I have a Nancy Reid, daughter of Anderson Reid, married Samuel Willis in 1830 in Madison Co., KY. However, Samuel died (I think) in 1842, after your Nancy married the second time. Samuel and Nancy had a son named William T. Willis, born about 1830, per my information. I don't have any other information about Nancy or Anderson Reid or any information on other children of Samuel and Nancy. Regards, Doug ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nancy Willis" <nshelwo3@alltel.net> To: <WILLIS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, August 13, 2001 10:58 AM Subject: John William Willis b. Ky. to Ill. to Kans. > I am searching for parents of John William Willis in Hancock County and > McDonough Counties in Ill. > John William Willis b. 1832 in Kentucky, county not known to First Name > Not Known Willis and I > believe his wife's first name Nancy last name not known. > > After over 30 years of a brick wall because of unknown names and > counties I believe thanks to Statewide Illinois Marriages online, > McDonough GenWeb site and census records and I note I made while talking > to an older relative 30 years ago that I may have located John William > Willis' mother. > > Nancy Willis is head of household in 1840 McDonough Co. Census[this > corresponds with family tradition that John William Willis father died > when he was very small and his mother remarried.] there was 1 male child > and two female children. > > Mrs. Nancy Willis married Robert Boyd , 28 January 1841 at McDonough > Co., ILL > > On the 1850 Census Nancy is again a widow. She and children in McDonough > Co. > > Nancy Boyd Married to John Gibson, 19 September 1854 in McDonough Co., > Ill > Nancy and John Gibson are on the 1860 McDonough Co Census. > This is the last record I've found of Nancy Unknown who married an > Unknown willis in Kentucky bef 1832. > > Nancy's son John William Willis married Martha Ellen Mauk in Harmony > Twp. Hancock County, Ill. in 1855. They are on Hancock Co 1860 census > with > Allen Boyd a half brother living with them. > They lived in Hancock county until 1886 when came went to Kansas. They > were members of the Primative Baptist Church both in Illinois and > Kansas. > > John William Willis (1832 - 1909) > > Spouse: Martha Ellen Mauk (1837 - 1902) > > Married 3 February 1855 at Hancock Co., Ill..(Marriage Cert. Goves > middle name Ann which I feel is an error) > > Children: > > 1 Ambrose Franklin Willis (1855 -d. young ) > 2 Nancy Amdesteia Willis (1859 -d. young ) > 3 Ida Belle Willis (1861 - 1931) m. Mastin Cox in Hancock Co. Ill. > 4 Samuel Lee Willis (1864 - 1939) > 5 Devia Franzetta Willis (1868 - 1944) m. McCoy in Ks. > 6 Cora Mae Willis (1871 - 1934)m 1 Setzer in Ks. m 2. John Jenkins a > first cousin. > 7 James Allen Willis (1873 - ) m. Myers in Ks. > 8 Perna Elizabeth Willis (1876 - 1942) M. Myers in Ks. > 9 Elsie Maude Willis (1880 - 1907) m. Myers in Ks. > > Would like to know death date of Nancy Willis Boyd Gibson and the first > name of her > Willis Husband. Any help appreciated. Nancy Willis > > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB >

