Analysis. Ancestry of Sterling Willis

William is believed to have first married Elizabeth Davis, and second Mary Pulliam. Court probate records indicate that William died by 1793. A will has not been identified by researchers in this line, some of whom suggest that he died intestate.

Richard died 1777, testate. His will leaves his entire estate to his wife Ann, and makes no indication of the existence of children.

Soon after Williams death before 1793, his wife Mary Pulliam Willis remarried to XXXX. Shortly thereafter a Joseph Hughes of Halifax county, files suit against Mary, the heirs of William Willis, and a number of other persons.

Court Record Halifax Co., Virginia; Joseph Hughes, plaintiff vs. MARY WILLIS, heirs of WILLIAM WILLIS, RICHARD WILLIS, JOHN WILLIS, EDWARD WILLIS, STERLING WILLIS, DRURY WILLIS, THOMAS WILLIS, SHERWOOD WILLIS, William Hopwood and ANN his wife, John Allgood and SARAH his wife, Elizabeth Daniel an orphan of Thomas Daniel and ELIZABETH his wife, etc. Chancery Court: the defendants not having entered their appearance and given security ...are to apprise court on the first day of the court in March and answer the complaint. A copy of order to be published in the "Virginia Gazette" for two months subsequently and published at the church bans at the Parish of St. Andrews in the county of Halifax on the same Sunday immediately after divine service and at the front door of the courthouse in said county. Ref: Halifax County, Virginia, Court Order Book, Pleas No. 16 (1792-1795), page 530.

Interpreting this record is difficult, particularly with respect to the identity of the various defendants. Mary is presumed to be "Mary Pulliam Willis, second wife of William. "Heirs of William Willis" are presumed to be Williams children by his first wife, Elizabeth Davis. This suggsts that the other persons listed in this suit are NOT the children of William, but rather the children of his brother Richard. On the otherhand, perhaps the list after "Heirs of William Willis" is meant to identify those heirs, and that these are the children and grandchildren of William. For more information on the Hughes lawsuite see: Data. Hughes Lawsuit vs. Willis, c1794

person	Likely identity
MARY WILLIS,	Second wife of William Willis (57)
heirs of WILLIAM WILLIS,	Children of William Willis ?
RICHARD WILLIS,	Unknown. Not the brother of William, as he died in 1777
JOHN WILLIS,	Son of Richard 20
EDWARD WILLIS,	Son of Richard 20
STERLING WILLIS,	Son of Richard 20
DRURY WILLIS,	Son of Richard 20
THOMAS WILLIS,	Son of Richard 20
SHERWOOD WILLIS,	Son of Richard 20
William Hopwood and ANN his wife	, Daughter of Richard 20
John Allgood and SARAH his wife,	, Daughter of Richard 20
Elizabeth Daniel an orphan of Thomas Daniel and ELIZABETH his wife, etc.	, GrandDaughter of Richard 20