Francis Willis (c1612-c1691)/Notes

From: The Lager Diebolt Rausch Laub Genealogy Page extracted 22 Sept 2007.

Name: Francis Willis 1 2 Sex: M Title: Colonel Birth: ABT 1612 in Parish of St. Fowles als St. Algate, Oxford, England 3 Death: BET 1689 AND 1691 in E. Greenwich, Kent, England 4 Will: 6 JUL 1689 E. Greenwich, Kent, England 5 Probate: 25 APR 1691 E. Greenwich, Kent, England 5 Event: Court Appearance 11 JUL 1657 James City, VA. 6 Event: Delegate 1652 Gloucester Co., VA. 7 Event: Election 1647 York Co., VA. 8 Event: Land Contract 1642 Gloucester Co., VA. 9 Event: Appointment 1651 York Co., VA. 10 Reference Number: 9952.1 Note: Genealogies of Virginia Families, Vol. V, p. 489 - 491 mentions that the instant Francis may have had no issue. The same source reports "Francis is one of the first of the Willis Family whose name appears prominently in the history of Virginia. He was born in the parish of St. Fowles als St. Algate in the city of Oxford, England. He emigrated to the Virginia colony as a young man. There he was initially promoted to the important post of Clerk of Charles River County (then York) Ref: Willis Genealogy, Peggy Rush, p. 159.

Francis was a friend of Sir John Harvey who was subsequently disposed from Government and suceeded by the more liberal minded Sir Farncis Wiat. Willis severely denounced the new governor and fell into disrepute with the local authorities. Soon however, after substantial fine, his period of misfortune was over when Wiat was replaced by Sir William Berkeley. He was subsequently relieved of his fines and by 1648, is referenced as one of the magistrates of York County.

In 1652, he was one of the two first representatives of Gloucester county ( Ref: Robinson's Transcrips from the Proceedings of the General Court - Hen. Statutes I., p. 552 ) He was a representative from Gloucester county in the sessions of the House of Burgesses in 1658 - 1659, and in 1659 - 1660, chairman of the committee which revised the laws in 1657 - 1658, and councillor in 1658 till 1675, with the title of Colonel. On 25 March 1666, the Governor (with eleven esquires present, including Col. Francis Willis et. al.), ordered that officers be continually assistant to Ned, the Indian. Three years later, John Willis Sr. received his patent of 261 acres and 'Ned, the Indian (Edmund Gunstocker)' was John's neighbor for many years thereafter.

In 1675 or there about, it is believed that Francis may have left the Virginia colony and returned to England where he died by 25 April 1691 when his will was received in the East Greenwich Parish of Kent County, England. (Ref: New England History and Genealogy Register Vol. XL, p. 257 ) In that will he left large estates on Ware Creek, in Gloucester County, Virginia to his nephew Francis, son of his brother Henry Willis deceased and 100 acres to his nephew William Willis (son of William (Ref: Willis Genealogy, Peggy Rush, p. 161. This will also mentions, a cousin, Hugh Willis who was a son of John, of Winchester.

Additional information re. where Francis may have owned land was supplied in the 1751 Fry-Jefferson map of Virginia which was reprinted in 'Here Lies Virginia'. It shows the Willis land holdings in Gloucester County between the Severn and Ware rivers west of Mockjack Bay. ( Ref: Willis Genealogy, Peggy Rush, p. 164 citing ivor noel hume, p. 5 )

Father: Francis Willis b: BET 1586 AND 1589 in Oxford, Ware Parish, England Mother: ? ?

Marriage 1 Jane Simons