--WebTV-Mail-29185-169 Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7Bit Lisa, I have a friend from the John Willis that married Rebecca Rust in Lawrence County Ohio, family. If this is yours, write me, and I will give you her address. --WebTV-Mail-29185-169 Content-Disposition: Inline Content-Type: Message/RFC822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7Bit Received: from smtpin-102-5.bryant.webtv.net (209.240.198.31) by storefull-145.iap.bryant.webtv.net with WTV-SMTP; Wed, 15 Aug 2001 01:02:35 -0700 (PDT) Received: by smtpin-102-5.bryant.webtv.net (WebTV_Postfix+sws) id 7B589250; Wed, 15 Aug 2001 01:02:39 -0700 (PDT) Delivered-To: willis1930@webtv.net Received: from lists2.rootsweb.com (lists2.rootsweb.com [63.92.80.32]) by smtpin-102-5.bryant.webtv.net (WebTV_Postfix+sws) with ESMTP id E0E8C16C; Wed, 15 Aug 2001 01:02:38 -0700 (PDT) Received: (from slist@localhost) by lists2.rootsweb.com (8.10.1/8.10.1) id f7F814M24016; Wed, 15 Aug 2001 02:01:04 -0600 Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 02:01:04 -0600 Message-Id: <200108150801.f7F814M24016@lists2.rootsweb.com> From: WILLIS-D-request@rootsweb.com Subject: WILLIS-D Digest V01 #81 X-Loop: WILLIS-D@rootsweb.com X-Mailing-List: <WILLIS-D@rootsweb.com> archive/volume01/81 Precedence: list MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/digest; boundary="----------------------------" To: WILLIS-D@rootsweb.com Reply-To: WILLIS-L@rootsweb.com ------------------------------ Content-Type: text/plain WILLIS-D Digest Volume 01 : Issue 81 Today's Topics: #1 New to the list and needing help:- ["Lisa" <lisad@valkyrie.net>] Administrivia: To unsubscribe from WILLIS-D, send a message to WILLIS-D-request@rootsweb.com that contains in the body of the message the command unsubscribe and no other text. No subject line is necessary, but if your software requires one, just use unsubscribe in the subject, too. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #1 Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 09:25:32 -0400 From: "Lisa" <lisad@valkyrie.net> To: WILLIS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <002901c124c4$98617bc0$0101a8c0@w98sysrec> Subject: New to the list and needing help:-) Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Hello everyone!! I just found this list and was hoping for some help finding my roots. I am a descendent of the Willis family from Lawrence Co Ohio that moved to Fayette County Wv. I was wondering if anyone has any information on William (Capt. Bill) And his wife Elizabeth Davis? I know that they were married in Kanawha County Va (now WV) But I don't know their Parents. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you, Lisa -------------------------------- End of WILLIS-D Digest V01 Issue #81 ************************************ --WebTV-Mail-29185-169--

Hello everyone!! I just found this list and was hoping for some help finding my roots. I am a descendent of the Willis family from Lawrence Co Ohio that moved to Fayette County Wv. I was wondering if anyone has any information on William (Capt. Bill) And his wife Elizabeth Davis? I know that they were married in Kanawha County Va (now WV) But I don't know their Parents. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you, Lisa

I am searching for parents of John William Willis in Hancock County and McDonough Counties in Ill. John William Willis b. 1832 in Kentucky, county not known to First Name Not Known Willis and I believe his wife's first name Nancy last name not known. After over 30 years of a brick wall because of unknown names and counties I believe thanks to Statewide Illinois Marriages online, McDonough GenWeb site and census records and I note I made while talking to an older relative 30 years ago that I may have located John William Willis' mother. Nancy Willis is head of household in 1840 McDonough Co. Census[this corresponds with family tradition that John William Willis father died when he was very small and his mother remarried.] there was 1 male child and two female children. Mrs. Nancy Willis married Robert Boyd , 28 January 1841 at McDonough Co., ILL On the 1850 Census Nancy is again a widow. She and children in McDonough Co. Nancy Boyd Married to John Gibson, 19 September 1854 in McDonough Co., Ill Nancy and John Gibson are on the 1860 McDonough Co Census. This is the last record I've found of Nancy Unknown who married an Unknown willis in Kentucky bef 1832. Nancy's son John William Willis married Martha Ellen Mauk in Harmony Twp. Hancock County, Ill. in 1855. They are on Hancock Co 1860 census with Allen Boyd a half brother living with them. They lived in Hancock county until 1886 when came went to Kansas. They were members of the Primative Baptist Church both in Illinois and Kansas. John William Willis (1832 - 1909) Spouse: Martha Ellen Mauk (1837 - 1902) Married 3 February 1855 at Hancock Co., Ill..(Marriage Cert. Goves middle name Ann which I feel is an error) Children: 1 Ambrose Franklin Willis (1855 -d. young ) 2 Nancy Amdesteia Willis (1859 -d. young ) 3 Ida Belle Willis (1861 - 1931) m. Mastin Cox in Hancock Co. Ill. 4 Samuel Lee Willis (1864 - 1939) 5 Devia Franzetta Willis (1868 - 1944) m. McCoy in Ks. 6 Cora Mae Willis (1871 - 1934)m 1 Setzer in Ks. m 2. John Jenkins a first cousin. 7 James Allen Willis (1873 - ) m. Myers in Ks. 8 Perna Elizabeth Willis (1876 - 1942) M. Myers in Ks. 9 Elsie Maude Willis (1880 - 1907) m. Myers in Ks. Would like to know death date of Nancy Willis Boyd Gibson and the first name of her Willis Husband. Any help appreciated. Nancy Willis

