The Willard Family Association of America, Inc.

W i l l a r d N e w s

Volume 36, #1 May, 2003

PHILADELPHIA, 2003

Our 95th Reunion & Annual Meeting

By William L. Willard, President

On August 15, 2003, WFA members and their guests will gather in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love. Philadelphia has many historic places, from Independence Hall to the Liberty Bell. You can see the place where the Declaration of Independence was written and voted on and you can visit the home of Benjamin Franklin and tour Christ Church, as well as several excellent museums. There is one of the largest historical societies in American with an extensive section dealing with genealogy.

Headquarters will be the newly remodeled Loews Philadelphia Hotel, within walking distance of the city’s major attractions. This is a beautiful hotel with many amenities, our rooms are priced at a very special rate, and valet parking is available. A new feature this year is a hospitality suite that will be available for WFA members to meet socially or just relax with friends and family members between events.

Friday evening we will have a wonderful buffet with a chef and cutting board serving succulent Prime Rib with all the fixings. After dinner our speaker will be Karin Kincaid who will talk to us about the German branch of the Willard Family – our theme for the year. We will hear about the family of deWalt Williard who came to America in November of 1750.

Saturday morning we will meet in the hotel for registration followed by the official Annual Meeting at 10 AM. Immediately after the business meeting, there will be an election of officers. The Nominating Committee is recommending a slate of officers to serve a two-year term.

(See page 3 for a listing of those nominated.)

Immediately after the meeting and election, we will have a discussion period on Willard genealogy. We will share information recently discovered about Major Simon Willard. This is a time to ask questions about genealogy in general or related to your own research. Also it is an opportunity for any questions about the Willard Family Association or the Willard family in general. This is planned as an open forum and we welcome any and all questions you may have.

At noontime we will have a special buffet luncheon at the hotel. The reunion officially ends after lunch and your afternoon is free for sight-

seeing. Tourist information and maps will be available in the hospitality suite.

As is the custom, there will be a Saturday night dinner at a place to be determined for anyone who would like to attend. This is a social event that is not an official function, but a nice conclusion to a great weekend. Please plan to join us this year at the Willard Family reunion. We guarantee a wonderful time for all.

The Willard Family Association, Inc. since 1908

From the desk of the Historian/Librarian, Spring, 2003

During the Colonial Period in America there was no separation between Church and State. In fact, in many cases the local minister acted as judge and jury, especially if the issue at hand involved moral or religious issues. Infractions that today are no longer considered a crime were thought to be very serious 300 years ago and were often punished by imprisonment, banishment or in some cases, death. For example, a child over the age of 12 who struck his father could be hanged if the father so ordered.

Today, just about every family with ties to Colonial America has at least one published genealogy. Several families have more than one, the Willard family included. The contents of these genealogies are usually written by a family member who had an interest in tracing the family roots. When these “authors” came across a family member who had committed a crime or lived in a “sinful” way, they were often left out of the genealogy or listed with no further information.

Historians for years have tried to identify the John Willard who was hanged in Salem as a Witch. We know he knew Samuel² and Henry² Willard, but we never had any information that placed him as a member of their family. It now appears that this mystery has been solved. Major Simon Willard had a son named John. He is listed as number 7 in the 1915 Genealogy. His date of birth is given as February 12, 1656. In the early handwritten church records of Concord, Massachusetts, it is written under births, “John, illegitimate child of John Willard and Martha Hartwell.” There is a Martha Hartwell listed in the birth records of Concord, born April 25, 1649.

Returning to the 1915 Willard Genealogy we find that John² did not marry until 1698 when he was 42 years old. It was very rare during the 17^th century for a man to marry so late in life. Based on all of the information we know about the John Willard hung as a witch, and adding the information in the Concord records, there is little doubt that the John Willard who was hung was the illegitimate child of John² Willard.

Ruth and Bill Willard, your family history team.

DUES NOTICE: Effective July 1, 2003, the Life Member dues will be $250. This change was voted at the 2002 annual meeting in accordance with Article IV of the By-Laws of the WFA.

To join as a Life member at the expiring rate of $100, your letter with the Life Member-

ship $100 payment must be postmarked by June 30, 2003.

Current Dues: Annual dues from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004 are $10. You may be a patron for $20 or become a Life Member for a one-time payment of $250. To join, please send dues to Treasurer Jeremy Smith (see his address with Board Members on page 3).

