Willys Baronets
Encyclopedia
There have been two baronetcies granted to the Willyses of Fen Ditton
, both in the Baronetage of England. The Willys Baronetcy, of Fen Ditton
in Cambridgeshire
, was first created in the Baronetage of England on 15 December 1641 for Thomas Willys, (the surname also appears as Willis, Wills, and Wyllys) son and heir of Richard Willys, of Fen Ditton and Horningsey, Cambridgeshire, by Jane, daughter and heir of William Henmarsh, of Balls, in Ware, Hertfordshire. Richard's brother, Thomas
was Clerk of the Crown in Chancery
.
Sir Richard Willis
(knighted in 1642), the younger brother of Thomas, with the same parentage, was also created Baronet of Fen Ditton (on 11 June 1646). Sir Richard who fought as an officer in the Royalist army during the English Civil War
, also worked as a double-agent for Oliver Cromwell
during the Interregnum and was banned from court following the Restoration
. Sir Richard's son Sir Thomas Fox Willis died in 1701 without issue, so this baronetcy became extinct.
The baronetcy granted to Thomas Willys passed to his son John Willys (2nd Baronet), then to his grandson Thomas Willys (3rd Baronet), but his great-grandson, also Thomas Willys (4th Baronet), died without issue in 1725; the baronetcy passed to another Thomas Willys, the 4th Baronet's first cousin once removed (the son of John Willys (2nd Baronet)'s younger brother William). On his death in 1726 his younger brother William inherited the title, but died childless in 1732, making the baronetcy extinct.
John Walpole Willis
and his descendants (some of whom became Willis-Bund, e.g. John William Willis-Bund
) descended from this family through his grandfather Joshua Willis of Wakefield
, Yorkshire
. The anatomist, neurologist and psychologist Thomas Willis
was a kinsman of this line; his father, Thomas, the son of another Thomas Willis (of Kennington, Oxfordshire
, Berkshire
prior to the 1974 boundary changes) was the steward of Great Bedwyn
, Wiltshire
and owned a farm there (http://galileo.rice.edu/Catalog/NewFiles/willis.html ; http://www.dana.org/news/cerebrum/detail.aspx?id=1336). The 6th Baronet served as M.P. for Great Bedwyn from 1727-1732.
Burke's 'A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, 1834' details the relationship between the Willys baronets and the Willis-Fleming family that descended from Thomas Willis thus: 'The family of Willis claims descent from the eminent and ennobled family of Welles. Browne Willis, M.P., the celebrated antiquarian, was one of its members, and his descendants have assumed of late years the surname Fleming, for estates left to them in Hampshire, where they are now resident. In the reign of Charles II, Thomas Willis, of the Berkshire family of that name, and to which family a baronetcy was granted by King Charles I, settled in Lancashire and purchased estates in that county, which, together with others, are now in possession of Richard Willis, esq. of Halsnead Park.'. Browne Willis
was the anatomist Thomas Willis's grandson. The Richard Willis in question was, like Thomas Willis, a descendant of John Willis of Harborough
, Lancashire
, and so came to inherit the estates there.
Fen Ditton
Fen Ditton is a village on the northeast edge of Cambridge in Cambridgeshire, England. The parish covers an area of Fen Ditton lies on the east bank of the River Cam, on the road from Cambridge to Clayhithe, and close to junction 34 of the A14...
, both in the Baronetage of England. The Willys Baronetcy, of Fen Ditton
Fen Ditton
Fen Ditton is a village on the northeast edge of Cambridge in Cambridgeshire, England. The parish covers an area of Fen Ditton lies on the east bank of the River Cam, on the road from Cambridge to Clayhithe, and close to junction 34 of the A14...
in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, was first created in the Baronetage of England on 15 December 1641 for Thomas Willys, (the surname also appears as Willis, Wills, and Wyllys) son and heir of Richard Willys, of Fen Ditton and Horningsey, Cambridgeshire, by Jane, daughter and heir of William Henmarsh, of Balls, in Ware, Hertfordshire. Richard's brother, Thomas
Thomas Willis (Clerk of the Crown in Chancery)
Thomas Willis was a member of the English landed gentry and Clerk of the Crown in Chancery at the outbreak of the English Civil War, owing to which he suffered the loss of his position and some of his estates...
was Clerk of the Crown in Chancery
Clerk of the Crown in Chancery
In the Government of the United Kingdom, the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery is a senior civil servant who is the head of the Crown Office. The Crown Office, a section of the Ministry of Justice, has custody of the Great Seal of the Realm, and has certain administrative functions in connection with...
.
Sir Richard Willis
Richard Willis (spy)
Sir Richard Willis, 1st Baronet was a Royalist officer during the English Civil War, and a double agent working for the Parliamentarians during the Interregnum.-Biography:...
(knighted in 1642), the younger brother of Thomas, with the same parentage, was also created Baronet of Fen Ditton (on 11 June 1646). Sir Richard who fought as an officer in the Royalist army during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, also worked as a double-agent for Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
during the Interregnum and was banned from court following the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
. Sir Richard's son Sir Thomas Fox Willis died in 1701 without issue, so this baronetcy became extinct.
