Person:Joseph Willard (10)

"43. Rev. Joseph⁴ Willard (Samuel³, Josiah², Simon¹), born at Saybrook, Conn., July 23, 1696; graduated at Yale College in 1714; received the honorary degree of A.M. from Harvard in 1723; … Mr. Willard supplied the church at Norwich, Conn., a short time in September, 1716. He was settled minister of the church at Sunderland January 1, 1718-9, where he remained about three years. He sold his lands there May 4, 1722. He had in the meantime removed to Rutland; began to preach there July 2, 1721. But when he was about to be installed there he was slain by Indians in one of their swift attacks, August 14, 1723. … His estate was settled first by his wife as administratrix, then by his brother Samuel Willard."

"Willard, … Joseph, s. [Samuel & Sarah], b. July 23, 1696 [2:45]"

"Willard, Rev. Joseph, [died] Aug. 14, 1723. Killed by the Indians."

JOSEPH WILLARD, the second son and third child of Captain Samuel Willard, was born July 23, 1696, in Saybrook, Connecticut, where his father was in charge of the fort. His grandfather, Josiah Willard, of Wethersfield, Connecticut, was a brother of the Rev. Samuel Willard (Harv. 1659), who presided over the College at Cambridge from 1701 to 1707. His mother was Sarah Clark, of Saybrook.

He studied theology, and in September, 1716, was invited to preach in the vacant pulpit in Norwich, Connecticut, but he cannot have preached there more than a few Sundays. November 12, 1717, the town of Sunderland (then called Swampfield), Massachusetts (which had been set off from Hadley in 1714), sent a committee to Harvard College to obtain a minister; instructing them, if unsuccessful there, to return by way of Norwich, and call on Mr. Willard, and bring him back with them. The church in Sunderland was organized, January 1, 1717–18, and Mr. Willard ordained pastor the same day. The sermon at his ordination, by the Rev. Solomon Stoddard (Harv. 1662), of Northampton, Massachusetts, was printed. (Boston, 1718, 12°, pp. 29+16.)

In 1721 he was dismissed, and on July 2 of that year, began to preach in the newly settled (not yet incorporated) township of Rutland, Massachusetts. The majority of the proprietors of this township were his near relatives, the surviving and the heirs of the deceased children of his great-grandfather, Major Simon Willard, the famous leader against the Indians; his choice as their minister by a great majority of the voters, at a town-meeting held July 12, was very natural.

The town proved to be in continual danger of attacks from hostile Indians, so that an appointment for his installation was deferred. In 1723 a day had been fixed for this ceremony; but while waiting its arrival, on the 14th day of August, being surprised while out in the woods hunting wild turkeys, he was killed and scalped by a party of Indians, at the age of 27. He was admitted to the (ad eundem) degree of M.A. at Cambridge, the month before his death. Two children of one of his parishioners were slain by the same party of Savages, and two others of the same family carried into captivity. The Rev. Israel Loring (Harv. 1701), of Sudbury, preached two sermons in commemoration of these events, at Rutland, September 8, which were published (Boston, 1724. 8°, pp. iv, 44). His estate was valued at nearly £500, the library being about £40.

He married, in August, 1718, Susanna, fourth daughter of Nathaniel Lynde, of Saybrook, by whom he had one son born in Sunderland, and another (posthumous) born in Saybrook.

She was born in April, 1700, and was afterwards married to the Rev. Andrew Gardner (Harv. 1712), who preached in Rutland after Mr. Willard's death; he was settled in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, from 1728 to 1732, and then removed to Winchester, New Hampshire, where she died in 1748.