Willard News is published twice a year by the Willard Family Association of America, Inc. and edited by Marjorie W. Travis, 185 Grant Street, Lexington, MA 02420-2126. We invite your comments and suggestions. Please send address changes – with old address - to Marjorie.

Nominations for WFA Board

The Nominating Committee has recommended the following slate of officers to serve for the 2003-2005 year term.*

President, William L. Willard

President Emeritus, Emma A. W. Rietzel

1^st Vice President and Auditor, Alan C. Spooner

2^nd Vice President. Rodney Willard Hunt

3^rd Vice President, Julia C. Hendy

4^th Vice President, Rodney E. Willard

Treasurer, Jeremy Smith

Recording Secretary, Louise R. Sherman

Historian, Ruth H. Willard

Librarian, William L. Willard

Newsletter Editor, Marjorie W. Travis

Directors

Lois A. Cooley

John R. Stephens

Ruth Serozynski

Barbara S. Willard

Catherine A. Willard

Karen E. Willard

We also welcome nominations from the floor

at the Annual Meeting

President Bill Willard announced that Kay Willard, wife of our late past President, Arlan Willard, has agreed to serve his remaining term and is on the ballot as Director in this election.

(*Note -- The nominating committee report has been revised since the newsletter was published. Click here to see the revised report.)

Board Members of the Willard Family Association, Inc.

President and Librarian: William L. Willard, Sr. P.O. Box 340, South Windham, CT 06266-0340 (860) 423-6999

Willard Library wwillard@snet.net & Willard_library@snet.net

President Emeritus: Emma A. W. Rietzel 57A Marshall Road, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-1452 (860) 529-1213

1^st Vice President: Ruth W. Serozynsky 6 McCullough Road, Saugus, MA 01906-2238 (781) 233-2613

2^nd Vice President: Rodney Willard Hunt 106 Hemlock Drive, Gorham, ME 04038 (207) 839-5475

rhunt1@maine.rr.com

3^rd Vice President and Auditor: Alan C. Spooner 2 Collier Road, Scituate, MA 02066-4607 (781) 544-3976

Treasurer: Jeremy W. Smith 5 Cabot Drive, Shrewsbury, MA 01545-2286 (508) 842-6946 jwcms@aol.com

Recording Secretary: Louise R. Sherman 47 Logan Ave, Orange MA 01364-1013 (978) 544-3790

Historian: Ruth H. Willard 59 Oldham Road, Wethersfield, CT 06109-3121 (860) 529-3507 rhwgen@aol.com

Newsletter Editor: Marjorie W. Travis 185 Grant St., Lexington, MA 02420-2126 (781) 862-3084 mwtravis@aol.com

Directors

Lois A. Cooley 1460 Pleasant Street, Barre, MA 01005 (978) 355-2367 mark.cooley@verizon.net

Julia C. Hendy P.O. Box 142, Sandwich, MA 02563-0142 (508) 888-077 juliahendy@cs.com

Barbara S. Willard P.O. Box 340, South Windham, CT 06226-0340 (860) 423-6999

Barbara-willard@snet.net

Karen E. Willard, Computer Archivist 15215 Tubbs Road, Buckley, WA 98321 (360) 897-9545

hallock@mindspring.com Rodney E. Willard, WFA Webmaster 1633 Garden Street, Redlands, CA 92373 (909) 798-2586

rwillard@willardfamilyassn.org

Old Willard Photographs in a Trunk

Gene M. Shuttlesworth of Mena, Arkansas sent this interesting notice to us.

I live in western Arkansas, two hours north of Texarkana, Texas. We bought a

steamer trunk for our antiques store at a local auction, and found, to our disbelief,

forty or more pictures. Since I also consider myself a novice genealogist (I’ve only

been at it for thirty years), it would be appalling to throw the pictures away.

The following is a listing of the names that were identified: receipts for J. A. Rondot, Amarillo, TX, dated 1939. Cory Dale Gardner, Charles V. Willard’s World War II picture (handsome), Corliss Willard. Also Verna Wilson of Texline TX, Ronnie Walton and Rhonda and Dewayne Johnson, and Leon Gillam’s WWII picture. Most of these pictures are probably from the 1940’s and ‘50’s. There are two 1890-1900 family group photos as well.

