Willis Weathers

Other Events:

• Cemetery: Wellmon/ Zion Baptist Church Cemetery, Cleveland County, NC
• Military Service: Revolutionary War

Notes:

Prior to his residence in Rutherford County ( now Cleveland), North Carolina, Willis had served in the Revolutionary War. His pension application id GSA File 57862. In this document Willis states that he entered service from Franklin County, North Carolina on 28 September 1780 as a drafted militia man under the command of Captain Jenkins Devaney in Colonel Heart's regiment later commanded by Colonel Brench under General Jones. He also said that he marched to Waxaw in South Carolina and returned and was discharged at Providence, North Carolina and entered service again as a volunteer in the fall of 1781in Franklin County, North Carolina for a term of twelve months under Captain John McKees who was under General Sumner. He later marched into South Carolina under Captain Hall in General Green's army and was discharged at Bacon Bridge in South Carolina. He stated that he had no record of his age. (Willis was born 29 March 1758 and christened 1 May 1758 with Ben Tomlinson, Edward Smith and Sarah Bradley as Godparents. This record is from Albemarle Parish Register kept by Reverend William Willie of Surry and Suxxex Counties in Virginia.) He adds that he was living in Franklin County when he entered the military; that he lived 11 years in York District, South Carolina and 3 years in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina and has lived in Rutherford County since that time which has been upwards of thirty years. He states that he was acquainted with Colonel Little (probably Lytle), Major Dunahoo, General Green and major Armstrong. He claimed that he had a discharge from Captain Hall but has since lost it. He named Drury Dobbins and John Bennett who could testify as to his character and veracity and their beliefs as to his services in the Revolutionary War. Drury Dobbins and John Bennett did sign a statement saying that they believed Willis to be a soldier in the Revolutionary War. William McKinney swore that he was acquainted with Willis Weathers and knows of his entering the service for twelve months. (William McKinney's mother was Sarah Weathers, sister of Willis Weathers) William McKinney served as a soldier in the Revolution with Willis during Willis' second term and stated that he has good reason to believe that Willis had served the other term as claimed since he had been acquainted with him throughout his life and that he had always been an esteemed and upright and a truthful individual. "Certificate 16795 issued 25 September 1833, Rate Fifty Dollars per annum Commenced 4 March 1831, Act of 7 June 1832 North Carolina Agency". This appears on the GSA records in Washington D.C. His death date is not included, but his grave marker in the Wellmon cemetery, Cleveland County, North Carolina gives the date of 1840. In "The History of Zion Church" by Lyda Poston, the author states that the first plot of land for the church was three acres purchased from Willis Weathers 5 April 1814. This land was located near the old Weathers Mill, later known as the old Lutz Mill. The land was bought for twenty dollars by the Anabaptist Church or Society at Zion. J.D. Weathers (Devaney) and A.G. Weathers (Albert), sons of William and grandsons of Willis, are listed as deacons serving the early period of church history.

of Original Deed To Zion Baptist Church Number Six Township, Cleveland County, North Carolina
Willis Weathers to Samuel Bailey, William Covington, and Mark Dedmon, Commissioners or the Ana Baptist Church or Society at Zion.
Dated April 5, 1814
Consideration $2O.00
"a part of tract whereon said Willis Weathers now resides" .... "containing three acres" .... "for the use and benefit of the said Society at Zion or Meeting house as above mentioned forever"--
Willis Weathers (seal)
Witnesses:
John Martin William Dedmon
The above deed was proven in open court by the oath of John Martin Nov. 18, 1844 and ordered to be registered. Registered November 23, 1844 in Book 3rd, No 23rd, by William H. Green, Register._______________________________________
The attached Original deed was discovered in courthouse of Cleveland County, N.C., by P. Cleveland Gardner, County Historian on the 8th day of July 1938 and by him delivered to Mr. Lee B. Weathers on the 9th day of July 1938, to be preserved by him etc.

Family/Spouse: Polly Mary Lynn. Polly and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Squire William Weathers was born in 1796; died in 1867 in Cleveland County, North Carolina.
2. Rebecca R. Weathers was born on 9 Aug 1797; died on 26 Jul 1879 in Cleveland County, North Carolina.
3. Isham Weathers was born on 2 May 1780 in Gilkey, Rutherford Co., NC; died on 10 Jun 1863 in High Shoals Baptist Church, Cliffside, Rutherford Co., NC.
4. Weathers and died.
5. Weathers and died.
6. WEATHERS and died.

Notes:

In his will (probated 21 June 1768 in Sussex County, Virginia) seven children are mentioned after this statement: "I most humbly bequeath my soul to Almighty God that gave it and what worldly Estate it hath pleased the Lord of His great goodness to bestow upon me."

