Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-04-14
FALLS, VT. FRIDAY,

+" Aunt Lncy," is still living, on the very
spot where she was born, and with us
here tonight, hale and hearty, in her
9lst year, aud as she herself is wont to
say, "just in her prime" and though her
eye has become dimmed, her natural
force has not abated and her prosp ct
is fair for good old age.
Sarah, an older sister of Aunt Lucy
was married to Timothy Clark of Rock
ingham, and became the mother of some
ten children, one of whom is our much
esteemed and worthy host, the 25th an
niversary of whose wedding we came
here to celebrate.
William Willard, Esq, the great
grandfather of Mrs. Clark settled in
Westminster, about the same time with
the Burkes, probably at the close of the
French and Indian war. He was sold
ier at Fort Dummer as late as 1906,
and resident in Westminster in 1867, at
which time the church was formed, and
was one Of its nine constituent members.
He was descendant of the 9TH genera
ton from Maj. Simon Willard, who came
from Horsem nden, Kent CO., England
and settled in Lancaster, Mass, in 1884,
and is supposed to be the ancestor of all
the Willards in the country.
The Major had large family, nine
sons and eight daughters, all of whom
married and left children. The line of
the Westminster Willards is Mai. Simon
Josiah, Samuel, Joseph and William
Josiah was the Majors eldest son, and a
man of learning and influence. He was
minister at Groton, Mass, for sometime,
till 1916, and pastor of the Old South
Church." Boston from l67S.l707, when
be died. During the last six years of his
life he was also President Of Harvard
College.
Joseph, the father of William, was
aIso minister of the gospel. He was
settled at Sunderland, Mass, and was to
have heen settled at Rutland, but was
slain by the Indians on the day he was TO
have been installed, in 1923. William
was at this time between two and three
years of age. Joseph pUsthumous son
was born three months after the fathers
death, and his-fanily is supposed to be
the one taken captive by the Indians at
{ Charlestown, n. H., and carried to Can
ada.
The mother of William afterwards
married Rev. Andrew Gardner, and re-
sided for ali me in Lunenb burg, and theme e
removed to Winchester, n. Ii.
The wife of William was Prudence
Willard, descendant of Maj Simon,
through another line. Her father was
Col. Josiah Willard of Winchester, N.
H., and commander at Fort Dummer,
and a son of Henry, who was the fourth
son of the Major.
Tol. Josiah and his sons, Col. Josiah,
!" Nathan, Oliver and Wilder Willard
Pc all proprietors of Westminster, but
not residents, that we are aware.
William and his wife Prudence, set.
tied at the lower end of Westminster,
street, at the foot of the hill which still
bears his name, on the spot where Rich
ard Ellis settled in 1879, and where Har,
lem Farr now lives. They both lie bur-
led in the oldgraveyard at Westminster
William died 1904, aged So. Prudence
1894, aged 81.
Their three sons, Joseph, Billey and
Lyndes settled on portions of their faith.
er's farm. Billey on the home place
whence he removed to Bratlleboro, and
lived till his death. He and his brother
Joseph we're among the court part i'm
prisoned in the jailin the old court house
at Westminster, at the time young French
was killed.
Joseph settled on the terrace where
Henry Wells now lives. He had son
Joseph who lived on the same place, and
who was the father of The Washington
Willards.
| Lyndes, settled short distance to the
south of his brother Joseph, but the old
house is now gone. He was married &c
Silence Mt Questen as her third husband
and his several grandchildren aud great
grand children living in Westminster
Among the former is our much esteemed
friend, the happy bride, who, her friends
say looks as fresh and fair as she did al
the first wedding twenty five years ago.
And so we have to congratulate oul
good friends, the bridegroom and>bride
upon their ancient and honored ancestry
and also upon their twenty-five years o
peculiarly happy married lie, and upon
the genial influences which have mad,
heir home an uncommonly welcoms
place to ALA home of generous anc
genuine hospitality.
Among the friends who gather here
tonight we miss the genial presence o