Willett and Senior Families

[Henry Barraud Hunt, Jr.]

I have mentioned that George Douglas of Accomack County had two sons, namely Arthur and James. Neither son had male children. When I addressed the Willett-Senior families I was not thinking clearly. I had two problems-one, I was trying to present the Senior family from the down up. This never works well for me. I shall go to the head of this constellation of families and work down. The head shall be Ensign Thomas Savage. The second problem relates to Martha Willett. I had found a reference to Martha in "The Willett Families of America". It had made reference to Martha making inquiry of Judge Hancock Lee of Northampton County regarding the education of her children. Indeed, Judge Hancock Lee was judge or commissioner for about ten years. During that ten year period he married Mary Kendal, daughter of Colonel William Kendall, Speaker of the House of Burgess. Hancock Lee was son of Richard Lee of Northumberland County, Virginia. Hancock Lee returned to Northumberland County around 1730. When his wife, Mary died he married again. Hancock had children by both wives. Confederate General Robert Lee descends from Hancock Lee and his second wife. 

The one mistake made by the author of the book I have referenced is that he should have given Martha's surname as Senior rather than showing it as Willett. Martha was a daughter of Captain William Willett and Ann Stringer. Note that Martha Senior refused to be executrix of her husband's will. It was Judge Lee who appointed Gertrude Hermanson to handle the estate.