Capt. William Willard, Jr

William Willard

Born: 1767-09-10

Guilford New Haven,,Connecticut,USA

Died: 1831

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ID: I06343

Name: Billey WILLARD 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Sex: M

ALIA: /William/

Title: Captain

Birth: ABT 1781 1 15 16

Death: ABT 1831 in LaSalle Township, Monroe, Michigan 1 17

Occupation: AFT 1767 Builder of small ships 18 19

Event: Unknown2091 29 DEC 1834 80.80 acres - Bedford Township, Monroe, Michigan 20

Residence: ABT 1828 Monroe County, Michigan 21 22

Residence: AFT 1767 Old Guilford or New Haven, Connecticut 23

Residence: 1828 Buffalo, Erie, New York 21 19 23

Event: Unknown2100 AFT 1767 Captain 21

Reference Number: 256

Note:

Wife of William (Billy) Willard (b1767) and mother of his children???

My files showed he had 3 wives: (April/2/2006)

1. Desire Dennison (1755-?) (m1792)

Source: “Families of Early Guilford, Connecticut” by Alvon Talcott, p 1223

2. Polly Lathing (Latting) (1784-1859) (m1804)

Source: “Families of Early Guilford, Connecticut” by Alvon Talcott, p. 1223

3. Mary M. Larkin (1785-1859) (m bef 1808)

Sources:

a. “History of the Wm. P. Hubbell Family”

b. “Archibald Binnie and His Family and the annotated History of the Wm. P. Hubbell Family” p.33

c. “Obituary” - Bedford Township Library

d. “Descendants of Josiah Willard of Wethersfield, Connecticut” by Willard Family Association, p. 29

e. Images of America - Bedford Township; by Trudi Urbani, page 24

I believe Polly and Mary is the same person. The name Larkin, Lathing and Latting are close enough that penmanship or spelling by the data taker could make the difference. The dates of birth, marriage and death are almost identical. Polly is shown as a nickname for Mary in some of the data.

The date of marriage corresponds with the date of birth of the children. jak

• *************

DESCENDANTS OF JOSIAH-2 WILLARD of Wethersfield, Connecticut.

"X302. WILLIAM-6 (Billey) WILLARD (Billy - 5, Jared - 4, Thomas - 3, Josiah - 2, Simon - 1, b. presumably Guilford, Conn., Sept. 10, 1767; m. prior to 1808, Mary M. Larkin who appears to have died, Erie, Monroe County, Mich., Dec. 8, 1859, ae. 64 yrs., buried Straight Cemetery, Erie, Mich. He is said to have been a builder of small ships, at one time engaged in trade with the West Indies, earning the title of Captain. Later he built and operated ships out of Evans (near Buffalo) N.Y. Traded for land in Monroe County, Mich., where he is believed to have died in La Salle Township, ca. 1831; no record of his death has been found. See History of William P. Hubbell Family by Marion Stephen Hubbel, 1908."

• *************

1830 Census - Monroe County, Michigan

William Willard (H) 40-50 - See Son

Name: Willard, William

Township: Unknown Townships

County: Monroe

State: Michigan

Year: 1830

Roll: M19_69

Page: 63

Image: 128

1 male between 40-50(1780-1790)William

1 female between 40-50(1780-1790)Mary

1 male between 20-30(1800-1810)William Jr.

1 male between 15-20(1810-1815)George

1 female between 15-20(1810-1815)Phebe

1 female between 10-15(1815-1820)Mary

1 male between 5-10(1820-1825)John

1 female between 5-10(1820-1825)Nancy

1 male between 0-5(1825-1830)Nathaniel

2 females between 0-5(1825-1830)Sarah & Rebecca

• *************

"Michigan Pioneer & History Collection" Vol 21, 1892,

published in Lansing, Michigan by Wynkoop Hallenbeck. Crawford, Co. State printers 1912-13

P364. " Abstract of vessels enrolled in the District of Buffalo Creek, from 1816-1829. 1828-Sloop Express-24 tons-Owner William Willard."

P360. "The citizens conspicuous for their labors in Washington and elsewhere at East in behalf of the Canal (Welland) - William Willard."

• *************

Information sent to me from the records of Helen "Betty" Gay of Rockwood, Michigan:

"...The family removed from there (New Haven or Old Guilford, Connecticut) to Evans Township, Erie County, New York, when she was about (1827) and from there to Monroe County, Michigan in the autumn of 1828."

"The family consisted at this time of the parents and the following children; Samuel, who was born June 30, 1808; William, June 15, 1810; George, June 16, 1812; Phebe, May 18, 1815; Mary, September 15, 1817; Sarah E., January 10, 1823; Nancy, February 16, 1819; John E., March 20, 1821; Nathaniel Lewis, September 19, 1825; Rebecca A. was born late in 1828, soon after the family reached Monroe, but the date is lost."

"..." See add'l data in George Willard

• *************

Families of Early Guilford, Connecticut by Alvan Talcott Fort Wayne Public Library Jan 8, 2001

Page 1223:

"Billy Willard, son of Billy and Phebe Post, married/1 31 December 1792 Desire Denison. He married/2 13 June 1804 Polly Lathing. Lived in Michigan."

• *************

http://batesandpost.20m.com/Post/pafg31.htm#2145

Descendants of Abraham Poste

Send e-mail to: caileajayden@sympatico.ca

902. William Willard (Phebe Post , Nathan Post , Abraham Post , Abraham Post , Stephen Post , Abraham ) was born on 10 Sep 1767 in Guilford New Haven Ct.. He died in 1831.

William married Mary Larkin in 1808. Mary was born in 1795. She died on 8 Dec 1859 in Erie Monroe Michigan.