Gene says that if you think these are your relatives, she would need accurate descriptions to be certain that they are the correct family. You can reach her at gms8@swbell.net or write to her at 163 Polk Road 51, Mena, AR 71953.

The Will of Oliver Willard

Henry Trombley (Henry², - Mary Lakin line) of Saratoga Springs, NY notified us that he has transcribed the will of Oliver Willard who lived in Rockingham, Vermont – and found his gr.gr.grandmother, Abigail. The will clearly names this daughter of Oliver for whom Henry Trombley has been searching. With only a few unreadable words, here is the central portion of the 1813 Will of Oliver Willard.

In the name of God Amen I, Oliver Willard of Rockingham in the County of Windham & State of Vermont being weak in body but of a sound and perfect mind and memory do make and publish this my Last Will & Testament in manner and form following, that is to say Imprimis: I leave to my beloved wife Lucy Willard, One Third of all my Estate, both real and personal. During her natural life and also over and above the third aforesaid my Sorel horse and Chaise one Cow and the use of the farm and all the buildings on the same until the lease expires Given by Timothy Lovell to me the said Willard upon her paying the rent up to the close of said Lease.

Item: I give to my beloved Children Oliver Willard, Peter Willard, Lucy Kindal, Levi Willard, Betsey Staple, Simeon Willard, Polly Stebins, Abigail Howard and Joseph Willard Equal shares to Males and Females of all the property both real and personal that is left after paying my Just Debts and funeral charges including the money lent to any of my said children to be divided with the rest of said property, which division I direct and order to be made to my Executor (Son Peter Willard) here after named after my decease as soon as may be according to the nature of the Property that comes into his hands in the capacity of Executor , 1813 . . .

Signed, sealed, etc. on the seventeenth of April, 1813 . . . Oliver Willard with an X for his mark.

If you are interested in learning more, please write to Henry Trombley at 34 Elizabeth Lane, Saratoga Springs NY 12866 or e-mail him at h.trombley@verizon.net

Come to the Western Willard Reunion in California

Belmont (Bay Area) October 3- 5, 2003

Meetings will be held in Belmont, (a few miles south of San Francisco). October is THE best time to visit the Bay Area – after the summer fogs and winds are gone and before the winter rains begin

Our headquarters will be Holiday Inn Express, 1650 El Camino Real, Belmont, CA 94002.

Telephone: (650) 654-4000 (888) 789-8200

Fax: (650) 654-4001

Email: sales@hibelmont.com, Website: www.holiday-inn.com/belmontca

Betty Pex, coordinator for the meeting, has reserved 25 rooms. Special rates for the Willard Family Association: double queen or executive king, $79 plus 10% tax; alcove suite available at $109 plus tax; one bedroom suite available at $139 plus tax.

These rates include a complimentary deluxe continental breakfast buffet daily, free parking, free local telephone, high-speed Ethernet internet access in every room. Coffee, tea, and cocoa are available 24 hours a day in the breakfast room.

Make your reservations directly with the hotel at (888) 789-8200. Be sure to ask for the Willard Family group rate that also applies to extra days before or after the reunion. Cut off date is September 15.

Tentative schedule:

Friday evening: Meal together at Houlihan’s

Saturday morning Buffet breakfast at hotel

9:00 AM In Meeting Room adjacent to breakfast room:

Talk by Dr. Still, historian, on “The world the Willards found

when they arrived in the Bay Area in the 19^th century.”

Karen Willard will talk about the descendants of #163

Reuben Willard’s daughter Ruth Willard’s daughter

Ruth Wright.

Saturday noon Catered lunch in meeting room and breakfast room.

Saturday afternoon Trip to Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos (with car pooling)

Presentation to the Museum of material on Charlie Willard, followed by a tour of the Museum.

Saturday evening Socializing and dinner on our own.

Sunday morning Buffet breakfast at hotel, followed by a brief business meeting.

Registration fee (includes Friday dinner, Saturday lunch and Museum) will be about $50.

Please contact Betty Pex who will be happy to send out more specific information and fliers with registration forms to all who respond.

Betty C. Pex, 1828 Bayview Ave., During August only, contact Carol M. Pex

Belmont CA 94002-1725 2 Buccaneer Lane, Redwood City, CA 94065

Telephone (650) 593-5226 Telephone (650) 596-0959

E-mail Bpex1@aol.com E-mail cpex@smcoe.k12.ca.us

Have you seen the American Clock Stamp?

