Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-06-27
ANCESTRY OF OLIVER WILLARD
An Interesting Addition to the His
tory Of Woodstock


tory Of Woodstock
Simon Willard of Horsmondham,
county Kent, England, came to Cam
bridge, Mass, in 1884 and, after a
years residence, settled in Concord,
where he held the Offices Of repre-
sentative and assistant for nearly
forty years, and where he died, Oath
April, 1876, aged nearly 6S." 1t
was not in civil affairs, however, that
he secured reputation. In those
troublous times he was a leader
against the Indians, and the name
of "Maior Simon Willard" brought
comfort and security to the inhabi-
tants of harried frontier. He was
thrice married, his last wife being
a niece of Henry Dunster, first presi-
dent of Harvard College. Their son
Henry was born at Concord, 4th
June, 1866. He was twice married,
his second wife being Dorcas Cutler.
They resided at Lancaster, Mass,
where their son Josiah was born
about the year 1893 He married,
about 1715, Hannah, daughter of
John and granddaughter of Thomas
Wilder Of Lancaster. He inherited
the spirit of his grandfather and
was early a colonel and in command
of TT. Dummer (Brattleboro). where
he died s December, 1850, aged 58.
He had several sons, the first three
of whom are noted in Vermont his
tory.
Josiah, born at Lunenburgh, Mass,
21st January, l7l5-l6, who mar
ried Hannah Hubbard of Groton,
He was a grantee of Putney, VT,
in 1853, and after passing through
the subordinate grades, was colonel
in command of TT. Dummer after
his fathers death, and served
through the French and Indian
War.
Nathan, born at Lunenburgh 28tb
May, 1925, who married Lucy
Allen. He rose from the ranks in
his fathers company to become
commander of TT Dummer after
his brother Josiah.
Oliver, born at Lunenburgh 9th
March, 1890. He was at Fl
Dummer as early as 1748 and till
1856. The Doolittle Genealogy
states, PIP. 8-12, REV. Benjamin
Doolittle john, Abraham b.Wal,
lingford, Ct, l0July 1895. Yale
17l6. First settled minister a
Mortified, Mass. in 1718, where
he died, 9 January, l748-9, He
m. IA Oct. l717, Lydia, dr.. Sam
uel and Mary Bradley Todd, one
Of the original proprietors of New
Haven, Conn" The ninth of theil
twelve children was Thankful, b
Jan. 20, 1733-34, IN. July 10, 1850
Oliver Willard, soldier of For
Drummer" He became a captain
in the army, and was one of thu
grantees of Winchester, N. H. Ii
1862 he was one Of the grantees o
Westmoreland, VT, and later O
Hartland and Woodstock.
We see, therefore, that Oliver Will
lard of local fame was great-grand
son of the Indian-fghter, and hat
seen considerable service before com
ing to Hartland. Let us now SCI
his relationship with Levi Willard
the grantee CT the New Hampshire
charter of Woodstock.
Henry and Dorcas Cutler vii
lard, above, had son Samuel, borr
at Lancaster, 2lst May, 1890, whC
was, thus, an elder brother Of thu
first Josiah, above mentioned. By
his wife, Elizabeth Phelps, he had q
son, Levi, born at Lancaster, l9tf
April, 1927, who married Katherine
daughter of Hon. John Chandler o:
Worcester. Levi was a merchant
and was interested in land specula.
ton. He was a grantee of Wood
stock, and in October, 1771, went on
voyage to London, SO that his cou.
sin, Oliver, was correct in stating tc
the New York Council that some Of
the grantees of New Hampshire, who
were petitioners for New York
charter, "were at a distance" from
Vermont. He died in Lancaster
July IL 1775. Oliver and Levi
were therefore, first cousins.
e. II. W., jr.
.