Notes for Margaret Willis: Probably a year after finding the enclosed pedigree lines on Margaret (Peggy) Willis, some intriguing information was found in Pennsylvania archives on November 6,1997.
The fact the information was found in Pennsylvania archives was intriguing alone since a will and other information was found there from the Virginia Historical Magazine. The will was that of Robert Terrill, who died in Orange County, VA in 1786.
Most fascinating of all was an opinion of Sarah Henderson Wiggins, entered after the Terrill will, that Margaret (Peggy) Willis descended from William Willis of Craney Creek, Gloucester County. Not as listed in this pedigree.
The information caused review of the line to find the mistake. The archive of the Family Tree Maker and Latter Day Saints both showed the two pedigrees on Peggy Willis. The latter carried a note in their files that there was a controversy in her pedigree. The review is ongoing with no definite conclusion.
Wiggins opinion--in the Virginia Historical Magazine: As there has been some speculation as to the parentage of Mrs. Perry Willis Terrill and a jump-at conclusion accepted by certain of her descendants. I take this opportunity of proving its fallacy. The tradition alluded to has been given a wide circulation and is to the effect that Peggy Willis, wife of Edmund Terrill, was the daughter of Col. Henry Willis, founder of Fredericksburg. In such statements there is no argument so strong as precise dates for the knocking down of a tradition. Col. Henry Willis died on September 14, 1740 O.S. (dates having to do with changing from the Julian to the Gregorian Calendar) and Peggy Willis was born February 25, 1741 her birth just seventeen months after Col. Henry Willis's death.
The pedigrees show (Peggy) Willis born on February 25, 1740/41 which would seem to refute Wiggins following opinion. The two years appearing in her birth has to do with switching from the Julian to the Gregorian Calendar.
Another argument that Wiggins uses is the fact that Edmund Terrill's and Margaret (Peggy) first child is named Elizabeth Plunkett Terrill--supposedly being name after her mother. It seems to be a logical conclusion since their second child is name Mary Foster Terrill after Edmund's side of the family.
However, searching further down through Edmund's and Peggy's children is a set of twins named Lucy Lacey and Francine Washington Terrill. Giving rise to the theory that the latter is named after Mildred Washington there grandmother that was married to Col. Henry Willis, causing the plot to thicken.
Her opinion goes on in citing a will and an opinion of Col. Thomas M. Green, who is considered an authority on the Willis Line.
More About Margaret Willis and Edmund Terrill: Marriage: November 26, 1760, Culpepper Co.,Virginia.1286
Children of Margaret Willis and Edmund Terrill are:
Margaret Willis (b. February 25, 1740/41, d. 1812)
Notes for Margaret Willis: