Simon Willard came from Horsmonden, Kent Co. England The middle of May 1634, age 31 years. The name has been known on English soil for 800 years being 5 times in the Doomsday Book. He was one of the founders of Concord, Mass. and in one of its suburbs a granite boulder inscribed to his memory. He died in Charleston, April 24, 1676. The Charleston history states that he was buried in Groton but it is not found in the record there. Major Simon Willard married three times, his third wife was Mary Dunster, daughter of Harry Dunster. Major Willard and Mary Dunster were married in 1645. Her sister, Elizabeth Dunster, was his second wife. There was one daughter born of the second marriage but she died unmarried. Reference " The CHARLES BOOK by Arthur R. Tourtallot, published by Farrer and Rinehart Chap 11 page 130-145 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 20 childrenFrom the Stevens Family by E,H.Stevens- He had 3 wives and -----------------------------------------------------------------In WILLARD GENEALOGY by Joseph Willard His father had arranged before his death for him to be apprenticed to learn some trade or business which was probably done but there is no record. It is probable that he had served in the army before coming to America as he was appointed to drill soldiers very soon after his arrival and was called the Kentish Soldier by historian Edward Johnson. It seemed that he was married in England but no record found nor the birth of any child. Joseph Willard says that he married Mary Sharpe in England and came with him to this country and had children before coming and several afterwards.He married secondly Elizabeth Dunstera sister of President Henry Dunster of Harvard College. She died within a year and he married her cousin Mary Dunster. In his father's will it was stated that he was to get all the rest of the land not already promised. His father directed that Symon be placed with some honest man where he may learn some good trade and be instructed. In case of Symon's death before reaching maturity George was to have the land bequeathed to him. He was the elder of the two brothers who founded the American Willard line. There is no record of the other brother's life in America. Major Simon Willard came to America in the spring of 1634 as testified by a woman in Hartford, Conn. Saying tha Simon Willard and others of good account were passengers on the same ship. This does not tell us whether he brought with him any of his family or not. It is simply inferred by his after history that his wife and at least one child came with him. It has been thought that his brother, George, probably came at the same time but there is no proof. The fourth of August 1634 he had a grant of land at Cambridge where he stayed for a year. the 25 th of August 1635 he sold the property and with others founded the plantation of Concord the name meaning the home for aging men. They bought the land from Indians in 1636 and remained friends for many years. In 1336 he was chosen representative to the General Court by the freemen of Concord in their first election. He was appointed to train the military company at once and continued with the General Court. He performed eminent services on committees usually as chairman. These committees tried to settle differences between towns, groups of inhabitants and boundries between towns. He helped lay out grants of land and was one of commissioner who supervised critical emergencies in Lancaster and other town. He was a magistrate chosen as one of the assistants judges of the General Court in 1654 and deputed to hold court in Hampton and Salisbury in 1666 and in Dover and York in 1675. He was chosen sergeant major of Middlesex Co. in 1653, was commander in chief of the Narragansett expedition in 1654 and 1655. On the outbreak of the Indian horror known as King Philip's war in 1675 he performed valient service. In 1659 he sold his Concord homestead and moved to Lancaster. After 12 years he again removed to Groton and built a house and other buildings and enjoyed his fourth home. During the King Philip's war, Groton was attacked and the savages burned Major Willard's home in March 1676 so he had no home for his family. But he went on in his service, directing movements of troups and relief expeditions and bearing untold hardship and strains. He was 71 years old. The month after his home was burned in Groton he was in Charleston, probably resting from his tremendous labors when he caught an " epidemic" cold and died 24 April, 1676. He was probably buried there. No will was offered for probate and probably none was made. The widow struggled to care for the younger children and had a very difficult time. The Major had left great land possessions but very little ready money. Her second marriage on July 14, 1580 to Dea. Joseph Noyes, of Sudbury probably eased her financial burdons and in due time her children became self supporting. She died 28 Dec. 1715 at the age of 85. Mary had petitioned the court for help because of the need of " six of her younger children " It is believed that he has 17 children by his first and third wife. The town clerk did not record the death of the first and second wife or the mariage of either the second or third,,.
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From WILLARD MEMOIR-by Joseph Willard 1858 The Life and times of Major Simon Willard. Major Willard had 17 children by three wives. Nine sons and five of eight daughters arrived to mature age. There is a lot of confusion as to the mother of various children. Before Sept.1639 there was no law to make registration of births marriages and deaths. Since Major Willard was the town clerk from 1653 to 1653 the records during this period should be correct. He had childen over 40 years, the first grandson, Samuel Edmunds, was older than eight of his aunts and uncles. His father dying early provided for his welfare. There were a lot of persons in England who were Puritans and did not want to worship in the Church of England. These views were illegal and probably were the reason for Simon Willard to come to America. Watching the persecution of other Puritans by Bishop Laud influenced his decision. His decision to come to New England with his family was the only one he could make. It was difficult to leave England as the church and government demanded allegiance to church and country before you could embark. He arrived in the new world at the age of 29 with a young family and immediately identified himself with his religious views and his democatic feelings. He left England in April 1634 with his family and his sister Margery and her husband Captain Dolor Davis. No ship records of the passage has been found but it is believed that he came over on a Winthrop ship. They arrived in the middle of May after a short passage . He was mentioned by Governor Winthrop as a merchant. He immediately moved to Cambridge and started trading with the Indians buying and exporting furs. Immediately there was trouble as the leading Congregational clergy, Cotton, did not want anyone to leave the Boston area and there was crowding and a lot wanted to go to Conneticut. Willard was probably in favor of moving as he made preparations to do so. Another clergy, Hooker, who had lost influence to Cotton and was displeased with Governor Winthrop wanted to leave and eventually, with a party, Hooker went to Conneticut in 1635. Simon Willard showed no indication to join the Hooker crowd but was dissatisfied in Cambridge. In 1635, a Rev. Peter Bulkeley came to the colony and Simon Willard and he became very close. On Sept 5, 1635 a grant was made to Mr. Buckley and Mr. Willard of thirty six square miles of land where Concord is today. Simon Willard in his trade with the Indians saw it as a rich area for farming. About 12 families were to move to this location through the tangle of brush and swamps. Mr. Willard led the group. The hardships endured were great. After getting there they bought the land from the Indians paying in trade goods. Mr. Willard was one of the three men who met with the Indians and made the trade. The complete satisfaction to both parties ensured friendship till the days of King Philip. Shortly after Willard founded the town of Concord, John Winthrop wanted to build a fortification at the mouth of the Conneticut river and sent 20 men under the direction of Gibbons and Willard to build a fortification. This was finished in December. Willard was a leading citizen in Concord and a leader in the church for the about 25 years that he lived there. Immediately after the organization of the town, Willard was made clerk of the writs and continued for 19 years through annual elections. In this position, he had authority to grant summons and attachments in all civil actions, summon witnesses and take bond ect. The next year after coming to Concord he was appointed by the court surveyor of land and to exercise a military company at Concord. He must have had some military experience in England and one researcher states that he was a captain in England. He was granted a military commission in Concord as lieutenant-commandant in March 1627. His military experience continued for 40 years until his death. He also filled various and important civil posts. In 1636 he was elected representative to the General Court and served till 1654 with the exception of three years. He was reelected in 1654 but refused to serve because of more important civic duties. Before the use of justices of peace, three freeman were appointed to serve in such proceedings. Any two could hear and determine such cases , Willard served in this capacity in the years 1639,1641and 1652. Since he was an special friend of the Indians he was assigned various tasks in dealing with them. He also assisted missionaries Eliot and Gookin in their missions. In 1641 a company was formed to trade for furs with the Indians and they were the only ones legally to trade with them. Simon Willard was a leader in this mission. They were to give one twentieth of the proceeds to the Treasury for their 3 year exclusive contract. He also was assigned to collect tribune from the Indians on Block Island and other tribes. the Indian tribes in the vacinity of Concord had accepted the missionaries and have watched the whites and their life style. the chiefs came to Concord and wanted to be treated as equals with the whites. The people of Concord accepted their offer and the Indians requested that Simon Willard draw up a contract to state their civil and religious intentions. Another chief, Passaconaway, was approched by the missionary, Eliot, and he wanted Eliot and Willard to move out to their villiage and live with them and teach them Christain and civil beliefs. It is possible that Willard acompanied Eliot on his visits between 1648 and 1651. he served as a medium of communication between the missionary and the chiefs. He was a member of the General Court in some capacity for 37 years. The office of surveyor was important and Willard was used in this capacity frequently. 1637 - The people of Watertown asked Willard and two other men to lay out a plat of land in Concord for 50 to 60 families. 