NOTICES OF THREE GENERATIONS OF HIS DESCENDANTS, AND

TWO COLLATERAL BRANCHES IN THE

UNITED STATES;

ALSO

Some Account of the Name and Family in Europe, from an Early Day.

BY JOSEPH WILLARD.

WITH THREE ENGRAVINGS.

BOSTON:

PHILLIPS, SAMPSON, AND COMPANY,

13, WINTER STREET.

1858.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

BOSTON

PRINTED BY JOHN WILSON AND SON,

22, SCHOOL STREET.

46-24

PREFACE.

THIS work was prepared several years ago, without any definite purpose of publication. Having been urged to publish, I consented so far as to issue a "Circular," addressed to the descendants of Major Simon Willard, and caused it to be very extensively distributed throughout the country, from north to south, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific, wherever I knew any of the family to reside. The response was feeble; so much so, that I was about abandoning the project, when a subscription somewhat enlarged, and the pressing request of two or three gentlemen, whose united contribution nearly equalled that of all the other subscribers, induced me to yield my scruples, and consent to publish.

On looking over my manuscript, I found it well to make a thorough revision, and collate all my principal references. This, together with the correction of the press, has occupied just about every moment of leisure from compulsory duties for the last eight months. I make this remark by way of explanation to the subscribers, to assure them that no time has been lost through want of diligence on my part.