WILLIS SR., Dec’d, grandfather of the said JOHN WILLIS party to these presents was in his lifetime seized in Fee of 261 acres of land with all the appurtenances..situate lying and being in the aforesaid Parish of Hanover and County of King George which was granted unto him by letters Patent bearing the date of Oct. 21, 1669 and being so seized by deed or assignment indorsed on the back of the said letters Patent bearing the date of April 26, 1701 did give and grant unto his son WILLIAM WILLIS, now deceased and his heirs lawfully begotten of his body 161 acres of land part of the said 260 acres by the name of ALL THE REMAINING LAND OF THE WITHIN PATENT of land except 100 acres formerly given to his son JOHN WILLIS as by the said letters of Patent and assignment recorded in the County of Richmond relation thereunto my more at large appear and WHEREAS the said WILLIAM WILLIS is now dead and the 161 acres of land are descended and come to the said JOHN WILLIS party to these presents, thel eldest son and heir of the body of the said WILLIAM WILLIS whereby the said JOHN WILLIS is seized of the said premises in Fee tail and whereas by an inquisition taken before BENJ. BERRYMAN, Gent., Sheriff of sd King Geo. Co. on March last by birtue of a writ in the nature of and ad quod damnum to him directed pursuiant to the act of the Assembly in such cases made and provided it is found that the said 161 acres of land are of the value of 60 pounds sterling and no more and that same are a separate parcel and a parcel of or contigueous to other entailed alnds in the possession and seizen of the said JOHN WILLIS as by the inquisition now remaining in the Secretary’s office of this Colony relation being thereunto had may more at large apear... JOHN WILLIS doth hereby grant bargain and sell to said Wm. Robinson. Release is signed by ELIZABETH, wife of JOHN WILLIS. ^[4]

JOHN WILLIS, of Hanover Par., King Geo. County, Virginia., Planter and William Robinson, gent, and Joseph Strother and Maximilian Robinson, gent, .. church wardens of the parish on the other part...JOHN WILLIS and Wm. Robinson... do grant bargain and sell to said Strother and Max: Robinson.. all that tract and parcel of land containing by estimation 261 acres of land in Hanover Par., King Geo. County, Virginia., ..which said land was granted to JOHN WILLIS SR. grandfather of the said JOHN WILLIS party to these presents...by letters of patent dated Oct. 21, 1669... and 100 acres thereof were given by the said JOHN WILLIS SR., dec’d to his son JOHN WILLIS (dec’d) in feetail by a deed dated Dec. 10, 1694 and by the death of the said JOHN WILLIS, the son without issue are reverted and come to the said JOHN WILLIS party to these presents as heir-at-law of the said JOHN WILLIS the grandfather and the residue of the said premises were given by the said JOHN WILLIS (SR.) the grandfather to his son WILLIAM WILLIS father of the said JOHN WILLIS who is party to these presents.... ^[5] John COMBS came into Court and by virgue of Power of Attorney from WILLIAM WILLIS acknowledged a deed for land from the said WILLIAM WILLIS to John Hansford and same was admitted to record. Also by Power of Attorney from SARAH, wife of WILLIAM WILLIS to him in her behalf, relinquished the said SARAH’S right of dower in land conveyed to Hanxford, and deed was admitted to record. ^{[6] [7]}

Sources

1. ↑ https://htracyhall.org/ocr/IRH-Genealogy/Cabinent%202/Drawer%204/New%20Folder%20(5)/JamesKincaid/JamesKincaid-0001_OCR.pdf
2. ↑ 1744-1778 Orange County, Virginia Will Book 2: [John Frederick Dorman]: Page 323.
3. ↑ (Order Bk. I, p 607, King Geo. County, Virginia., 1729-30).
4. ↑ Deed Bk. 2, pp 126-127, June 1, 1737, King George County, Virginia.
5. ↑ Richmond County, Order Bk. 5, p78, Sept. 7, 1709.
6. ↑ DeHuff, Elizabeth Willis, Descendants of John Willis, of will in Richmond County, Virginia, 1715 Augusta, Ga.: unknown, 1962, 98 pgs.
7. ↑ https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I22477&tree=Tree1

LAger, Diebolt, Rausch, Laub Genealogy page ( RootsWeb 1/28/2011) is a good reference for this John Willis. Many documented references, of the xomlivayed family.