Do you have any info on John D. Willis b. abt 1829 in Alamance North Carolina?

Question

John is listed in the 1880 census in Jonesville Virginia jail . He disappeared from records.His wife(Elizabeth M. Patton) was in a mental asylum in 1878 but I can't find her in records.

Answer 1

1880 US Census, John Willis, Widowed, is in Jonesville, Lee, Virginia at age 51. He is living in a household with Thomas J. and Adaline Ely. Thomas Ely is Head of the Household 36y, wife Adaline 34y. Children are John 11y, Sarah S., 9y, Charles W. 7y, Martha E. 3y and William, 0y old. others include John Willis, born NC est. 1829, Samuel Eldridge, 25y, and Philmore Thompson, 15y. All except John Willis were born VA.

John and Elizabeth Willis had a son, Henry B. Willis born 30 Apr 1855 at Turkey Cove, Lee, VA.

James Willis, born 1850 Lee Co., VA died 14 Mar 1871 at Lee Co., VA age 21. His father was John Willis

Comments

The 1880 Lee county Va. census is the last known info on John D. Willis. At this time, he was in Jonesville jail for killing J.H. Reaser. He was granted a new trial but disappears as far as I can find.  

This was my gg grandfather..looking for his parents names and anything else regarding him.

I just want to know about my ancestry.

What happened to his wife Elizabeth M. Patton Willis? The court docket testimony reports that on Feb 14, 1878 at the time of the killing that John D.s wife was in an asylum..I can't find her.

Thank you

---

 

John D /Willis/

birth:	1828  North Carolina, United States
death:	October 1900  Beaufort, Carteret, North Carolina, United States

His ancestors are shown at   https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.2.1/3M1S-RQR

You may want to also contact Lee County resources. A google search of Lee County genealogy or Lee County Genealogical Society is worth a try. 

---

Thank you Frank for responding. I don't believe this is my John D.Willis. This man shows up in 1880 NC census, married and my John is in Lee Co. Virginia census in jail, widowed in 1880.

Answer 2

i have extensive Willis roots in North Carolina, I'll see what I can dig up

Answer 3

John D Willis was born 1829 in Alamance/Orange County, North Carolina.  He married Elizabeth M Patton.  They were living in Lee County, Virginia in 1860.  He was in the civil war.  They had many children who eventually moved to Wise County, Virginia.  His wife was the daughter of Samuel Patton and Nancy James.  Samuel married second or third Una/Eunice Albright.  Samuel was in Alamance County, North Carolina in 1850 and in Lee County, Virginia in 1860. Elizabeth died 1 August 1910 in a mental institution in Staunton City, Virginia. His story is on the internet.