His cousin, Thomas Willing, was selling land and laying out plans for a new community called Willingtown, which later became Wilmington, Delaware.

While living in Willingtown, Willing became a very successful businessman and held political offices such as councilman and magistrate.

[3] Willing was elected to serve a second term as mayor and during this time contracted ships fever and died on November 30, 1754.

[4][5] His wife's grandfather, Edward Shippen, and his eldest son, Thomas Willing, also served as mayors of Philadelphia.

[6] Robert Morris apprenticed at the firm of Willing & Co., and later became a partner with Thomas in the renamed firm of Willing Morris & Co.[7] He married Anne Nancy Shippen (1710–1791) in 1731, daughter of Abigail Grosse (1677–1716) and Joseph Shippen (1678–1741), together they had eleven children, including: Charles Willing died on November 30, 1754, in Philadelphia and is buried in Christ Church Burial Ground.