The WILLIS Family of Dorchester and Sudbury

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INDEX to the Willis Family Files

First Generation

ROGER WILLIS (d. 1690/1700) of Dorchester and Sudbury

Parents: McTeer and Warner [Ref] discuss the origins of Roger Willis. One theory is that Roger is related to his wife's brother-in-law Elkanah Willis. But, Roger is not mentioned in the settlement of Elkanah's father Nathaniel's estate. Elkanah had three uncles who left no descendants, and the fourth, Dea. John Willis of Bridgewater apparently did not have a descendant Roger Willis. A second theory is that Roger is related to Michael Willis of Dorchester and Boston, but neither Michael nor his wife mention Roger in their wills. A third theory is that Roger is a son of George Willis of Cambridge. But, George mentions only two sons, Thomas and Stephen in his will. A final theory is that Roger is a grandson of George. It is suggested that George had another son John who married a daughter of Roger Elsie and that this John was Roger's father. But, John married in 1655, too late for Roger to have married in 1664.

Roger Willis died between 14 Sep 1690 and 10 Dec 1700, when a deed mentions his heirs. [Ref] He married Ruth Hill on 19 Jul 1664 in Dorchester. [Ref][Ref][Ref][Ref]

John Hill's children sold their interests in his rights to land in Stoughton by a deed dated 14 Feb 1733/4; one of the signers, on behalf of her eight children, was Ruth Willis of Sudbury, "Widow of Roger Willis of Sudbury, Yeoman". Ruth acknowledged her signature on 15 Apr 1734. [Ref]

Soon after their marriage, Roger and Ruth moved from Dorchester to Sudbury. [Ref] Roger was a member of the Sudbury East Side Church before 1678. [Ref] They moved back to Dorchester when King Philip's War threatened and they were not among the inhabitants of Sudbury who described their losses in a 11 Oct 1676 petition. [Ref] The Willises returned to Sudbury between 1680 and 1684. [Ref]

Children of Samuel Willis and Susanna Gleason:

1. Ruth Willis (likely daughter) married John Goodnow on 28 Feb 1689/90 in Sudbury. [Ref][Ref] John, the son of Capt. John and Mary (Axdell) Goodnow, was born on 9 Sep 1670 in Sudbury. [Ref] He died about 1736 in Weston. [Ref] John married second Sarah Unknown. [Ref]
   There is no firm evidence that Ruth is part of this family. [Ref]
   some descendants of Ruth Willis
2. Mary Willis was born on 9 Jan 1669 in Sudbury. [Ref, d. Roger and Ruth][Ref does not give the day][Ref, 7 Jan]
3. Samuel Willis was born on 1 Apr 1675 in Sudbury. He married first Experience Newell on 23 May 1700 in Roxbury. He married second Susanna Gleason.
4. Elizabeth Willis was born on 9 Mar 1677/8 in Dorchester. [Ref][Ref]
5. Hannah Willis was born on 11 Feb 1680 in Dorchester. [Ref][Ref][Ref, d. Roger and Ruth]
6. Sarah Willis was born on 20 Mar 1683/4 in Sudbury. [Ref, d. Roger and Ruth][Ref][Ref] She married Daniel Taylor in 1712 in Marlboro. [Ref][Ref, ___ Willis] Daniel, the son of William and Mary (Johnson) Taylor, was born on 19 Jun 1690 in Marlboro. [Ref, William and Sarah][Ref, William and Sarah (Mary), Willam and Mary Johnson m. 15 Nov 1671]
   some descendants of Sarah Willis
7. Josiah Willis was born on 8 Dec 1686 in Sudbury. [Ref, s. Roger and Ruth][Ref] He died shortly before 6 Nov 1758 in Sudbury. [Ref] He married Sarah Wood on 11 Jan 1714/5 in Sudbury. [Ref] Sarah, the daughter of Abraham and Sarah Wood, was born on 11 Sep 1692 in Sudbury and was buried on 27 Feb 1783 in Sudbury. [Ref]
   some descendants of Josiah Willis
8. Thankful Willis was born on 14 Sep 1690 in Sudbury. [Ref, d. Roger and Ruth][Ref] She died on 3 Jan 1735 in Southborough. [Ref, w. James][Ref] She married James Bellows on 18 Jan 1726/7 in Marlboro. [Ref][Ref] James, the son of Isaac and Elizabeth Bellows, was born on 21 Dec 1701 in Marlboro. [Ref][Ref] James married second Sarah Sherman on 8 Dec 1736 in Southborough. [Ref, w. James][Ref] She died on 19 Aug 1740 in Southborough. [Ref, w. James][Ref] James married third Sarah Unknown. [Ref]
   some descendants of Thankful Willis

