Rev John Willis of Haddenham

Born at Rochester, Kent, about 5 May 1799, son of Thomas Willis and his wife Catherine Strong, and baptised at St. George, Bloomsbury, 12 May 1799. Matriculated at St. John's College, Cambridge, 3 July 1817; B.A. 1821; M.A. 1824. Ordained deacon 16 June 1822, and priest 1 June 1823. Vicar of Haddenham with Cuddington, Berkshire, from 1826 until his death at Haddenham on 4 May 1855; presented by the Dean and Chapter of Rochester, where his father was prebendary. His will.

He was apparently a popular cleric due to his acts of charity:

The Rev. John Willis, of Haddenham, curate, gave sixty old persons of Haddenham a large piece of plum pudding and a pint of elder wine. He also gave away a quantity of neck cloths, calico, flannel, &c.; and to several persons one shilling, or one shilling and sixpenny tickets for goods, together, amounting in value to the sum of £15. Bucks Herald, 15 January 1848

DEATHS. On the 4th inst., at Haddenham, after a short illness, the Rev. John Willis, vicar of Haddenham and Cuddington, aged 55 years. Deceased was almost universally respected for his liberal Christian principles, and his death will be lamented by all who knew him, especially by the poor, to whom he was a real friend and benefactor. Bucks Herald, 12 May 1855

HADDENHAM. Funeral of the late Rev. John Willis, M.A. On Friday afternoon, the llth inst., shortly after 3 o'clock, the remains of the late Rev. John Willis, our most respected and much lamented vicar, were deposited in a new vault in the churchyard. The number of persons assembled on the solemn occasion were very numerous, and many could not suppress the falling tear at the loss of such a real friend and benefactor. It to be hoped, that whoever succeeds him will bring as warm a heart, and a hand like his "open as day to melting charity." " None that knew him need be told, A warmer heart Death ne'er made cold." He not only remembered the poor while living, but has not forgotten them at his death, having bequeathed the sum of £30 to the poor of Haddenham and £20 to the poor of Cuddington, to be distributed annually. On the following Sunday evening, a funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. W. M. Farley, curate ; the text was taken from the 4th chap. Hosea, and part of the 12th verse, "Prepare to meet thy God." The church was crowded to excess, and almost every one felt deeply interested in the sermon. Bucks Herald, 19 May 1855

The Rev. John Willis by will, proved in 1855, left £900 consols, the dividends to be applied in the distribution of coal. In 1902 the trustees were authorized by the Charity Commissioners to purchase 11 a. 1 r. 26 p. of land, situate in Dollicott Field within the manor of Haddenham for the sum of £650, to be provided, together with the cost of the enfranchisement of the copyhold portion, out of the trust fund, which was thereby reduced to £80 8s. 8d. consols (with the official trustees). The land is let at £25 a year. The coal is distributed in January, in quantities of about 180 lb. to each recipient. W. Page (ed.), A History of the County of Buckingham: Volume 2 (1908).

HADDENHAM - FAREWELL SERMON – the Rev. W. M. Farley preached his farewell sermon on Sunday evening last, the 30th ult. The text, which was a very appropriate one for the occasion, was selected from 2 Cor., chap. 13, verse 11, "Finally, brethren, farewell." &c. The congregation assembled was very large indeed, and we trust that his ministerial labours, during a period of nearly 11 years, have not been spent in vain the feelings of the Rev. Gentleman on this occasion may be better judged than described, and the dumb peal, which was rung after the close of the service, seemed to produce and more melancholy effect, on account of its being so near the termination of the year.
A tombstone has recently been erected in memory of our beloved and much lamented vicar, the late Rev. John Willis, M.A., the loss of whom has not been truly felt that the present season of the year, whose heart and hand was so freely open in administering comforts to the aged poor, without distinction to either sect or party, and in him not only the poor, but many others, have reason to deplore the loss of such a benevolent figure and friend. Bucks Herald, 5 January 1856

His popularity seems to have come despite his twice being disciplined for conduct unbecoming. He was found guilty of some misdemeanours in 1835 and a curate was appointed to his parish to make sure the parishioners were looked after. In 1843 he reoffended, and admitted visiting a brothel in Aylesbury, and being drunk in the pulpit and in a hayrick. As a punishment he was suspended from his living for a year (his cousin Richard Child Willis seems to have helped out), which he does not seem to have found a great hardship as he had a private income of £800 a year (probably from his father's will).

Married firstly on 12 September 1825 at St George, Hanover Square, to Catherine Horn. She seems to have died in about 1843, allowing him to marry his second wife, but not before bearing him a son:

Married secondly at St. Pancras, Middlesex, on 27 October 1843 to Sarah Taylor. She was born ca. 1823 at Bethnal Green, and remarried on 20 September 1858 at St. Matthew, Islington, to James Plater. Living in St. Pancras in the 1861 census, and died at Camden Town 11 July 1864.