6^th Great Grandfather - FFMMFFFF¹

William Willis, Thomas Willis’s father was born about 1675. I have not been able to find any record of the baptism of William in either Hanham Abbots or Bitton. However, during the latter half of the 17^th century there are large gaps due to the degradation of the registers and the almost impossible task of deciphering them. Suffice it to say that there are a number of Willis’s who could be William’s father.

I have found a marriage entry for a William Willis in the Parish Register of St Luke’s, Brislington, where a William Willis marries Sarah Carrol on 24^th May 1697. Brislington is just over the river from Hanham. I believe this to be the marriage of Thomas Willis’s father, as the first name of his wife, Sarah, is the same as his wife’s in his will. Also, the marriage register entry states that William was from the parish of Bitton.

Apparently William and Sarah had at least 6 children, 4 of which were baptised at Hanham Abbots, the other two are inferred from bequests made in William’s will. The eldest daughter Mary was baptised at Hanham on 9^th July 1699² and married Isaac Tippet on 23^rd September 1719 at Bitton³. Sarah was baptised on 3^rd January 1702⁴, and according to William’s will was married to Francis Williams. William, the eldest son, was baptised on 17^th December 1705⁵ at Hanham Abbots. According to his father’s will he married someone called Rebecca and died before 1740. However I have been unable to find any record of either event.

As mentioned above,Thomas my 5^th great grandfather was baptised at Hanham Abbots in 1714. I have not been able to find baptism register entries for the remaining two children, Henry and Hannah, but they are mentioned in William’s sill. Henry married Rachel Lovel on 21^st May 1738 at Bitton⁶ and Hannah married William Newman. Again, this is inferred from William’s will.

William died in Mar 1739 and was buried in Bitton on 23^rd March 1739⁷. His wife Sarah lived another 3 years dying in May 1743. She was also buried at Bitton on 8^th May 1743⁸. In his will William lives most of estate to his two surviving sons, Thomas my 5^th great grandfather and Henry, with bequests to his surviving daughters and the children of his deceased son William.

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