They had the following children:

1289 M i Samuel Willard was born on 30 Jun 1808.

1290 M ii William Willard was born on 15 Jun 1810.

1291 M iii George Willard

1292 F iv Phebe Willard was born on 18 May 1815. Phebe married Thomas Pember on 16 Aug 1832.

1293 F v Mary Willard was born on 15 Sep 1817 in Guilford Ct.. She died on 11 Feb 1908. Mary married William Pierce Hubbl

1294 F vi Nancy Willard was born on 16 Feb 1819. Nancy married Nathan Hilton.

1295 M vii John Willard was born on 20 Mar 1821.

1296 F viii Sarah Willard was born on 10 Jan 1823. Sarah married Eliab S. Hilton.

1297 M ix Nathanial Lewis Willard

1298 F x Rebecca Willard was born in 1828. Rebecca married Marion Hedley.

• ***********

Erie Protestant Cemetery - Erie Township, Monroe County; Michigan

Inscribed on the back of Nathan Hilton family pillar:

"Mary, wife of Capt. W. Willard - d. Dec. 8, 1859 - aged 74 years"

• **********

Date: Sun, 20 May 2007 20:11:30 -0500

From: "Jake Myers" <jakemyer@gmail.com>

To: vkngprints@sbcglobal.net

Subject: Sea Capt William Willard, Jr & Mary Margaret "Polly" Larkins

... I got started thru the encouragement of my cousin Jean Emily Larson (formerly Peddle & listed among your William P Hubbell footnote sources), whom also edited the Alborn Enquirer & did the Isaac Hubbell, Jr Research for the Hubbell Genealogies about 1980... I have especially focused on traveling to & searching out the homes, stories & families of Sea Capt William Willard, (ca1781-spring,1831) & his wife Mary Margaret "Polly" Larkin, b Dec 1-7, 1785 near Stonington, CT- d Dec 8, 1859, aged 74 yrs in Monroe, MI.

I am planiing to go back to NY, CT & R.I. later this summer to search for more evidence on her Larkin ancestry & her Layton connections. I learned a lot about the Larkins & the Willards 1828 migration to Bay Settlement (now Erie Twp), Monroe Co, MI from an all day interview I had with cousin Phyllis Keeney Smith (b1912, now deceased widow of Wilbur E. Smith,1912-1995) at her home there in April 1998. She was a key source (from her greatgrandfather) as well as our Elliott cousin & current Erie Twp Historian, Donald Ray Adams (b1930) of Lambertville, MI, whom I have yet to meet in person.

Judge Solomon Keeney came on the Willard ship "Express" in late 1828 & wrote in detail about the journey, although Phyllis never made copies of what she had for me as we planned, before she passed away. Some of it is in the Judge S. Keeney Bio's in the Monroe Co Histories & the Records of their Old Settlers Club...

...William, Jr although he joined the Episcopalian Church in Guilford in April, 1804 (see official record), became a Baptist thru his wife Mary (whom is Polly) Larkin (NOT LARKINS), whose fathers family & her other ancestors were longtime Baptists, like the Lewis's & Burdicks....

...Polly...was his 18 yr old ward & the minister easily mispelled the name of the family since it was not from the Saybrook/Westbrook Area. The newlyweds moved directly to Guilford where they built ships, did the West Indies trade & operated a store from their (Jones Bridge Area) home on the river near Billey's Shipyards which were sold in 1825 after he lost some ships & cargo in the famous late 1823 storms.

Having been to Guilford, I have a picture of this still standing home as well as Documentation of the shipyard business (This is another story for a later date), which was sold for the Willards by their attorney cousin's George & Nancy Griswold in 1825/26 to pay their debts per an 1825 letter written by Willard to Griswold from the mouth of the Lorain River, Ohio (of which I have a photocopy).

The 1830 Mi Census & others show that Billey was born circa 1781, so the 1767 Billey is his deceased older brother of the same name, whom is recorded as dieing as an infant in 1768 in Westbrook, CT. Of course, we all know the Willards ended up in Monroe, MI & that after a few more deaths at sea, the surviving Willard boys got out of the sailing trade to pursue the much safer farming profession, as well as other trades.

The first few Willard births were stillborns. The first living son in 1808 was Most Likely Named after Polly's father Samuel Larkin. The second son was named after Billey & his father William, Sr. The third son was named after Billey's best friend, his cousin George Griswold of Guilford as well as their third oldest daughter being named after Polly's best friend, Nancy (Anne) Griswold, whom was George's wife. The first oldest dau was named after Phebe Ann, whom was Billey's mother & likely the name of Polly's mother as well, (Phebe/ or Ann Lewis?). Also Mary Elizabeth, the second oldest daughter, could have been named after Polly's mother & possible grandmother Mary/Margaret Burdick Lewis. The Fourth son, John E. may have been named after Polly's stepfather, John Layton, with the E standing for a possible sailing cousin Enoch Lewis who died at sea. Fourth daughter Sarah E. has the only Unkown name source, but the name source is not a sibling & not in parental order of honor, & is probably a friends name from Guilford. The final two children's name are for Billey's Sister Rebecca Doty & brother in law (m sister Phoebe) Nathaniel Lay, both of whom provided essential homespace & living assistance to the Willards so they could regroup in East Evans, Erie Co, NY after they lost everything they had in CT & imigrated N via the ERIE Canal to start over (in mid 1825). Youngest son Nathaniel's middle name was Lewis in honor of Polly's War of 1812 hero brother Lewis Larkin. Lewis shows up a lot in the family, so it is likely Mary's mother's maiden name, or an honorary name chosen by Her Parents in light of their Lewis friend/employer, Sea Capt John Lewis or another Lewis of Westerly & Stonington.

Obviously, some of this is opinion & we need more evidence, including Mary's M-DNA to match cousins, as well as more documents, linking the Larkin-Layton-Lewis Families to the Westerly/ Stonington/New Bedford Areas. Still, after 40+ yrs of searching for Polly's Parents, I believe we are much closer to the truth than ever before. Finally, this past year has given us some solid leads to follow. The Samuel, s/o Joshua Larkin link is the only solid linkage likely at this time. One more connection to back this up is the Willard-Larkin Scotchman-Irish Ancestry stories mentioned in the William P Hubbell History. Obviously we know the family story is mixed up. The Willards & relatives were longtime English colonists, so the Scotch-Irish link is probably from the Larkin branch, which name is traditionally Irish. But in our case, I believe it is another story made up to save family face, because Polly's Father Samuel was either told it by his dad Joshua or too embarresed himself to tell the truth about Joshua's fathers, Joseph Larkin of Westerly/Charlestown) true RI English roots, because of the skeletons in his closet. This seems very likely & supports a correct ancestral link, because Joshua's siblings families all passed on the same Scotch-Irish Story (with Nova Scotia added in) after their father Joseph lost custody of all of them in a famously documented court case in RI which led to them having foster parents,etc & their Uncle John Larkin was involved in another court scandal concerning Joseph, in Nova Scotia.

