The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-02
The willis Family.

Inc Willis r AMY.
Our Gloucester land grants are not
quite exhausted, and as we are anxious
TO make the line complete. we refer to
them ever and anon
Another great family which sprung
from the soil of old Gloucester is that
of Willis. In 1851 Francis Willis took
up a grant of land on Ware River, and
in 1862 was the first member Of the House
of Burgesses from Gloucester, and from
1850 1915 was a member OF the Cover
nor's Council. Then he returned to
England. Why he did SO is not known.
but the reason may be easily imagined
the longing for home and friends OF
his early life. He died in Kent. the
cradle of Virginia genealogy. He was
born in the parish of St. Fowles. and
tradition says he inherited his name
Francis from his father and grand
father but really the connection with
his English parentage has never been
made. He mentions in his viii his
brothers Henry and William and his
sister Grace Fielder And to his
nephew Francis 2). still in Virginia, he
leaves his large Gloucester estates.
full freehold, white Hail." lying upon
Ware River; sterling money. catties
chattels, and. indeed. all of the posses
sions OF Francis Willis unbeQueathed
to Others
Francis Willis t7,. had a son Francis
~. VINO merIicQ Lazy ammo Ie<oks Va
fine English extraction Francis CD
Willis was a member of the Houee OF
Burgesses in f74s- His Children were
Francis az. John ~ and Mary 10. who
married Colonel Lewis Burvell. presi>
dent of Virginia Council
Francis tN married Elizabeth Carriers
daughter of Robert Carter and Betty
Landon. and had Francis 81. married
Elizabeth, daughter of John Perrfns
Robert Carter married Martha % and
had two sons, Lewis CD and Burwel
and Robert ~ Carter: Priscilla %
married first Colonel William kennons
and, second, David Flower. of Whining
ton. y. c.; Henry 1). born f76o; Eliza
beth 90 married Mr.. Mckain and had
a son. John ts); and Rich 90 died early.
John ~ Willis. his brother. born 17fss
died 1856, and married l9S Mildred
Smith. of Shooters Hill She was
at-granddaughter OF Coionel Au>
gustine Warner and Mildred Reade.
His children were Francis 90. hutn 90
John a.. Augustine ~. Lewis 90
Francis "a Willis married Elizabeth
Edwards OF 81. Andrews Parishs
Brunswick County, Va In i9S they
moved 20 Georgia. and be represented
that state in the Second Congress.
He left Georgia and went TO Ten
nessec. lie had Nathaniel ~. Henry
81. Carver 80. George 81. Mildred ID
smith. Thomas ~. Elizabeth 80.
Na.haniel 81 lived IN Tennessee and
LETT Henry ~ and Elizabeth %. who
married John Kennedy. OF naury
County.
Carver - willis returned 20 Jefferson
County and married Miss Hits- He
v~as a member Of tho Legislature lssS<
re had Thomas 10 Bite. Mildred %.
Fannv I'D aud Elizabeth ~. Who mar
rfeH 4 Mr. Brown and had q son. Sew-
.on y. and = daughter. Ella %.
Thomas a. Hite married Miss
gvfarG and had Nathaniel 81. married
NTis- Harrington. Fanny -. Peaohy
II. lila ~. marTfed Bushrod Wash
ina.ou. % Charleston. W Va
Thomas - Willis. son Of Francis ~,
married Elizabeth Worsham and died
A. washington. Ga. In 1875. Childrens-
Mary 20. married Mark A. Lane sad
had q son. Thomas ~. and Francis
g. Thomas Willis. Who married tliz-
aboth Butler and had Mary ~. Ed
wsxd o.. Francis O. snd thomas %
Mary Wills married y Pcmoroko
Jones. lieutenant o. tho Confeder.to .
$500 willis. Second child % Dr.
rr.rris 7. Wills. vas = graduate Of the
f-rltcd states Military Acsdemy -
West Point ard va a d'stioEuit1>1
Confederate cnlcer.
Franeia s. wuIis Vcrf to ths s5hss1
Of Ar YATES ~ Abingdon Parish. -
Gloucester County. WITH ne couee-
tsxis Willis. Of Frecc--cksouTE, John
Pee simon ERE. Peter Birniy Whit
ncnf Nirzinians-
Coatinued Nez. surss--