I am looking for my great grandfather 's birthplace. William Arthur Willis born 1875 in Arkansas. Died in Dallas Co., Texas in 1951. First wife, Adella Blanks died in 1924, then William married his step-mother Sally. William's father was Robert L. Willis, born 1848 in Ms. Mother: unKnown. Sally was Robert's second wife also. Linda

Hello list and in answer to D. Willis. During my research for William Arthur Willis b. abt. 1875 in MO and Henry Jesse Gordor Willis b. 1895 in FL, I saw an entry for William H. Willis in Washington Co. AR before 1908 and another with same name in same county in the 1885 Land records posted to rootsweb.com. Maybe this will help. Seems like my Willis family moved around somewhat, maybe yours did too. Lorrie Willis

Hello list, I am new to this list, and am trying to find someone with the above in their tree as a branch or just a small twig. She is my gg.grandmother and was married to William POPE in Sherborne Dorset. Any information would be gratefully received. TIA Martyn Allen.

I'm looking for information about Caleb Willis b. 1835 married to Rachel Reeves b. 1840. Both are buried at Rocky Mound Cemetery in Macon County, Tennessee. Maybe at some point I believe they may have been in Kentucky. Here's my line 1 Caleb Willis 1835 - 1909 . +Rachel Reeves 1840 - 1904 ........ 2 James Henry Franklin Willis 1860 - ............ +Sarah Frances Jones 1867 - 1886 ................... 3 Alice Isabelle Willis 1885 - 1976 ....................... +Arthur I. Wilson ................... 3 Mary Rachel Willis 1886 - 1959 ....................... +Henry Oscar Cliburn 1885 - 1942 ........ *2nd Wife of James Henry Franklin Willis: ............ +Nancy Ann Jones ................... 3 Tenie Jane Willis 1890 - 1915 ....................... +Bud Shuffitt 1886 - 1958 ................... 3 William Harrison Willis 1892 - ....................... +Fannie May 1896 - ................... *2nd Wife of William Harrison Willis: ....................... +Mazie Jones Douglas ................... 3 Henry McKinley Willis 1894 - ................... 3 James Curtis Willis 1895 - ................... 3 Thomas Hobert Willis 1897 - ................... 3 Ada D. Willis 1899 - ................... 3 Dollie B Willis 1901 - ....................... +Knox Tracy 1889 - ................... 3 Effie C. Willis 1903 - ................... 3 Noah Roosevelt Willis 1905 - ................... 3 Hattie Mae Willis 1908 - ........ 2 Sharh Elizabirth Willis 1862 - ........ 2 Marry F. Willis 1865 - 1914 ........ 2 William Allen Willis 1872 - 1946 ............ +Matilda Etter Cliburn 1873 - 1911 ........ 2 Lavada Dee Willis 1884 - 1952 ............ +John LIgon Meador 1878 - 1935 Thanks, Chris Cliburn chris@chrisnchris.com _________________________________________________ My website: www.chrisnchris.com/ccfamily.htm Researching: Allison, Cliburn, Douglas, Haight, Herrin, Jenkins, McAllister, McMackin, McMasters, Meador, Miller, Pride, Simmons, Welch, Willis

Hi Folks, I have been getting thousands of bounced emails from Rootsweb. I mentioned it to McAffee and they said that perhaps someone on the list has a virus. The Sir Cam virus is quite active right now. If you are having problems I suggest that you scan your computer for a virus. Sincerely, Carol Clapshaw

Does anyone have ANY info William H. Willis or Lillian Rasmussen, parents of William Henry Willis, B.1906 Marquette, NE. Don

Does anyone have any information on Harry Luell Willis (1878-1975). He was born on a Farm near Greenwich Village, MA. His parents were Herbert P. Willis and Mary Ann James. I know of one sister Virgina or Jennie (b. 1876). Any information on these Willis' will be greatly appreciated. Sue __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com/

