The second Dr Francis Willis

Born at Bloomsbury 13 March 1792, son of the Rev. Dr. Thomas Willis, and baptised at St. George, Bloomsbury, 18 March 1792. Enumerated at Shillingthorpe House, Lincolnshire in 1841 and 1851; in the latter he was described as Farming 267 acres, employing 12 men 4 boys, Physician in Practice, Brasenose College Oxford Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in London'. Matriculated at Brasenose 31 May 1810, aged 18; B.A. 1814; M.A. 1816; B. Med. 1817; D. Med 1820. FRCP 1821. Lord of the Manor of Braceborough, owning 1200 acres. Justice of the Peace for Kesteven. Author of A short account of the effects of the Braceborough Spa Water in the Cure of Cutaneous Disorders. Died 29 July 1859 at Shillingthorpe House (an obituary).

F. Willis, Esq. M. D., of Shillingthorpe, during the late inclement season, gave an ample supply of blankets, petticoats, waistcoats, stockings, &c. to all the poor in the parish of Braceborough. Stamford Mercury, Friday 19 February 1830

On Saturday night last Shillingthorpe House, near Stamford, the establishment of Dr. Willis, was providentially saved from being burnt to the ground. When the butler closed the house for the night, a strong smell of burning wood so forcibly attracted his notice that he could not retire to rest. After thoroughly examining the other rooms, he again entered his own, which is at the back of the kitchen chimney, when a flame burst out from under the floor. By his prompt exertions, and the timely assistance of the other domestics, all serious mischief was quickly prevented, and that without arousing the family. The fire originated from a flue, which, when the house was built about fifty years since, had been carried into the kitchen chimney, within a few inches of large wooden beam. This, though eight feet above the fire, was found to be ignited almost through, and the surrounding bricks red hot. Lincolnshire Chronicle, Friday 29 August 1845

Francis Willis continued the family tradition of keeping a mad house, firstly in conjunction with his Uncle John Willis, and latterly on his own, at Shillingthorpe. For example, in 1831 they were licensed to keep One House for the reception of of Thirty Insane Persons at Shillingthorpe. Francis was devised his Uncle's asylums in the latter's will of 1835, and was still licensed at both places in 1838. By 1840, however, he was only licensed at Shillingthorpe, the patients from Greatford having been moved there on 28 October 1839:

We are assured that the Marquis of Waterford has taken for a residence the house at Greatford, in this neighbourhood, for many years occupied by Dr. Willis and his uncle and grandfather for the reception of insane patients. The Doctor is about to remove to his own estate at Shillingthorpe, ands to confine his practice to the patients at that place. The house and beautiful domain at Greatford are the property of the Hon. Compton Cavendish. Stamford Mercury, Friday 26 July 1839

Author of A Treatise on Mental Derangement, containing the Substance of the Gulstonian Lectures for May 1822 (London, Longman). Here is a letter to the Medical Times when he got annoyed with the Commisioners in Lunacy.

Following his death, in August and September 1859 his son Francis discharged the few patients still living at Shillingthorpe, and on 26 September 1860 Robert Gardiner Hill took up a licence to keep lunatics there.

The estates at Braceborough and Shillingthorpe, the property of the late Fras. Willis, Esq., M.D., are announced for sale in this day's Mercury. The delightfully situated Hall was erected about 64 years ago by Dr. Fras. Willis, grandfather of the above, celebrated for his skill in mental disorders. The neighbouring manor of Barholm is also announced for sale by auction. Stamford Mercury, Friday 25 May 1860

Married at St. George, Bloomsbury, on 9 Mar 1830 to Henrietta Lowe. She was born at St Pancras, London, in 1809, daughter of William and Eliza Lowe, and died 10 Jun 1893 at Braceborough House.

MARRIAGES. March 9, by the Rev. John Lonsdale, the Rector, at the Parish Church of St. George, Bloomsbury, Francis Willis, Esq. M.D. of Shillingthorpe, near Stamford, to Henrietta, daughter of William Lowe, Esq. of the Temple, and Montague-street, Russell- square. London Standard, 10 March 1830

BRACEBOROUGH. Death of Mrs. Willis. With regret we announce the death of Mrs. Henrietta Willis of Braceborough House, which took place on Saturday evening last. The deceased lady was eighty-four years of age, and had been attended by Dr. Farrar of Stamford. She was the widow of the late Dr. Francis Willis, of Shillingthorpe Hall, who died 1859. For her kindheartedness and benevolence the late Mrs. Willis was well known at Braceborough and in the surrounding villages, and her decease will be felt as a heavy loss. She leaves two sons - the Right Rev. Alfred Willis, Bishop of Honolulu, and the Rev. Philip Willis, M.A. - and four daughters, one of whom is the wife of the Rev. Basil Morgan Jones, Vicar of Llanfair- Dyffryn-Clwyd, Ruthin. The funeral of the deceased took place on Thursday afternoon, in Braceborough churchyard, the body being laid to rest in a grave by the side of her husband. A muffled peal was rung on the Church bells before the interment, which took place at 3 p.m. It was arranged that the officiating clergymen should be the Rev. J. H. T. Blunt, Rector of Braceborough, the Very Rev. W. W. Howard, Dean of Stamford, the Rev. Canon Hubbersty, of Little Casterton, and the Rev. G. P. Lane, Vicar of Barholm. On the coffin was placed a magnificent floral cross. The body was conveyed on a wheel bier from Braceborough House to the Church. The chief mourners were the Rev. Philip Willis (son), Miss Willis, Miss Augusta Willis, Miss Louisa Willis, and Mrs. Basil Morgan Jones (daughters), the Rev. Basil Morgan Jones (son-in-law), Mrs. Edmund Willis (daughter-in-law), Mr. Frederick Willis, Mr. Arthur Willis, Mr. Wm. Lowe, and Mr Dillon Lowe (nephews). The hymns were Nos. 230, 231, and 140, A. and M., "There is a blessed Home," "For ever with the Lord," and " Jesus lives." The whole of the arrangements were entrusted to Messrs. Oates and Musson, of Stamford, and were admirably carried out. Grantham Journal, 17 June 1893

Issue 4 sons and 7 daughters: