WILLARD, Capt. JONATHAN (by Henry Willard). Capt. Willard, the
principal grantee and settler of this town, was born in Roxbury, Mass., about
1720. He m. Sarah Childs, who died, leaving three children: Samuel, Mary and
Joseph. Next, he married in succession _________ Hough and a widow Stark,
neither of whom had issue by him; he died in Rutland 1804, aged 84. In early
life, he was for many years an inhabitant of Colchester, Conn. His principal
business appears to have been that of a trader. He owned and commanded a vessel
trading from ports in New England to New York. A short time subsequent to 1750,
he removed to Albany, N.Y., where he kept a public house, the only English
tavern then in the city. About this time, by contract with government, he
furnished stores for the army then at lake George, in which business he employed
forty yoke of oxen. Tradition tells us that he made a large amount of money, and
it is related that at one time, when his fears were excited by an expected
invasion, he filled a strong cask with silver, rolled it beside the chimney and
sealed it up, making it appear as though there was no space there. After
residing in Albany eight years, he removed to old Saratoga and engaged in the
lumber business. In 1760, he paid a visit to the Hampshire Grants, in company
with two others. They selected three townships of land, each of six miles
square, and then drew lots for choice. Pawlet fell to our grantee, and at the
same time he had large rights in the other two which were Danby and Mt. Tabor.
He then entered the names of his old neighbors in Connecticut, and obtained a
charter Aug., 1861 [sic]. Immediately after the location of the township, he
repaired to Colchester and informed his friends of what he had done. For a mug
of flip or a new hat he purchased many of their rights until he became possessed
of just two-thirds of the town. The other third, he was extremely anxious to
have immediately settled. Accordingly this same year Simon Burton and Wm.
Fairfield came into town. Mr. Burton settled and made the first clearing on the
farm now owned by Daniel Cushman, and here the first fifty acres of land given
to the wife of Mr. Burton for being the first woman settled in town. On this
ground the first celebration of the fourth of July was held in 1777, when an ox
was roasted whole. The next year, 1762, Capt. Willard came into town with nine
hired men and several horses. He pitched his tent near Henry Allen’s and by
fall had cleared several acres and sowed it with wheat. He then returned to his
home on the Hudson, where he remained two or three years. Meeting with heavy
losses in the lumber business about this time, in 1764 or 1765 he returned with
his family to his clearing in this town. At this time he had lost half his
capital, which was the sole cause of his settling in the township which he
bought for the purpose of speculation. As a man, Capt. Willard was strong,
elastic, wiry and enduring; mentally he was a quick discerner of the intentions
of men, shrewd and sound in judgment. He sprung from a noble stock being
descended in the fourth generation from the ninth son of Major Simon Willard,
who came from the county of Kent, England, to Boston, 1634. He was a thorough
business man, and in testimony of his uprightness, it is said that he was
universally respected by those with whom he did business. His name is held in
great veneration by his numerous descendants. His last wife died in 1804, aged
74.
WILLARD, Col., SAMUEL (By Henry Willard), m. Sarah Stark, da. of his
father’s third wife and raised seven children; Jonathan, Samuel, Benjamin,
Archibald, Robert, Sarah and Maria. Jonathan m. Abigail, da. of Major Roger
Rose; Samuel m. a da. of John Burnham, and Robert m. ______ Gardner, both of
Middletown; Sarah m. Reuben Smith and Maria, Ira Smith. This family of Willards
all left town many years since, and settled mostly in northern New York, whore
in some places the name is quite common. From one of these sprung Daniel Willard
Fisk, of the Astor Library, N.Y., who is a distinguished linguist. Col. Willard
was a leading man during his short life. Our tradition is that he was a colonel
of militia in the latter end of the French war. He was also at the battle of
Saratoga. He built the old red grist mill; he died in 1788, aged 43. Mary, only
da. of Capt. Jonathan Willard m. Elkanah Cobb, and raised-seven children:
Elkanah, Willard, John, Joshua, James B., Mary and Sophia (see "Elkanah
Cobb)," James B. was educated at Burlington, and afterwards a graduate of
West Point. He recruited a company for the war of 1812, but not being allowed by
government to command it he broke his sword and resigned his commission of
lieutenant. He was a man of uncommonly prepossessing appearanceand decided
abilities; soon after this he went south, and settled in the state of Georgia.
From him sprung the Hon. Howell Cobb. Sophia, youngest da. of Elkanah Cobb, m.
Zadoc Remington, of Castleton, and was the mother of Rev. Frank Remington, D.D.,
of the Episcopal church, now of Brooklyn, N. Y., and of Henry Remington, of
Castleton.
WILLARD, JOSEPH (by Henry Willard), youngest son of Capt. Jonathan
Willard, was born in Colchester, Conn., 1750. He m. Sarah Hare, and raised five
children; Margaret, Betsey, John, Andrew and George. The singularity of the
marriage of Joseph may be considered worthy of record. Her father was an English
officer in command at Fort Stanwix, and fell in a hand to hand conflict with the
American officer, in which both were killed. Capt. Hare’s widow with three or
four children and a black servant, sought refuge in Canada, and by a roundabout
way to avoid our forces, journeyed through this town, and put up at Capt.
Willard’s tavern, expecting to proceed in the morning. During the night a
sudden thaw ensued and they were compelled to remain. Soon an attachment sprung
up between Joseph and Sarah, and her parent was induced to stay to see how it
would end: which was by marriage in her 17th year. It may be of interest to some
to state that her father was a captain in Butler’s Rangers under Col. Butler
the noted tory. When Butler held Fort Stanwix (Rome N.Y)., he sent Capt. Hare
with his company, and three hundred Indians out upon a scouting expedition. A
man named Davis who had married Capt. Hare’s sister, was a captain in the
American service. Accidentally they met upon this occasion. Each demanded of the
other a surrender, which each denied. Each fired upon the other, when both fell
at the same instant, mortally wounded at each other’s feet. (Col. Hare’s
family history, Canada West). This was indeed a melancholy fate for the two
brothers-in-law, especially when it is remembered that they had always been warm
friends aside from political animosities. She was left behind while the family
proceeded on their way. She was a woman of great judgment, memory and physical
endurance. To her the writer of this sketch is indebted for many facts in
relation to the family. Joseph Willard passed his days at the present residence
of Daniel McGrath, and died in 1829, aged 80. His widow in 1846, aged 80.
WILLARD, ANDREW, m. Mary, da. of David Blakeley, who died in 1866,
aged 70. He owns and occupies land which has been in the family from the first
settlement of the town. He has been confined mostly to his house and bed for the
last twelve years with a spinal complaint, which he has borne with cheerful
fortitude. His only son Henry lives with his father.
WILLARD, GEORGE, m. Lueretia, da. Fitch Clark, and succeeded to ‘the
homestead, subsequently he moved on the present farm of Alonzo Smith. He now
resides in Castleton.
WILLARD, SILAS, m. a da. of Ebenezer Baker, and settled at the
village. He struggled through life against the adverse influences of poor health
and slender means, and maintained a highly respectable character. He died in
Grandville, N. Y., in 1859, aged 66, leaving four children; Cyrenius M., Eunice,
Mary and Ersa, who all reside in Castleton. Hon Cyrenius M. Willard is an
attorney, and judge of probate. He was cashier of the Castleton Bank, from 1853
to 1865.
WILLARD, Dr. JAMES H., a brother of Silas Willard, m. Nancy, a da. of
Ephraim Fitch, and practiced his profession here a few years. He removed to
Brownhelm, Ohio, in 1830, and died in 1858; his wife in 1863.