He was born in Tn. Married to Vinnie Beatty. He had 4 sons. Newton married Margert Lumley & Myrtle Long, Henry married Georgia William, Jack married Dorie ? and Hulles married Susie Ford. 1 daughter Della. She was married to Edward Swan. All was born in Jackson Co. Arkansas. Any information would be appreciated. Mary

John Willis b abt 1800 in Exeter/Devon. Moved to Nova Scotia about 1830, married Prudence Rains. any info appreciated. Dot

Hi Randy, In my opinion, you are doing the family a real service in posting your short biographies from time to time. Even though they may be basically seeking information, as in this case, still as e-mail, they are retained in the Willis Archives and are available for all of us, as long as the archives last. Do you have any plans to collect them, perhaps with an index, and make them available on the Web or possibly in print? Polly Willis Gingold also has quite a good collection of short bios at her site. Regards, John New Orleans -------------------- Randy Willis wrote: > Seeking information on my Great-aunt Julia Coatney Willis Scarbrough > > Julia Coatney Willis was born March 11, 1883 near Long Leaf, Louisiana and > died August 16, 1945. She married Harry Scarbrough. They had one daughter > named Audrey Ethel Scarbrough (b. March 1, 1907; d. October 22, 1980)

Hi, I am no expert on this but I am currently reading "Slaves in the Family" it is a very well documented book. In the book the author talks about the Planter's dependence on Indian Slaves. Sincerely, Carol Clapshaw ----- Original Message ----- From: Randy Willis <randywillis@ev1.net> To: <WILLIS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2001 6:53 PM Subject: Re: Four Willis brothers > It was to a Indian slave of Agerton's that his only son, Joseph, was born. > The relationship of Agerton and Joseph's mother can only be speculation, but > under the North Carolina laws of 1741 all interracial marriages were > illegal. Since Joseph's mother was a slave he was born to a slave status. > It is clear that his father considered him as an only son and loved him as > one. This fact did not sit well with some other members of the family. > > In her book, North Carolina Indian Records, Donna Spindel writes about the > Indians of this area of the state: > > "The Lumbee Indians, most of whom reside in Robeson County, constitute the > largest group of Indians in eastern North Carolina. Although their exact > origin is a complex matter, they are undoubtedly the descendants of several > tribes that occupied eastern Carolina during the earliest days of white > settlement. Living along the Pee Dee and Lumber rivers in present-day > Robeson and adjacent counties, these Indians of mixed blood were officially > designated as Lumbees by the General Assembly in 1956. .Most of the Indians > have Anglo-Saxon names and they are generally designated as 'black' or > 'mulatto' in nineteenth-century documents; for example, in the U.S. Censuses > of 1850-1880, the designation for Lumbee families is usually 'mulatto." > > According to one of North Carolina's top genealogists and historians, the > late William Perry Johnson, " . . . In North Carolina, American Indians up > until Mid 1880's, were labeled Mulattos." Joseph's mother may have very well > been related to these Indians. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "John" <longstrt@gs.net> > To: <WILLIS-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, August 06, 2001 4:43 PM > Subject: Four Willis brothers > > > > Hi Randy, > > > > I can't let your last paragraph go unchallenged. The state coordinator > > for > > USGenWeb in NC said that there were no records of Indians being slaves. > > All the > > slaves were, at least partially, of African descent. > > > > Agerton had a bastard son Joseph, by one of his slave women. After > > Agerton's death, his nephew John, son of his brother Daniel, tried to > > emancipate Joseph and make him a free man. > > John > > -------------------- > > > > Randy Willis wrote: > > > > > From: Randy Willis > > > www.randywillis.org > > > randy@randywillis.org > > > > > > My research begins in Southeast Virginia in the Chesapeake Bay area, > > the > > > same area that the pilgrims first settled. There in the 1740's, in > > Isle of > > > Wight County and Nansemond County (now the city of Suffolk) was the > > place > > > that Joseph Willis' father, three uncles and one aunt called home. The > > > > > family had come to America from Devonshire, England. I believe, but I > > cannot > > > prove it beyond the shadow of a doubt, > > ........................Agerton, > > > Daniel, Benjamin, James, and Joanna were neighbors on the Northwest > > > Cape Fear River. The other brother, George Willis, came first to New > > > Hanover, obtaining a land grant on Widow Creek in 1761 and selling out > > in > > > 1767. He then moved to Robeson County (formerly part of Bladen County) > > not > > > very far west from the rest of the family. > > > > > > The four brothers were all well-to-do planters with large land > > holdings. As > > > a planter, Agerton owned slaves many of which were Indian. At this > > time in > > > North Carolina many slaves were Indian; in fact as late as the 1780's > > in > > > North Carolina a third of all slaves were Indian. Indians were made > > slaves > > > by the whites from the very beginning. > > > > > > > > > > ============================== > > Ancestry.com Genealogical Databases > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist2.asp > > Search over 2500 databases with one easy query! > > > > > > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry's Library - The best collection of family history > learning and how-to articles on the Internet. > http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library >

