Onehunga, New ZealandFrom wikipedia

Alan Willis

Born 1 December 1843 at Cambridge, youngest son of Professor Robert Willis, and educated at King William's College on the Isle of Man January 1854 - Midsummer 1860. Sent, together with his brother Frederick, by his Father to New Zealand 'to earn a living the hard way', and arrived on 19 November 1861 aboard the Black Eagle, Father having bought them a 40 acre farm each. By 1870 both he and Frederick were on a 95 acre farm at Te Waiti. Died at Onehunga 17 December 1919, aged 77, and buried at Waikaraka Cemetery.

Fifty years ago last Sunday—19th November— in the early hours of the morning, the ship Black Eagle arrived in Auckland harbour with 144 settlers from Great Britain. Of those who arrived by the Black Eagle, the following (says the New Zealand Herald) are still living:—Messrs. Edward and John Allen, of Cheltenham (of the same family as that at Allendale, Mount Albert); Mrs. R. R. Hooper and Mrs. J. N. Pegler; Messrs. Henry and Charles Scon; Mr. James Howden, of Queen-street; Mr. E. C. Carr, Swanson-street; Mr. Walter Stimpson, Hobson-street; Mrs. E. Taylor, Mr. Alfred Alexander, Mr. Adam Fort and two sisters, Mr. Alexander Watson, Mr. Solomon Hart, Ponsonby; Mr. Watson, Pukekohe; Mr. Hugh Wylie, Pukekohe; Mrs. Kennedy, Mount Eden; Mr. Allan Willis, Onehunga; Messrs. Robert, James, and Joseph Wall, Hawkes Bay; Mr. Wm. Wall, Penrose Evening Post, 21 November 1911, Page 8

Married on 7 March 1867 at Auckland to Eliza Emma Bartlett. She was born 23 December 1847, and arrived in NZ in 1858 aboard the Duchess of Argyle. She died in Sydney (at her daughter's house) 24 February 1937.

On March 7, at Howick Church, by the Rev. R. A. Hall, Alan, youngest son of the Rev. Professor Willis, of Cambridge, England, to Eliza Emma, eldest daughter of George and Mary Ann Bartlett, late of Plymouth, Devonshire, England. Daily Southern Cross, 1 April 1867, Page 8

WILLIS.—On February 24, at Sydney, Eliza Emma, beloved widow of the late Alan Willis, of Onehunga; also mother of Mrs. Knox, Onehunga; John Willis, Onehunga; Mrs. Marston, Coromandel; Mrs. Nells, San Francisco; Mrs. Moore, Mount Eden; Mrs. Berthelsen, Nelson; Mrs. A. W. Dell, Royal Oak; Mrs. Taylor, Sydney, in her ninetieth year. Auckland Star, 27 February 1937, Page 1

Issue four sons and seven daughters:

  1. Mary Ann Humphrey Willis, born about 1869, and died 28 January 1959 at Nehunga, NZ. Buried in the Waikaraka cemetery.

    Married John Gamble Knox in 1904. He was born in Australia in 1860, and died 3 October 1942 at Onehunga, NZ. Buried in the Waikaraka cemetery.

  2. Frederick Alan Willis, born at Howick 22 January 1870.

  3. Albert Edward Willis, born in Auckland in 1871.

  4. Bertha Willis, born about 1872 and died 14 November 1948 at Coromandel, NZ.

    Married on 13 May 1896 to Thomas Frederick Marston. He was born about 1871 and died at Coromandel in 1949.

    MARSTON—WILLIS.-On May 13, at Auckland, Thomas Frederick, youngest son of the late J. V. Marston, Esq., barrister and solicitor, of Auckland, to Bertha, second daughter of Alan Willis, Esq., East Tamaki. New Zealand Herald, 10 July 1896, p 4

  5. Christina Willis, born in Auckland 27 November 1875, and died in San Mateo, California, 12 April 1962. Naturalised US citizen on 4 November 1929, and living at 4216 19th Street, San Francisco, in 1930, and 268 Woodrow Street, Daly City, San Mateo, in 1940. Issue, according to the 1940 US census, 4 children.

    Married in 1895 to Patrick John Neils. He was born 13 May 1875 at Auckland, and died at San Mateo 9 January 1940. Buried at the Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo. Naturalised 6 June 1927. He is listed as a tanner in Auckland in 1896; as a seaman (SS Takapuna) in 1906; and as a fireman (on a ship) in Wellington 1911-1919. Living in the US by 1924.

  6. Albert Henry Woodham Willis, born and died in 1877.

  7. Rosina Willis, born in New Zealand about 1879.

  8. Eveleen Willis, born at Howick, NZ about 1880, and died 1 March 1973 at Auckland.

    Married on 10 March 1909 to Peter Christian Berthelson. He was born 10 January 1886 at Brisbane, Australia, and died at Auckland 14 September 1963.

  9. Percy John Willis, born 26 May 1882 at Howick, NZ, and died 22 June 1967 at Auckland.

    Married in 1920 to Kathleen Wolstenholme. She was born 20 February 1898 in Altrincham, Chesire, and died in Auckland in 1990. Enumerated at Altrincham in 1901 and 1911.

  10. Eliza Emma Robertson Willis, born at Auckland about 1883, and died 12 August 1970.

    Married to Albert William Dell in 1909. He was born 16 August 1881 at Durham Street in Auckland, and died 15 October 1958 at Auckland.

  11. Daisy Willis, born in Auckland about 1889. Married Fred Taylor in 1920.