1718265

Alias:<ALIA> Peggy /Willis/
[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 19, Ed. 1, Tree #1362, Date of Import: Apr 26, 1999]
Probably a year after finding the enclosed pedigree lines on Margaret
(Peggy) Willis, some intriguing information was found in Pennsylvania
archives on November 6,1997.
The fact the information was found in Pennsylvania archives was
intriguing alone since a will and other information was found there from
the Virginia Historical Magazine. The will was that of Robert Terrill,
who died in Orange County, VA in 1786.
Most fascinating of all was an opinion of Sarah Henderson Wiggins,
entered after the Terrill will, that Margaret (Peggy) Willis descended
from William Wiggins of Craney Creek, Gloucester County. Not as listed
in this pedigree.
The information caused review of the line to find the mistake. The
archive of the Family Tree Maker and Latter Day Saints both showed the
two pedigrees on Peggy Willis. The latter carried a note in their files
that there was a controversy in her pedigree. The review is ongoing with
no definite conclusion.
Wiggins opinion--in the Virginia Historial Magazine: As there has been
some speculation as to the parentage of Mrs. Perry Willis Terrill and a
jump-at conclusion accepted by certain of her descendants. I take this
opportunity of proving its fallacy. The tradition alluded to has been
given a wide circulation and is to the effect that Peggy Willis, wife of
Edmund Terrill, was the daughter of Col. Henry Willis, founder of
Fredericksburg. In such statements there is no argument so strong as
precise dates for the knocking down of a tradition. Col. Henry Willis
died on September 14, 1740 O.S. (dates having to do with changing from
the Julian to the Gregorian Calender) and Peggy Willis was born February
25, 1741 her birth just seventeen months after Col. Henry Willis's death.
The pedigrees show (Peggy) Willis born on February 25, 1740/41 which
would seem to refute Wiggins following opinion. The two years appearing
in her birth has to do with switching from the Julian to the Gregorian
Calendar.
Another argument that Wiggins uses is the fact that Edmund Terrill's and
Margaret (Peggy) first child is named Elizabeth Plunkett
Terrill--supposedly being name after her mother. It seems to be a
logical conclusion since their second child is name Mary Foster Terrill
after Edmund's side of the family.
However, searching further down through Edmund's and Peggy's children is
a set of twins named Lucy Lacey and Francine Washington Terrill. Giving
rise to the theory that the latter is named after Mildred Washington
there grandmother that was married to Col. Henry Willis, causing the plot
to thicken.
Her opinion goes on in citing a will and an opinion of Col. Thomas M.
Green, who is considered an authority on the Willis Line.