past and present
Families of Note
The Willis family
WILLIS in Braithwell & Wickersley
Children of Nicholas WILLIS:
- b.1641 James at Braithwell
- b.1645 Nicholas at Braithwell
Richard WILLIS m. 1790 Braithwell to Sarah VARAH. Sarah was born 1768 Braithwell, daughter of Edward. Children:
- b.1791 Joseph at Wickersley
- b.1795 Mary at Braithwell
- b.1797 William at Braithwell m. 1823 at Rawmarsh to Sarah Bennett
Joseph WILLIS m. 1792 Braithwell to Mary VARAH, sister to Sarah (born 1768 Braithwell). Children:
- b.1792 John at Braithwell m. Ann Greaves (b.1793 Braithwell,dau of John/Elisabeth)
- b.1794 Edward at Braithwell
- b.1811 Richard at Wickersley
- b.1824 Joseph at Wickersley
Sheffield Records Online: 21 Jun 1834 a Richard WILLIS married Margaret SIMPSON, Both of Wickersley
Children of John WILLIS (b.1792) and Ann (Nee GREAVES), born Braithwell:
- b.1818 William m. Diana
- b.1820 Sarah had a son Arthur born 1845 Braithwell
- b.1823 John
- b.1826 George
- b.1829 Thomas
- b.1832 Marianne
Children of William WILLIS (b.1797) and Sarah (Nee BENNETT) :
- b.1825 Richard born Wickersley
- b.1826 Mary born Braithwell
- b.1831 William born Braithwell
- b.1834 Edmund Valentine born Braithwell
- b.1836 John born Braithwell
- b.1838 Jane born Braithwell
Children of William WILLIS (b.1818) and Diana. Children born Braithwell:
- b.1847 Fanny
- b.1849 Frederick William
Joseph WILLIS m. Jane. Child:
- b.1842 William born Wickersley married Esther
Children of William WILLIS (b. 1842 Wickersley) ( see photo) and Esther. Children born Braithwell:
- b.1865 Emma
- 1867 Eliza Jane
The Willis family were Stone Masons.
White's directory of 1879 shows Richard Willis, Quarry Owner (Gillott and Willis)
Included here are pictures taken in the quarry and show Joseph (born 1871, died 1939) and William Willis (born 1843) whilst working.
Joseph Henry Willis
The family lived at Quarryfields, Gillot Lane, Wickersley.
Charles William Willis who was killed in action in Italy during World War II. The photo on the left was taken in Mumbai when he was recovering from injury before being sent to Anzio. The headstone is in Anzio.
Charles William Willis
Esther (Nee Gillott), was born in 1847 and Emma Willis was born in 1874, and died in 1940.
Joseph and Emma had a son Harry, who is the father of Jennifer, and a daughter Hilda.
William Willis born 1843 served his apprenticeship with the Ellis family of Bramley (1861 Census).
The 1891 census shows:
William Willis,Head of family, married aged 48, a Stone Quarry Mason,Employed, and born in Wickersley Yorkshire;
Esther Willis,Daughter,married, aged 45
Albert Willis,Son, aged 16,General Labourer,
Annie Willis,Daughter,aged 14,General Servant,
Walter Willis,Son,aged 13,Scholar,
Jane Willis,Daughter ,aged 11,Scholar,
Mary Willis,Daughter,aged 9,Scholar,
Herbert Willis,Son,aged 7,Scholar,
Alice Willis,Daughter,aged 5,Scholar,
all born in Wickersley.
The census of 1881 records Margaret Willis, born 1815, a widow age 66 - Quarry Owner living at Aldams Cottages Pinch Mill Road Wickersley. Also living there, Mathew Gillott, Lodger, born 1825,age 56 - Quarry Owner
It is thought the quarry was sold when Joseph was alive. Joseph's mother, Esther, was a Gillott and this family also owned quarries in the area
Please contact us if you have any further details and we will pass on to the family