Seeking information on my Great-aunt Julia Coatney Willis Scarbrough Julia Coatney Willis was born March 11, 1883 near Long Leaf, Louisiana and died August 16, 1945. She married Harry Scarbrough. They had one daughter named Audrey Ethel Scarbrough (b. March 1, 1907; d. October 22, 1980) who married Kent Hayden (b. June 18, 1906; d. November 16, 1984). Audrey and Kent Kane Hayden, Sr. had two sons named Charles Hayden and Kent Kane Hayden, Jr. Julia Coatney Willis Scarbrough died of a heart attack and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery, San Bernardino, California. Julia Coatney Willis "aunt Coatney" was the youngest daughter of Daniel Hubbard Willis, Jr. (1839-1900) & Julia Ann Graham Willis (1845-1936). Julia Coatney Willis' siblings were: Henry Elwa Willis (1867-1945), Carvelia S. Willis (1869-1941), Minnie R. Willis (1870-1921), David Eugene Willis (1872-1880), Corine Willis (1873-1873), Dr. Daniel Oscar Willis (1875-1935), Robert Kenneth Willis, Sr. (1877-1951), Ruthey Madella Willis (1880), Stella Willis (1881-1881), and my grandfather Randall Lee Willis (1886-1940). Randy Willis www.randywillis.org

It was to a Indian slave of Agerton Willis that his only son, Joseph Willis, was born. The relationship of Agerton and Joseph's mother can only be speculation, but under the North Carolina laws of 1741 all interracial marriages were illegal. Since Joseph's mother was a slave he was born to a slave status. It is clear that his father considered him as an only son and loved him as one. This fact did not sit well with some other members of the family. In her book, "North Carolina Indian Records," Donna Spindel writes about the Indians of this area of the state: "The Lumbee Indians, most of whom reside in Robeson County, constitute the largest group of Indians in eastern North Carolina. Although their exact origin is a complex matter, they are undoubtedly the descendants of several tribes that occupied eastern Carolina during the earliest days of white settlement. Living along the Pee Dee and Lumber rivers in present-day Robeson and adjacent counties, these Indians of mixed blood were officially designated as Lumbees by the General Assembly in 1956. .Most of the Indians have Anglo-Saxon names and they are generally designated as 'black' or 'mulatto' in nineteenth-century documents; for example, in the U.S. Censuses of 1850-1880, the designation for Lumbee families is usually 'mulatto." According to one of North Carolina's top genealogists and historians, the late William Perry Johnson, " . . . In North Carolina, American Indians up until Mid 1880's, were labeled Mulattos." Joseph's mother may have very well been related to these Indians. Randy Willis www.randywillis.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "John" <longstrt@gs.net> To: <WILLIS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, August 06, 2001 4:43 PM Subject: Four Willis brothers > Hi Randy, > > I can't let your last paragraph go unchallenged. The state coordinator > for > USGenWeb in NC said that there were no records of Indians being slaves. > All the > slaves were, at least partially, of African descent. > > Agerton had a bastard son Joseph, by one of his slave women. After > Agerton's death, his nephew John, son of his brother Daniel, tried to > emancipate Joseph and make him a free man. > John > -------------------- > > Randy Willis wrote: > > > From: Randy Willis > > www.randywillis.org > > randy@randywillis.org > > > > My research begins in Southeast Virginia in the Chesapeake Bay area, > the > > same area that the pilgrims first settled. There in the 1740's, in > Isle of > > Wight County and Nansemond County (now the city of Suffolk) was the > place > > that Joseph Willis' father, three uncles and one aunt called home. The > > > family had come to America from Devonshire, England. I believe, but I > cannot > > prove it beyond the shadow of a doubt, > ........................Agerton, > > Daniel, Benjamin, James, and Joanna were neighbors on the Northwest > > Cape Fear River. The other brother, George Willis, came first to New > > Hanover, obtaining a land grant on Widow Creek in 1761 and selling out > in > > 1767. He then moved to Robeson County (formerly part of Bladen County) > not > > very far west from the rest of the family. > > > > The four brothers were all well-to-do planters with large land > holdings. As > > a planter, Agerton owned slaves many of which were Indian. At this > time in > > North Carolina many slaves were Indian; in fact as late as the 1780's > in > > North Carolina a third of all slaves were Indian. Indians were made > slaves > > by the whites from the very beginning. > > > > > ============================== > Ancestry.com Genealogical Databases > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist2.asp > Search over 2500 databases with one easy query! > >

