Key date analysis:
Only one deed prior to 1946 has been found. The 1883 deed shows a 1/3 interest in the property being sold from William Walter Willis to John F. Willis. The next record I have located for the property is when Charles H. Willis devises the property to his wife in his Will, which was written in 1904. The property is referred to as the Charles T. Willis property in these records as well as tax records and the 1877 map. An adjacent deed from 1849 indicates the property was originally owned by Richard Moore at that time.
Who built it:
The current brick house was built by Fooks Lumber Company (Federalsburg) in 1960 as a parsonage for Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church. In the 1840's, Richard Moore (negro) likely had the first house built. Sometime between 1852 and 1867, Charles T. Willis built another house on the property. Most likely he began using the first structure as a storehouse and lived in the new house. The house and storehouse can be seen on the 1877 map and the 1922 map. One was torn down in the 1950s. The second 2-story structure can be seen in a newspaper photo from 1960, but it was later torn down or possibly moved.
Longest Residents:
The Willis family owned the property for almost 100 years.
More Research:
Where is the deed where Richard Moore conveys the property to Charles T. Willis? Where is the deed where John F. Willis conveys his 1/3 interest, plus the 1/3 interest he purchased from his brother, William Walter Willis, to his other brother, Charles H. Willis? Was the 2 story wooden structure in the newspaper photo of 1960 torn down or moved?
Historic Records:
119 PLC 91 - 25 February 1960 - William T. Hubbard & Shirley D. Hubbard, his wife, to Trinity Methodist Church for $5: Lot in East New Market described in a survey made 23 January 1960 by Lawrence F. Simmons, County Surveyor. Bounded on the northward by Maryland Route 16; on the eastward by the East New Market Methodist Episcopal Church property, and on the southward and westward by land retained and owned by William T. Hubbard. Beginning at a square stone bounder located at the southeast corner of this land in and along the line of the westward side of the original East New Market Methodist Episcopal Church property, conveyed unto John H. Fletcher, et al., Trustees by deed from Eliza Hicks and Thomas J. Hicks dated 8 September 1849 in 5 WJ 148, said point and stone bounder being particularly located as lying S2/11W 215 feet, measured along and with the Westward side of said Methodist Episcopal Church land from the middle of Maryland Route 16, and being especially located along the northward side of all that parcel of land (said to have been at one time occupied by a Mr. Dukes) as conveyed unto William T. Hubbard by "5th lot" of a deed from V. Calvin Trice, Trustee Number 6925 Chancery, dated 2 August 1946 in 59 RSM 121, and from the said beginning running thence with arable land owned by said William T. Hubbard, two courses N87/40W 102.7 feet to a stone bounder, N8/23W 136.88 feet to a stone bounder and southward side of Maryland Route 16; thence running and binding with the southward side of said Route, distant 16 feet southward from the center line thereof; N65/31W 143 feet to a pipe bounder and northwest corner of said Methodist Episcopal Church land, and running from thence binding with the westward side of said Church land S2/11 199 feet to the place of beginning. Containing 20,200 square feet.
59 RSM 121 - 2 August 1946 - V. Calvin Trice, Trustee, to William T.
Hubbard for $2,555: Whereas by a decree of the Circuit Court dated
1 June 1945 wherein Mary R. Smith and Samuel J.T. Smith were
complainants and Paul L. Willis Jr. and others were defendants in 6925
Chancery, the above name V. Calvin Trice was appointed to sell the real
estate mentioned. Five lots were sold.
(1st lot) Improved by a dwelling house. Being bounded on the
northward by the State Road leading from East New Market to Cambridge,
on the eastward by the land of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having a
front of 60 feet on the said State Road and running back from the State
Road with and even width of 60 feet to the end of the division line on
which there is a fence between this lot and the Church lot; thence
westward, parallel with the State Road 60 feet, from thence in a
straight line northward to the State Road.
(2nd lot) Improved by a dwelling house occupied by Mr. Tillman as
tenant. Fronting 83 feet on the southward side of the said State
Road, and bounded on its eastward side by Lot No. 1 just described, and
extending from said State Road with and even width of 83 feet for the
entire distance to the land adjoining it on the southward.
(3rd lot) Vacant lot. Fronting 120 feet on the southward
side of the State Road and bounded on the eastward by the 2nd lot.
This lot is unimproved and it extends from the State Road with and even
width of 120 feet for the entire depth of this land to the land
adjoining it on the southward.
