New-York daily tribune., 1858-11-26

| town had been brought 70 good condition Of peace
snd order He had been the guide Of the people in
their civil concerns, and to him 10 to be chiefly
sseribed the healthful progress Of the town. In
1912. he removed to large farm, which be had
owned for several years, in Groton, called from
the Indian name, NOnaicocus. From this period,
embracing the gloomiest portions Of Philip. war,
he continued 10 bod important civil Offices, though
bis time and attention were principally devoted to
military pursuits. OF his services in that war, We
may form some notion from the narrative of con-
tempOraneous chronicler. The following extract
gives description of his relief OF Quabuog Brook
| frld) while suffering from an Indian ineursion
| august, I675).
"Our danger would have been very great that night
Aug A. had not the OILY wse God blessed for ever
been pleased IA send 10 about h0ur within night
the We pful Major Willard, with Captain Parker Of
Gronton, and fortysx men more, with 1--WE Indians to
relieve us in the low estate into which we we're
brought. And God, who comforteth the af-
icted, he comforted the holy Apostle Paul by the
comii Of Titus 10 him. he greatly comfoted us his
distressed servants both souders and tom inhabitants
by The coming Of the said honoured Major and those
with him." His looming to us so soon was TINS &C.
cssioncd: He bad commission from the Honoured
Council tof which himself one to look after some
indians to the westward Of Lancaster and Grouton
tWntre he ElUteU NVcOl ana to secure tleuI WAS
! upon his march towards them the aforesaid
Wednesday in the morning August 4th. when tydngs
coming to Marlborough by those that returned hher,
a. they We're goirg To Ccanectcot, concerning what
they saw at Brookfeld aforesaid, some Of harl-
buroueh knowing Of the said Majors march from Lam
caster that morning. pr seny sett post to acquaut
him with the information they had received. The Ma
ioI gone before the post came t. Lancaster but
there was one speedily sent after him, who overlook
lin about FIVE or six mile, from the said town. He
beng acquainted that If was rared that Brookheld IL
small town of about fifteen or sixteen fanliiesl Was
either destroyed, in great danger thereof and con-
ceiying il o require more speed to tuccour them III
they were past help than to proceed at present as
be before nisnded and being aso very desirous III 1t
we're possible to afford relief to them ne being then
not above thirty miles from them, he immediately n-
tered bis course and marched with his company to-
wardt u.s. and came TO hbolt hour after It wac
dark M aforesaid; though he knew not then either Of
our being there, nor of what had befaen us 1t the
svanpe ard IL the bouse two days before.
"Tbe msrcifn providence of God also appeared in
preventing the danger thet the honoured aud bis
company might have been in when they came near u.s.
Our enemies, sbilful to destroy, eadeavoured TO
prevent any help from coming TO our rele ana there
fore sent down sentnels, the farhest soont
two miles from us, who if they saw any coming from
the Bay, they might give notice by al alarm ANA
there were about hundred of them, who, for the
most part kept at an house somc little distance from
us by which if any help from the said Bay they
must pass; and 70 they intended las we conceive),
having notice by their sennels, OF their aporoach 70
fore they came to the house wtere We kept.
" IfIt, as we probably guess, they were 80 intent
and busy IN preparing their Instruments Tor our de-
stIucron by fire. that they were not at the honse where
tcy used 10 keep for the purpose Aforesaid and that
they heard not their seunels when they shot; and SO
the MsoIs way clear from danger TILL he came to
house. And that it was their purpose 90 to have
| fallen upon him is the more probable, iD that
| las We have since had Intelligence from some of the
| rdiaps themselvesl there were party OF them at
other place, who let him pass by them wthou, the
least burt or opposition, waiting for blow to be given
hm at the said house. aud then they themselves To tall
upoD them in the reare. The Mai and company were
no sooner come to the house. and understood Though
OF first they knew not they EDgsh who were in
the house but thought that they might be Indians,
and therefore ready to baye sbot at u.s. m we dis
cernpg that TREY English by the Majors speak
ing caused the trumpet to be sounded that the said
Captain Hutchinsoe, myself and company, with the
towns inhabitants, were there but the Indians also
dis. erned that there some come to our assist
auce; whereupon they spared not their shot, but
poured il ont on them But through the Lords good
iess though they stood not farr asunder ono from
another, they killed rot man. wounded only two OF
his company and killed the Majors soDs horse At
ter that we within the house perceived the Indians
shooting so at them, we the MAJOR ana al ns
company into the house fast as we could and their
horses into title ysrd before the house, where they
wounded fue other horses that night
| Notwithstanding his advanced age, Major Willard
continued to take an active part both in civil and
military duties, sustaining an amount of labor al
most incredible TO the present generation, and
bravely meeting every peril and hardship to which
his position exposed him. until the Spring of 1876,
when he fell victim TO the epidemic, which dur
ing that season prevailed over large portion OF
New-Enqland. Ample justice is done to his char
ecter and services in the present memoir, though
with no attempt to indulge the partiality of de-
scendant by e1travagant laudation. The volume
has doubtless been prepared under the influence OF
ancestral affection and pride, as well as of antiqus
riap enthusiasm; but it is moderate in its tone,
guarded iD its statements, and showing the fidelity
of the historian no less than the attraction of kn
drcd blood. Apart from the main subject of the
work, it abounds with curious and instructive de-
tails illustrative of the first colonial century, and
will be priced by the lovers of historical research
a. an aid to their studies, while it challenges the
interest Of multitudiuous generation bearing the
name which it so wOrthily commentaries.
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