John Wills of Higher Hisley

The Wills or Wyll family are first mentioned in records relating to Lustleigh and its neighbouring hamlet of Wreyland in the 15th century. Over the following centuries the Wills family bought many farms in the area. This photograph shows John Wills sometime between the latter half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. As far back as the 17th century it has become customary for the Wills family to name their first three sons George, John and Thomas, with the eldest son always taking his father's name. During one period in the middle of the 18th century there were no less than five George Wills, four John Wills and five Thomas Wills, all closely related and living in Lustleigh! This must have proved very confusing for the inhabitants of this small Dartmoor village.