1638-Proceeded in helping the people of Watertown to move. He also was on a committee on Mr. Gurling's land. 1640-One of a committee to assess the value of stock on the Colony rate of Lb 1,206. 1641-Lt. Willard and three others to lay out boundies of the Colony. 1641-Willard was one of a committee to lay out Mrs Marg Winrthrop's 3000 acres of land granted to her after the death of her husband. 1642-June 14 Simon Willard was one of the committee appointed to levy a rate of Lb 800 upon the various towns of the colony. 1644-Simon Willard was one of a committee to survey property on the Sudbury River. 1645-On a committee to draw up certain bills for positive laws against lying, swearing, sabbath-breaking, drunkenness Ect. 1649-May-On a committee of Deputies to draw laws regarding the dividing shires, counties, ect. 1649-May-An order was passed by the Board of Deputies to regulate the pracities of physicians, phirugeons, midwifes and others requiring them to be ethical. Simon Willard was one of 7 deputies who voted against the measure. 1649-May 4-Captain Willard and Serieant Wheeler , a committee to lay out a tract of land. 1650-May-Captain Willard is chosn Comptroller for the session. 1650-June-Captain Willard and Sergeant Blood ordered to lay out the grant of Samuel Haugh. 1650-October-Captain Symon Willard was chosen controller for the session. 1650-October- Captain Willard and two others, commissioners to settle the boundries of Sudbury and Watertown. They also served here in 1651. 1651-May-Captain Willard and Lt. Goodenow returned to help lay out 2000 acres to be laid out of the town of Watertown. Civic work between 1651 and 1658 are not inluded here because I did not gather this materials by mistake. 1658-25 June-Major Simon Willard and Thomas Danforth are appointed by the court to audit the account of the treasurer of the county and present what they find to the next County Court in Cambridge. 1658-October Sessions-They determined that the trade with the Indians belonged to the Colony and that they had full authority to regulate the trade. Major Willard was appointed one who could trade with the Indians. 1659-May Sessions-It is ordered that Major Symon Willard and two others shall hereby are appointed a committee to draw up the order which may prevent deceit in making and dressing of cloths and present the same to the next session of the court. 1659-November session-Simon Willard was one of three judges of the county court to settle the controversy between the estate of Edward Goffe and his son, Samuel Goffe. 1659 November session-Simon Willard was one of some who made return of the bounds of the Indian plantation called Niticke. Skipping to the year 1676, we find 4000 Indians in the field ready to attack the whites. King Philip and others killed some whites. The whites caught and executed them, one of them was Philip's brother. This was the spark that brought on the war. the war started in the Plymouth Colony where Philip's father as chief had sold the land to the colonists. By this time, Major Willard was an old man but had been in command of the military in the area for 21 years. Now, with the large number of towns and many young brave men under his command he became active. He endured the hardships and discomforts and dangers of a soldier on the frontier. The town of Brookfield was attacked and burned entirely except one house containing the residents of the town. They would have been killed if it had not been for Major Willard and his force arriving from Groton. At this time Major Willard and his family were at Groton. While he was away on military duty, the Indians burned his home. The town of Groton was burned except for 6 fortified home. 65 dwellings were burned. Major Willard came with forces from Concord to rescue the survivors. (Just a note - Nicholas Cady was one of those rescued ) The town of Lancaster was burned except for the fortified home of Cyprian Steven's which was fortified and not of wood. Cyprian Stevens was married to Simon Willard's daughter. At this time there was a flu epidemic and many died. Major Willard was resting at Charlestown at the age of 71, from his military hardships and caught the flu and died 24 May 1676. Over 600 died in the epidemic including Governor Winthrop of Conneticut. Major Simon Willard died with his family surrounding him. At his funeral were several hundred soldiers consisting of 3 companies under command of Capt. Sill, Cutler and Holbrook and three companies of horses under command of Captains Brattle, Prentice and Henchman. there were also considerable civil attendance. His burial place is not known. ---------------------------------------------------------------- From HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD MASS. by Rev Wilson Waters. Simon Willard was one of the leading citizens of Concord and the ancestor of two presidents of Harvard College. In 1652 under the commission from the government of the Colony, the river Merrimack was explored by Captain Simon Willard and Captain Edward Johnson as far as lake Winnepseukee. In July 1657, the exclusive right of trading with the Indians on the Merrimack River was sold to Simon Willard, Thomas Henchman, ensign Thomas Wheeler and William Brenton for 25 lbs. In June 1674 the Indians attacked Brookfield and Major Simon Willard on his way from Lancaster to Groton with 47 horsemen turned toward Brookfield and routed the Indians. By 1676 the Indians had been practically been exterminated . Philip was shot by his own men and many chiefs executed and many warriors sold in slavery to the West Indies. From a paper which was presented to the Court after Major Willard's death in a statement of his unpaid services it appears that he was in continual service from Sept20, 1675 to April 1676. This was in civil business, settling of garrisons in towns and settling