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Rev. Joseph Willis First Cousin |
| Last Will and Testament Letters to his wife Asenath Barnes Willis |
John Willis was born 1759, in Robeson County, North Carolina, and died April 22, 1802. He was the son of Daniel Willis and Elizabeth (Betsy) Moore. John Willis married, Asenath Barnes, in 1779 (she was born in 1763, NC; died 1806, Natchez, MS). |
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Last Will and Testament |
I, John Willis of the town of Lumberton and County of Robeson, in the State of North Carolina, do intend to set out on the first day of April to the State of Tennessee on public business, and as all men have one time to die and the time thereof wisely concealed from their knowledge, and as I may never return, it becomes necessary that I should make such disposition of my affairs as may tend to promote the interest and happiness of my family. I make this my last will and testament; It is my will that all just debts be paid and discharged, and that my whole estate both real and personal be fairly and equally divided among all my children, except the provision thereafter made for their mother . It is my will that she may have her choice of any of the houses to live in that I now possess, and the profits of the Grist Mill on the Raft Swamp during her life, and her choice of any two of my negro fellows, and wench, and [not legible] the stock, plantation fools, and house furniture as she may think pro[not legible] and to retain, and that the several shares of Children's Estate shall be kept together by her to support them while the continue unmarried and under age, and that no pains be spared in their education. I feel distressed with the idea that my family may in some measure be thrown on a merciless world. I have always endeavored to maintain them in a respectable and genteel way of life. Having lived in a country where my disposition and way of living has created much malice. I have enemies that have greatly influenced me and they will influence my family, and persecute me in the grave. I have lived about their meanness. I beg my Children to be just and virtuous, never to disgrace my name or theirs, and then they are out of fortune's power. From a variety of circumstances I have always been involved in debit and made great sacrifices for the public good and great exertions to keep my self and my family in a respectable situation. I am trying indeed hard to settle my affairs. Let this warn my children to take care of themselves so they will not be under the same necessity as the same circumstance will not exist with them as with me. But if they do not observe economy, punctuality, honor and justice they will never be happy. Whenever they are about to marry or form connections for life, I wish they would inquire of themselves, if they are such as would be agreeable to me (if living) to keep the same object in view in all their connections and company they may keep, this may be some guide to them as their happiness was ever my principal object. In settlement of my debts, I wish my Executors to be cautious. I am well aware false accounts will be exhibited against me by which I fear my Estate may suffer. In fact, I pay many unjust accounts now, in settling matters standing. I do this for the sake of character. I do hereby appoint my wife, who knows more of my affairs than anyone else and is capable of forming a better judgment, as Executrix of my will. I appoint Colonel Elias Barnes, Josiah Barnes and Thomas Barnes my Executors, as Thomas Barnes is not rich and as I esteem him greatly for his honesty, integrity, good understandings and above all his regard for me. He must be paid well for his services. It is my wish that if David Kerr, Esq. continues to teach the Academy of Lumberton, that my Executors may give him to the value of two hundred dollars out my lands near Lumberton a little farm for his paying particular attention to my children. It is my will and I do hereby give to my wife and my Executors full power in case of absolute necessity to sell any part of my estate real or personal to pay my debts and to execute titles for the same and to save as much as possible from being sacrificed. A copy of this will was found in the John Willis papers at the library. The closing paragraph and signature are missing. It is not recorded in Robeson County, but may be in Mississippi. At the time this will was made, John Willis was in the midst of controversies over vacant land speculations. He carried on a bitter exchange of correspondence in the Fayetteville newspaper with a George James of New York, who accused Willis and which Willis strongly denied. He concluded his last letter with this final remark. "I now believe that I shall take my leave of the subject forever, and the public may decide as they think proper." "Whether it was because of the criticism of his land dealings or his later defeat for the Senate or the prospect of a new exciting life in the Natchez Territory, John Willis disposed of his extensive holdings here and prepared to move to