Other Events:

• Alternative Name: Robert Willis
• Beneficiary: 16 Apr 1694; in his grandmother's Will
• Occupation: 1722; Master Cork Cutter
• Residence: 1725, Southampton, Hampshire, England
• Probate: 17 May 1725, Hampshire, England; 1725P/44

Notes:

Beneficiary:
P1/W/419 Will of Mary Willis, widow, of Devizes, Wiltshire 1694

Probate:
Will of Robert Willis of Southampton, Hampshire, corkcutter, 1725 ref: 1725P/44

In the name of God Amen I Robert Willis of the Towne and County of South'ton Corkcutter being weake and infirme in body but of sound and disposeing mind and memory (thanks be therefore given to Almighty God) but calling to mind the uncertainty of this transitory Life Do for the setting and disposeing of all such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to blesse me make and publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in writeing in manner and forme following that is to say

Imprimis my Will is that all my just Debts and funeral Expenses be first justly and truly paid by my Executor hereinafter named

Item I give and bequeath unto my Wife Hannah the Sume of Ten Pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain to be paid to her or her assigns by my Executor hereinafter named within twelve months next after my decease

Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Willis the Sume of fifty pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain to be paid to her or her assignes within twelve months next after my Decease by my Executor hereinafter named

Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Hannah Willis the Sume of Twenty Pounds of like lawfull money to be paid to her or her assignes when she shall attaine to her full age of one and twenty yeares And my Will and meaning is and I doe hereby declare the same to be that my said Executor shall and doe at his owne Costs and Charges without any Deduc'on or allowance to be made or paid to him out of the said Legacy of Twenty pounds hereby given to my said Daughter Hannah or otherwise by my said daughter Hannah broadly? maintaine Cloath provide for and educate my said Daughter Hannah untill she shall attaine to her said age of one and twenty yeares or be marryed And also shall and doe dureing the said time learne and instruct her the said Hannah my Daughter in the Art Trade or Mystry of a Corkcutter in the best way method and manner that he can

Item all the rest residue and remainder of my Estate both real and personall Goods Chattels Debts Creditts and Effects whatsoever not herein and hereby already disposed of I Give and bequeath unto my Son Robert Willis whom I doe hereby name make and ordaine full sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament hereby revokeing and disannulling all former Wills by me at any time now before made

In Witness whereof I the said Testator have to this my Last Will and Testament set my hand and Seale this seven and twentyeth day of February in the eleventh year of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord George by his grace of God of great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith of Anno Dm 1724. Robt Willes

Signed sealed examined published and declared by the said
Testator as his last Will and Testament In the presence of us
and in his presence attested by us
Henry Whistead
T Cole
Sam Scott

17 May 1725
Supra nominal Rob Willis
Filius jurat? invatus fecit
Coram me
R Bridsoake

Robert married Catherine Smart on 28 Jul 1701 in St Matthew's Church (formerly St Mary's), Rowde, Wiltshire, England. Catherine (daughter of Reverend William Smart, B.A. and Alice Ives) was born in Nov 1678 in Sherrington, Wiltshire, England; was christened on 30 Nov 1678 in St Cosmas and St Damian's Church, Sherrington, Wiltshire, England; died in Aug 1716 in Southampton, Hampshire, England; was buried on 26 Aug 1716 in St Mary's Church, Southampton, Hampshire, England. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Residence: Between 1678 and 1686, Devizes, Wiltshire, England
• Probate: 1686
• Occupation: 1686; Serge Clothier

Notes:

Probate:
P1/W/366 Administration bond, commission, inventory of Robert Willis a Serge clothier of Devizes, Wiltshire 1686

Robert married Elizabeth Shipman on 3 Dec 1674 in St Michael & All Angels Church, Hilperton, Wiltshire, England. Elizabeth (daughter of Reverend Roger Shipman and Elizabeth) was born in 1652 in Hilmarton, Wiltshire, England; was christened on 4 Nov 1652 in St Laurence's Church, Hilmarton, Wiltshire, England; died after 7 Nov 1691. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Residence: 1678, Devizes, Wiltshire, England

Other Events:

• Education: 31 Mar 1669; Magdalen Hall, Oxford University
• Education: 1672; St John's College, Oxford University
• Ordained: 25 May 1673, the Chapel in the Manor Hall, West Lavington, Wiltshire, England; Deacon, preparing for priesthood
• Occupation: Between 1675 and 1684; Curate of Sherrington, Wiltshire, England
• Ordained: Between 18 Sep 1675 and 20 Sep 1675, Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England; Priest
• Occupation: Between 28 Aug 1684 and 24 Apr 1688; Perpetual Vicar of Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire, England
• Occupation: Between 24 Jun 1689 and 2 May 1703; Vicar of Rowde, Wiltshire, England

Notes:

Ordained:
This is likely to be the Dauntsey Chapel in the South transept of All Saints Church, West Lavington, which was named after the Dauntsey family of West Lavington Manor House.

Occupation:
This included the chapel at Semington, Wiltshire, the Lay Patron being John Martyn, Gentleman. A Curate called William Crouch was appointed for the chapel at Semington on 22 September 1684. Less than four years later, on 24^th April 1688, William resigned the position at Steeple Ashton, the position being filled by Bartholomew Martin who was possibly a relation of the Lay Patron John Martin, so perhaps William had no choice in his resignation.

Occupation:
The Lay Patron being Henry Baynton, Armiger, of Bremhill, Wiltshire, who was Member of Parliament for Calne.

William married Alice Ives on 7 Feb 1677/78 in St Mary the Virgin's Church, Harefield, Middlesex, England. Alice died in Apr 1695 in Rowde, Wiltshire, England; was buried on 30 Apr 1695 in St Matthew's Church (formerly St Mary's), Rowde, Wiltshire, England. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Alternative Birth: Abt 1612
• Master: 1637, Devizes, Wiltshire, England
• Occupation: Between 1637 and 1667; Serge Weaver / Serge Clothier
• Probate: 1667
• Residence: 1667, Devizes, Wiltshire, England

Notes:

Master:
Elizabeth STEEVENS, orphan, apprenticed to John WILLIS, sergeweaver. Trade: housewifery. Both of Devizes St Mary.

Probate:
P1/W/274 Inventory and Will - 1667 John Willis, serge clothier, Devizes - Court of the Bishop of Salisbury (Episcopal Consistory) - 8 pages
He left his wife Mary £100, son Thomas £100, son Robert £100, daughter Margaret £100, son John £50 who had 7 years to demand.

John married Mary Meriwether on 17 Aug 1637 in St John the Baptist's Church, Devizes, Wiltshire, England. Mary (daughter of Thomas Meriwether and Anne Verewill) was born in 1620 in Devizes, Wiltshire, England; was christened on 25 Jun 1620 in St Mary the Virgin's Church, Devizes, Wiltshire, England; died in Nov 1693 in Devizes, Wiltshire, England; was buried on 24 Nov 1693 in St John the Baptist's Church, Devizes, Wiltshire, England. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Residence: 1689, Devizes, Wiltshire, England
• Probate: 16 Apr 1694

Notes:

Probate:
P1/W/419 Will of Mary Willis, widow, of Devizes, Wiltshire 1694

Notes:

Marriage License:
Sarum Marriage Licence Bond - 14 Aug 1637 - John Willis of Devizes, sergeweaver, age 25 and Mary Meriweather of Devizes, spinster age 18 - Bondsman 1: Thos. Meriweather, tanner, Devizes - Bondsman 2: Richard Dornford, haberdasher, Salisbury

Other Events:

• Property: 1647, Hilmarton, Wiltshire, England

Notes:

Property:
National Archives reference C 10/39/200
Shipman v Shipman
Plaintiffs: Roger Shipman, clerk
Defendants: William Shipman, clerk and Martha Shipman
Subject: property in Hilmarton, Wiltshire
Document type: answer only
Date:      1647

Roger married Elizabeth about 1646. Elizabeth was born about 1625; died in 1695 in Buttermere, Wiltshire, England. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Occupation: Husbandman

Robert married Katherine. Katherine was born about 1625; died after 1705. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Census Return: 1705, Badbury, Wiltshire, England