Second Generation

SAMUEL WILLIS (1675 - 1758) of Sudbury

Parents: Roger Willis and Ruth Hill

Samuel Willis was born on 1 Apr 1675 in Sudbury. [Ref, s. Roger and Ruth][Ref] He died on 26 Nov 1758 in Sudbury. [Ref] He married first Experience Newell on 23 May 1700 in Roxbury. [Ref][Ref] Experience, the daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Curtis) Newell, was born on 29 Jan 1677 in Roxbury. [Ref, d. Isaac][Ref] He married second Susanna Gleason [Ref] before Jul 1703. [Ref]

Samuel married Experience Newell the same day that Experience's cousin Jacob -- the son of Jacob and Martha (Gibson) Newell -- married Susanna's sister Joyce in Roxbury. [Ref]

On 18 Jan 1716/7 an agreement was signed between Isaac Gleason, the only surviving son of Joseph Gleason, Sr.; Samuel and Susannah (the eldest daughter of Joseph) Willis; Jacob and Joyce Newell; Noah and Abigail (the third daughter) Morse; Samuel and Mary (the fourth and youngest daughter) Morse. [Ref]

Samuel returned from Roxbury to Sudbury sometime in summer or autumn 1703. [Ref]

Children of Samuel Willis and Susanna Gleason:

1. Samuel Willis was born about 1705, probably in Sudbury. [Ref] He was buried on 31 Jan 1778 in Sudbury. [Ref] He possibly married first Rebecca Haynes about 1727. [Ref] Rebecca, the daughter of James and Sarah (Noyes) Haynes, was born on 20 Aug 1705 in Sudbury and died in childbirth about 1727 in Sudbury. [Ref] Samuel married second Jerusha Brintnall before 8 Nov 1730. [Ref] Jerusha, the daughter of Capt. Thomas and Hannah (Willard) Brintnall, was born on 15 Oct 1704. [Ref] Samuel married third Sybel Balcom on 6 Oct 1748. [Ref] Sybel, the daughter of Joseph and Tabitha (Newton) Balcom, was born on 26 Jul 1721 in Sudbury and was buried on 28 Jan 1788 in Sudbury. [Ref]
   some descendants of Samuel Willis
2. Experience Willis was born about 1707 in Sudbury. [Ref] She was baptised on 10 Apr 1709 in Sudbury. She was buried on 6 Aug 1787 in Sudbury. She married Isaac Reed.
3. Lieut. Joseph Willis was born on 10 Nov 1712 in Sudbury. [Ref, s. Samuel and Susanna][Ref] He was buried on 14 Dec 1799 in Sudbury. [Ref] He married Thankful Clapp. [Ref] Thankful, the daughter of John and Silence (Foster) Clapp, was born on 18 Jan 1706/7 in Sudbury and was buried on 2 Apr 1794 in Sudbury. [Ref] Joseph is referred to as a lieutenant. [Ref]
   some descendants of Joseph Willis
4. Elijah Willis was born on 6 Mar 1720 in Sudbury. [Ref, s. Samuel and Susanna][Ref] He died shortly before 16 Feb 1756. [Ref] He married Abigail Smith on 15 Jun 1738 in Sudbury. [Ref] Abigail, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Smith, was born on 12 Mar 1721/2 in Sudbury and was buried on 1 Dec 1805 in Sudbury. [Ref] Samuel Willis deeded his youngest son Elijah a 100-acre farm on 28 May 1750. [Ref]
   some descendants of Elijah Willis

Third Generation

EXPERIENCE WILLIS (bp. 1709 - 1787)

Parents: Samuel Willis and Susanna Gleason [Ref]

Experience Willis was born about 1707 in Sudbury. [Ref] She was baptised on 10 Apr 1709 in Sudbury. [Ref] She was buried on 6 Aug 1787 in Sudbury. [Ref] She married Isaac Reed on 11 Feb 1729/30 in Sudbury. [Ref][Ref]

References

Bartlett, J. Gardner, "John Hill of Dorchester and his Descendants," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 58, 1904, 157- 168.

Essex Institute, Vital Records of Roxbury, Massachusetts to the end of the Year 1849, Vols. 1 and 2, Salem, Essex Institute, 1925, 1929.

McTeer, Frances and Frederick C. Warner, "The Willis Family of Sudbury, Mass.," New England Historical and Genealogical Register," 114, 1960, 22-43, 96-113.

New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vital Records of Sudbury, Mass. to the Year 1850, V. 1 and V. 2, Boston, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1903.

No author, "Marriages, Births and Deaths in Dorchester, Mass, 1648-1683," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 16, 1862, 152-158.

Records Commissioner of Boston, Dorchester Births, Marriages and Deaths to the End of 1825, Boston, Rockwell and Churchill, 1890.

Systemic History Fund, Vital Records of Marlborough, Massachusetts to the Year 1849, Boston, Franklin P. Rice, 1908.

Systemic History Fund, Vital Records of Southborough, Massachusetts to the Year 1849, Boston, Franklin P. Rice, 1903.

Ward, A. H., "Sudbury Records," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 17, 1863, 254-260, 311-315; 18, 1864, 45-48, 139-141.

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