It was to a Indian slave of Agerton Willis that his only son, Joseph Willis, was born. The relationship of Agerton and Joseph's mother can only be speculation, but under the North Carolina laws of 1741 all interracial marriages were illegal. Since Joseph's mother was a slave he was born to a slave status. It is clear that his father considered him as an only son and loved him as one. This fact did not sit well with some other members of the family. In her book, "North Carolina Indian Records," Donna Spindel writes about the Indians of this area of the state: "The Lumbee Indians, most of whom reside in Robeson County, constitute the largest group of Indians in eastern North Carolina. Although their exact origin is a complex matter, they are undoubtedly the descendants of several tribes that occupied eastern Carolina during the earliest days of white settlement. Living along the Pee Dee and Lumber rivers in present-day Robeson and adjacent counties, these Indians of mixed blood were officially designated as Lumbees by the General Assembly in 1956. .Most of the Indians have Anglo-Saxon names and they are generally designated as 'black' or 'mulatto' in nineteenth-century documents; for example, in the U.S. Censuses of 1850-1880, the designation for Lumbee families is usually 'mulatto." According to one of North Carolina's top genealogists and historians, the late William Perry Johnson, " . . . In North Carolina, American Indians up until Mid 1880's, were labeled Mulattos." Joseph's mother may have very well been related to these Indians. Randy Willis www.randywillis.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "John" <longstrt@gs.net> To: <WILLIS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, August 06, 2001 4:43 PM Subject: Four Willis brothers > Hi Randy, > > I can't let your last paragraph go unchallenged. The state coordinator > for > USGenWeb in NC said that there were no records of Indians being slaves. > All the > slaves were, at least partially, of African descent. > > Agerton had a bastard son Joseph, by one of his slave women. After > Agerton's death, his nephew John, son of his brother Daniel, tried to > emancipate Joseph and make him a free man. > John > -------------------- > > Randy Willis wrote: > > > From: Randy Willis > > www.randywillis.org > > randy@randywillis.org > > > > My research begins in Southeast Virginia in the Chesapeake Bay area, > the > > same area that the pilgrims first settled. There in the 1740's, in > Isle of > > Wight County and Nansemond County (now the city of Suffolk) was the > place > > that Joseph Willis' father, three uncles and one aunt called home. The > > > family had come to America from Devonshire, England. I believe, but I > cannot > > prove it beyond the shadow of a doubt, > ........................Agerton, > > Daniel, Benjamin, James, and Joanna were neighbors on the Northwest > > Cape Fear River. The other brother, George Willis, came first to New > > Hanover, obtaining a land grant on Widow Creek in 1761 and selling out > in > > 1767. He then moved to Robeson County (formerly part of Bladen County) > not > > very far west from the rest of the family. > > > > The four brothers were all well-to-do planters with large land > holdings. As > > a planter, Agerton owned slaves many of which were Indian. At this > time in > > North Carolina many slaves were Indian; in fact as late as the 1780's > in > > North Carolina a third of all slaves were Indian. Indians were made > slaves > > by the whites from the very beginning. > > > > > ============================== > Ancestry.com Genealogical Databases > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist2.asp > Search over 2500 databases with one easy query! > >

