Levi Willets

   FamilySearch ID: LDPC-5D7. Find a Grave ID: 7741408.

  General Notes:

One of four brothers who came to Wayne County, IN early and with their sisters and families settled in the south part of the county. They formed the Willets settlement that was mostly in what is now Washington County, Indiana. 1820: Levi and family are listed as 1 male 26-45, Levi, age 43, b 1777 1 female 26-45, Rachel 1 male 16-26, William, age 20, b 1800 1 female 10-16, Sarah, age 14, b 1806 1 female 10-16, Vashti, age 12, b 1808 1 male, 0-10, James M., age 2, b 1818

Levi was born near Catawissa, Northumberland (now Columbia) County, PA to Isaac and Elizabeth Willits. Levi was of Quaker background, but was not one himself since his father was disowned from the faith 20 years before he was born. Probably after their parents died in 1784, Levi and his 3 brothers, and sisters moved from Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, farther west in to Wayne County, Indiana. They settled in the south part of the county forming a settlement which is mostly now in Washington County, Indiana.

Levi married Rachel Field in 1797 in Pennsylvania. Rachel was a Quaker by faith, but was disowned from that religion for marrying outside of the Quaker religion. In 1801, Levi Willits and his family were living in Pennsylvania, but by 1808, they had moved into Ohio, and by 1815 had moved once more into Wayne County, IN, where they settled. In 1823, Thomas Willets submitted title papers for a tract of land on Lake Saint Clare, Michigan (now just outside of Detroit), for a tract of land. It had been purchased by Thomas Willets on March 29, 1814, who then sold it to Levi Willets on January 25, 1816. "April 14, 1800. Whereas our Brother Thomas Willits of Northumberland County hath administered the estate of our father Isaac Willits decd, and the said Administrator having obtained an order from the Orphans Court of said county to sell real estate of our Father, Now, we Levi Willets, Edward Thornton and Ruth his wife, heirs of the estate of Isaac Willits deceased, appoint our Brother Isaiah Willits our lawful attorney ... Acknowledged before Jonathan Shoemaker, a Justice of the Peace for Northumberland County, April 14, 1800. (Northumberland County, Sunbury, Pennsylvania, Deeds, Book L, p. 215.)"

Levi was buried in the Old Franklin Cemetery, south of Pennville, Jay County, Indiana. Find A Grave Memorial# 7741408. ^1259,1262

  Research Notes:

Referenced by Willets: "Bartlett, pages 202-204; The Willett Families, 1985, pages 288-289"

  Events

• Witness to marriage: of father to widow Mary Watson, 27 Mar 1800, Catawissa, Northumberland Co., PA. ¹²⁶³

• Land: sold to John Evans, 3 Apr 1807, Hemlock Township, Northumberland Co., PA. Citation from Ryan Wadleigh 6/27/2021:
Columbia County Deeds, Vol. 2, Pg. 293:
On July 3, 1807, "Levi Willits of Hemlock Township Northumberland County and State of Pennsylvania, Yeoman with Rachel his wife" sold land to John Evans of Trenton Township, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey for $1,200. This was 50 acres of land in Hemlock Township, which joined the Susquehanna River and other landowners including Andrew Clark and Josiah Willits. The deed contains a detailed ownership history; it was owned by Isaiah Willits from 1771 to 1783 and then purchased by Levi Willits on December 3, 1803 from Samuel Potts. Signed by Levi Willits and Rachel Willits. Witnessed by William Mears and Gabriel Lount. Recorded on February 9, 1808. [Same deed is also in Volume O, Page 362 of Northumberland County Deeds.]
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https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSFM-S91N
Columbia Co. (PA) Deeds, Vol. 2, DGS 8036678 Images 428-9 combined

• residence, 1820, Richmond, Wayne Co., IN.

• Census, 1820, Richmond, Wayne Co., IN.

• Burial: Franklin Cemetery, 1828, Milton, Wayne County, IN. Find A Grave Memorial# 7741408

• Religion: of Quaker background. His father or family had been disowned some years before his death.

Levi married Rachel Field, daughter of Robert Field and Phebe Comly, 2 Nov 1797 in Pennsylvania ¹²⁵⁹.^,1260 (Rachel Field was born 15 Feb 1780 in Abington Township, Philadelphia Co., PA,^1264,1265 died 10 Mar 1851 in Wayne County, Indiana ¹²⁶⁴ and was buried in Milton, Wayne County, IN.)

  Marriage Notes:

Their marriage is recorded as in 1798 in the Exeter Monthly Meeting Records which makes one wonder if she was ever really disowned.