On 3 Sep 2007 Jean <RMorris216@aol.com> wrote: >Awhile back, someone on the list had written about Captain John Willis b. >1739/1740 who married Rachel Doremus b. 28 February 1744/45. > >There was a story I believe related to his father that he was killed by >Indians. > >I cannot find my notes regarding this story, and was hoping that someone >would have information regarding the legend/story. > >If anyone can provide information on John Willis or his family, I would >appreciate it. I've been waiting to see if someone had info on this story -- I don't have this story. But I do have some data on Willis and his family, as follows (as always, additions and corrections are welcomed) -- Pat -------------------- John Willis, son of Jan Willis & Maria Van Giesen, m. 8 Apr 1762, Rachel Doremus, dau. of Cornelis Doremus & Elsje Egberts. John Willis was b. 23 Mar 1741; bp. Apr 1741 Second River Ref Ch (Belleville); d. 1804 Crooked Pond, Franklin Twp., Bergen Co., NJ Rachel Doremus was b. 28 Feb 1745 On 20 May 1806 (recorded 21 May 1806, Bergen Co. W:403) Abraham Willis of the Town of Paterson in County of Essex and Caty, his wife, John Willis and Mary [Pegge], his wife, Michael Moore and Elizabeth, his wife, John Storms and Mary, his wife, Cornelius Demarest and Sophia, his wife, all of the County of Bergen, Ryer Demarest and Rachel, his wife, and Peter Willis and Elizabeth, his wife, of the City of New York, conveyed to John Waggoner of the Township of Franklin, for $2000, 80 acres more or less in the Township of Franklin, the property of the late John Willis, where John Waggoner now dwelleth; whereas John Willis later of the Township of Franklin (at the Ponds), deceased, was possessed of a certain farm by deed of conveyance from Abraham Van Houten and Sophia, his wife, Nelly Van Houten and Cornelius Van Houten on 15 July 1801; at SE side Crooked Pond at line of James A. Ackerman. Bounded SE by Benjamin Bartolf and Roeleff Van Houten; SW by Patent line of Johnson and Willix tract; W and NW by said Benjamin Bartolf and Garret Van Blarcom; N by said pond and James A. Ackerman. Signed by Abraham Willis, Caty Willis, John Willis, Pegge Willis, Michael Moore, Elisabeth Moore (her mark), John Storms, Mary Storms (her mark), Cornelius Demarest, Sophia Demarest, Ryer Demarest, Rachel Demarest, Peter Willis, Elizabeth Willis. Witnessed by John Campbell, Wm. Stewart (his mark). ---children of John Willis & Rachel Doremus: * Abraham Willes, b. 7 Sep 1762; bp. 3 Oct 1762 Acquackanonk Ref Ch (wit: Isaac Bruyn, Fytje Willes); m. Catrina Post * Elizabeth Willis, bp. 10 Feb 1765 Second River Ref Ch (wit: Peter & Rachel Doremus); m. Michael Moore * Maria Willis, b. about 1772; m. Johannes Storms * John Willis, b. 29 Dec 1774; m. (1) Margaret Packer; m. (2) Dorcas Ackerman * (prob) Sophia Willis, m. Cornelius Demarest * (prob) Rachel Willis, m. Ryer Demarest * Peter Willis, m. Elizabeth ---Sources: Eberhart, Edith Whitcraft, The Doremus Family in America, 1687-1987, 1990, p. 41; "Baptismal Register of Second River (Belleville) Dutch Reformed Church, 1727-1794" in Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, Jan 1928, p. 128; Kelly, Arthur, Vital Records of the Protestant Dutch Reformed Church at Acquackanonk, 1977 (reprinted 1992); Bergen County Deed W:403, abstracted by Pat Wardell -------------------------- -- Pat & Walter Wardell Englewood, FL the.wardells@gte.net