It was to a Indian slave of Agerton's that his only son, Joseph, was born. The relationship of Agerton and Joseph's mother can only be speculation, but under the North Carolina laws of 1741 all interracial marriages were illegal. Since Joseph's mother was a slave he was born to a slave status. It is clear that his father considered him as an only son and loved him as one. This fact did not sit well with some other members of the family. In her book, North Carolina Indian Records, Donna Spindel writes about the Indians of this area of the state: "The Lumbee Indians, most of whom reside in Robeson County, constitute the largest group of Indians in eastern North Carolina. Although their exact origin is a complex matter, they are undoubtedly the descendants of several tribes that occupied eastern Carolina during the earliest days of white settlement. Living along the Pee Dee and Lumber rivers in present-day Robeson and adjacent counties, these Indians of mixed blood were officially designated as Lumbees by the General Assembly in 1956. .Most of the Indians have Anglo-Saxon names and they are generally designated as 'black' or 'mulatto' in nineteenth-century documents; for example, in the U.S. Censuses of 1850-1880, the designation for Lumbee families is usually 'mulatto." According to one of North Carolina's top genealogists and historians, the late William Perry Johnson, " . . . In North Carolina, American Indians up until Mid 1880's, were labeled Mulattos." Joseph's mother may have very well been related to these Indians. ----- Original Message ----- From: "John" <longstrt@gs.net> To: <WILLIS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, August 06, 2001 4:43 PM Subject: Four Willis brothers > Hi Randy, > > I can't let your last paragraph go unchallenged. The state coordinator > for > USGenWeb in NC said that there were no records of Indians being slaves. > All the > slaves were, at least partially, of African descent. > > Agerton had a bastard son Joseph, by one of his slave women. After > Agerton's death, his nephew John, son of his brother Daniel, tried to > emancipate Joseph and make him a free man. > John > -------------------- > > Randy Willis wrote: > > > From: Randy Willis > > www.randywillis.org > > randy@randywillis.org > > > > My research begins in Southeast Virginia in the Chesapeake Bay area, > the > > same area that the pilgrims first settled. There in the 1740's, in > Isle of > > Wight County and Nansemond County (now the city of Suffolk) was the > place > > that Joseph Willis' father, three uncles and one aunt called home. The > > > family had come to America from Devonshire, England. I believe, but I > cannot > > prove it beyond the shadow of a doubt, > ........................Agerton, > > Daniel, Benjamin, James, and Joanna were neighbors on the Northwest > > Cape Fear River. The other brother, George Willis, came first to New > > Hanover, obtaining a land grant on Widow Creek in 1761 and selling out > in > > 1767. He then moved to Robeson County (formerly part of Bladen County) > not > > very far west from the rest of the family. > > > > The four brothers were all well-to-do planters with large land > holdings. As > > a planter, Agerton owned slaves many of which were Indian. At this > time in > > North Carolina many slaves were Indian; in fact as late as the 1780's > in > > North Carolina a third of all slaves were Indian. Indians were made > slaves > > by the whites from the very beginning. > > > > > ============================== > Ancestry.com Genealogical Databases > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist2.asp > Search over 2500 databases with one easy query! > >

Hi all, I just found some info that leads me to believe that my James Calvin Willis is the son of Wiley Willis and Elizabeth Cochran who were married on 9 Apr 1832 in Union Co., IL. Was hoping someone might have come across the same thing. Also, I found that there is a good posiblity that Wiley Willis is the brother to the following: Robert Willis who married Mary Cochran on 14 Jan 1827 in Union Co., IL James Willis who married Mary Tripp on 18 Feb 1827 in Union Co., IL Margaret Willis who married James McElyea on 15 May 1830 in Union Co., IL Anna Willis who married Moses Thornton on 27 Jun 1833 in Union Co., IL Cynthia Willis who married William Tripp on11 May 1823 in Union Co., IL Would any of you know these families? I also found that there was a James Willis and a Jacob Willis listed on the 1818 Union Co., IL census and the 1820 Union Co., IL census. I wonder how they fit in. I didn't find marriage info on Jacob and he is no longer on the census after 1820. Could this be their father? Just thinking out loud! Would love to hear from some of ya'll on this one. Melissa in TX