NCCRAVEN-L Archives

From: Sue Chiaverini <>
Subject: Willis Family
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 19:56:50 -0400

I am a Willis descendent, and believe my Willis line goes back to
Richard and Marty through their son James and his wife Susannah. From
information my Willis cousin and I have been putting together, we
believe Joseph Willis, born in 1759, 22 of March is our guy!

We have seen information on the web, and a transcription from a family
Bible, which came down through the Mitchell family, that says Joseph's
wife was Prudence, and that there were two sons, Robert and Gideon.
Well, we don't descend from either of those boys, but from a Furney
Willis, who died intestate in Effingham County, Georgia, in 1833. We
believe Joseph and Prudence lived with Furney.

Family lore has it that these two, Joseph and Prudence were born in
South Carolina, and died in Nassau County, Florida. (The family went to
Nassau County, Florida, some years after Furney and Pency Dykes Willis
died.) My cousin and I believe they died in Effingham County. A
listing in a DAR magazine, made back in 1925 by Virginia Tousey Willis
says that Joseph died in 1833, and his wife died in 1827. Furney Todd
Willis died the same year as his father, but about 3 months later.
Census records more or less confirm this, for Effingham County, GA.
Furney was born in 1792 according to this listing, but it says that
Joseph was born May 22, 1758. The discrepancy could be due to poor
legibility of the said family Bible. ( A Bible that no one seems to
know how to find, today!)

Deed work from Craven and Pitt County, lead me to believe that this is
our Joseph, son of James. Robert, Gideon and Joseph Jr. turn up in Pitt
County. Later we find Robert and Gideon in Jefferson County, Georgia,
before they show up in Effingham. My hope is that someone out there,
knows who Prudence is, and also that someone out there has a link
naming Furney as the son of Joseph and Prudence.

One other tidbit. Joseph fought as a Minute Man for Georgia, under
Elijah Clark. Elijah Clark's nephew married Joseph's cousin in Craven
County. Joseph Willis, Sr. is on a wall dedicated to the Veterans of
Effingham County, GA. as a Revolutionary War Soldier.

Thank you for your time and help.
Sincerely,
Sue Chiaverini

This thread:

• Willis Family by Sue Chiaverini <>