SPOTSYLVANIA: CEMETERY RECORDS – WILLIS CEMETERY Contributed by: Joan Renfrow NOTICE: I have no relationship or further information in regards to this family. *************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *************************************************************************** Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Willis cemetery: 1937 July 28 Research made by Sue K. Gordon Cemetery Location: On Marye Heights or Willis Hill. 1 mile west of Fredericksburg, Va., 500 feet north from the National Cemetery. This burying ground is reached through the north gate of the National Cemetery. Spotsylvania County Several of Colonel Henry Willis’ (one of the founders of Fredericksburg) descendents rest on what is known as “Willis Hill”. This cemetery covers approximately one-half acre; is enclosed with a brick wall and substantial iron gate; a carpet of periwinkle, several gnarled old trees – honeysuckle rapidly making its way over them – nature truly precominating. Colonel Willis’ grave is marked by a stone with the following inscription: Colonel Byrd C. Willis Born August 29, 1781 Died October 1st, 1846 Colonel Willis’ father was Lewis Willis and his mother Anne Carter of Cleve. She was married three times but has only the one son, Byrd C. Willis. They had a child whom they named Charles Lewis, but he only lived to the age of three years, and at his death they added Charles Lewis to Colonel Byrd Willis’ name, making it Byrd Charles Lewis. Colonel Willis became weary of having such a long name, so imply called himself Byrd C. Willis, and his father never forgave him for it. His mother was very proud of being a descendent of the Byrd’s of Westover, and was determined the Colonel Willis should retain the name Byrd. Colonel Byrd C. Willis’ father was rather unusually name, being called Lewis to commemorate the memory of his mother’s former husband, “Lewis”. Colonel Willis’ father, Lewis Willis, was left an orphan at the age of twelve years. The estate was well cared for, but his education was very much neglected. He was a school-mate of George Washington, being two years older than George. Lewis Willis often spoke of how diligent George Washington was at school; while most of the boys would be playing, George would be busy cyphering. Colonel Byrd C. Willis was very much petted, in fact more than he cared for, and as he became older he felt that his mother treated him as if he were a small child. His father was rather stern and severe. He would say to the school master “I am most unfortunate, none of my children love their books; they are a stiff necked, perverse generation, and nothing but flogging will do for them.” The school masters would very often take his advice, and for that reason Colonel Willis was not fond of school. In 1800 Colonel Willis married at the age of nineteen, Mary Willis Lewis, daughter of George Lewis of Marmion, nephew of General George Washington. From infancy the parents had planned this match, and the day it was consummated it was one of the happiest for Mrs. Willis, the mother of Byrd C. Willis. Colonel Willis and his bride at first made their home in Orange, near the Court House, and later they came to “Willis Hill”. He paid little attention to the management of the plantation, spending his time fox hunting, racing, and attending parties; and but from the profits from the races, and the sale of fire wood, they would have run through their property long before they did. Things continued to get worse, and finally in 1825, he sold out, paid off and removed to Florida. The following children were born to Colonel Willis and his wife Mary, (Willis Lewis) Willis: Lewis Willis; Catherine Dangerfield Willis; John Willis; George Willis; Mary Byrd Willis; and Ellen A. Willis. Catherine Willis married at a very early age Atchison Gray, son of John Gray of “Travelers Rest”. Her husband died in less than twelve months after their marriage, and their child born after his death, died also. Catherine, a very young widow, went with her father and mother to Florida, where she met Achilles Murat, ex-Prince of Naples and nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte. She soon married him and they made their home sixteen miles from Tallahassee. Before Colonel Willis would give his consent to the marriage he got the approval of the Murat and Bonaparte families. At first they did countenance the marriage on account of Catherine Willis Gray being an American widow, but when they realized that the charming young lady was a great niece of General Washington, they readily acceeded. Colonel Byrd Willis, his wife and several of their children, stayed with Joseph Bonaparte, ex-King of Spain, at his magnificent villa near Bordentown, New Jersey. Catherine (Willis Gray) Murat, was entertained when abroad; she was at the coronation of William IV, King of England, and was given a seat in West Minster Abbey. It would be assumed that on account of her extreme youth and being so feted, it would have made her rather pretentious, but it did not. She returned to America unaffected, beautiful, charming, and as loyal to her native country as when she left it. Napoleon III, when Emperor of France, placed Princess Murat at the head of the nobility of France and honored her with a seat on his right. After the War Between the States, Louis Napoleon settled an annuity of Fifty thousand Francs upon the Princess Murat which was paid until her death. In a quiet unpretentious little graveyard near Tallahassee, Florida, there are two marble shafts with the following inscriptions: Departed this life April 18, 1847 Charles Louis Napoleon Achille Murat Son of the King of Naples Caroline Boneparte Murat Aged 47 Sacred to the memory of Princess Catherine D. Murat Widow of