This "family story" of Scotch-Irish origins is documented in the family of Joshua's younger brother Amos after he relocated with Joshua to Ballston in upper NY State after 1783. You can find this all in the 2004 book by Eliz. Brock Larkin. It is a great book of research, now being digitized for Google Books online. I have copies of some pages of it. ...

Father: Billey WILLARD b: 3 NOV 1735 in East Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut

Mother: Phebe POST b: 10 OCT 1743 in Saybrook, Middlesex, Connecticut

Marriage 1 Desire Dennison b: 5 MAY 1755

Married: 31 DEC 1792 24

Marriage 2 Mary Margaret LARKIN b: ABT 1785 in Connecticut

Married: BEF 1808 25

Married: 13 JUN 1804 26 27

Note:

Families of Early Guilford, Connecticut by Alvan Talcott Fort Wayne Public Library Jan 8, 2001

Page 1223:

Indicates 2 wives prior to Mary Larkin and that he resides in Michigan.

Children

Samuel Willard b: 30 JUN 1808 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut

William Willard b: 15 JUN 1810 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut

George WILLARD b: 16 JUN 1812 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticuit

Phebe Ann Willard b: 18 MAY 1815 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut

Mary Elisabeth Willard b: 15 SEP 1817 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticuit

Nancy Willard b: 16 FEB 1819 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut

John Enoch Willard b: 20 MAR 1821 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut

Sarah E. Willard b: 10 JAN 1823 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut

Nathaniel Lewis Willard b: 19 SEP 1825 in Buffalo, Erie, New York

Rebecca A. Willard b: BEF JUN 1829 in Monroe, Monroe, Michigan

Sources:

Title: Families of Early Guilford, Connecticut

Author: Alvan Talcott

Publication: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore 1984

Note: Also Toledo Public Library, Genealogy Department, Toledo, Ohio call number R929.37467TAL. Also available on Genealogy.com - "Connecticut, 1600s-1800s Local Families and Histories."

Repository:

Note: Allen County Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Media: Book

Page: Page 1221

Title: Descendants of Josiah Willard of Wethersfield, Connecticut

Author: The Willard Family Association

Publication: The Willard Family Association of America, Inc. 1972

Note: Excellent

Repository:

Note: James A. Kimble personal library

Media: Book

Page: Page 29, 31

Text: "Grandfather Willard was a sea captain before leaving Conn., and followed a coasting trade business as far south as the West India Islands. he was also a ship bulder and while at Evans, a little west of buffalo, he, with his older boys, built small vessels for the lake Erie trade. he traded one of these vessels for an old French claim south of Monroe in Lasalle Township and came with a team from Evans via Sandusky and Fort Miami to monroe in the autumn of 1828. The older boys came by water to Monroe and delivered the vessel for the land...."

Title: Census 1830

Author: United States Census

Repository:

Media: Census

Text: Monroe County, Michigan

Title: Michigan Pioneer & History Collection

Publication: Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford, Co. State Printers, Lansing, Michigan 1912-13

Repository:

Media: Book

Page: Vol. 21, Page 360 - 364

Title: First Land Owners of Michigan

Repository:

Note: Toledo/Lucas County Public Library, Toledo, Ohio

Media: Book

Page: Page 38

Title: Willard Family Association of America, Inc.

Note: Numerous references and great documentation

Repository:

Note: Willard Family Association Web Site

Media: Internet

Title: History of the Wm. P. Hubbell Family

Note: Photocopy of selected pages sent to me from the records of Helen "Betty" Gay of Rockwood, Michigan

Repository:

Media: Book

Page: Page 31 & 32

Title: Families of Early Guilford, Connecticut

Author: Alvan Talcott

Publication: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore 1984

Note: Also Toledo Public Library, Genealogy Department, Toledo, Ohio call number R929.37467TAL. Also available on Genealogy.com - "Connecticut, 1600s-1800s Local Families and Histories."

Repository:

Note: Allen County Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Media: Book

Page: Page 1221

Text: Indicates: "...married/1 31 December 1792 Desire Denison. He married/2 13 June 1804 Polly Lathing. Lived in Michigan."

Title: Connecticut, 1600's - 1800's Local Families and Histories

Repository:

Note: Genealogy.Com

Media: Electronic

Page: Page 1223

Text: "Families of Early Guilford, CT." Vol. II - "Billy Willard, son of Billy and Phebe (Post)..."

Title: Descendants of Josiah Willard of Wethersfield, Connecticut

Author: The Willard Family Association

Publication: The Willard Family Association of America, Inc. 1972

Note: Excellent

Repository:

Note: James A. Kimble personal library

Media: Book

Page: Pages 9, 15 & 29

Title: Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records

Author: Nancy E. Schott

Publication: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.

Note: Excellent

Repository:

Note: Allen County Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Media: Book

Page: Volume 16 - Page 321

Text: "Beley, s. Beley & Phebe"

Title: Descendants of Abraham Poste

Note: The Bates and Post Family Tree

Email: wlester@cogeco.ca

Repository:

Note: http://batesandpost.20m.com/Post/pafg16.htm#1274

Media: Internet

Title: Images of America - Bedford Township

Author: Trudy Wieske Urbani

Publication: Arcadia Publishing

Note: Lots of good data but no sources shown

Repository:

Note: James A. Kimble personal library

Media: Book

Page: Page 24

Title: Jake Myers

Author: Jay Herbert Myers

Note: e-mail dated May 20, 2007+ in word file. Portions copied to individual notes. e-mail: jakemyer@gmail.com

Some of the data sent to me is from "Toni's Tree" by Toni Viertel in Rootsweb.com who apparently got part of her data from "CHESEBRO' Genealogy@RootsWeb".

Note: Excellent

Repository:

Media: Internet

Title: Descendants of Josiah Willard of Wethersfield, Connecticut

Author: The Willard Family Association

Publication: The Willard Family Association of America, Inc. 1972

Note: Excellent

Repository:

Note: James A. Kimble personal library

Media: Book

Page: Page 29

Title: Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records

Author: Nancy E. Schott

Publication: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.

