Blog

I Abraham Taylor, late of the City of Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania, America, but now of the city of Bath in the County of Somerset, Esquire, do make, publish and declare this my Last Will and Testament in manner following, that is to say:

If my dear Grandson John Taylor survives me I give him £300 which I have in the Stocks

I John Taylor of Duke Street in Bath Esq. do make this my last will and testament as follows I desire to be privately buried in a wall’d grave in any one of the country churches near Bath or any other place where I may die and that no settlement be put up over my door and that all my just Debts may be paid as soon as convenient after my Decease which at this time I do not think amount to fifty pounds

I William Hanks Sen of Hartly in the Parish of Bradford in the County of Wilts Labourer being in Health and of Sound Mind Memory and Understanding do make this my last will and Testament as Follows (that is to say)

This is the Last Will and Testament of me, Rebecca Taylor of the Hotwells of the Parish of Clifton in the County of Gloucester, widow

I Thomas Hanks of Bearfield in the parish of Bradford in the County of Wilts Yeoman being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following that is to say

This is the last will and testament of me Francis Fane Taylor of Bradford Leigh in the parish of Bradford in the county of Wilts Farmer.

Samuel Willis, Robert Willis's father was born about 1751, the son of Thomas Willis and his wife Elizabeth. He was baptized in Bitton on 28^th^ July 1751 and he was the 8^th^ child in a family of 12 children.

An Agreement made and entered into the……day of February in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and Twenty Five Between Elizabeth Willis of Abingdon Spinster, William Nurse of Hanham and Mary his wife, Thomas Willis and Samuel Willis the younger, both of Hanham aforesaid Yeomen, John Burgess of Kingswood in the parish of Bitton and Jane his wife, Joseph Burgess of Kingswood aforesaid who married Phoebe Willis lately deceased, William Willis of the same place Stonecutter, and Martha Willis of Stapleton Spinster of the one part and Robert Willis of Hanham aforesaid Yeoman of the other part follows

Robert Willis was born in 1777. I have not been able to find a baptism, but according to my Aunt Nell's notes, he was born on 28^th^ February 1777. His parents were Samuel Willis and his wife Sarah (nee Rawbone). The birthdate agrees with Robert's reported age of 74 in the 1851 Census as well as his age of 85 in his burial entry