Source
- Intermediate Source:Genforum Citing Notes of Thelma Willis Bennett Family Bible Records of Joseph and Elizabeth Willis, and Ephriam and Elizabeth Willis, copied in 1917 by Douglas M. Willis, typed from Thelma Willis Bennett's notes by Rick Bennett in Feb. 2000. For complete accuracy refer to original source.
Related
- Person:Joseph Willis (2)
Transcript
The front title page of the Bible was missing. The Title page to the New Testament carried the following: Dublin: Printed by George Grierson, printer to the King's most Excellent Majesty, at the King's Arms and Two Bibles in Essex Street, M,DCC,LIII. The Bible was in the possession of Mrs. Clifford Toler of the Willis Neck area of Craven County. Mrs. Toler is a descendant of Shadrack Willis whose birth is recorded in the Bible. The following births were recorded on a blank page between the Testaments;
- Mary Willis daughter of Joseph Willis and Elizabeth his wife was born Aug. 20, 1738
- Joseph Willis son of the same parents was born Feb. 20, 1740/1
- Thomas son of the same parents was born Jan. 12, 1745/6
- Caleb Willis son of the same parents was born Feb. 20, 1747/8
- Richard Willis son of the same parents was born 16th of Feb. 1754
- Jesse Willis son of the same parents was born February 25th 1757
- Ephriam Willis son of the same parents was born May 9, 1760
- Elizabeth Willis daughter of the same parents was born May (?) 1764
- Shadrack Willis son of Ephriam and Elizabeth his wife was born April 29. 1785
- Jemima Willis Daughter of (page torn) parents was born October (page torn)
On the reverse side of the page was recorded:
- Shadrack Willis son of Ephraim Willis and Elizabeth his wife was born April 29 day in the year of our Lord 1785
- Mimsey Willis daughter of the same parents was born October 8th day in the year of our Lord 1787
- Kezia Willis of the same parents was born October the 27th (?) day in the year of our Lord 1789
- Alla Willis Daughter of the same parents was born September 12th day in the year of our Lord 1793
- Abner Willis son of the same parents was born April 20th day in the year of our Lord 1796
[parentheses and question marks are mine. No marriages or deaths were recorded. DNW]
Note
This family bible record comes with only a moderate provenance. Its presumed to be accurate, but many of the entries postdate the death of Joseph Willis. We do not know who made the entries for Ephraim and his children. Presumably they were added by Ephraim, who passed the bible record to his son Shardrack, per the original transcibers notes.
Child List
Child List of Ephraim Willis (2)
- Jemima Willis Daughter of (page torn) parents was born October (page torn)
- Shadrack Willis son of Ephraim Willis and Elizabeth his wife was born April 29 day in the year of our Lord 1785
- Mimsey Willis daughter of the same parents was born October 8th day in the year of our Lord 1787
- Kezia Willis of the same parents was born October the 27th (?) day in the year of our Lord 1789
- Alla Willis Daughter of the same parents was born September 12th day in the year of our Lord 1793
- Abner Willis son of the same parents was born April 20th day in the year of our Lord 1796
Jemima's DOB is sometimes given as 1781; since the page is shown as torn, and the date of birth of Jemima is questionable; in 1781 Ephraim would have been just 11 years of age. Marriage records indicate that Ephraim married in 1784; also young (14), to have married, but at least documented, and possible. This suggests that the missing date for Jemimina is later than 1784. Perhaps her correct DOB would be between 1789 and 1793, where there is a small gap in the birth order.
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