Person:Francis Willis (8)

Information on Francis Willis

From "William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 6, No. 1:

THE WILLIS FAMILY (Continued from Vol. V(original changed to reflect correct Vol. No.), pp. 24, 171.)

A letter from Col. John Willis, who is referred to as No. 23 in the pedigree, page 176, quotes the register of Francis 5 Willis, of "Whitehall," as follows:

Francis Willis, of "Whitehall" (born October 20, 1744, died July 28, 1791), and Elisabeth Perrin, his wife (born August 1, 1751, died December 5, 1791) had issue:

1. Francis Willis, born August 2, 1768;

2. Susanna, born October 17, 1773, died January 29, 1787;

3. Elizabeth Carter, born September 23, 1771;

4. Priscilla, born October 17, 1773, died November 21, 1773;

5. John, b. October 24, 1774;

6. Ann Rich, b. Mary 24, 1777;

7. Francis Perrin, b. March 12, 1779, d. December 21, 1818;

8. Thomas Nelson, b. March 30, 1781;

9. Elias, b. July 13, 1783;

10. Maria Willis, b. September 25, 1785;

11. Perrin, b. January 24, 1788;

12. Mary, b. December 28, 1790.

Nine of these were surviving at the time of the suit in 1797. (See page 176.) Two only left descendants: John Willis, who married Nelly C. Madison, and Ann Rich Willis, who married Nathaniel Burwell, of Gloucester, and had issue: Elias Rich, who died in infancy; Claudia, who married James K. Marshall, of Fauquier county, son of Chief-Justice Marshall; and Mary, who married John Jennings. (These last had issue: Maria, who died unmarried; and John Jennings, who left several sons and daughters.)