Douglas and Willett

[Henry Barraud Hunt, Jr.]

To William Douglas-Great to hear from you and that you liked my post on John Willett.

I shall provide a picture of the families in terms of age, deaths, etc. Sarah Douglas, wife of Edward Littleton, died 1658. Sarah was born in 1646. Her sister, Elizabeth Douglas, wife of John Willett, was born about 1656. John Willett died in 1680. Elizabeth Willett fled to England in 1684. We know this because in that year Elizabeth Willett, in that year filed a deposition with Commissioner Hancocke Lee of Northampton County that states "age twenty-eight years more or less at her departure I did leave  my daughter, Martha Willett with Mary Core for one year to teach her to read and sew" signed Elizabeth Willett. This would mean that Elizabeth was born in 1656. I thought I had better read the will again. I saw that Elizabeth was the first child to be mentioned by Edward. I could see "to my youngest-Elizabeth". was in agreement with the deposition of Elizabeth Willett. You can see my estimate of 1648 for the birth of Elizabeth was not even close. I think that I mentioned that son, William Willett, was placed in the home of Rev Thomas Teackle, the second husband of Isabella Douglas. Martha was to marry John Senior. There were two children by this marriage-Isabel and Mary Senior. John Senior left a will 30 Jan 1727 and proved 14 May 1728, Northampton County. Friends Henry Warren and Thomas Goffigon (wife, Elizabeth Willett, daughter of William Willett), trustees. Witnesses William Bishop, Edward Peake, and William Willett. John Senior was the son of John Senior, Sr. and Mary Savage. Mary Savage had an earlier marriage to Sampson Webster. Mary Savage was the daughter of John Savage and Mary Robins who was a daughter of Obedience Robins and Grace Neale.

William Willett in his will gave a negro girl to his granddaughters, Isabel and Mary Willett. This had me barking up the wrong tree until recently. It would appear that both John Senior and his wife Martha died both daughters joined the William Willett family and William must have been made their guardian by the Court. William had made a point of leaving land to all of his children, As they were not in direct decadency he gave them a symbolic gift.

Elizabeth Douglas, widow of John Willett, was to return to York Co Virginia as the wife of Robert Leightenhouse.

I almost forgot to mention that it was Captain John Custis was issued a certificate for the transportation of John Willett. We may presume that both Custis were natives of Holland. I shall address this at a later date.

I shall continue with Edward Douglas, Jr. and what I consider proof that he survived.

[James David Douglas]

This has me very intrigued. I am especially interested in the possibility that Edward Jr may have lived longer than thought. There is some speculation the he might be a direct ancestor of my Douglas line but had considered that to be impossible. I am excited to hear more about Edward Jr

[William Douglas]

Still to catch up on this one! Bust elsewhere at the moment.