the Indians of Concord and Chelmford and other business. After Sept. 1675 Major Willard was busily engaged in ordering the defenses of the Middlesex frontier towns and settling the various bodies of friendly Indians. Garrisons were maintained at lancaster, Chelsford, Groton and Dunstable. Dec. 1675- Major Willard and three others went to the friendly Indians and persuaded them to stay in certain places so that they would be considered friends. Jan 11 1775/6- It was ordered that the troops under Capt. Willard be returned home to defend in place of garrisoned soldiers who have become obnoxious Major Willard on complaint of the people of Chelmsford fortified the bridge at Billerica and siezed two great rafts which the Indians had in possession. On the tax roll in 1675 of the north end of Chelmsford were 13 Steven families ---------------------------------------------------------------- From THE GENEALOGICAL DICTIONARY OF THE FIRST NEW ENGLAND SETTLERS by Savage. The order of names and dates of the children on the family file do not match entirely with Savage. My other sources are all different from Savage so I have ingored his findings which could be right. from Savage- I suppose that he some acquaintance in England with military duty for he was made lt. here as early as 1637, Captain in 1646 and Major, the highest rang at the time in1655 and was a Representative 1636-39 and was chosen 1657 Assistant in 1657 to his death 24 April 1676. Before the Indians destroyed Groton in 1676to where he had removed a few years earlier he had established a retreat in Salem but died in Charleston during the session of the Court of Assistants. For his services the govenment had many years before granted him 1000 acres of land which he had never taken up but had given it to his daughter Elizabeth on her marriage by his wife Mary was compelled to petition for it in the year of his death. ---------------------------------------------------------------- From THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER VO1 1-50 IT GIVES A SHORT SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF SIMON WILLARD NONE OF WHICH ADDS OR CHANGES ANY OF THE ABOVE MATERIALS. ----------------------------------------------------------------- From THE PIONEERS OF MASSACHUTTS by Charles Henry Pope. Willard, Simon, Cambridge, proprietor Moved to Concord. Sergeant appointed to exercise the military Co. 13 8 1636 Was a Kentish soldier. Was either deputy or assistant deputy for about 40 year. Was a major, Had a patent with associates in 1641 for trading with the Indians and collecting. tribune from them. Removed to Lexington.( Notes cont on notes of his first wife, Mary Sharpe
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From GROTON during THE INDIAN WARS by Samuel Green-One of the prominent men in the history of the Colony at this period was Major Simon Willard. A native of England, he came to Mass. in 1634. He had lived at Concord, Lancaster and Groton and in all places exerted a great infuence. He had filled various civic office and was a noted military man. His dwelling house was the first building burned at the attack on Groton March 13 1676 At this assult Major Willard came with a company of cavalry to the relief of the town though he did not get there in time to be of service in its defence. He died at Charleston on April 24 - 1676 a very few weeks after Groton was abonded.
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From THE STORY OF COLONIAL LANCASTER, MASS. by Marion Fuller Safford.
Major Willards’d name heads the list of those who petitioned the General Court in 1663 for independence from outside help and advice and the right to manage their own appairs.
The town of Lancaster wanted him to live there so bad that they gave him 500 acres when he acquired the rights of John Tinker who died. He was also given 500 acres A grant of 500 acres was given to him for payment of a debt owed to him by a Pautucket Sagamore He also owned other property.
He had three wives and 17 children. After his daughter, Mary, married Cyprian Stevens Major Willard deed his Lancaster property to Cyprian Srevens
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From GROTON HISTORICAL SERIES by Samuel A Green 1887. Much material Vol 1 pg 14 is the same as in other sources Simon Willard was given a farm by the government at Groton at a section which became Nonacoicus and later Ayers. He was given the right to graze cattle and cut wood and timber. His place was well know as a rendezvous of troops on military expeditions.His house was burned by the Indians when Groton was destroyed and he died a few weeks later 24 April 1676 at Charleston.
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From HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF GROTONN by Calab Butler 1848 pg 156 13 July 1664 Mr Willard was ordained in Groton. ( the son of Simon) This would have been the first ordination of a church in Groton. He continued in the minestry at Groton till the town was burned by Indians 13 March 1676. ( the Nicholas Cady family was rescued from here by Major Simon Willard - the preacher’s father ) Then he was installed as colleague pastor of the third church of Boston ( Old South ) and was superintendent of Harvard College with the title of Vice President from Sept 6 1701 to Aug 14 1707. He died 12 Sept, 1707. It is said that he had 20 children, 6 by is forst wife and 14 by the second.
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From HISTORY OF CHARLESTON N.H. Simon emigrated from England to Cambridge, Ma. in 1634, Simon resided there through 1635. In 1634 he was commissioned Commander-in-chief of the forces of Ma. in the Ninegret and King Philips Wars. In 1660 he removed to Lancaster, Ma and then to Groton Ma. in 1672. He died in Charleston, Ma. 24 April, 1676 . ( this history said that he had 17 children. 9 sons and 8 daughters. )