John Willis was born circa 1606 in England to Nathaniel Willis (1575-1615) and Mary Tomlyn (1579-1618) and died after 15 April 1692 Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States of unspecified causes. He married Elizabeth Hodgkins (1615-1691) 2 January 1637 in Scituate, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States.
The first mention of a “Willis” comes after King Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377) as “Wylley.” The spelling then progresses to Wylls, Willes, Wyllys and finally Willis.
John Willis was born around 1606 in Warwickshire, England. At 29, he was listed as a passenger on the "Paul" of London that sailed to New England in April 1635. He was enrolled as a freeman in 1637. He was one of the first settlers of Bridgewater in 1645 and was a Deacon in 1665. In June 1692, John Willis died in Bridgewater.
John and Elizabeth are also the parents of Sarah Willis, who married John Ames V. Sources (SEE "Timeline" events & "Media"): LINK (scroll down through "The Willis Genealogy") Palmetto Flag Journal (Note: 9th Great Grandfather, Sources & information, as available, managed by family connections researcher, Jim Semple, Jr.)
John married Elizabeth, the widow of William Palmer, in 1636/37 in Duxbury, MA. They were original proprietors and some of the first settlers of Bridgewater. John was the first Deacon in Bridgewater and sustained many town offices, both at Duxbury and Bridgewater; represented Bridgewater at the old Colony Court 25 years; sold his estate in Duxbury to William Paybody 1657; was appointed to solemnize marriages and administer oaths to witnesses and others;
He had four brothers, Nathaniel, Lawrence, Jonathan, and Francis who lived in Bridgewater or nearby.
Children
Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
Nathaniel Willis (1637-1716) | |||
John Willis (1638-1705) | |||
Comfort Willis (1641-1702) | |||
Hannah Willis (1643-1734) | |||
Joseph Willis (1644-1705) | |||
Jonathan Willis (1644-) | |||
Sarah Willis (1651-1711) | 1 March 1651 Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States | December 1711 Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States | John Ames (1647-1726) |
Elizabeth Willis (1653-1719) | |||
Benjamin Willis (1657-1696) |
Siblings
Residences
See Also
- John Willis
- Willis Family
- Willis in Plymouth County, Massachusetts
- Willis in Massachusetts
- Deacon John Willis, Geni.com, https://www.geni.com/people/Deacon-John-Willis/6000000001599420272, retrieved 22 June 2023