Historical Rosters Database

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Byrd Charles Willis

Roster ID 3068
This is a summary. Contact the Archives for additional biographical information.
First Name:Byrd
Middle Name:Charles
Last Name:Willis
Suffix:
Affiliation:Class of 1867
Biography & Genealogy:Byrd Charles Willis, Class of 1867: Genealogy: Born- April 5, 1846 in Pensacola, Fla. Raised in Orange Co. Va. Father- George Willis; Mother- Sallie Thomas Smith. Pat. Grandfather- Byrd Charles Willis; Pat. Grandmother- Mary Lewis. Mat. Grandfather- George Smith; Mat. Grandmother- Delia Forbes. Great Grandfather- Marshal Joachim Murat, whom French Emperor Napoleon I made King of Naples. Married- 1st- Lelia Mann of Clarke Co. Ala. in 1878; 2nd- Anne G. Crenshaw of Orange Co. Va. in 1894. Children- (All from 1st marriage) 1- George Willis; 2- Achille Murat Willis; 3- Byrd Charles Willis. VMI Record: Entered VMI- Aug. 15, 1863; Resigned Dec. 11, 1863. Military Record: Enlisted April 1, 1864 in Essex Co. as Private in Co. B, 9th Va. Cavalry; Wounded in action June, 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House. No further record. Careers: Owned and operated an extensive cotton plantation in Greene Co. Alabama; moved to Alexandria, Va. and later to Richmond, Va. about 10 years before his death. Died- Dec. 19, 1912 at his son A. Murat's private hospital in Richmond, Va.

About the Database

The database currently includes the names of all enrolled students (both graduates and non-graduates) from VMI's opening in 1839 through the World War II era. In addition, you will find biographical and genealogical information, including a summary of military service during the Civil War, for many individuals who attended in the 19th century. The database also includes some historical Faculty and Board of Visitors members, as well as U. S. Army students sent to VMI for training during World Wars I and II. The latter groups were not VMI cadets. For further information about an ancestor listed in the database, please contact the VMI Archives. We can check the complete record, let you know if other information available, and provide copies of original documents. This database is for historical research. We do not release information about living individuals.

VMI Archives
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA 24450
archives@vmi.edu
540-464-7516