1. To William: "the tract of land I bought of John Sturdivant containing 150 acres, more or less; one featherbed and furniture, one cow and calf." 2. To John: "the tract of land I bought of Joseph Whelborne containing 150 acres more or less; one bed and furniture, one gun, one cow and calf." 3. To Jesse: "five cows and calves, one featherbed and furniture, five pounds current money of Virginia." 4. To Willis: "feather bead and furniture, one pot to hold ____ gallons, two dishes, two plates." 5. To Isham: "boy Matt, one cow and calf, feather bead and furniture." 6. To Sarah: "One feather bed and furniture, one cow and calf, two dishes in Pewter (water jug?) five pounds current money of Virginia. 7. To Mary: "one feather bed and furniture, two cows and calves, two dishes and two brooms."

To my wife Mary: "my young mare and the _____ plates, one feather bed and furniture; Mary also to have the rest of my estate during her widowhood, the to be equally divided among four children - Sarah, Mary, Jesse, and Willis."

Executor: "My loving wife, Mary Date: 8 May 1764 Signed: William X Weathers Witnesses: Edward Petteway John Rives Donald MacInnish

William married Mary Ann Rives. Mary (daughter of Richard Rives and Dorothy) was born in 1728 in Surry Co., VA.; died in 1764. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary purchased land in Bute County ( now Franklin and Warren) North Carolina on May 9 1778. Deed book 6, page 429, shows that she paid 75 pounds proclamation money and quitrents to Kirby Sanders for 246 acres on Crooked Creek. Her Son-in-law, Daniel McKinney, husband of Sarah, had purchased 100 acres on Crooked Creek in October 1777 (Deed book 6, page 309) and this may have influenced her to come to North Carolina. Mary's two sons, Isham and Jesse, witnessed the deed. On April 10, 1798 Mary Weathers sold the Crooked Creek property to Vincent Sanders, 246 acres for 246 dollars. She was, according to the deed living in York County, South Carolina at this time. Her Daughter Sarah was also living in York with her Husband Daniel and six children. Many of the Sussex, Virginia group who had moved to Franklin County, North Carolina migrated together to Mecklenburg, North Carolina and York, South Carolina counties. Mary's deed was again witnessed by Isham and Jesse. Deed book 4, page 72, Franklin County, North Carolina shows Jesse Weathers sold 250 acres for 250 silver dollars to Ruben Rogers of Sussex County, Virginia, 10 Sept 1784. Deed book 6, page 234, Franklin County, North Carolina shows Jesse Weathers sold 214 acres for 150 pds. to John Barrow of Southampton County, Virginia in 1790. Jesses' wife, Milley, is mentioned in the deed, indicating that this may have been the "home place".

Notes:

According to his will, probated 17 October 1744, Thomas had aquired condiderable poperty.

1. To William : "my plantaton wereon I now live, it being purchased of John Jones." Also to William " Featherbed and furniture I now lie upon, my bay colt and one cow and calf." 2. To Benjamin: "my plantation and land I putchased of Jeremiah Eliss." also to Benjamin "one cow and calf." 3. To Thomas: "my plantation and land upon the Spring Swamp as I purchased of Thomas Atheson." 4. To Michael: "my young colt and one cow and calf." 5. To John: "one cow and calf" 6. To Isaac: "one cow and calf." 7. To Reuben: "one cow and calf." 8. To Susanna: "one cow and calf." 9. To wife Lydia: "All the rest and remaining part of my estate during the time of her natural life of widowhood and at her decease or marriage to be equally divided amongst my children, be it of what kind, quality, or prpperty soever." Wife Lydia and son William designated Executors. Signed Thomas X Weathers Date 25 april 1744 Witnesses Edward pettway Richard Rives William Pettway

Thomas married Lydia Pettway in 1718 in Surry Co., VA.. Lydia and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The will of Lydia Weathers was probated in 1776, Sussex County , Virginia.
To daughter Susanna: "all my wearing apparell and my side saddle." To my children Michael, Benjamin, Isaac, Ruben, John, and Susanna Adams "all and every part of what narture or quality soever to be equally divided between them share and share alike. I desire that my estate not be appraised."

Executors: Sons: Benjamin and Isaac Witnesses William Petteway Sarah Petteway William Moreing Peebles Zills Date 5 May, 1772 Probated 19 Dec 1776

Further information on the children of Thomas and Lydia Weathers is found on Albemarle Parish Register.

Richard married Dorothy in Surry Co., VA.. Dorothy died about 1748 in Surry Co., VA.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John Rives was born, it is conjectured, about 1667, and died about 1720 in Surry County, Virginia, where his widow, Grace Rives, was the administratrix of his estate.
Surry county was the home of his father, William Rives, as well as that of his brothers, Robert and Timothy Rives, but all that the records disclose of John Rives is contained in the return of the inventory and appraisement of his personal estate.

John married Grace. Grace and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]