Person:Josiah Willard (7)

Known as the "Good Secretary" , he was Secretary of the Province of Massachusetts from 1717 until his death (1756), in addition serving as Judge of Probate in Suffolk County 1728-1745, and membership in the Executive Council from 1734-1755.

"Secretary Willard" was well-known to Rev. John Willard of Stafford, Conn., whose manuscript was an important source for Source:Willard, Joseph. Willard Memoir, or, Life and Times of Major Simon Willard. This connection is used by the Joseph Willard to justify the likeliness of the family tradition that the second and third wives of the Secreatary's grandfather, Major Simon Willard, were Dunster cousins. (On p. 342: "From the secretary he derived some genealogical information and probably this in relation to the Dunsters. 'I was often at the secretary's,' says Dr Willard, 'as he was my guardian and benefactor and I tarried at his house whenever I was in Boston.'")

1. ↑ Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States. Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1630-1699 (A Report of the Record Commissioners): Document 130. (Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States: Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, 1883)
   156.

   1681. Town. Josiah of Samuel & Eunice Willard born June 21.

2. ↑ Potter, Alfred Claghorn and Charles Knowlton Bolton. Librarians of Harvard College 1667-1877. (Cambridge, Mass.: Library of Harvard University, 1897)
   13.

   Josiah Willard, s/o Samuel Willard and Eunice Tyng, b. Boston 21 Jun 1681, d. 6 Dec 1756, m. (1) 24 Oct 1715 Katherine Allen, m. (2) 7 Apr 1726 Mrs. Hannah Clarke. Graduated Harvard 1698, AM in 1701, Librarian 1702-3, Tutor 1703-6. In 1717 appointed Secretary of the Province. Judge of Probate forSuffolk 1731-45, member of council 1734-56, Overseer of College. From funeral sermon: "A bright and most amiable Example of Care, Diligence, Integrity, Publick Spirit, Wisdon, Goodness and Generousity; to the great Honour and Advantage, and to the universal Pleasure of his Country".