Merrill Willis was born 10 November 1770 in New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina to Thomas Willis (1746-1829) and Dorcas Windham (1748-1806) and died 18 December 1842 Hamilton County, Illinois of unspecified causes.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Mary Willis (1806-1840) | 25 January 1806 Tennessee, United States | 1840 Illinois, United States | William West Lane (1797-1852) |
| Martha Willis (1808-1850) | |||
| William Wesley Willis (1811-1872) | 16 August 1811 Shawneetown, Gallatin County, Illinois | 8 April 1872 Beaver, Beaver County, Utah | Margaret Jane Willis (1812-1850) |
| Lemuel Willis (1813-1876) | |||
| Samuel Willis (1814-) | |||
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Joshua Willis (1767-) | |||
| Mary Ann Willis (1769-) | |||
| Wilson Willis (1770-) | |||
| Merrill Erastus Willis (1770-1842) | 10 November 1770 New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina | 18 December 1842 Hamilton County, Illinois | Margaret Susan Cherry (1788-1870) |
| John Willis (1782-1846) | 1782 New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina | 26 February 1846 Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois | Jinny Kirkpatrick (1776-1882) |
| Dorcas Willis (1784-1822) | |||
| Son Willis (1785-1785) | |||
| Ellen Willis (1792-1812) | |||
| Malachi Willis (1792-1832) | |||