William Willett, Jr.

[Henry Barraud Hunt, Jr.]

The two sons, William Willett, Jr. and Hillary Willett, are mentioned in the will of Capt William Willett, in the past tense.

William Willett, Jr. wrote his will 13 Dec 1725. The will was probated 11 Jan 1626, Northampton Co, Wills, Deeds, etc., #26, 1725-1733, page  27. Wife Rose, To son, Thomas my wife's wedding ring, to daughter, Mary. Wife, Extrx-my friends Thomas and John Goffigon to assist her. Witt:William Willett, Ann Willett, Thomas Goffigon. Rose was the daughter of Thomas Goffigon and Mary Duparkes. Rose was born 1697 and married William Willett, Jr., in 1720. William and Rose were born, married, and died in Northampton Co,. Virginia, From the will of Capt William Willett we discover that William Willett left his grandson, Thomas Willett, the 400 acre plantation where Francis Stokely, now, liveth, and to granddaughter, Mary Willett, mulatto girl, Dinah. William Willett's parents, William and Ann Willett, were listed as witnesses to the will. Francis Stokely was to marry Rose, widow of William Willett, Jr. Mary Willett, daughter of William Willett, Jr. and Rose Goffigon, mar Nehemiah Fitchett (Jan 1741, Packet 26 Apr 1740-Mar 1741 Archives, Richmond, Virginia.) Mary Fitchett died 9 July 1771, Northampton C0 Minutes 27, 1765-1771. Douglas Willet and William Jarvis were among the appraisers of her estate. Thomas Willett mar Tabitha----.They had two daughters-Ann and Elizabeth. Thomas Willett will written 21 Jan 1751 and proved 11 Feb 1752, Northampton Co Wills and Inventories 320, 1750- 1754, page 160. Dau Elizabeth mar Southey Nelson 5 May 1770, dau of Thomas Willet, dec. Ann (Nancy) Willett mar John Turpin 9 Oct 1809, Northampton Co.

Hillary Willett wrote his will 16 Apr 1735. The will was probated 10 June 1735, Northampton Co, Wills & Inventories, #18, 1733-1740, page 102.The estate to be divided by my wife, Francis and my three sons, William, Douglas, and Hillary. In probate the widow renounced her legacies and claimed her dower rights.Hillary Willett's wife was Frances Benthall, dau of William Benthall and Elizabeth. All were of Northampton Co., Virginia.Capt William Willett left 650 acres to the three grandsons. William was to have the south part where his father had lived, Hillary the next, and Douglas the balance. It was noticed in later deeds this acreage fell far short of 650 acres. See Whitelaw page 98.Frances was to marry Alderton Gelding shortly after the death of her husband Hillary Willett. In his will Capt William Willett gave the Geldings permission to have the 600 acres assigned to his grandsons, Hillary, Douglas, and William, until they become of age, providing Frances Gelding taught the boys how to read write and cipher. See Packet May 1742, Packet 28 April 1742 March 1743. See Archives Richmond, Virginia.

William Willett and Hillary Willett's lineage stops here as these two are not my direct ancestors.