Tombstone Tuesday - Willits Family in Middletown, Delaware

Wanted to bring back  "Tombstone Tuesday" and continue viewing Old St. Anne's Church Cemetery. You can find so many nuggets of information while conducting your research in the cemeteries. For those of you who might not know I don't have any family, that I know of, buried here in this cemetery. That being said all of the information I used to conduct my research, and pull the attached documents came directly from the tombstones.

Merritt Noxon Willits Jr.

February 5 1874
February 5 1930

Son of
 Laura Naudain and
Merritt Noxon Willits

Louretta Cooper Willits

November 9, 1875 

            January 23, 1963            

Wife of
Merritt Noxon Willits Jr

Daughter of
Delia E. and
William F. Cooper

[1]1910 United States Federal Census from Pennsylvania, address listed as 121 W. Phil Ellena Street, shows that Merritt Willits, head of household, married, white, male, was born abt. 1874 in Delaware and his parents were both born in Delaware. It also shows that his occupation was listed as a cashier with a bank; he was 36 years of age and in his current marriage for 8 years.  Louretta Willits, wife, married, white, female, was born abt. 1876 in Delaware and her father was born in Delaware and mother in Pennsylvania. It also shows that no occupation is listed; she was 34 years of age.  There are two children listed in the household. Dorothea Willits, daughter, single, white, female was born abt. 1907 in Pennsylvania; she was 3 years of age. Merritt Willits 3^rd, son, single, white, male was born abt. 1908 in Pennsylvania; he was 2 years of age. There are two others listed in the household. Celia Cooper, mother-in-law, widow, white, female, was born abt. 1853 in Pennsylvania, her father was born in New Jersey and mother in Pennsylvania. It shows that no occupation is listed; she was 57 years of age. Sarah Anderson, single, black, female was born abt. 1884 in Virginia and her parents were born in Virginia.  Her occupation was listed as servant; she was 26 years of age.  

[2]1920 United States Federal Census  from Pennsylvania, address listed as 121 W. Phil Ellena Street shows that Merritt Willits Jr, head of household, married, white, male, was born abt. 1875 in Delaware and his parents were both born in Delaware. It also shows that his occupation was listed as Vice President with a bank; he was 45 years of age. Louretta Willits, married, white, female born abt. 1877 in Delaware and her both of her parents born in Pennsylvania; it also shows no occupation; she was 43 years of age. There are now three children now listed in the household. Dorothy Willits, daughter, single, white, female was born abt. 1907 in Pennsylvania; she was 13 years of age. Merritt Willits 3^rd, son, single, white, male, was born abt. 1909 in Pennsylvania; he was 11 years of age.  W Cooper Willits, son, single, white, male, was born abt. 1915 in Pennsylvania; he was 5 years of age.  Two additional members listed in the house hold, Delia Cooper, mother-in-law, widowed, white, female, was born abt. 1853 in Pennsylvania and both of her parents were born in Pennsylvania; she was 67 years of age.  Annie Hatcher, servant, single, black, female, was born abt. 1897 in Virginia and both of her parents were born in Virginia. Her occupation is listed as servant and she was 23 years of age. 

**Special note that Sarah Anderson appearing on the 1910 Census at the servant no longer appears.

[3]1940 United States Federal Census from Pennsylvania, address listed as 609 W. Harttew Street shows that Louretta Willits is the head of household, widow, white, female born abt. 1876 in Pennsylvania. It shows that occupation is listed as housewife; she was 64 years of age. Merritt Willits son, single white, male born abt. 1908 in Pennsylvania; no occupation is listed he was 32 years of age. William Willits, son, single, white, male born abt. 1915 in Pennsylvania; occupation listed as clerk with a bank he was 25 years of age.  The last person listed in the house hold is Cealia Jackson maid, married, black, female born abt. 1895 in Maryland; servant is listed as occupation she was 45 years of age.

**Special note that Merritt Willits Jr, Dorothy Willits, Delia Cooper and Annie Hatcher are no longer listed on this census.

