Rev. Joseph Willis, Sr. (half Cherokee Indian)

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1787, South Carolina
• Other-Begin: 29 Nov 1787, North Carolina; emancipated
• Other-Begin: Dec 1787, Bladen Co, North Carolina
• Residence: Abt 1793, Natchez District, Mississippi
• Religion: 1798, Natchez District, Mississippi
• Religion: Nov 1804, Attakapas District, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana
• Residence: Abt 1805, Woodville, Mississippi
• Residence: late 1805, Bayou Chicot, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
• Census: 1810, Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
• Census: 1820, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
• Residence: Bef Aug 1829, Rapides Parish, Louisiana
• Census: 1830, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
• Other-Begin: 12 Jan 1842, Vernon Parish (?), Louisiana
• Census: 1940, Louisiana

Notes:

Birth:
Born a slave in Bladen County, North Carolina to Agerton Willis and (suspected) Cherokee woman. In will written by his father, Agerton Willis on 18 Sep 1776, Agerton wishes after his death is son Joseph be set free.
10 Oct 1777 Letter written by Daniel Willis, Sr., brother of Agerton Willis, Deceased, and written to Governor Caswell objecting the wishes of his brother to have the greater part of his estate given to his Molato boy Joseph and he is born slave...
(Chronology of Joseph Willis Sr.)


Other-Begin:
29 Nov 1787 - Received for the House (state of North Carolina) a Bill to emancipate Joseph, a mulatto slave, the property of the Estate of Agerton Willis late of Bladen (County) deceased. Mr (John) Willis (Joseph's cousin, son of David) moved for leave and presented a Bill to emancipate Joseph...which was read, passed the first time and sent to the House of Commons.
(Chronology of Joseph Willis Sr)



Other-Begin:
1 Dec 1787 - The Bill to emancipate Joseph...to confirm the sid Joseph Willis and to invest certain property herein referred to in the said Joseph by the name of Joseph Willis, was read the first time, passed and sent to the Senate.

5 Dec 1787 Same bill read a second time...

6 Dec 1787 Same bill read a third time -- passed and ordered to be engrossed.

1787 Joseph, a slave, is emancipated by an Ac entitled Chapter 35. Held before the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina. Joseph received 320 acres of the at least 2490 acres he was entitled. He immediately sold all real and personal property and moved to South Carolina. With that oney he bought a horse, bridle, and saddle.
(Chronology of Joseph Willis Sr.)

Residence:
abt 1793 Came with Richard A. Curtis, Jr., a licensed but not ordained Baptist Minister, from South Carolina to the Natchez District.
(Chronology of Joseph Willis Sr.)
(records of Richard Curtis state that he went with his father and others in 1790 to Natchez. Slight date conflict)


Religion:
1798
Joseph, associated with Curtis (upon his return to the now U.S. Territory of Mississippi) and William Thompson to constitute a church near Natchez, Mississippi.
(Chronology of Joseph Willis Sr.)
-------------
Mississippi Missionary

As mentioned before, Joseph was a member of Head of Enoree in 1797. Late
that year or the next, he made his first trip to Mississippi with Richard
Curtis, Jr. This trip was made without his family, as was the custom of the
time to venture farther west, find a safe place and then return for the
family. Baptist historian, W. E. Paxton records the results of this first trip:

"They sought not in vain, for soon after their return they were visited by William Thompson, who preached unto them the Gospel of our God: and on the first Saturday in October, 1798, came William Thompson, Richard Curtis and Joseph Willis, who constituted them into a church, subject to the government of the Cole's Creek church, calling the newly constituted arm of Cole's Creek, ?The Baptist Church on Buffaloe."

This church was located near Woodville, Mississippi and the Mississippi River east of Alexandria, Louisiana. Joseph returned for his family by 1799, but it would seem he might have made a trip across the river into Louisiana
before this date, since this is where he returned with his family.

Curtis had already made one trip to this part of the country in 1780. In that year Richard Curtis, Jr. along with his parents, half-brother and three brothers, and all their wives, together with John Courtney and John Stampley
and their wives, set out for Mississippi. Mississippi Baptist historian T. C. Schilling wrote that "two brothers by the name of Daniel and William Ogden and a man by the name of Perkins, with their families, most of whom were Baptists" were also along on this first trip.
http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/evangeline/bios/willis.txt


Religion:
Nov 1804 Crossed the Mississippi River and traveled to Attakapas, Vermilion, about 40 miles southwest of Baton Rouge. He is to have been the first Protestant minister to preach the Gospel west of the Mississippi. Besides Vermilion, he preached at night at Plaquemine Brule.
(Chronology of Richard Willis Sr)

Residence:
abt 1805
Returned to Mississippi due to violent prejudices because of both his color and being a Baptist. Also to seek ordination by the Baptist Church so that he could officially baptize and establish member churches.

