1. RICHARD WILLIS was born 1760 in Pennsylvania and died in 1807 in Rome, NY. Richard Willis is a proven DAR patriot.
He married SYBIL RANNEY, who was born 7 January 1765 Upper Houses CT. (see Ranney family pioneers on this site) After Richard's death, Sybil married as her second husband, JOSEPH WHITE, who was born 6 January 1761, also in Upper Houses, CT. Joseph White and his father, Capt. Hugh White, were the premier settlers of Whitestown, NY. The original Whitestown area was comprised of 12,000,000 acres. Joseph White died 17 June 1827 and Sybil (Ranney) (Willis) White died in 1833 in Adams, Jefferson Co., NY at the home of her son, Willett Ranney Willis.
CHILDREN of RICHARD WILLIS and SYBIL RANNEY
2 i CATHERINE WILLIS
3 ii DELIA ANN WILLIS born 1793 and married WILLIAM HART of Adams, NY (see Hart family pioneers on this site)
4 iii WILLETT RANNEY WILLIS born 22 Feb. 1799 in Cayuga NY married MARY BURCH
5 iv SYBIL JANE WILLIS
6 v HENRY WILLIS whose daughter was Mrs. ANNIE WATSON OF LEXINGTON, MISSISSIPPI
4. WILLETT RANNEY WILLIS, brother to Delia Ann, was born 22 Feb. 1799 in Cayuga NY and died 27 Jan. 1877 in Adams, NY. Willett R. Willis was a woolen manufacturer for over 50 years. He was also a noted abolitionist, cooperating with GERRITT SMITH, in conducting an underground railroad station to Canada. Various records refer to him as being Republican and also Presbyterian. Willett and Mary are buried in the Adams Rural Cemetery.
He married 19 May 1829 at West Schuyler, NY MARY BURCH, who was born 27 October 1800 and died 2 Sept. 1882, daughter of ROBERT BURCH and POLLY SPAULDING.
Children of WILLETT RANNEY WILLIS and MARY BURCH:
7 i MARY SYBIL WILLIS b 3 Dec 1830 married D. W. HAWLEY and resided in Rochester, NY
8 ii ELIZABETH WILLIS born 20 July 1832 and died May 1903; married THOMAS COUGHLAN
9 iii ROBERT BURCH WILLIS born 6 Sept 1834 and died 9 July 1900
10 iv ISAAC BURCH WILLIS born 27 Aug. 1836 and died 8 Jan 1889; married 15 Feb 1865 AGNES R. SMITH
11 x KATHERINE WILLIS born 20 Jan 1842 and married G. W. MACKIE; they resided in Adams.
Sources:
DAR, tombstone records, VIR, Ranney Family Hist., Jefferson Co and Its People, Fonda Listing.
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