Widow of Capt. Joseph Willis Sr. (died 1812, Franklin County, Georgia). Mother of seven children. Charter member of Utoy Primitive Baptist Church at its founding on August 15th, 1824 (along with her mother). Lifelong, faithful member of the same church to her death. Lived through the Civil War. Died from Tuberculosis.
Firstly, she is MY direct ancestor. Her daughter Elizabeth "Betsy" Willis married William Wilson White. They're buried inside the Victorian iron fence.
Secondly, hers is unfortunately an UNKNOWN, UNMARKED burial. Alas, nobody amongst the many distant relatives with whom I've spoken represents a branch of the family which has preserved knowledge of the exact whereabouts of her grave. It is "known but to God."
Thirdly, both she and her mother, Margaret "Peggy" Harbin Suttles (wife of Revolutionary War veteran William Suttles) were among the 11 CHARTER MEMBERS of Utoy Primitive Baptist Church in 1824.
Given that Utoy Church was founded and first met in a log cabin home approximately one mile west of its present location, and given that Margaret "Peggy" Settles Willis' home at that time (along with the nearby home of her son, Joseph Willis Jr.) was in that exact, precise area, and given that she is known to have been a charter member, the odds are very good (I think) that it was in her home (or her son's home) that Utoy Church first began.
In my own branch of the family, we experienced two generational disconnects: neither myself nor my Dad knew either his father, nor his grandfather White, both of whom might have possessed this knowledge. And my Dad was only 4 years old when his great-granddad White passed on in 1942. He could not possibly have learned anything from him.
However, when I was a teenager, I DID meet and get to know a much younger first cousin to my Dad's Granddad White. She was Roberta White Brisendine (1913-2008), mother of our own Annette S. Cousin Roberta was a GOLDMINE of information and documents having to do with the family. If anyone would have known the location of this burial site, it would have been her. But even she didn't know, or I know she would have told me, because she knew I was very interested, and she had in fact told me everything she did know.
T.J. (Terry) White
Firstly, she is MY direct ancestor. Her daughter Elizabeth "Betsy" Willis married William Wilson White. They're buried inside the Victorian iron fence.
Secondly, hers is unfortunately an UNKNOWN, UNMARKED burial. Alas, nobody amongst the many distant relatives with whom I've spoken represents a branch of the family which has preserved knowledge of the exact whereabouts of her grave. It is "known but to God."
Thirdly, both she and her mother, Margaret "Peggy" Harbin Suttles (wife of Revolutionary War veteran William Suttles) were among the 11 CHARTER MEMBERS of Utoy Primitive Baptist Church in 1824.
Given that Utoy Church was founded and first met in a log cabin home approximately one mile west of its present location, and given that Margaret "Peggy" Settles Willis' home at that time (along with the nearby home of her son, Joseph Willis Jr.) was in that exact, precise area, and given that she is known to have been a charter member, the odds are very good (I think) that it was in her home (or her son's home) that Utoy Church first began.
In my own branch of the family, we experienced two generational disconnects: neither myself nor my Dad knew either his father, nor his grandfather White, both of whom might have possessed this knowledge. And my Dad was only 4 years old when his great-granddad White passed on in 1942. He could not possibly have learned anything from him.
However, when I was a teenager, I DID meet and get to know a much younger first cousin to my Dad's Granddad White. She was Roberta White Brisendine (1913-2008), mother of our own Annette S. Cousin Roberta was a GOLDMINE of information and documents having to do with the family. If anyone would have known the location of this burial site, it would have been her. But even she didn't know, or I know she would have told me, because she knew I was very interested, and she had in fact told me everything she did know.
T.J. (Terry) White
Widow of Capt. Joseph Willis Sr. (died 1812, Franklin County, Georgia). Mother of seven children. Charter member of Utoy Primitive Baptist Church at its founding on August 15th, 1824 (along with her mother). Lifelong, faithful member of the same church to her death. Lived through the Civil War. Died from Tuberculosis.
Firstly, she is MY direct ancestor. Her daughter Elizabeth "Betsy" Willis married William Wilson White. They're buried inside the Victorian iron fence.
Secondly, hers is unfortunately an UNKNOWN, UNMARKED burial. Alas, nobody amongst the many distant relatives with whom I've spoken represents a branch of the family which has preserved knowledge of the exact whereabouts of her grave. It is "known but to God."
Thirdly, both she and her mother, Margaret "Peggy" Harbin Suttles (wife of Revolutionary War veteran William Suttles) were among the 11 CHARTER MEMBERS of Utoy Primitive Baptist Church in 1824.
Given that Utoy Church was founded and first met in a log cabin home approximately one mile west of its present location, and given that Margaret "Peggy" Settles Willis' home at that time (along with the nearby home of her son, Joseph Willis Jr.) was in that exact, precise area, and given that she is known to have been a charter member, the odds are very good (I think) that it was in her home (or her son's home) that Utoy Church first began.
In my own branch of the family, we experienced two generational disconnects: neither myself nor my Dad knew either his father, nor his grandfather White, both of whom might have possessed this knowledge. And my Dad was only 4 years old when his great-granddad White passed on in 1942. He could not possibly have learned anything from him.
However, when I was a teenager, I DID meet and get to know a much younger first cousin to my Dad's Granddad White. She was Roberta White Brisendine (1913-2008), mother of our own Annette S. Cousin Roberta was a GOLDMINE of information and documents having to do with the family. If anyone would have known the location of this burial site, it would have been her. But even she didn't know, or I know she would have told me, because she knew I was very interested, and she had in fact told me everything she did know.
T.J. (Terry) White
Firstly, she is MY direct ancestor. Her daughter Elizabeth "Betsy" Willis married William Wilson White. They're buried inside the Victorian iron fence.
Secondly, hers is unfortunately an UNKNOWN, UNMARKED burial. Alas, nobody amongst the many distant relatives with whom I've spoken represents a branch of the family which has preserved knowledge of the exact whereabouts of her grave. It is "known but to God."
Thirdly, both she and her mother, Margaret "Peggy" Harbin Suttles (wife of Revolutionary War veteran William Suttles) were among the 11 CHARTER MEMBERS of Utoy Primitive Baptist Church in 1824.
Given that Utoy Church was founded and first met in a log cabin home approximately one mile west of its present location, and given that Margaret "Peggy" Settles Willis' home at that time (along with the nearby home of her son, Joseph Willis Jr.) was in that exact, precise area, and given that she is known to have been a charter member, the odds are very good (I think) that it was in her home (or her son's home) that Utoy Church first began.
In my own branch of the family, we experienced two generational disconnects: neither myself nor my Dad knew either his father, nor his grandfather White, both of whom might have possessed this knowledge. And my Dad was only 4 years old when his great-granddad White passed on in 1942. He could not possibly have learned anything from him.
However, when I was a teenager, I DID meet and get to know a much younger first cousin to my Dad's Granddad White. She was Roberta White Brisendine (1913-2008), mother of our own Annette S. Cousin Roberta was a GOLDMINE of information and documents having to do with the family. If anyone would have known the location of this burial site, it would have been her. But even she didn't know, or I know she would have told me, because she knew I was very interested, and she had in fact told me everything she did know.
T.J. (Terry) White
Gravesite Details
Unmarked burial/location unknown. Buried in cemetery according to Minute Books of Utoy Church and family tradition.
Family Members
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