Ancestry of George Willard

Richard Willard (probable father of Simon) died between 18 September and 24 October 1558.

Richard, yeoman of Brenchley, made his will on 18 September 1558; it was proved on 24 October 1558. He mentioned sons Robert, Alex, George, Richard, Andrew, Simon, Thomas, and William, and daughters Alice and Agnes. [1]

Simon Willard died between 6 and 26 February 1584. He left a wife Elizabeth. She was buried on 12 April 1587 in Horsemonden. [1]

Simon, yeoman of Gowthurst, co. Kent, made his will on 6 February 1584; it was proved on 26 February 1584. He named his wife Elizabeth, his sons Thomas and Richard, his daughter Thomasine, and a daughter who married a ___ Boulde. [1]

Children of Simon Willard (order uncertain):

i. Thomas Willard died before 12 February 1616.

ii. Richard Willard was buried on 12 February 1616/7.

iii. Thomasine Willard

iv. ___ Willard married ___ Boulde.

Richard Willard was buried on 12 February 1616/7. [5] He married first Katherine Durkin on 3 December 1590 in Caxton, Kent. [5] She was buried on 11 March 1597/8 in Horsemondon. [5] Richard married second Margery Humphrey of Marden on 23 September 1601. [5] She was buried on 12 December 1608 in Horsemonden. [5] Richard married third the widow Joan (___) Morebread on 17 January 1609/10. [5] She was buried on 25 February 1616/7. [5]

The 1595 will of Thomas Durkin refers to "Mary Willard his daughter Katherynes child." [5]

Joan had a son Francis Morebread.

Richard, yeoman of Horsemonden, made his will on 12 February 1616; it was proved on 8 March 1616. He named his wife Joan, her son Francis Morebread, his son George Willard (to whom he left six silver spoons and a silver and gold cup), his daughters Mary, Elizabeth, Margery, and Catherine, his son Richard Willis, his kinsman Thomas Bolde, his late brother Thomas, his brothers-in-law Thomas Humfery and Robert Goure, his son-in-law John Tyboull, and his son Simon. He said Simon was under age and asked for him to be placed with some honest man where he could learn a good trade. [1]

Children of Richard Willard and Katherine Durkin:

i. Mary Willard was born about 1589. She married Unknown (Thomas?) Bolde.

ii. Thomas Willard was born on 5 May 1593 and was buried on 15 January 1608/9. [5]

iii. Elizabeth Willard was baptized on 5 January 1594/5. [5]

iv. Richard Willard (maybe) was baptized on 5 September 1595 and buried on 6 September 1596. [5]

v. Richard Willard (maybe) was baptized on 4 September 1597. [5]

Children of Richard Willard and Margery Humphrey:

vii. Simon Willard was baptized on 7 April 1605 in Horsmonden, Kent. [6] Major Simon Willard, formerly of Groton, died on 24 April 1676 in Charlestown and was buried on 27 April. [7] He married first Mary Sharp on 13 October 1628 in Marken, Kent. [6] He married second Mary ___ by 1658. [6] She married second Joseph Noyes on 14 July 1680 in Sudbury. [6]

It is unlikely that Simon's second wife was the sister of Henry Dunster. It is more likely that she was his sister-in-law. [6]

Simon was a magistrate, soldier, and innkeeper. He lived in Cambridge, Concord, Lancaster, Groton, and Charlestown. [6] Anderson [6] writes

Simon Willard performed more public service, both civil and military, than all but a few of his contemporaries. Late in 1653 or early in 1654, he was promoted to the rank of major in the mililtia, having command of all military men in Middlesex County ... in 1654, he was elevate from Deputy to Assistant, and so for the next twenty years was ... subordinate only to the Governor.

viii. Catherine Willard was baptized on 30 August 1607. [5]

Children of Richard Willard and Joan Unknown:

vii. George Willard was baptized on 4 December 1614.