Note: Excellent

Repository:

Note: Allen County Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Media: Book

Page: Volume 16 - Page 321

Text: "Beley, s. Beley & Phebe, b. Sept. 10, 1767 Vol. 2, Page 118"

Title: Descendants of Josiah Willard of Wethersfield, Connecticut

Author: The Willard Family Association

Publication: The Willard Family Association of America, Inc. 1972

Note: Excellent

Repository:

Note: James A. Kimble personal library

Media: Book

Page: Page 29

Text: #X302 "...He is believed to have died in LaSalle Township, ca. 1831; no record of his death has been found..."

Title: Descendants of Josiah Willard of Wethersfield, Connecticut

Author: The Willard Family Association

Publication: The Willard Family Association of America, Inc. 1972

Note: Excellent

Repository:

Note: James A. Kimble personal library

Media: Book

Page: #X302

Title: Michigan Pioneer & History Collection

Publication: Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford, Co. State Printers, Lansing, Michigan 1912-13

Repository:

Media: Book

Page: Volume 21 - Pages 364 & 360

Title: First Land Owners of Monroe County, Michigan

Author: E. Gary Williams & Ethel W. Williams, 730 Parker Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michiga

Repository:

Note: Toledo/Lucas County Public Library, Toledo, Ohio

Media: Book

Page: Page 38

Title: Descendants of Josiah Willard of Wethersfield, Connecticut

Author: The Willard Family Association

Publication: The Willard Family Association of America, Inc. 1972

Note: Excellent

Repository:

Note: James A. Kimble personal library

Media: Book

Title: Census 1830

Author: United States Census

Repository:

Media: Census

Title: Helen "Betty" Gay

Note: Records of Helen "Betty" Gay of Rockwood, Michigan

Repository:

Media: Letter

Title: Families of Early Guilford, Connecticut

Author: Alvan Talcott

Publication: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore 1984

Note: Also Toledo Public Library, Genealogy Department, Toledo, Ohio call number R929.37467TAL. Also available on Genealogy.com - "Connecticut, 1600s-1800s Local Families and Histories."

Repository:

Note: Allen County Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Media: Book

Page: Volume II - Page 1223

Title: Descendants of Josiah Willard of Wethersfield, Connecticut

Author: The Willard Family Association

Publication: The Willard Family Association of America, Inc. 1972

Note: Excellent

Repository:

Note: James A. Kimble personal library

Media: Book

Page: Page 29

Text: #X302

Title: Families of Early Guilford, Connecticut

Author: Alvan Talcott

Publication: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore 1984

Note: Also Toledo Public Library, Genealogy Department, Toledo, Ohio call number R929.37467TAL. Also available on Genealogy.com - "Connecticut, 1600s-1800s Local Families and Histories."

Repository:

Note: Allen County Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Media: Book

Page: Page 1223

Title: Connecticut, 1600's - 1800's Local Families and Histories

Repository:

Note: Genealogy.Com

Media: Electronic

Page: Page 1267

Text: "Families of Early Guilford, CT." Vol. II - ""Billy/William Willard, s of Billy & Phebe (Post), ... He married 13 June 1804 Polly/Mary Lathing (traditionally Larkin, Latham or Lathrop) ..."

—— sponsored links ——  

ID: I172899 Name: William WILLARD Sex: M Birth: 10 SEP 1767 in Guilford, New Haven Co., CT 1 2 Death: 1831 in LaSalle Twp., Monroe Co., MI 3 Note: copied 2 March 2011: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=172&id=I3920 1 David Huntington & Suzannah Vencill Entries: 101165 Updated: 2010-05-08 17:47:35 UTC (Sat) Contact: David Huntington

1. Name: William Willard Jr.
2. Nickname: Billie
3. Birth: 10 SEP 1767 in Guilford , New Haven, Connecticut, United States
4. ADDR:
5. CITY: Guilford
6. STAE: Connecticut
7. CTRY: United States
8. Note: {geni:county} New Haven
9. Note: {geni:location_name} birthplace
10. Death: ABT 1831 in United States
11. ADDR:
12. CTRY: United States
13. Note: {geni:location_name} deathplace
14. Note:

{geni:about_me} William Willard Born: 1767-09-10 Guilford New Haven,,Connecticut,USA Died: 1831

---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ID: I06343 Name: Billey WILLARD 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Sex: M ALIA: /William/ Title: Captain Birth: ABT 1781 1 15 16 Death: ABT 1831 in LaSalle Township, Monroe, Michigan 1 17 Occupation: AFT 1767 Builder of small ships 18 19 Event: Unknown2091 29 DEC 1834 80.80 acres - Bedford Township, Monroe, Michigan 20 Residence: ABT 1828 Monroe County, Michigan 21 22 Residence: AFT 1767 Old Guilford or New Haven, Connecticut 23 Residence: 1828 Buffalo, Erie, New York 21 19 23 Event: Unknown2100 AFT 1767 Captain 21 Reference Number: 256 Note: Wife of William (Billy) Willard (b1767) and mother of his children???

My files showed he had 3 wives: (April/2/2006)

1. Desire Dennison (1755-?) (m1792) Source: ?Families of Early Guilford, Connecticut? by Alvon Talcott, p 1223

2. Polly Lathing (Latting) (1784-1859) (m1804) Source: ?Families of Early Guilford, Connecticut? by Alvon Talcott, p. 1223

3. Mary M. Larkin (1785-1859) (m bef 1808) Sources: a. ?History of the Wm. P. Hubbell Family? b. ?Archibald Binnie and His Family and the annotated History of the Wm. P. Hubbell Family? p.33 c. ?Obituary? - Bedford Township Library d. ?Descendants of Josiah Willard of Wethersfield, Connecticut? by Willard Family Association, p. 29 e. Images of America - Bedford Township; by Trudi Urbani, page 24

I believe Polly and Mary is the same person. The name Larkin, Lathing and Latting are close enough that penmanship or spelling by the data taker could make the difference. The dates of birth, marriage and death are almost identica l. Polly is shown as a nickname for Mary in some of the data.

The date of marriage corresponds with the date of birth of the children. jak

• ************* DESCENDANTS OF JOSIAH-2 WILLARD of Wethersfield, Connecticut.

