Some sources have listed as William B LYONS. His gravestone and many of his children's gravestones list LYENS.
World War I Draft Registration
Could this Thomas Purdom be the husband of Sarah Suzannah Willis? Timing is right.
1 Sara Susanna WILLIS
+ William Thomas PURDOM b: 3 JUN 1854 d: 1923
2 Martha PURDOM
2 Gatsy O. PURDOM
2 John L. PURDOM
2 Thomas H. PURDOM
2 Glenn A. PURDOM
2 Amirintha PURDOM b: 1873
2 Bertha PURDOM b: 1875
2 Michael PURDOM b: 1877
2 William PURDOM b: 1880
2 James Lewis PURDOM b: 18 APR 1886
2 Cora Washington PURDOM b: 23 NOV 1892
Jasper was a Primitive Baptist Preacher. The story is told of when he was called to preach that he put it off just as long as he could. One night he woke Ella and said "Ella, I've just got to preach or die." She said, "Well, preach Jasper, preach". That day they went to Symrna and he preached. He remained a preacher for the remainder of his life.
James and George are brothers based on info provided by Kenneth Willis (Nahunta, GA) and compelling evidence listed below.
The full name for George is most likely George Washington Willis. His daughter, Ella Gatsey Willis, married her cousin, William Jasper Willis, and named their son George Washington Willis. Ella G. is shown living with James and Gatsey Willis in the 1880 census and is listed as a niece born in FL.1880 census: FL, Columbia, 9-Jun-1880
Willis, William W. 47, GA, NC, NC
, Cinthia E. 32, wife FL, Penn, FL
, Robert Samuel, 9/12 son FL, GA, FLWillis, Mary 46 GA, NC, NC
, Laura L. 9 daughter FL, GA, GA
, Annie 6 daughter FL, GA, GA
Question: Where did Ella and Marietta go?
Answer: Ella G. Willis is shown living with James and Gatsey Willis in the 1880 census and is listed as a niece born in FL.
This seems to clearly make George and James as brothers. Marietta is not in FL or GA.
1870 census: FL, Columbia, Lake City 13-Jul-1870
Willis, George 51 NC
, Mary 35 GA
, Marietta 6 FL
, Ella G. 1 FLWillis, William W. 35 GA
, Sarah A. 36 GA
, Elizabeth 8 FL
, Martha 18 GA
Hair, George 60 SC1860 census: FL, New River, 22-Jun-1860
Willis, William 34 GA <-- either error in age or different person. I believe correct age is 26 (jmc)
, Sarah S. 38? GA <-- either error in age or different person.
, Jane A 9 GA
, George W. 8 GA
, Eliza R. 7 FL
, Benjamin F. 2 FL
, William A. 3/12 FLWillis, Thomas C. 40 GA
Willis, Alexander 80 NC
1850 census: FL, Hamilton, District #3, 7-Nov-1850
Willis, George 31 NC <- Could this be the same George listed in the 1850 GA, Wayne census?
, Julia A. 27 NC
, Sarah A. 23 GA
, William W. 17 GA
, Robert H. 15 GA
, Newton T. 12 GA
, Martha 2 GA
Question: Possible connection to George W. Willis in Craven County, NC shown below?
Answer: Probably not./Thomas Willis , Sr. b: ABT 1625 d: BEF 6 FEB 1669/70 =>
/Thomas Willis , Jr. b: 8 SEP 1662
| \Mary (Willis) b: ABT 1633 d: 27 SEP 1684
/Richard Willis b: ABT 1680
/Samuel Willis b: ABT 1726 d: 1782
| \Martha (Willis)
/Samuel Willis d: ABT AUG 1805
| \Sarah (Willis)
/Major Willis , Sr. b: 1779 d: 2 NOV 1844
George W. Willis b: 1819 d: 1881
\Penelope Thomas d: AFT 1823
He was named guardian of Archibald and Jeremiah Johns, sons of Levi Johns, Jr., on 7 Jun 1824 (according to Judge Huxford's notes)