SAMUEL WILLARD was the second son of Major Simon Willard, who came from the County of Kent in England in 1634, and first settled at Cambridge. His house and garden were in Water street, and he owned a farm on the west side of Charles River-including, I believe, "Simon's Hill," which, according to tradition, took its name from him. Simon Willard was, with the Rev. Messrs. Bulkley and Jones, among the first settlers of Concord in the fall of 1635; and represented that town at almost every session of the General Court from 1636 to 1654, when he was chosen a member of the Court of Assistants. He held the latter office by annual elections till his death, April 24, 1676—and was for more than twenty-two years and until his death, chief in command of the military force of Middlesex.

SAMUEL WILLARD was born at Concord Jan. 31, 1639-40, and graduated at Harvard College in 1659. The clergyman of the place was Rev. Peter Bulkley, whose instructions, doubtless, had much influence in forming the early character of young Willard. After finishing his studies he preached in Groton. I find him there as early as 1662. The following extracts are from the records of Groton :

"March 18, 1663.—Mr. Willard desired if God move his heart thereunto to continue still with us for our further edification." A twenty acre lot was granted to him, also one hundred and twenty acres in addition. Voted, That if Mr. Willard will accept of it he shall be their minister as long as he lives." Mr. W. accepts, "except a manifest providence of God appears to take him off."

"Voted, That Mr. Willard shall have the town's interest in the house and lands that were devoted by the town for the ministry, provided they may meet in the house the Lord's day, and upon other occasions of the town in meetings."

Sept. 10, 1663.-£40 granted for his salary, "and if God be pleased to dispose of his and our hearts to continue together after 1663 the expiration of the year, hope by approving of him and he of us, we shall be willing to add unto his maintenance, as God shall bless us, expecting that he shall

continue unto our poverty, if God shall please to deny a blessing upon our labors. Year to begin July 1, 1663."

His salary was increased from time to time till it reached £80.

No particulars in relation to his ministry at Groton have come down to us. It should seem from the foregoing extracts that he was held in esteem by his people. But the town was a new settlement, remote from the general population of the Colony, its population sparse, and his influence doubtless somewhat limited, and probably his opportunities for literary improvement were bounded by a like circumscription. Such as he had it is manifest he must have made the best use of.*

Mr. Willard continued to be the pastor and teacher of the church in Groton, where his father and one of his brothers then resided, till March, 1676, when the town was attacked and destroyed by the Indians, and the inhabitants were dispersed. "The providence," says Mr. Pemberton in his funeral discourse, "that occasioned his removal to this place (Boston) was an awful judgment upon the whole land, yet was eventually a mercy in this respect, that it made way for the translation of this bright star to a more conspicuous orb-where his influence was more extensive and beneficial; and in this it was a great blessing to this congregation, (Old South,) to this town, nay to all New England." p. 70.

I have no means of knowing where he passed the two succeeding years. Probably, however, it was in Boston or the neighborhood, where his friends chiefly resided. He was installed over the Old South Church in Boston, March 31, 1675, O. S., as colleague with Rev. Thomas Thacher. Here his sphere of usefulness was much widened, and those talents of which his native modesty had somewhat impeded the manifestation, became more generally known, and the excellence of his learning was held in more just estimation. From this time till his death, a period of more than twentynine years, he continued at the Old South, assiduously devoted to the duties of his sacred office.

His writings were numerous. Cotton Mather alone exceeded him in the number of his published works. They were chiefly sermons, with a few controversial tracts. During his life forty-two distinct publications appeared, embracing some seventy sermons and several other pamphlets. Among the latter were two of a controversial character, written in reply to George Keith the Quaker. Keith, with all his fanaticism, was a man of great shrewdness, and no mean opponent. He argues with a good deal of force, and often to advantage. He gave much trouble to the clergy of Boston for a series of years. Mr. Willard's pamphlets were published in 1681 and 1703. In 1690 he joined with James Allen, Joshua Moody and Cotton Mather in a defence of the principles of the New England churches against a very fiery attack made upon them by Keith the year before in a volume published in Philadelphia. The war was carried on with abundant zeal on both sides, and crimination and recrimination filled every page.

After Mr. Willard's death, a volume of "Sacramental Meditations Preparatory for Communion" was published. It contains many valuable suggestions for the guidance of the devout, and the strengthening of the timid; and like most of his other works is full of the high toned theology of the age.

There was also published a thanksgiving sermon upon the return of

*"At first in his younger years his Master committed to his pastoral care a flock in a more obscure part of this wilderness; but so great a light was soon observed through the whole land, and his Lord did not design to bury him in obscurity, but to place him in a more eminent station, which he was qualified for." (Rev. Mr Pemberton's Funeral Sermon, p. 70.)

See the list of his publications at the close of this article.