Willis of
I am a member of the Georgia Pioneers, having joined last
summer.
A cousin and I have been researching Furney
Willis. We need help!! I will list what we know:
Furney Willis resided in Effingham Co, GA, at
least between 1820 until he died, in Aug. 1833.
We believe Furney Willis was born in
Furney Willis was married to Pency (Pansy) Dykes, daughter of Jesse Dykes, and both are
listed in Jesse Dykes will (1835)
Furney Willis was a judge of the Inferior Court in
Effingham Co at some time between 1820 and 1830. He resigned some time
before he died.
He died intestate (despite knowing better.)
His wife died about the same time - yet there's no mention of her anywhere,
except in her father's will.
The Administration of his estate in on file in
The Administration refers to payments made to Jesse Dykes for the board of 5
minor children, but does not name them.
The Administration also refers to land to be sold in
We also believe that Pency Dykes may have been a
child of a first marriage of Jesse Dykes, because his sons Jesse D and George
are much younger than Pency.
Family lore says that Joseph and Prudence Willis were Furney's
parents. We can find no proof.
We know that a Joseph Willis (Rev. War) had land in
We think that Joseph and Prudence Willis had at least 4 children: Robert
(listed in James Willis' will in NC), Gideon, Furney
and maybe a John. There could have been more. Prudence witnessed legal documents with Robert in the late
1820's in Screven Co. We think Prudence could be tied to the Black or
Gatlin families, yet can find to proof of where she
came from.
We believe Furney and Pency
Willis had at least 5 children, however Jasper and
Martha would probably not have been among the minor children referred to in the
Estate Administration, because of their ages in 1833.
James Jasper Willis born about 1816/1817
Martha Willis Blitch (married James Blitch in Effingham Co, @1835) born 1817 or 1818
Jesse Mercer Willis born 1822
Mary Willis 1824
Selina Willis 1826
There are big gaps between children, which makes us think there are more, or
some who died.
There are some sites that list a Joseph Willis as one of the children. We
doubt that he is.
There was someone living with the Furney Willis
family in the 1830 census, but we don't know who.
We also don't know where Furney and Pency were married, but according to Jesse Dyke's will, he
had already given her something of value.
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I need any information you have or can find on Furney Willis: who his children were, who his parents
were.
What happened to him? What happened to his wife? (I keep thinking
there might be a newspaper mention of his death since he was a judge, but
cannot find a newspaper.)
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Jesse Mercer Willis was my gggrandfather.
I will certainly appreciate any info you can come up with!
Sandy Reckseit
Research Results: 12/27/2006.
1820 Effingham Co. Census
Gideon Willis
Henry Willis
1820 Jones Co. Census
Joseph Willis
1830 and 1840 Jefferson Co. Census
Joseph Willis
1820 Baldwin Co. Census
Brittain Willis
1827 Land Lottery – Sarah Jones, widow, drew from Jones Co.
1840 Effingham Co. Census
John Willis
Revolutionary War Soldiers of
Fought at the
Pension - Meshack Willis, Sr. served on the Georgia Line. Pension #S39124, applied 4/23/1818 from Maury Co., Indiana.
Pension –
Then removed to Pendleton district, S. C.
for 15 years. Then to Muhlenburg Co.,
Furney Willis, 100 acres, 1820; 200 acres, 1820
Joseph Willis Sr., 1820 and 1822
In 1823, Joseph Willis was executor of the LWT of Benjamin Warren in Jefferson Co.
Revolutionary War Soldier. Certificate of Colonel Elijah Clarke dated 1/3/1785. Warrant 845.
Note: Brittain and Isaiah Willis received land in Washington Co.
Conclusion: Joseph and Brittain
Willis resided in