Simon Willard

Abt 1605 - 1676  (71 years)

• Name	Simon Willard
  Born	Abt Apr 1605	Horsmonden, Kent, England   [1]
  Christened	07 Apr 1605	Horsmonden, Kent, England   [2]
  Gender	Male
  Died	24 Apr 1676	Charlestown, Middlesex, Massachusetts   [3]
  Buried	27 Apr 1676	Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts
  Notes	Major Simon Willard was one of the most distiguished leaders in the first settlement of Concord, Ma. He came from Kent, England, and lived in Cambridge in 1634, when he and Rev. Peter Bulkeley, an ancestor of Amarilla Peck who married Asa White, Jr., made the first purchase of land from the Indians, for establishing the town of Concord, MA in 1635. He resided in Concord, with the other first settlers, became one of the leading men there, being town clerk till 1654, and representative for fourteen years. In 1660 he moved to Lancater, and was at Groton in 1672. He had a large tract of land granted him at Nanascoicus, between Lancaster and Groton. He was the first military commander in Concord, and was promoted to major in 1654, and commanded forces in Ninigret's and Philip's wars. When Philip's war broke out, he gave directions to several towns in Middlesex County, in relation to their garrison houses. His house near Groton was burned in the spring of 1676, along with the town of Groton. He and his first wife, Mary Sharpe, had eight children, including Mary. He and his second wife, Elizabeth Dunster, had no children. He and his third wife, Mary Dunster, sister or cousin of Elizabeth, had nine children. He died in Charlestown on 24 Apr 1676, where he had gone after the burning of Groton.
  Person ID	I5019	Devin Timber
  Last Modified	7 Apr 2010

  
  

  Family	Mary Sharpe,   b. Abt 16 Oct 1614, Horsmonden, Kent, England
  Married	Abt 1630	Horsmonden, Kent, England   [4]
  Children	+ 1. Mary Willard,   b. Abt 1631, Dorchester, Dorset, England ,   d. Aft 1656, Charlestown, Middlesex, Massachusetts  (Age > 26 years)
  Last Modified	18 Oct 2007
  Family ID	F1782	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S04612] Concord, Climate for Freedom, Wheeler, Ruth R. [S04523] NEHGR Vol 38 p 217 - Major Simon Willard and his Men" Apr 1884. [S04644] Charlestown Genealogies and Estates, Vol. II, page 1032. [S04615] Willard Memorial.