403. MARIA G. T.⁶ ROBINS (JOHN PURNELL⁵, ARALANTA⁴ PURNELL, JOHN³, THOMAS², THOMAS¹) was born in Worcester Co., MD about 1777. MARIA died February 19, 1827 at 49 years of age.

She married JOSEPH IRVING GILLIS in Worcester Co., MD, December 23, 1802. (Mary Beth & Vanessa Long, Worcester Co. Marriage Licenses 1795-1865, p. 13)

JOSEPH was born May 28, 1781. JOSEPH was the son of JOSEPH GILLIS (Cpt.) and ELIZABETH IRVING. JOSEPH died July 26, 1828 in Worcester Co., MD, at 47 years of age. Joseph was exor. for estate of his wife's aunt, Sarah Spence, in 1812; named guardian of Mary Spence Robins, orphan of Littleton in 1816; and witness to the wills of Joseph Bratten in 1821, Zipporah (Rackliffe Rounds) Teague in 1822 and Nancy Purnell in 1834. (Leslie P. Dryden, Dryden Family & Descendants, Alamo, TX, 1999, p. 55) Maria was also known as Mary Spence Robins. (Matthew Wise, The Littleton Heritage, p. 293; Leslie P. Dryden, Dryden Family & Descendants, Alamo, TX, 1999, p. 55) On December 15, 1802, Mary Spence Robins purchased parts of several contiguous tracts known as "Chance" and "Dover" and part of "Smiths First Choice" for 700 pounds. Two days before Christmas, Mary Spence Robins married Joseph Gillis. In 1810, they constructed a 2-story Federal-style house east of Snow Hill called "Dover." (Paul Touart, Along the Seaboard Side, p. 271) In the marriage record, she is shown as Maria T. Robins.

Mary was named as one of the heirs of Col. Zadock Purnell and inherited land from the distribution of his estate. On June 20, 1807, Mary and Joseph joined with other heirs and conveyed their right to Sen. Zadock Purnell. (Wor. Deeds Z:118-Leslie P. Dryden, Dryden Family & Descendants, Alamo, TX, 1999, p. 55)

In 1812, Sarah Spence named her niece, Mary Spence Gillis; Joseph Gillis was named executor and great nieces and nephews were named: Eliza Gillis, Sally Morris Gillis, and John Purnell Robins Gillis.

MARIA G. T. ROBINS and JOSEPH IRVING GILLIS had the following children:

731 i. ELIZA ANN⁷ GILLIS was born in Worcester Co., MD about 1803. Named in the will of her great aunt, Sarah Spence, in 1812, Worcester Co., MD.

732 ii. SALLY MORRIS GILLIS was born in Worcester Co., MD about 1805. SALLY died before 1832. Named in the will of her great aunt, Sarah Spence, in 1812, Worcester Co., MD.

733 iii. JOHN PURNELL ROBINS GILLIS (Dr.) was born in Worcester Co., MD July 28, 1808. JOHN died July 1, 1881 in Worcester Co., MD, at 72 years of age. He married twice. He married ANN CHATHAM FASSETT January 9, 1833. He married HATTIE A. S. RIDER in Worcester Co., MD, December 16, 1857. Named in the will of his great aunt, Sarah Spence, in 1812, Worcester Co., MD. His descendants are traced further in The Dryden Family by Leslie Powell Dryden.

734 iv. MARY SPENCE GILLIS was born about 1810. MARY died before May, 1832.

735 v. JOSEPH IRVING GILLIS (Jr.) was born about 1813. JOSEPH died before August 12, 1838 at approximately 25 years of age. Thomas R. P. Spence filed bond as administrator of his estate.

Send email to preparer: STELLVA@aol.com

Return to Table of Contents or Index

Go to Next Page

Go to Previous Page