"X302. WILLIAM-6 (Billey) WILLARD (Billy - 5, Jared - 4, Thomas - 3, Josiah - 2, Simon - 1, b. presumably Guilford, Conn., Sept. 10, 1767; m. prior to 1808, Mary M. Larkin who appears to have died, Erie, Monroe County, Mich., Dec. 8, 1859, ae. 64 yrs., buried Straight Cemetery, Erie, Mich. He is said to have been a builder of small ships, at one time engaged in trade with the West Indies, earning the title of Captain. Later he built and operated ships out of Evans (near Buffalo) N.Y. Traded for land in Monroe County, Mich., where he is believed to have died in La Salle Township, ca. 1831; no record of his death has been found. See History of William P. Hubbell Family by Marion Step hen Hubbel, 1908."

• ************* 1830 Census - Monroe County, Michigan William Willard (H) 40-50 - See Son

Name: Willard, William Township: Unknown Townships County: Monroe State: Michigan Year: 1830 Roll: M19_69 Page: 63 Image: 128

1 male between 40-50(1780-1790)William 1 female between 40-50(1780-1790)Mary 1 male between 20-30(1800-1810)William Jr. 1 male between 15-20(1810-1815)George 1 female between 15-20(1810-1815)Phebe 1 female between 10-15(1815-1820)Mary 1 male between 5-10(1820-1825)John 1 female between 5-10(1820-1825)Nancy 1 male between 0-5(1825-1830)Nathaniel 2 females between 0-5(1825-1830)Sarah & Rebecca

• ************* "Michigan Pioneer & History Collection" Vol 21, 1892, published in Lansing, Michigan by Wynkoop Hallenbeck. Crawford, Co. State printers 1912-13

P364. " Abstract of vessels enrolled in the District of Buffalo Creek, from 1816-1829. 1828-Sloop Express-24 tons-Owner William Willard."

P360. "The citizens conspicuous for their labors in Washington and elsewhere at East in behalf of the Canal (Welland) - William Willard."

• ************* Information sent to me from the records of Helen "Betty" Gay of Rockwood, Michigan:

"...The family removed from there (New Haven or Old Guilford, Connecticut) to Evans Township, Erie County, New York, when she was about (1827) and from there to Monroe County, Michigan in the autumn of 1828."

"The family consisted at this time of the parents and the following children; Samuel, who was born June 30, 1808; William, June 15, 1810; George, June 16, 1812; Phebe, May 18, 1815; Mary, September 15, 1817; Sarah E., January 10, 1823; Nancy, February 16, 1819; John E., March 20, 1821; Nathaniel Lewis, September 19, 1825; Rebecca A. was born late in 1828, soon after the family reached Monroe, but the date is lost."

"..." See add'l data in George Willard

• ************* Families of Early Guilford, Connecticut by Alvan Talcott Fort Wayne Public Library Jan 8, 2001 Page 1223:

"Billy Willard, son of Billy and Phebe Post, married/1 31 December 1792 Desire Denison. He married/2 13 June 1804 Polly Lathing. Lived in Michigan."

• ************* http://batesandpost.20m.com/Post/pafg31.htm#2145 Descendants of Abraham Poste Send e-mail to: caileajayden@sympatico.ca

902. William Willard (Phebe Post , Nathan Post , Abraham Post , Abraham Post , Stephen Post , Abraham ) was born on 10 Sep 1767 in Guilford New Haven Ct.. He died in 1831.

William married Mary Larkin in 1808. Mary was born in 1795. She died on 8 Dec 1859 in Erie Monroe Michigan.

They had the following children:

1289 M i Samuel Willard was born on 30 Jun 1808. 1290 M ii William Willard was born on 15 Jun 1810. 1291 M iii George Willard 1292 F iv Phebe Willard was born on 18 May 1815. Phebe married Thomas Pember on 16 Aug 1832. 1293 F v Mary Willard was born on 15 Sep 1817 in Guilford Ct.. She died on 11 Feb 1908. Mary married William Pierce Hubbl 1294 F vi Nancy Willard was born on 16 Feb 1819. Nancy married Nathan Hilton. 1295 M vii John Willard was born on 20 Mar 1821. 1296 F viii Sarah Willard was born on 10 Jan 1823. Sarah married Eliab S. Hilton. 1297 M ix Nathanial Lewis Willard 1298 F x Rebecca Willard was born in 1828. Rebecca married Marion Hedley.

• *********** Erie Protestant Cemetery - Erie Township, Monroe County; Michigan

Inscribed on the back of Nathan Hilton family pillar: "Mary, wife of Capt. W. Willard - d. Dec. 8, 1859 - aged 74 years"

• ********** Date: Sun, 20 May 2007 20:11:30 -0500 From: "Jake Myers" To: vkngprints@sbcglobal.net Subject: Sea Capt William Willard, Jr & Mary Margaret "Polly" Larkins

... I got started thru the encouragement of my cousin Jean Emily Larson (formerly Peddle & listed among your William P Hubbell footnote sources), whom also edited the Alborn Enquirer & did the Isaac Hubbell, Jr Research for the Hu bbell Genealogies about 1980... I have especially focused on traveling to & searching out the homes, stories & families of Sea Capt William Willard, (ca1781-spring,1831) & his wife Mary Margaret "Polly" Larkin, b Dec 1-7, 1785 nea r Stonington, CT- d Dec 8, 1859, aged 74 yrs in Monroe, MI.

I am planiing to go back to NY, CT & R.I. later this summer to search for more evidence on her Larkin ancestry & her Layton connections. I learned a lot about the Larkins & the Willards 1828 migration to Bay Settlement (now Erie T wp), Monroe Co, MI from an all day interview I had with cousin Phyllis Keeney Smith (b1912, now deceased widow of Wilbur E. Smith,1912-1995) at her home there in April 1998. She was a key source (from her greatgrandfather) as well as our Elliott cousin & current Erie Twp Historian, Donald Ray Adams (b1930) of Lambertville, MI, whom I have yet to meet in person.

Judge Solomon Keeney came on the Willard ship "Express" in late 1828 & wrote in detail about the journey, although Phyllis never made copies of what she had for me as we planned, before she passed away. Some of it is in the Judge S. Keeney Bio's in the Monroe Co Histories & the Records of their Old Settlers Club...

...William, Jr although he joined the Episcopalian Church in Guilford in April, 1804 (see official record), became a Baptist thru his wife Mary (whom is Polly) Larkin (NOT LARKINS), whose fathers family & her other ancestors were longtime Baptists, like the Lewis's & Burdicks....

...Polly...was his 18 yr old ward & the minister easily mispelled the name of the family since it was not from the Saybrook/Westbrook Area. The newlyweds moved directly to Guilford where they built ships, did the West Indies trade & operated a store from their (Jones Bridge Area) home on the river near Billey's Shipyards which were sold in 1825 after he lost some ships & cargo in the famous late 1823 storms.

Having been to Guilford, I have a picture of this still standing home as well as Documentation of the shipyard business (This is another story for a later date), which was sold for the Willards by their attorney cousin's George & Nancy Griswold in 1825/26 to pay their debts per an 1825 letter written by Willard to Griswold from the mouth of the Lorain River, Ohio (of which I have a photocopy).

The 1830 Mi Census & others show that Billey was born circa 1781, so the 1767 Billey is his deceased older brother of the same name, whom is recorded as dieing as an infant in 1768 in Westbrook, CT. Of course, we all know the Will ards ended up in Monroe, MI & that after a few more deaths at sea, the surviving Willard boys got out of the sailing trade to pursue the much safer farming profession, as well as other trades.

The first few Willard births were stillborns. The first living son in 1808 was Most Likely Named after Polly's father Samuel Larkin. The second son was named after Billey & his father William, Sr. The third son was named after Bil ley's best friend, his cousin George Griswold of Guilford as well as their third oldest daughter being named after Polly's best friend, Nancy (Anne) Griswold, whom was George's wife. The first oldest dau was named after Phebe Ann, whom was Billey's mother & likely the name of Polly's mother as well, (Phebe/ or Ann Lewis?). Also Mary Elizabeth, the second oldest daughter, could have been named after Polly's mother & possible grandmother Mary/Margaret Burdic k Lewis. The Fourth son, John E. may have been named after Polly's stepfather, John Layton, with the E standing for a possible sailing cousin Enoch Lewis who died at sea. Fourth daughter Sarah E. has the only Unkown name source, b ut the name source is not a sibling & not in parental order of honor, & is probably a friends name from Guilford. The final two children's name are for Billey's Sister Rebecca Doty & brother in law (m sister Phoebe) Nathaniel Lay, both of whom provided essential homespace & living assistance to the Willards so they could regroup in East Evans, Erie Co, NY after they lost everything they had in CT & imigrated N via the ERIE Canal to start over (in mid 1825) . Youngest son Nathaniel's middle name was Lewis in honor of Polly's War of 1812 hero brother Lewis Larkin. Lewis shows up a lot in the family, so it is likely Mary's mother's maiden name, or an honorary name chosen by Her Parents in light of their Lewis friend/employer, Sea Capt John Lewis or another Lewis of Westerly & Stonington.

Obviously, some of this is opinion & we need more evidence, including Mary's M-DNA to match cousins, as well as more documents, linking the Larkin-Layton-Lewis Families to the Westerly/ Stonington/New Bedford Areas. Still, after 4 0+ yrs of searching for Polly's Parents, I believe we are much closer to the truth than ever before. Finally, this past year has given us some solid leads to follow. The Samuel, s/o Joshua Larkin link is the only solid linkage lik ely at this time. One more connection to back this up is the Willard-Larkin Scotchman-Irish Ancestry stories mentioned in the William P Hubbell History. Obviously we know the family story is mixed up. The Willards & relatives were longtime English colonists, so the Scotch-Irish link is probably from the Larkin branch, which name is traditionally Irish. But in our case, I believe it is another story made up to save family face, because Polly's Father Samuel was either told it by his dad Joshua or too embarresed himself to tell the truth about Joshua's fathers, Joseph Larkin of Westerly/Charlestown) true RI English roots, because of the skeletons in his closet. This seems very likely & supports a correct ancestral link, because Joshua's siblings families all passed on the same Scotch-Irish Story (with Nova Scotia added in) after their father Joseph lost custody of all of them in a famously documented court ca se in RI which led to them having foster parents,etc & their Uncle John Larkin was involved in another court scandal concerning Joseph, in Nova Scotia.

This "family story" of Scotch-Irish origins is documented in the family of Joshua's younger brother Amos after he relocated with Joshua to Ballston in upper NY State after 1783. You can find this all in the 2004 book by Eliz. Broc k Larkin. It is a great book of research, now being digitized for Google Books online. I have copies of some pages of it. ...

Father: Billey WILLARD b: 3 NOV 1735 in East Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut Mother: Phebe POST b: 10 OCT 1743 in Saybrook, Middlesex, Connecticut

Marriage 1 Desire Dennison b: 5 MAY 1755 Married: 31 DEC 1792 24

Marriage 2 Mary Margaret LARKIN b: ABT 1785 in Connecticut Married: BEF 1808 25 Married: 13 JUN 1804 26 27 Note: Families of Early Guilford, Connecticut by Alvan Talcott Fort Wayne Public Library Jan 8, 2001

Page 1223:

Indicates 2 wives prior to Mary Larkin and that he resides in Michigan. Children Samuel Willard b: 30 JUN 1808 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut William Willard b: 15 JUN 1810 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut George WILLARD b: 16 JUN 1812 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticuit Phebe Ann Willard b: 18 MAY 1815 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut Mary Elisabeth Willard b: 15 SEP 1817 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticuit Nancy Willard b: 16 FEB 1819 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut John Enoch Willard b: 20 MAR 1821 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut Sarah E. Willard b: 10 JAN 1823 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut Nathaniel Lewis Willard b: 19 SEP 1825 in Buffalo, Erie, New York Rebecca A. Willard b: BEF JUN 1829 in Monroe, Monroe, Michigan