The baronetcy granted to Thomas Willys passed to his son John Willys (2nd Baronet), then to his grandson Thomas Willys (3rd Baronet), but his great-grandson, also Thomas Willys (4th Baronet), died without issue in 1725; the baronetcy passed to another Thomas Willys, the 4th Baronet's first cousin once removed (the son of John Willys (2nd Baronet)'s younger brother William). On his death in 1726 his younger brother William inherited the title, but died childless in 1732, making the baronetcy extinct.
John Walpole Willis
John Walpole Willis
John Walpole Willis was an English-born judge, and a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.- Early life :...
and his descendants (some of whom became Willis-Bund, e.g. John William Willis-Bund
John William Willis-Bund
John William Bund Willis-Bund was an historian and local Worcestershire politician.Willis-Bund was born in 1843 at Wick Episcopi, Worcestershire, the son of John Walpole Willis and his second wife Ann Susanna Kent Bund. The adoption of his mother's surname was necessary in order to inherit from...
) descended from this family through his grandfather Joshua Willis of Wakefield
Wakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. The anatomist, neurologist and psychologist Thomas Willis
Thomas Willis
Thomas Willis was an English doctor who played an important part in the history of anatomy, neurology and psychiatry. He was a founding member of the Royal Society.-Life:...
was a kinsman of this line; his father, Thomas, the son of another Thomas Willis (of Kennington, Oxfordshire
Kennington, Oxfordshire
Kennington is a village and civil parish in the Vale of White Horse district of Oxfordshire, just south of Oxford. The village occupies a narrow stretch of land between the River Thames and the A34 dual carriageway...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
prior to the 1974 boundary changes) was the steward of Great Bedwyn
Great Bedwyn
Great Bedwyn is a village and civil parish in the east of the English county of Wiltshire.-Location:Great Bedwyn is on the River Dun about south-west of Hungerford and south-east of Marlborough, Wiltshire. The Kennet and Avon Canal and the West of England Main Line railway follow the Dun and pass...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
and owned a farm there (http://galileo.rice.edu/Catalog/NewFiles/willis.html ; http://www.dana.org/news/cerebrum/detail.aspx?id=1336). The 6th Baronet served as M.P. for Great Bedwyn from 1727-1732.
Burke's 'A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, 1834' details the relationship between the Willys baronets and the Willis-Fleming family that descended from Thomas Willis thus: 'The family of Willis claims descent from the eminent and ennobled family of Welles. Browne Willis, M.P., the celebrated antiquarian, was one of its members, and his descendants have assumed of late years the surname Fleming, for estates left to them in Hampshire, where they are now resident. In the reign of Charles II, Thomas Willis, of the Berkshire family of that name, and to which family a baronetcy was granted by King Charles I, settled in Lancashire and purchased estates in that county, which, together with others, are now in possession of Richard Willis, esq. of Halsnead Park.'. Browne Willis
Browne Willis
Browne Willis was an antiquary, author, numismatist and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1705 to 1708.-Early life:...
was the anatomist Thomas Willis's grandson. The Richard Willis in question was, like Thomas Willis, a descendant of John Willis of Harborough
Harborough
Harborough is a local government district of Leicestershire, England, named after its main town, Market Harborough. Covering , the District is by far the largest of the eight district authorities in Leicestershire and covers almost a quarter of the County....
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, and so came to inherit the estates there.
Willys Baronets, of Fen Ditton (1641)
- Sir Thomas Willys, 1st BaronetSir Thomas Willys, 1st BaronetSir Thomas Willys, 1st Baronet of Fen Ditton in Cambridgeshire, was a Member of Parliament for Cambridgeshire and Cambridge...
(1612–1701) - Sir John Willys, 2nd Baronet (1636–1704)
- Sir Thomas Willys, 3rd Baronet (1674–1705)
- Sir Thomas Willys, 4th Baronet (1704–1725)
- Sir Thomas Willys, 5th Baronet (1680–1726)
- Sir William Willys, 6th Baronet (1685–1732)
- Extinct on his death
Willys Baronets, of Fen Ditton (1646)
- Sir Richard Willis, 1st BaronetRichard Willis (spy)Sir Richard Willis, 1st Baronet was a Royalist officer during the English Civil War, and a double agent working for the Parliamentarians during the Interregnum.-Biography:...
(1614–1690) - Sir Thomas Fox Willis, 2nd Baronet (1642–1701)
- Extinct on his death
Further reading
- Burke, Sir Bernard (ed.), Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry, 4th edition, (Burke's Peerage Ltd, 1863)
- Burke, John and Burke, John Bernard (eds.), Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies of England, (C. Whittingham, 1838)
- Fetherston, J. (ed.), The Warwickshire Antiquarian Magazine Part I, (Henry T. Cooke and Son, 1859)