General John Willis Contact: Randy Willis www.randywillis.org randy@randywillis.org John Willis was born 1759, in Robeson County, North Carolina, and died April 22, 1802. He was the son of Daniel Willis and Elizabeth (Betsy) Moore. John Willis married, Asenath Barnes, in 1779 (she was born in 1763, NC; died 1806, Natchez, MS). John Willis, helped emancipate, his first-cousin and my ancestor, Rev. Joseph Willis of Bladen County, North Carolina. John Willis became a member of the General Assembly of North Carolina in 1782, 1787, 1789 and 1791, a member of the Senate in 1794, and of the House of Representatives in 1795. In the same year that he helped obtain Joseph Willis' "legal freedom," 1787, he was appointed as one of a committee of five, from North Carolina, to ratify the Constitution of the United States. This was done just in time for North Carolina to enter the Union, as the twelfth state, and to assist in the election of Gen. George Washington as the first President. In 1795, Governor Samuel Ashe commissioned John Willis as a Brigadier General in the 4th Brigade of the Militia, Continental Army. The land that the county seat of Robeson County, Lumberton, North Carolina is located on was donated by him, from his Red Bluff Plantation. The area, in recent years, has become infamous as the location for the trial of the men responsible for the death of the father of basketball star Michael Jordon. A plaque of General John Willis stands there today. Gen. John Willis moved to Natchez, Mississippi, from North Carolina, in about 1800 and died soon thereafter, in 1802. He is buried behind the Natchez Cathedral. He also had a son named John (see children below). Another son, Thomas Willis, was almost Attorney General of Louisiana, he was a circuit judge in Mississippi and died in Copiah County, Mississippi. Children of Gen. John Willis: 1. Alice Willis 2. Sarah Cain Willis 3. Martha Willis, born 22 Dec 1780; died 1870. 4. Elizabeth Willis, born 1782; married in 1823 to William Patton. 5. John Willis, born 1784, died unknown; unmarried. 6. Mary Willis, born 1786. 7. Col. William Willis, born 1788; married May, 1816 to Martha Vick. 8. Ann Marie Willis, born 28 April 1791; married 1st: 24 Nov. 1817 to Abraham Barnes; married 2nd: 1 Sept 1834 to Richard Archer. 9. Thomas Abram Willis, born 22 Feb 1794; died 25 Oct 1847, in Crystal Springs; married Margaret Holden. 10. Emily Jane Willis, born 1795; died 9 Feb 1815; married Thomas Freeland. 11. Daniel Willis, born 1796; married 1st: 3 Feb 1825 to Elizabeth Copeland, Claiborne Co., Ms; married 2nd: Helen Bridgers, 15 Sept 1856, Claiborne Co., MS. 12. Harriet Willis, born 1798; married 27 Feb 1823 to Thomas Barne. Siblings of Gen. John Willis: 1. Daniel Willis, born circa 1759 in Robeson County, NC., married to FNU Rowland. 2. Joab Willis, born in Robeson County, NC., married to Martha Barnes, niece of Asenath Barnes. 3. Ahad Willis, born in Robeson County, NC., 4. Robert Willis, born circa 1740, in Robeson County, NC., died between 1787-1788; married Ann Willis (born ca. 1739). 5. Sarah Willis, born in Robeson County, NC., married Thomas Rowland 6. Elizabeth Willis, born circa 1740 in Robeson County, NC., married John Newberry. 7. Mildred/Amelia Willis, born circa 1750 in Robeson County, NC., married to FNU Clark. 8. Nancy Willis, born in Robeson County, NC., married to FNU McDavid. 9. Dianna Willis; married Moab Stevens 10. Ann Willis, born ca. 1736 11. Jacob Willis As mentioned before, John Willis, was the son of Daniel Willis and Elizabeth (Betsy) Moore. John Willis' father, Daniel Willis (born circa 1716; died 1785), had three brothers: Agerton Willis (born circa 1727; died 1777), Benjamin Willis (III?) (born circa 1725; died 1785), and George Willis (born circa 1730). The one known sister of these four brothers was Joanna Willis (born circa 1730; died 1791).

Hi! Thought I'd post what I have on my WILLIS line, which is pretty pathetic. Any help or hints would be appreciated. I have WILLIS's in Spartanburg Co., SC, (Glenn Springs Township), for two lines, that eventually marry. First things first: Albert C. FINCH, b. 9/1/1845, d. 11/28/1883 married Elizabeth WILLIS in Glenn Springs Township, SC., on 12/26/1866. These names and dates are confirmed through DAR (DAR line goes back through the FINCH name to the SMITHs and then the MORROWs). I have no further information on Elizabeth. Second line: My 2nd Great-grandfather was Edward L. WILLIS. Edward Larenzo WILLIS, b. 10/3/1860, presumably Spartanburg, SC, d. 2/13/1937, m. Martha Jane BENNETT, b. 12/23/1861, d. 5/29/1964 (yes, she lived that long). She was the d/o Joseph Wofford BENNETT and Mary Louise AIKEN. I have no further information on Edward Larenzo's parentage. I do know from a 1963 news article on his wife's 103'd birthday, that he was an orphan (perhaps from the civil war?), but I do not know his adoptive family name. Any hints on how to proceed would be appreciated. Edward Larenzo's daughter, Ettie Marie WILLIS, b. 10/14/1898, d. 3/30/1988, Spartanburg CO., SC married Percy Elijah FINCH b. 9/15/1897, d. 10/7/1960, s/o Marcus Alonzo FINCH b. 10/25/1871 d. 5/5/1941, s/o Albert C. FINCH. (All in Spartanburg Co., SC). Thanks! Suzanne Robbins