Sources: Title: Families of Early Guilford, Connecticut Author: Alvan Talcott Publication: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore 1984 Note: Also Toledo Public Library, Genealogy Department, Toledo, Ohio call number R929.37467TAL. Also available on Genealogy.com - "Connecticut, 1600s-1800s Local Families and Histories." Repository: Note: Allen County Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana Media: Book Page: Page 1221 Title: Descendants of Josiah Willard of Wethersfield, Connecticut Author: The Willard Family Association Publication: The Willard Family Association of America, Inc. 1972 Note: Excellent Repository: Note: James A. Kimble personal library Media: Book Page: Page 29, 31 Text: "Grandfather Willard was a sea captain before leaving Conn., and followed a coasting trade business as far south as the West India Islands. he was also a ship bulder and while at Evans, a little west of buffalo, he, with his older boys, built small vessels for the lake Erie trade. he traded one of these vessels for an old French claim south of Monroe in Lasalle Township and came with a team from Evans via Sandusky and Fort Miami to monroe in the autu mn of 1828. The older boys came by water to Monroe and delivered the vessel for the land...." Title: Census 1830 Author: United States Census Repository: Media: Census Text: Monroe County, Michigan Title: Michigan Pioneer & History Collection Publication: Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford, Co. State Printers, Lansing, Michigan 1912-13 Repository: Media: Book Page: Vol. 21, Page 360 - 364 Title: First Land Owners of Michigan Repository: Note: Toledo/Lucas County Public Library, Toledo, Ohio Media: Book Page: Page 38 Title: Willard Family Association of America, Inc. Note: Numerous references and great documentation Repository: Note: Willard Family Association Web Site Media: Internet Title: History of the Wm. P. Hubbell Family Note: Photocopy of selected pages sent to me from the records of Helen "Betty" Gay of Rockwood, Michigan Repository: Media: Book Page: Page 31 & 32 Title: Families of Early Guilford, Connecticut Author: Alvan Talcott Publication: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore 1984 Note: Also Toledo Public Library, Genealogy Department, Toledo, Ohio call number R929.37467TAL. Also available on Genealogy.com - "Connecticut, 1600s-1800s Local Families and Histories." Repository: Note: Allen County Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana Media: Book Page: Page 1221 Text: Indicates: "...married/1 31 December 1792 Desire Denison. He married/2 13 June 1804 Polly Lathing. Lived in Michigan." Title: Connecticut, 1600's - 1800's Local Families and Histories Repository: Note: Genealogy.Com Media: Electronic Page: Page 1223 Text: "Families of Early Guilford, CT." Vol. II - "Billy Willard, son of Billy and Phebe (Post)..." Title: Descendants of Josiah Willard of Wethersfield, Connecticut Author: The Willard Family Association Publication: The Willard Family Association of America, Inc. 1972 Note: Excellent Repository: Note: James A. Kimble personal library Media: Book Page: Pages 9, 15 & 29 Title: Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records Author: Nancy E. Schott Publication: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Note: Excellent Repository: Note: Allen County Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana Media: Book Page: Volume 16 - Page 321 Text: "Beley, s. Beley & Phebe" Title: Descendants of Abraham Poste Note: The Bates and Post Family Tree Email: wlester@cogeco.ca Repository: Note: http://batesandpost.20m.com/Post/pafg16.htm#1274 Media: Internet Title: Images of America - Bedford Township Author: Trudy Wieske Urbani Publication: Arcadia Publishing Note: Lots of good data but no sources shown Repository: Note: James A. Kimble personal library Media: Book Page: Page 24 Title: Jake Myers Author: Jay Herbert Myers Note: e-mail dated May 20, 2007+ in word file. Portions copied to individual notes. e-mail: jakemyer@gmail.com Some of the data sent to me is from "Toni's Tree" by Toni Viertel in Rootsweb.com who apparently got part of her data from "CHESEBRO' Genealogy@RootsWeb". Note: Excellent Repository: Media: Internet Title: Descendants of Josiah Willard of Wethersfield, Connecticut Author: The Willard Family Association Publication: The Willard Family Association of America, Inc. 1972 Note: Excellent Repository: Note: James A. Kimble personal library Media: Book Page: Page 29 Title: Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records Author: Nancy E. Schott Publication: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Note: Excellent Repository: Note: Allen County Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana Media: Book Page: Volume 16 - Page 321 Text: "Beley, s. Beley & Phebe, b. Sept. 10, 1767 Vol. 2, Page 118" Title: Descendants of Josiah Willard of Wethersfield, Connecticut Author: The Willard Family Association Publication: The Willard Family Association of America, Inc. 1972 Note: Excellent Repository: Note: James A. Kimble personal library Media: Book Page: Page 29 Text: #X302 "...He is believed to have died in LaSalle Township, ca. 1831; no record of his death has been found..." Title: Descendants of Josiah Willard of Wethersfield, Connecticut Author: The Willard Family Association Publication: The Willard Family Association of America, Inc. 1972 Note: Excellent Repository: Note: James A. Kimble personal library Media: Book Page: #X302 Title: Michigan Pioneer & History Collection Publication: Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford, Co. State Printers, Lansing, Michigan 1912-13 Repository: Media: Book Page: Volume 21 - Pages 364 & 360 Title: First Land Owners of Monroe County, Michigan Author: E. Gary Williams & Ethel W. Williams, 730 Parker Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michiga Repository: Note: Toledo/Lucas County Public Library, Toledo, Ohio Media: Book Page: Page 38 Title: Descendants of Josiah Willard of Wethersfield, Connecticut Author: The Willard Family Association Publication: The Willard Family Association of America, Inc. 1972 Note: Excellent Repository: Note: James A. Kimble personal library Media: Book Title: Census 1830 Author: United States Census Repository: Media: Census Title: Helen "Betty" Gay Note: Records of Helen "Betty" Gay of Rockwood, Michigan Repository: Media: Letter Title: Families of Early Guilford, Connecticut Author: Alvan Talcott Publication: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore 1984 Note: Also Toledo Public Library, Genealogy Department, Toledo, Ohio call number R929.37467TAL. Also available on Genealogy.com - "Connecticut, 1600s-1800s Local Families and Histories." Repository: Note: Allen County Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana Media: Book Page: Volume II - Page 1223 Title: Descendants of Josiah Willard of Wethersfield, Connecticut Author: The Willard Family Association Publication: The Willard Family Association of America, Inc. 1972 Note: Excellent Repository: Note: James A. Kimble personal library Media: Book Page: Page 29 Text: #X302 Title: Families of Early Guilford, Connecticut Author: Alvan Talcott Publication: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore 1984 Note: Also Toledo Public Library, Genealogy Department, Toledo, Ohio call number R929.37467TAL. Also available on Genealogy.com - "Connecticut, 1600s-1800s Local Families and Histories." Repository: Note: Allen County Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana Media: Book Page: Page 1223 Title: Connecticut, 1600's - 1800's Local Families and Histories Repository: Note: Genealogy.Com Media: Electronic Page: Page 1267 Text: "Families of Early Guilford, CT." Vol. II - ""Billy/William Willard, s of Billy & Phebe (Post), ... He married 13 June 1804 Polly/Mary Lathing (traditionally Larkin, Latham or Lathrop) ..." ?? sponsored links ??

