John Robbins Willis (1779-1844)

He was born in Wheatley Hills, Long Island. He was a Quaker and a successful merchant in New York. He came to an unfortunate end when he fell through the skylight of a friend's house having clambered up to the roof with his friend - a volunteer fireman like himself - to watch a fire. Her married Martha Willits who was also a Quaker and they were the parents of three sons including W. Henry Willis who built both Carnwath and Obercreek in Dutchess County.