Mississippi. A deed in 1801 to William Norment for more than eight hundred acres surrounding the new town of Lumberton on the south and east describe John Willis as being a resident of Fayetteville. His lands to the north and west of Lumberton passed to Jacob Rhodes, although a recorded deed for them has not been found." According to family papers, his caravan of carriages, wagons and slaves traveled west through the Swannanoa Gap in North Carolina, then down the French Broad River to the Tennessee River and then north by that river to the Ohio and down the Mississippi. "While this seems a roundabout way of going to the Southwest, the available water transportation made it easier than an overland route the entire way. The papers state that he spent 'a season' in Nashville while on this trek. He died (only two months after arriving) on April 22, 1802 and is buried in Natchez. |
Two Letters from General John Willis to his wife Asenath Barnes Willis |
"Two letter from John Willis to his wife, Asenath Barnes Willis, have been preserved in the Willis Family Papers at the Robeson County Public Library. Like his will, they reveal something of the education, character and feelings for his family of this early 'first citizen' of Robeson County." "In addition, one of them tells more of his interest in many phases of public life and government and shows him to have been a dreamer in advance of his time." One letter, written from Georgetown, South Carolina in March 1791, adds some details to the stories about the importance of water transportation and the use of Drowning Creek as access to Georgetown and the ports beyond. "From this letter it can be inferred that a 'Mr. Pittman' probably from the Lumberton area, had barged his barrels of turpentine down the river to Georgetown and had then arranged for their shipment from there on some vessel on which John Willis was proceeding to Charleston." John Willis was an agent for English importers and exporters, and his trip was likely in connection with this business. This letter, like his will, indicates that he had strong concerns for his children, the oldest of whom were in their teens at the time. The letter suggest that he was probably sending it to Lumberton by Mr. Pittman. Georgetown 17th of March 1791 Dear Asenath, Two days ago Mr. Pittman came down and shipped his barrels on board the same vessel that I am going into Charleston, and he had determined to go himself, which I though he would decline after the novelty of the thing had worn off and he has done so and is set off home this evening. Upwards of two days I have been loaded, the wind still unfair. I cannot say when I shall be off and do expect the business will be greatly retarded. Don't look for me soon, though, I have heretofore returned sooner than you expected. I shall be away longer than I could have thought. At all events I shall not come home in a whim because I am homesick, as I am at this time, to arrange matters of more consequence to me in the future. I keep my health exceedingly well. I shall conclude by reminding you that I feel anxious about the children, as Mrs. Willis, and they as my children will never be degraded by a baseness of disposition common to our place. If I live the life of a beggar or was so [not legible] as to the instrument of my death it shall never once enter my [not legible] thought to do an act that would not bear the scrutiny of the entire world. I feel an anxiety to say more but have not an opportunity I am writing on board the sloop and Mr. Pittman is going away, I am, My dear Your, J. Willis Raleigh, 13th January 1795 My Dear Asenath: I have therefore omitted to write you that I might have something worth communicating, but yet there has not a bill of importance passed into law, except one to finally prevent the importation of slaves in this state except by persons coming here to settle. There is every evidence of a long session and I greatly fear a favorable determination will not take place with regards to my principal object. General Davis introduced a bill to establish a separate court of Chancery in the State, and Mr. Taylor brought a bill to establish a court of errors and Appeals. I have introduced a bill to establish a Superior Court in every county, I am alone in the advocate, the whole faculty are against me. They greatly fear it and I hope it will pass. At all events, I will be conscious of having done my duty. I was to risk on opinion I would say I think it will pass. I shall tell the truths on this subject that I believe are dreaded. We have accounts here that an express is gone from Charleston to Norfolk with news of a general peace with all the powers at war with France except England. It is generally believed. I have been much oppressed with a violent cold which makes it very inconvenient for me to attend the House owing to an extreme hoarseness. I will write to you again next week. I believe it possible will be at home by the first of next month. Our neighbors in town can have the benefit of the perusal of this letter, if you think it proper. I am my dear, Yours J. Willis |