Patented in 1802, Simon Willard’s Improved Timepiece, or “banjo” clock was honored by the U.S.

Postal Service with a 10 cent stamp issued on January 24, 2003 in Tucson, Arizona. The specific

clock on the stamp was made about 1805. The Patent Timepiece was used for the stamp as it is the

first truly American clock designed in America. The artist is Lou Noland, and this is the second

stamp in the new American design series.

Willard House & Clock Museum (www.willardhouse.org) has a limited number of first day issue

stamps. To order from the U.S. Postal Service (www.usps.com) you may choose a complete

panel of 20, #108040; for a block of four, #108020; and #108062 for a first day cover.

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Price List for Available Willard Articles

(Prices subject to change)

Genealogy on a CD Willard Memoir and the 1915 Genealogy

Through an arrangement with Digital Editions, the Willard Family Association can now supply either

one or both of these volumes on a CD. Digital Editions has done an excellent job of reproducing these books in an easy to use format and indexing system. Please check the WFA website http://WillardFamilyAssn.org and then order from: Willard Family Association, Books on CDs,

PO Box 340, South Windham, CT 06266-0340

The following Willard items can be ordered from Alan C. Spooner, 2 Collier Road, Scituate,

MA 02066-4607. Make checks out to The Willard Family Association of America, Inc.

Price Shipping

The Henry² Book

(This is the book that is only of Henry² descendants) $50.00 $5.00

Willard crested stationery

25 crested sheets, 25 plain sheets & 25 envelopes $ 3.50 $2.00

Willard silk-screened Coat of Arms

11” x 14” suitable for framing $12.00 $2.75

REUNION 2003 – AUGUST 15 and 16

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

Headquarters: Loews Philadelphia Hotel (www.loewshotels.com) 1200 Market Street,

Philadelphia, PA 19107. Tel 215-627-1200. Fax 215-231-7305

NOTE: When making reservations be sure to request a Willard Family Association Reunion room at the special rate of $125 a night for a single or a double (plus local taxes). Loews Philadelphia Hotel will hold rooms at this special rate only until Friday, July 18, 2003. There will be no exceptions. Rooms requested after this date will be at the regular room rate, based

on availability.

Friday, August 15 Loews Philadelphia Hotel

Check-In: after 3:00 PM

Board Meeting in the Hospitality Suite at 4:00 PM

Friday, August15 At the hotel:

6:00 PM Registration and Social Hour

7:00 PM Dinner and speaker Karin Kincaid

Saturday, August 16 At the hotel

9:00 AM Registration

10:00 AM Annual Meeting and Genealogical Workshop

12:00 PM Buffet luncheon

Afternoon free for local sightseeing.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

(Tear off and return this portion; keep the above part for your information)

Please return completed form no later than July 15, 2003

Friday, August 15 – Complete Dinner at the Loews Hotel How Many? Total

$40.00 _______ _______

Registration fee (This fee is for general expenses) $15.00 ________ ________

Saturday – Buffet Luncheon at the Loews Hotel $20.00 ________ ________

TOTAL ________ ________

Interested in Saturday night dinner at a local restaurant? How many? __________

Make your check payable to: The Willard Family Association of America, Inc. and send to

The Willard Family Association, P.O. Box 340, South Windham, CT 06266-0340

(NOTE: is your current address the same as the label on the other side of this form?)

DID YOU KNOW? By Alan Spooner

· That Frances Willard, President of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, had a

passion for bicycles?

· That Charles A. Willard (1857-1914) was appointed an associate justice for the

Municipal Commission to establish civil government in the Philippine Islands?

· That Clayton E. Willard, born 1876 in Orange Massachusetts, went to Washington, DC

to live and worked for the Treasury Department, supervising the burning of “old” paper money?

· That Martha Clarke, married to Joseph Willard on January 5, 1715, died at age 100 (1794) leaving 12 children, 90 grandchildren, 206 great-grandchildren and 45 of the fifth generation?

· That Joseph Willard (1798-1869) wrote the first history of Lancaster, Massachusetts, the

first history of the Willard family titled “Willard Memoir,” and wrote an historical biography of the “Life of General Henry Knox” (never published)?

· That Josiah Willard (1681-ca.1750) was Secretary of the Province of Massachusetts Bay?

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Willard Family Association

185 Grant Street

Lexington, MA 02420-2126

first class