Census:
1810 Opelousas, St. Landry Parish
pg 325 shown as free person of color


Census:
1820 St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
pg 107

Name: Isaac Johnson
Home in 1820: St Landry, Louisiana
Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 2 1810-1820
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15: 1 1805-1810
(stepchild? not shown in 1810)
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 18: 1 1802-1804
(son) 1800-1810
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1 1795-1804
Isaac (1800)
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1 bef 1775
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 2 1810-1820
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1 1805-1810
(stepchild? not shown in 1810)
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over: 1 bef 1775

Slaves - Males - 14 thru 25: 3
Slaves - Males - 45 and over: 2
Slaves - Females - 14 thru 25: 1
Slaves - Females - 45 and over: 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Commerce: 4
Free White Persons - Under 16: 6
Free White Persons - Over 25: 2
Total Free White Persons: 9
Total Slaves: 7
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 16

next:
David Johnson
Name: David Johnson
Home in 1820: St Landry, Louisiana
Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1 1795-1804
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1 1776-1794
Slaves - Males - Under 14: 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 1
Free White Persons - Under 16: 3
Free White Persons - Over 25: 1
Total Free White Persons: 5
Total Slaves: 1
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 6

same pg
Gideon Johnson
Johnson Sweat

Gedi Sweat (m Letty Johnson 18 Apr 1811) St. Landry)
Name: Gedi Sweat
[Gideon "Gadi" Sweat]
Home in 1820: St Landry, Louisiana
Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
Free Colored Persons - Males - Under 14: 2
Free Colored Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Free Colored Persons - Females - Under 14: 4
Free Colored Persons - Females - 14 thru 25: 1
Free Colored Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Free Colored Persons - Females - 45 and over: 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 1
Total Free Colored Persons: 10
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 10


Ephraim Sweat
Gilbert Sweat
Joseph Willis Sr & Jr.

Name:
Joseph Willis Senior
Home in 1820: St Landry, Louisiana
Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
Free Colored Persons - Males - Under 14: 1
Free Colored Persons - Males - 14 thru 25: 2
Free Colored Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1
Free Colored Persons - Females - Under 14: 4
Free Colored Persons - Females - 14 thru 25: 2
Free Colored Persons - Females - 45 and over: 1
Slaves - Males - Under 14: 1
Slaves - Females - Under 14: 2
Slaves - Females - 14 thru 25: 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 6
Total Slaves: 4
Total Free Colored Persons: 11
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 15


Census:
1830 St. Landry Parish
pg 95


Other-Begin:
12 Jan 1842
William S. Terrel, Isaac Johnston Sr., Elisha Andrews, George G. Masters, William Johnston, William Smith appointed by Amicable Church to wait on the needs of Joseph Willis, due to age and infirmity. Joseph resigned his pastoral charge to Peter W. Robert.
(chronology of Joseph Willis Sr.)

(Isaac Johnston Sr. is probably Isaac Johnson Jr. 1800; son of Isaac Henry Johnson, husband of Joseph's daughter Mary Willis. William Johnston -- might be fro of Isaac)

Buried:
18 Jan 1958
Memorial Service held at Occupy #1 to commemorate the placement of a large memorial stone at the site of his grave. 16 Baptist ministers and 250 persons were in attendance.
(Chronology of Joseph Willis SR)

Joseph married Rachel Bradford (or Brasford) about 1784 in Cherawas Co (now Marlboro Co), North Carolina. Rachel was born about 1762; died about 1794 in Cheraws (now Marlboro Co, South Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Agerton Willis, Jr. was born in 1785 in Bladen Co, South Carolina; died on 18 Apr 1811 in Louisiana.
2. Joseph Willis, Jr. was born in 1792 in South Carolina.
3. Mary Willis was born about 1787 in North Carolina; and died.
4. Rachel Willis was born in 1794; and died.

Joseph married Mrs. Sarah (..) Willis, (Irish woman) after 1794 in Greenville Co, South Carolina. Sarah died between 1799 and 1802 in Bayou Chicot, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sarah is called Joseph?s wife in a deed dated August 8, 1799, but died soon thereafter.
http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/evangeline/bios/willis.txt

1. Jemima Willis was born in 1796; and died.
2. Sarah Willis was born in 1798 in Natchez District, Mississippi; and died.

Joseph married Sarah Johnson (?), (free colored) about 1803 in Mississippi or Louisiana. Sarah was born about 1785 in South Carolina; died in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It was to this third wife that many of Joseph's children were born. Along with William Willis, other children born to this union were Lemuel Willis, born circa 1812 (died 1862); John Willis, born circa 1814, Martha Willis, born April 9, 1825 (four females were listed in the 1830 census between the ages of five and twenty). There is also a Sally Willis listed in the 1850 Rapides Parish census as age forty-eight and living near William Willis. Joseph Jr., William and Lemuel all had daughters named Sarah.
http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/evangeline/bios/willis.txt

1. William Willis was born on 6 Jan 1804 in Bayou Chicot, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana; and died.
2. Lemuel Willis was born about 1812 in Bayou Chicot, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana; died in 1862.
3. John Willis was born in 1814 in Bayou Chicot, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana; and died.
4. (3 daughters) Willis was born between 1809 and 1825 in Bayou Chicot, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana; and died.
5. Martha Willis was born on 9 Apr 1825 in Bayou Chicot, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana; and died.

Joseph married Elvy Sweat, (dau of who?) about 1836 in Rapides Parish, Louisiana. Elvy was buried in Bayou Chicot, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Chronology of Joseph Willis) abt 1836 m Elvy Sweat, children born in and around Spring Hill Ward. This area included the east side of 10-Mile. children and birth years listed.

1. Samuel Willis was born in 1837 in Spring Hill, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana; and died.
2. Aimuwell Willis, (youngest son) was born on 1 May 1837 in Spring Hill, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana; died on 9 Sep 1937.
3. James Willis, (grandson?) was born in 1841 in Spring Hill, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana; and died.
4. William Willis, (grandson?) was born in 1845 in Spring Hill, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana; and died.
5. Timothy Willis, (grandson?) was born in 1847 in Spring Hill, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana; and died.
6. Bernard Willis, (grandson?) was born in 1848 in Spring Hill, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana; and died.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 18 Sep 1776, Bladen Co, North Carolina; written

Agerton married (Cherokee Indian, slave). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]