1. Note: {geni:hair_color}
2. Note: {geni:eye_color}
3. Note: {geni:height_1}
4. Note: {geni:height_2}
5. RFN: geni:309932941870003855
6. Change Date: 14 OCT 2009 at 13:41:12

Mother: Phebe Post b: 10 OCT 1743 in Saybrook, Middlesex, Connecticut, United States Father: William Willard Sr. b: 3 NOV 1735 in East Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States

Marriage 1 Mary Margaret Larkin b: ABT 1795 in New York, United States

Children

1. Has No Children Samuel Willard b: 30 JUN 1808 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States 2. Has No Children Wililam Willard b: 15 JUN 1810 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States 3. Has Children George Willard b: 16 JUN 1812 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticuit, United States 4. Has No Children Phebe Ann Willard b: 18 MAY 1815 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States 5. Has No Children Mary Elizabeth Willard b: 5 SEP 1817 in Old Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States 6. Has Children Nancy Willard b: 16 FEB 1819 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States 7. Has Children John Enoch Willard b: 20 MAR 1821 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States 8. Has No Children Sarah E. Willard b: 10 JAN 1823 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States 9. Has Children Nathaniel Lewis Willard b: 19 SEP 1825 in Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States 10. Has No Children Rebecca A. Willard b: ABT JUN 1839 in Monroe, Monroe, Michigan, United States

Marriage 2 Desire Dennison b: 5 MAY 1755 in United States

• Married: 31 DEC 1792 in United States

Father: William WILLARD b: 03 NOV 1735 in Guilford, New Haven Co., CT Mother: Phebe POST b: 12 APR 1745 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., CT

Marriage 1 Mary LARKIN b: ABT 1790 Married: 13 JUN 1804 3 Children

Samuel WILLARD b: 30 JUN 1808 in Guilford, New Haven Co., CT

William WILLARD b: 15 JUN 1810 in Guilford, New Haven Co., CT

George WILLARD b: 16 JUN 1812 in Guilford, New Haven Co., CT

Phebe WILLARD b: 18 MAY 1815 in Guilford, New Haven Co., CT

Mary WILLARD b: 15 SEP 1817 in Guilford, New Haven Co., CT

Nancy WILLARD b: 16 FEB 1819 in Guilford, New Haven Co., CT

John Enoch WILLARD b: 20 MAR 1821 in Guilford, New Haven Co., CT

Sarah E. WILLARD b: 10 JAN 1823 in Guilford, New Haven Co., CT

Nathaniel Lewis WILLARD b: 19 SEP 1825 in Buffalo, Erie Co., NY

Rebecca A. WILLARD b: ABT 1829 in Monroe, Monroe Co., MI

Sources: Author: Kimble, Jim Title: Web: Kimble - Ansted - Peoples - Willard - Hayden & Brunt Families Publication: Name: Name: Entries: 29,016 Updated: 1 Jan 2007;; Repository: Name: world connect db=vkngprints

Note: Source Medium: Electronic

viewed 8 Jan 2007 viewed 23 Mar 2007 Entries: 30,915 Updated: 16 Mar 2007 Author: Kimble, Jim Title: Web: Kimble - Ansted - Peoples - Willard - Hayden & Brunt Families Publication: Name: Name: Entries: 29,016 Updated: 1 Jan 2007;; Repository: Name: world connect db=vkngprints

Note: Source Medium: Electronic

viewed 8 Jan 2007 viewed 23 Mar 2007 Entries: 30,915 Updated: 16 Mar 2007

Text: abt 1781 Author: Kimble, Jim Title: Web: Kimble - Ansted - Peoples - Willard - Hayden & Brunt Families Publication: Name: Name: Entries: 29,016 Updated: 1 Jan 2007;; Repository: Name: world connect db=vkngprints

Note: Source Medium: Electronic

viewed 8 Jan 2007 viewed 23 Mar 2007 Entries: 30,915 Updated: 16 Mar 2007

Text: bef 1653

• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Apr 13 2017, 17:40:40 UTC

Jake Myers and I have spent a lot of time on Billey Willard and some of this data comes from his excellent research.

• **** NOTE: William & Phebe Post Willard had two sons named William (Billey) Willard. The 1st son was born 1767 and died 1768. The 2nd son was born in the fall of 1781.
  • *** There is still some question as to the wife of William (Billy) Willard (b1781) and mother of his children.

My files show he may have had 2 wives: (November 2007) It is probably the case that there was only one wife and these two are actually the same.

1.  Polly Lathing (Latting) (1784-1859) (m1804)

     Source: “Families of Early Guilford, Connecticut” by Alvon Talcott, p. 1223

2.  Mary M. Larkin (1785-1859)  (m bef 1808)

Some researchers believe Polly and Mary are the same person. The name Larkin, Lathing and Latting are close enough that penmanship or spelling by the data taker could make the difference. The dates of birth, marriage and death are almost identical. Polly is shown as a nickname for Mary in some of the data.

I could not find the burial sites of William (d1832), or his sons Samuel (d1833) & William (d1830). All died in LaSalle Township and are possibly buried on the family land in unmarked graves.

• **** Billy was a Sea Captain and ship builder in Guilford, New Haven Connecticut before he moved to Buffalo, New York about 1827. He was building barges and traded one for a piece of land in Lasalle Township, Monroe, Michigan October 1828.

"Michigan Pioneer & History Collection"  Vol. 21, 1892,

published in Lansing, Michigan by Wynkoop Hallenbeck. Crawford, Co. State printers 1912-13

 P364. " Abstract of vessels enrolled in the District of Buffalo Creek, from 1816-1829.  1828-Sloop Express-24 tons-Owner William Willard."

 P360. "The citizens conspicuous for their labors in Washington and elsewhere at East in behalf of the Canal (Welland) - William Willard."

• ****

Billy is probably buried in the old Bay Creek Cemetery that is no longer in existence.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 13 2017, 17:52:49 UTC