(4th lot) Vacant lot. Fronting 120 feet more or less on the
southward side of the said State Road and being bounded by the third lot
on the eastward and bounded on the westward by the adjoining land, and
running back southward to the limits of this land and the line of
division between it and adjoining lands. This lot including all
the land between the division line between this lot and Lot No. 3 and
the adjoining land on the westward and southward.
(5th lot) Improved by a dwelling house occupied by Mr. Dukes as
tenant. This lot is bounded on the northward by the church land,
and the first lot hereinbefore described, on the eastward by the County
Road leading from East New Market to Hawkeye, on the south by the land
adjoining this lot, and on the westward by the second lot hereof.
The said lands hereby conveyed are bounded by the land of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, the State Road leading from East New Market to
Cambridge, the county road leading from East New Market to Hawkeye, and
the land of the herein named grantee. The said lots hereby
conveyed were those owned by the late Charles H. Willis at the time of
his death, and which he devised in this last Will and Testament in 2 RPS
318 to his wife, Mary R. Willis, who survived him, and to his two
children, Mary R. Smith and Paul L. Willis.
1930 Census
undetermined
2 RPS 318 - 23 April 1904 / 27 October 1919 - Will of Charles H.
Willis -
Second: I give and devise unto my wife, Mary R. Willis,
for and during the period of her natural life only, and no longer,...
also my one-third interest in the houses and lots situated in the town
of East New Market, Md., and known as the Charles T. Willis property, or
by whatever name or names it may be called, also all that dwelling house
where I now reside, the lot of ground, the Hardware Store-house and all
the buildings on said lot, situated in the town of East New Market, Md.;
and on the death of my said wife, Mary R. Willis, I give and devise my
aforesaid Real Estate, as above named, to my children, Mary L. Smith
(wife of Samuel J.T. Smith) and Paul L. Willis, in equal parts, share
and share alike, as tenants in common,...
1920 Census
undetermined
1910 Census
undetermined
1900 Census
undetermined
1896-1910 Tax Record
Charles T. Willis (C.H. Willis, agent)
1896 - 2 houses & lot
1896 Tax
Record
Chas. T. Willis (C.H. Willis, agent)
2 houses & lot $600
4 CL 761 -9 March 1883 - William Walter Willis to John F. Willis for $500: All my undivided interest (being one third) to all that lot and the improvement thereon. Situated in the town of East New Market of which Charles T. Willis died seized, said lot contains three and 3/4 acres of land and is located on the road leading into East New Market from Cambridge. Situated between the farm of James Dean's and the M.E. Church property, in fee simple.
Maryland Courier - 11 June 1881
- Died -
Mr. Charles T. Willis died at the age of 63 at his residence in East New
Market, Dorchester County, on 5 June 1881.
1880 Census
Dwelling #26, household of Charles T. Willis, farmer
1876 Tax
Record
Charles T. Willis
Dwelling, Store, House, & Lot in ENM 3 3/4 acres - $600
1 carriage $35, 1 cart $12, Lot F implements $5, 1 hog $5, 3 beds $50,
Lot H furniture $25
1870 Census
Dwelling #339, household of Charles Willis, carpenter
1867-1876 Tax Record
Charles T. Willis
1867 - House, Lot, and Store House 3 3/4 acres $1200
1867 - Stock in Trade $20, working tools $10
reduced
1870 - by stock in trade $20, working tools $10
1866 Tax
Record
Charles T. Willis -
House, Lot, & Store House 3 3/4 acre $1200, Stock in trade $20, 1 ox
$50, 2 hogs $8, 3 beds $60, other furniture $20, tools $10, 1 carriage
$50, 1 cart $20, Total $1438
1860 Census
Dwelling #748, household of Charles Willis Merchant
1852-1864 Tax Record
Charles T. Willis
House & Lot 4 acres $600
Private securities $50, 1 silver watch $10, 2 beds & furniture $30
other household furniture $5, 2 hogs $4
1862 Goods, Wares, & Merchandise $1000
.....reduced
1864 by goods wares, & merchandise $1000
[Around 1851 ownership of this property changed from Richard Moore to Charles T. Willis]
1850 Census
Dwelling #1221, household of Richard Moore, blacksmith
1849 Tax Assessment List
Richard Moore, negro
$610 Real Estate, $65 Personal Estate
1840 Census
Household of Richard Moore (free colored)
1838 Tax Assessment List
Richard Moore, negro
$100 Real Estate, $0 Personal Estate
1830 Census
Possibly the household of Richard Moore (free colored)