Joseph Willis
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Joseph Willis (abt. 1758 - 1854)

Rev. Joseph Willis
Born about in New Hanover, North Carolinamap
Ancestors ancestors
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married 1784 in Bladen, North Carolina, United Statesmap
Husband of — married about 1790 in South Carolina, United Statesmap
Husband of — married about 1808 in Bayou Chicot, Louisiana, Orleans Territorymap [uncertain]
Husband of — married about 1836 [location unknown]
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 96 in Elizabeth, Allen, Louisiana, United Statesmap
Profile last modified | Created 12 Jul 2010
This page has been accessed 8,375 times.

Contents

Biography

"First Baptist Preacher of the Word West of the Mississippi River"[1]

Born part-Indian slave to his English father, Agerton Willis. Later, he would state in a Louisiana affidavit that his mother had been Cherokee Indian. First freed in his father's 1776 will that was blocked by other members of the family. Finally emancipated by Act of the North Carolina General Assembly, 1787. Volume 24, pp. 885-951.

Fought during the Revolutionary War under General Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox" operating out of the Pedee region in South Carolina.

Married 4 times, with 19 children recorded:

  1. Rachael Bradford (1762-1794)
  2. Sarah from Ireland (b-unknown)
  3. Sarah Johnson (b-1780)
  4. Elvy Sweat (b-1820).

Children included:

Lemuel Joseph Willis (1812 - 1862)
Residence (1850) Rapides, Louisiana, USA[2]
Josaph Willis 98
Elry Willis 30
Samuel Willis 13
Emmueil Willis 11
James Willis 9
William Willis 5
Timothy Willis 3
Benard Willis 2

Burial

Occupy #1 Baptist Church cemetery.
Glenmora, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, USA

Notes

It was during these trying times for Joseph that the Revolutionary War began. Joseph and a friend of his from Bladen County, Ezekiel O'Quin, left for South Carolina to join up with General Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox." Marion operated out of the swampy forest of the Pedee region in the lower part of South Carolina. His strategy was to surprise the enemy, cut his supply lines, kill their men and release any American prisoners they might have. He and his men then retreated swiftly back again to the thick recesses of the deep swamps. They were very effective and their fame was widespread.
They also took great pride in themselves. Marion's orderly book states, "Every officer to provide himself with a blue coatee, faced and cuffed with scarlet cloth, and lined with scarlet; white buttons; and a white waistcoat and breeches.also, a cap and a black feather." Joseph would later proudly tell the family, "We were called Marion men." The lessons learned with Marion would serve him well his entire life. Joseph was proud of his service under Marion for at the time in Bladen County in 1777, it was estimated that two-thirds of the people were Tories. An oath of allegiance to the state was required at that time in North Carolina and those refusing to take it were required to leave the state within sixty days

Joseph was born about 1758. He passed away in 1854.

Sources

  1. Carolyn Lamb. "Rev Joseph Willis". Find A Grave Memorial 5048347. www.findagrave.com. Accessed 1 Dec 2017.
  2. Year: 1850; Census Place: Rapides, Louisiana; Roll: M432_239; Page: 66B; Image: 137
Please see USGENWEB NOTICE regarding use of material.
Chronology of Joseph Wills [sic] who is buried in Vernon Parish.
submitted by Gaytha Carver Thompson;
compiled by: Houston Tracy, Jr.
Joseph Willis Chronology (Link Not Working, 28 May, 2020)
  • Family Records




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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Joseph by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Joseph:

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Comments: 4

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Willis-14039 and Willis-75 appear to represent the same person because: same name and dates, locations
posted by S Stevenson
One thing that confuses people researching the tree of this gentleman is that he was having kids over a span of 52 years. If one is not careful, one can foul up the whole tree line because of the use of similar names between generations and families. It's rare to find siblings 52 years apart. Think about it. Aimuwell Willis died in 1937, modern times... yet his father was a revolutionary war soldier under General Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox" Incredible!
posted by Philip Johnson
Willis-2898 and Willis-75 appear to represent the same person because: they are the same person
posted by Chuck Willis
Willis-2898 and Willis-75 appear to represent the same person because: they are the same person
posted by Chuck Willis