[4]Merrit N. Willits Jr. address listed at 121 West Phil Ellena Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  It shows is age at this time was 44 with his date of birth 5 FEB 1874; race is white and native born. Present occupation is V. President Banker at Corn Ex. National Bank on 2^nd and Chestnut St in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wife is shown as Louretta C Willits. His description is tall, medium, light blue eyes with gray hair color.

[5]Aboard the S.S. Fort Victoria sailing from Hamilton, Bermuda on 5 APR 1924 and arriving at port of New York, NY on 7 APR 1924. The Willits family members can be found numbers 11-14, #11 Merritt Willits, age 50, male, married, born 1874 in Middletown, DE and living at 121 Phil-Elena Ave, Philadelphia, PA. #12 Merritt Willits age 17, male, single, born 1907 in Philadelphia, PA and living at 121 Phil-Elena Ave, Philadelphia, PA. #13 Dorothy Willits age 18, female, single, born 1906 in Philadelphia, PA and living at 121 Phil-Elena Ave, Philadelphia, PA. #14 Lauretta Willits age 48, female, married, born 1876 in Durwood, DE.

[6]Aboard the S.S. Empress of Britain sailing from Southampton, England on 8 SEP 1934 and arriving at port of Quebec, on 13 SEP 1934. The Willits family members can be found number 28-30, #28 Loretta C. age 58, female, married, born 9 NOV 1876 Denver, DE and living at 309 W. Hortter St, Germantown, Philadelphia, PA. #29 Laura E. Willits age 62, female, single, born 30 OCT   1872 in Middletown, DE and living at 309 W. Hortter St, Germantown Philadelphia, PA. #30 Wm. Cooper Willits age, 20, male, single born 11 JUN 1914 in Philadelphia living at 309 W. Hortter St, Germantown Philadelphia, PA.

[7]Aboard the S.S. Conte Di Savoia sailing from Naples, Italy on 9 SEP 1936 and arriving at port of New York on 17 SEP 1936. The Willits family members can be found numbers 2 and 3. #2 Louretta Willits age 60, female, widowed, born 9 NOV 1876 in Dover, Delaware and living at 609 W. Hortler Str, Germantown, PA. #3 William Cooper Willits age 22, male, single, born 11 JUN 1914 in Philadelphia, PA and living at 609 W. Hortler Str., Germantown, PA.

[8]Merritt Noxon Willits Jr date of birth 5 FEB 1874, profession banker, parents’ were Merritt Noxon Willits Sr. and Laura Naudain, father and mothers place of birth is Middletown, Delaware.  Date of death is listed as 5 FEB 1930 with the date of burial 8 FEB 1930 in the St. Anne’s Cemetery in Middletown, Delaware.

[9]Louretta C Willits date of birth 9 NOV 1875; birth place is Dover, Delaware. Parents were William F Cooper and Delia E Babbitt. Date of death is listed as 23 JAN 1963 with the burial 26 JAN 1963 in the Old St. Anne’s Church Cemetery in Middletown, Delaware.

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[1] 1910 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 27 March 2014) Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: United States of America Bureau of Census.  Roll: T624_1396; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 0444; FHL microfilm: 1375409 

[2]1920 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 27 March 2014) Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Original data: United States of America Bureau of Census Philadelphia Ward 22, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1624; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 618; Image: 291 
[3]1940 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 27 March 2014) Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: T627_3704; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 51-563
[4] World War I Selective Service system Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918 Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com :accessed 27 March 2014)Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2005. Registration State Pennsylvania; Registration County: Philadelphia; Roll: 1907635; Draft Board: 15. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls imaged from Family History Library microfilm. 

[5] 1924 New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com :accessed 27 March 2014) Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 3470; Line: 14; Page Number: 5

[6]1934 Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1956 Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com :accessed 27 March 2014) Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.  National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.; Manifests of Passengers Arriving at St. Albans, VT, District through Canadian Pacific and Atlantic Ports, 1895-1954; National Archives Microfilm Publication: M1464; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service

[7]1936 New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com :accessed 27 March 2014) Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.  Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 5868; Line: 2; Page Number: 86 

[8]Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963 Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com :accessed 27 March 2014) Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 

[9]Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963 Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com :accessed 27 March 2014) Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.