Rev John Willis of Sutton under Brailes
Born 8 August 1750 at Fulmer, Bucks, son of Rev John Willis of that place, and baptised there 9 September 1750. Died 14 June 1823 at Sutton under Brailes, Warwickshire, and buried there on the 19th. There is a memorial tablet on the wall of the church:
Sacred to the memory of the Revd. J. Willis B.A. late Rector of this Parish who died June 14th 1823 aged 72 years and was buried in the Chancel of this Church as were Mrs Mary Willis his wife who died Dec. 5th 1805 aged 49 years
Educated at Brasenose College, Oxford; matriculated 14 January 1769; B.A. 1772. He would have been a contemporary with his cousin John Willis there. Ordained priest by the Bishop of Hereford 11 Jun 1775. Curate of Wyrardisbury (Wraysbury), Bucks, 25 May 1797, on a stipend of £52 10s. Vicar of Darenth, Kent, 3 November 1801 - 30 November 1802. Rector of Sutton under Brailes 24 October 1802 until his death. He and the Rev John Wall exchanged Darenth and Sutton.
I John Willis Rector of Sutton under Brails in the County of Gloucester, being in health of body and of sound mind and memory, do make this my last Will and Testament, and at the same time utterly revoke all former Wills made by me, and declare this to be my last Will and Testament
I request that my Wife Mrs Mary Willis and the Reverend William Longford Rector of Stretton In the County of Worcester, whom I appoint joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament, do dispose of all my live and dead stock, and all my other Assets excepting what Mrs Willis aforesaid may wish to have, in the most advantageous manner, and when they have paid my debts and funeral Expenses out of the money arising from the Sale of these, I bequeath the Interest of the overplus, which I would put out upon good Security, to my Wife Mrs Mary Willis aforesaid during the term of her natural life; but, after her Decease I bequeath the overplus aforesaid to be equally divided among my Children, viz Louisa, Mary, Catherine, Maria and Richard Willis but if the aforesaid Richard Willis aforesaid should at that time labor under a mental Derangement, in that case I bequeath Him only the Interest of his Share of the overplus during the Term of his natural life, and after his decease his Share is to be divided equally among his surviving Sisters and their Heirs for ever. In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and Seal this twelfth day of October one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two
John Willis
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us William Attwood John Johnson Ed Attwood
Married at Wraysbury, Bucks, on 2 Apr 1795 to Mary Hunt. She was a widow and he was described as a widower, so this was apparently not his first marriage. She died 5 December 1805 aged 49, and is buried at Sutton under Brailes.
They had two sons and three daughters; his will of 1823 implies that they are all alive.
Richard Willis. Both his father's will and Dr John Willis's will mention his mental derangement.
Louisa Willis, born about 1791 and died in 1848. First resident of the Edwards' College for the Widows and Orphans of Distressed Clergymen at South Cerney, Gloucestershire.
Mary Willis, born about 1797 and baptised at Langley Marish, Buckinghamshire, 26 February 1797.
Catherine Willis, born at Colnbrook, Bucks, about 1799 and baptised at Langley Marish, Buckinghamshire, 18 February 1799, and died in 1881. Residing at Launton in Oxfordshire in 1851; St Pancras, London in 1861; and with her daughter and son-in-law at Beckenham in Kent in 1871, a widow.
Married at St Mary Abchurch, London, on 22 July 1822 to William Sturch. He was born at Sutton under Brailes in 1792, and baptised there 29 April 1792. Died between 1861 and 1871.
Maria Willis, born about 1801 and baptised at Langley Marish, Buckinghamshire, 16 November 1801.
Married again at St George the Martyr, Southwark, London, on 12 June 1806, to Mary Jones. She was a widow. No more children.