Near RayneBy Carol, via Flickr

The Reverend Thomas Willis

Born in Kent 10 January 1801, son of the Rev. Dr. Thomas Willis, and baptised at St. George, Bloomsbury, 24 Feb 1801. Died 7 August 1857 at Cuckfield in Sussex. Apparently educated at Eton and St John's College, Cambridge. Ordained Deacon 25 March 1824 by the Bishop of Winchester. Ordained Priest 29 May 1825 by the Bishop of London in the Chapel Royal at St. James Palace. Appointed stipendiary curate at St George, Bloomsbury (his Father's church) 29 May 1825, and Curate at East Farleigh, near Maidstone, 10 February 1830 (Stipend: £160 p.a. + surplice fees).

Aug.7, at Cuckfield, Sussex, the Rev. Thomas Willis, M.A., late Curate of Southwick. Leicester Journal, 21 August 1857

Enumerated at Southwick in Sussex in 1851 as 'Curate of Southwick'. His will of 1854 describes him as 'heretofore of Wateringbury in the County of Kent Afterwards of Rayne in the County of Essex and now of Southwick in the County of Sussex'. Curate of Rayne in Essex, and then of Southwick.

RAYNE, ESSEX. TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, By Samuel Newman Upon the Premises, on Monday, July 26th, 1847, and following day, by direction of the Rev. Thomas Willis, the proprietor, who is leaving the Rectory, (at Rayne aforesaid,) ALL his valuable HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, stock of Wine, Dairy Utensils, Live and Dead Stock, Hay, and other Effects; comprising lofty mahogany four-post, tent, and press bedsteads, capital feather beds, flock ditto, wool mattresses and bedding, three wardrobes, mahogany and painted chests of drawers, chairs, tables, tray-top basin stands, furnished ; hip and foot baths ; Brussels, Kidderminster, and other carpets ; chimney and dressing glasses, set of mahogany telescope dining tables, Trafalgar and other chairs, horse-hair covered sofa, fender, fire irons, &c. and the usual kitchen requisites, too numerous to mention. The Out-door Stock comprises two stacks of excellent meadow hay, two handsome young cows, in calf; two strong shoats, two donkeys, an excellent brown mare, perfectly quiet to ride or drive; three-quarter tumbrel, with ladders, &c. complete; three riding saddles and bridles, nearly-new sidesaddle. and youth's ditto, set of thilhorse gears, horse clothing, iron garden roll, &c. &c. which will be expressed in Catalogues, and may be had in due time, at the Inns in the neighbourhood; Place of Sale ; and of the Auctioneer, Rayne, Essex, Sale to begin each day at Ten Clock. Chelmsford Chronicle, Friday 09 July 1847

Married at Greatford, Lincoln, on 23 August 1836 to Augusta Maria Lowe. She was born at Bloomsbury 31 August 1814, and died at Maidenhead in Berkshire 21 June 1888. Residing at Cuckfield in 1861, and in Oxford in 1871 and 1881.

MARRIAGE. Aug. 23, at Greatford, in Lincolnshire, by his brother the Rev. John Willis, M.A., the Rev. Thomas Willis, M.A. son of the late Rev. Dr. Thomas Willis, Rector of St. George, Bloomsbury, to Augusta Maria, daughter of William Lowe, Esq. of Montague-Street, Russell-square, and the Temple, London. London Standard, 24 August 1836

Issue 4 sons and 2 daughters:

  1. Catherine Maria Willis, born in London about 1837, and baptised at St Thomas, Clapton Common, on 30 July 1837. Married her cousin Dr Francis Willis.

  2. Thomas Frederick Willis, born in London about 1838.

  3. William Jarvis Willis, born in Rayne, Essex, in December 1839.

  4. Rev Edward Francis Willis, born in Rayne in 1844.

  5. Augusta Sophia Willis, born at Rottingdean in Sussex in 1848, and baptised there 3 September 1848. Residing with her parents in 1851 and 1861, and died aged 28 at Oxford 8 November 1876. Buried at Cuckfield.

  6. Arthur Keith Willis, born 4 April 1850 at Rottingdean in Sussex.