Colonel Chas. Louis Napoleon Achille Murat and daughter of the late Colonel Byrd C. Willis of Virginia who departed this life on the 6th of August 1867 in the 64th year of her age. A kind and affectionate wife and sister A sincere and devoted friend. One historian states that Catherine Willis met Prince Achille Murat at a picnic, and that he really did drink out of her slipper. Prince Murat came to Florida and bought a large estate near Tallahassee, which he called Lipona, after his mother, Caroline of Lipona. Catherine Gray Willis, married the ex-Prince in Washington in the summer of 1826, at the age of sixteen, and President John Quincy Adams was the first to salute the bride. On one occasion when the Murats were in England in an Art Gallery, being escorted by John Randolph of Roanoke, they paused under the portraits of Napoleon and Washington, and Randolph said “Before us we have the pictures of Bonaparte and Washington – one the founder of a great empire and the other the founder of a great republic, and behold we have in the Princess Murat, the niece of both; a distinction she alone can claim.” Catherine lived twenty years after the death of Prince Murat. Colonel Byrd C. Willis, father of Catherine, used to say that he could tell a good story or sing a good song but was no manager. When he removed from Willis Hill to Florida, where he had secured a government position, there were no railroads and his family and servants traveled through the country, visiting relatives on the way. He visited his cousin, John Addison Cobb, at Athens, Georgia. Colonel Willis was connected with the most influential families of his State. He was the noted wit of the town, and weighed over three hundred pounds. In 1836 Colonel Willis returned to Fredericksburg from Florida, and boarded with a lady on Main or Caroline Street. It is said that he paid generously for his board to his landlady, and ate his meals at the most modern restaurant. He told this story about the landlady: “One day when all of her resources were exhausted the old lady took to the bed, saying to her housekeeper, “There is nothing in the house for dinner but mush. Give that to my boarders. If they are Christians, they will eat it and be thankful; if they are not Christians, it is much better than they deserve.”. The will of Lewis Willis, father of Byrd C. Willis, is most interesting; he leaves to his son, Byrd, land in Spotsylvania County; silver to be divided between his sons except one pair of silver sugar tongs which were left to his daughter, Mildred. He stated in the will that if Byrd refused to give up the Negro boy, Phil, who he claimed, the executors shall then provide his wife with another servant. His two sons, William and Byrd C. Willis, and his friend, John Minor, were his executors. The will was probated in 1813. (Will Book A, pp, 368-370) The Willis’ owned all of Willis Hill and the land whereon the National Cemetery is now located. The old Willis dwelling stood on that location, and Catherine Willis was born there. One historian has it that Colonel Henry Willis, “The Top Man of the Town” as he was called, buried his last wife, Mildred Washington Gregory, George Washington’s aunt god-mother, in the Willis Cemetery. We are assuming that Lewis Willis, father of William Byrd Willis, was also interred here, but if so there is no marker over this grave. We do know that his wife is buried here, and the following is the inscription on the slab: To the Memory of Elizabeth S. Willis Consort of the late Lewis Willis who died April 5, 1816 Aged 56 We know from his will that Lewis Willis died before his wife, he in 1813 and his wife in 1816, and it is probable that she would have been laid to rest by the side of her life mate. Rev. Samuel Wilson, first pastor of the Fredericksburg Presbyterian Church, as a daughter buried in this cemetery; her grave is marked and has the following inscription: Mary E. wife of John F. Caruthers and daughter of Rev. Samuel B. Wilson D.D. Born October 24, 1802 Died November 28, 1878 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord Sacred to the memory of Samuel Wilson son of John F. and M.E. Caruthers who died of Scarlet Fever the 19th of April 1831 aged 2 years and 10 months Some of the other old citizens of Fredericksburg buried in this unpretentious resting place are as follows: John Spotswood Wellford Born March 30, 1785 Died December 22, 1846 Frances Page Wellford Wife of John Spotswood Wellford Born December 23, 1787 Died October 3, 1815 It is indeed fitting, that some of the Willis family should rest on the land owned by them for so many years. The massive brick wall around this plot of ground, withstood many bullets which were shot at the battle of Fredericksburg, and the marks of them can yet be seen. Fredericksburg can be plainly seen from this high hill, tho it is too far to hear the bustle and confusion of the town, and is indeed a peaceful spot for those who were weary to rest, and for those who loved a verdant, natural spot. Perhaps if Catherine Willis, the Princess Murat, could have had her way, she too would be sleeping on the plantation where her eventful life began. Sources of information: Historic Periods of Fredericksburg, Vol. I pp, 12-29 By Mrs. Vivian Minor Fleming. W.C. Hill Printing Co., Richmond, Virginia. 1921. (At Wallace Library – Fredericksburg, Virginia.) Recollections of a Virginian. Vol.1. p, 7. By Dabney H. Maury. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York 1894. (At Wallace Library – Fredericksburg, Virginia.) History of Fredericksburg, Va. Vol.1, p, 43. By S.J. Quinn. The Hermitage Press, Inc. Richmond, Va. 1908. (City of State Libraries.) Some Prominent Virginia Families, Vol. II, pp 289, 393-397. J.P. Bell Co. Inc. Lynchburg, Va. 1907.