Thomas Willis (c1635-c1667/70) and Mary (—) Willis Bentley (c1635-1684) of Lancaster and Middlesex Co., VA

Marty and Karla Grant

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[Sams Home]* - [Table of Contents] - Thomas Willis and Mary

* I didn’t create a separate Willis section of my website as this is the only Willis family I’m researching.

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Thomas and Mary Willis are my 10 times Great Grandparents.

I found the following well documented web page quite helpful with this family:

http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/craven/bios/family113gbs.txt

I also found Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia’s Northern Neck Counties to have some good solid information on the family.

Thomas Willis was born ca 1635 or earlier, likely in England. His parents are unknown. You will find several online trees that refer to him as Sir Thomas Willis, son of Richard Willis, and married to Mary Wild(e). but that is not the same Thomas and Mary.

Thomas Willis married Mary, maiden name unknown, before 1653, likely in England.

Thomas received a land patent in Virginia in 1653 under the “head right” system for importing several people to the colonies, including himself and wife Mary.

Thomas Willis, 170 acs., Yorke Co., commonly called York ridge, 14 Apr 1653, p. 33. Bounded on the E. By land of Thomas Jackson, dec’d., from thence parallel to Dead mans brooke & adj. Land of Wm. Clarke, dec’d, W. thence N. & lastly adj. Land of Edward Wright N. E. Until it meets with land of sd. Jackson. Trans. Of 4 pers: Tho. Willis, Mary Willis, Ed. Peirce, Eliz. Costen, Christian Varblow (or Vartlow), land due for.

Nugent, Nell Marion, Cavaliers and Pioneers, p. 244. Patent Book 3.

Present day York County is a couple of counties south of Middlesex, where the Willises later lived. However, in 1653, York was much larger and bordered Lancaster (the parent county of Middlesex), so perhaps they already lived in the same region they died in.

On 21 Oct 1667 Thomas Willys and wife Mary made a deed to Abraham Weeks in Lancaster Co., VA. The deed was quite difficult for me to make out. Thomas signed and Mary gave her consent the next day (22 Oct 1667). Witnesses were Richard Hughes and Stephen Rudnell for the deed, and Richard Lewys and William Pell for Mary’s consent. (Lancaster Co., VA Deeds, Wills, 1666-1682, p.28.)

Middlesex County was formed in 1669 from the south western portion of Lancaster Co., VA.

Thomas Willis died sometime between 1667 and 1670 for in that latter year Mary was listed as a widow.

On 6 Feb 1670, Mary Willis, widow, made a deed to her children Richard, John and Ellinor Willis, all under age, with consent of her “intended husband” Matthew Bentley. “Mathew” Bentley and Mary Willis signed. This is a typical “marriage contract” of the day, made in order to protect the children of Mary from losing their inheritance to their new step-father. (Middlesex Co., VA Order Book 1, p. 115.)

Thus, widow Mary Willis married Matthew Bentley on or soon after 6 Feb 1670 in Middlesex Co., VA.

Matthew Bentley was a supporter of Nathaniel Bacon during Bacon’s Rebellion (1675-1676). Despite him being on the losing side, he didn’t seem to lose much because of it. Some were hanged for their parts. (The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol 22, p. 50 (1914), online at FamilySearch.org.)

Mary (—) Willis Bentley died on 27 Sep 1684 in Middlesex Co., VA and was buried 29 Sep 1684 per Christ Church Parish records.

Matthew Bentley made his Will on – Jan 1685/86 naming as heirs, Mary Allden, Robert Alden, John Willis and Richard Willis, who was also named executor. Of those, Mary was his step-granddaughter, Robert Alden was her father, thus Bentley’s step-son-in-law. John and Richard Willis were Bentley’s step-sons. He referred to Richard as his “son” and also named him Executor. The Will was proven Feb 1685/86. He died 8 Jan 1685/86 and was buried 11 Jan 1685/86 per Christ Church Parish records.

Children

Thomas and Mary’s five children were recorded in the Christ Church Parish Register (p. 10 of the published edition):

Mary Willis Daughter of Tho. and Mary Willis Christened Feb 23th 1660

Thomas Willis sone of Tho. and Mary Willis was born Sept 8th 1660

Ellianor Willis Daughter of Tho. & Mary Willis borne April 18th 1655

Richard Willis Sone of Tho. Mary Willis borne Aug 29th 1656

John Willis Sone of Tho. and Mary Willis borne November 24th 1658.

It doesn’t appear that Mary had any children with her second husband, Matthew Bentley.

1. Eleanor Willis was born 18 Apr 1655 in Lancaster (now Middlesex) Co., VA. She married 1^st Robert Alden before ca 1681, 2^nd Richard Kemp ca 1690/92, and 3^rd, Phillip Stockdale ca 1715. Eleanor and Robert are my ancestors. See their own page for more information.

2. Richard Willis was born 29 Aug 1656 in Lancaster (now Middlesex) Co., VA. He may have married several times, but apparently never had any children. He died in 1700 Middlesex Co., VA.

3. John Willis was born 24 Nov 1658 in Lancaster (now Middlesex) Co., VA. He never married. He made his Will on 20 Apr 1688 naming his sister Eleanor and her children as heirs, and brother Richard Willis. John died on 4 May 1688 and was buried 6 May 1688.

4. Mary Willis was born before ca 23 Feb 1660 (Baptism date) in Lancaster (now Middlesex) Co., VA. She apparently died before 1670.

5. Thomas Willis was born 8 Sep 1660 in Lancaster (now Middlesex) Co., VA. He apparently died before 1670.

For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Thomas and Mary (—) Willis Bentley.

Revised: March 3, 2025

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