p.88
June 1760

Colonel Goffe had his headquarters at Charlestown, NH. His regiment was employed in clearing the road between Charlestown and the mountains. The trails of the Indians were occasionally seen in the adjacent woods but they were too few to make, under the circumstances, any general attack. Before this regiment had reached Charlestown they (Indians) had made an incursion and carried off Mr. Joseph Willard, his wife and five children. They were taken at their homestead on the edge of the Great meadow, a short distance from the the later residence of Peter A. Evans. It was June 7, 1760. Considering that Samuel Willard, the youngest, who was an infant, somewhat burdensome to them, the Indians took him aside, the next day (June 8) and beat out his brains against a tree. The family were taken to Canada, their journey through the wilderness occupying fourteen days.

They remained in captivity till the surrender of Montreal, into which city they had been taken a few days previous to its capitulation, when, with other prisoners, they were released. This was the last incursion of the Indians on the frontiers of New England and the bloody scene which had so long been opened, now closed. The eastern Indians soon agreed on articles of peace and acknowledged themselves subjects of the crown of England. Notwithstanding, the war still continued in Europe, and a few provincial troops were raised in 1761-62. New England was still exempted from further hostilities - and, on the tenth of February 1763, a general peace was signed at Paris, and soon after ratified by the belligerent powers of Europe by which Canada and all the other northern French settlements passed quietly under the jurisdiction of the British Crown.

p.627
Joseph Willard was the son of Rev. Joseph Willard and his wife, Susanna (Lynde) Willard. He was born 3 mos posthumously after the Indians killed his father in 1723 at Rutland at which time Joseph Stevens two sons, Phineas and Isaac Stevens were taken prisoners and two sons killed. This on August 14, 1723. Rev. Willard returned the fire and wounded one of the Indians, mortally it is said. Another Indian closed in with Mr. Willard who would have been more than a match for him, had not the other three (Indians) come to his assistance and it was some time before they killed him. His scalp was carried to Quebec. The widow of Rev. Joseph Willard married sometime after the death of her husband, to Rev. Andrew Gardner into whose family her children William Willard and Joseph Willard were received and brought up.

Joseph Willard b. 1623 m. Huldah Willard dau of Lieut Moses Willard and his wife Susanna (Hastings) Willard and settled at Charlestown (Fort 4).

Their children were:
1. Francis Willoughby Willard b. July 14, 1751 m. Deborah Blood in 1772.
2. Susanna Willard b. Feb 5, 1753 died the 16th of the same month.
3. William Willard b. Mar 13, 1754 d. Apr 1, 1825 aged 71; m. Elizabeth Shepley of Groton, MA b. June 5, 1759. d. Sept. 25, 1851.
4. Susanna Willard b. Apr 15, 1756
5. James Willard b. Mar 8, 1758 d. Sept. 29, 1760
6 Samuel Willard b. Apr 16, 1760 killed by Indians June 8, 1760 (see p. 88)
7. Joseph Willard b. Nov 22, 1763 m. the widow, Mrs. Pierce and had 6 children and lived and died in Langdon.
8. Samuel Willard b. Nov. 28 1763 (says town records) was prob. twin to Joseph, an error made in recording dates. He m. Abigail ___ who had two children and died. 1. Samuel Willard, Jr. b. Jan 15, 1784 and 2. Jotham Willard b. 1785
Samuel m. (2) Joanna Putnam b. 1763

Joseph Willard the progenitor of the above families with his wife and children were taken by the Indians June 7, 1760 and carried to Canada (see p. 88) The place is still shown on the hill to the east of where his cottage stood,where the party who took them prisoners halted, while a portion of them returned to the house for provisions to sustain them on their way. They were conducted by the old route up Black River to the Green Mountains and thence to Otter Creek and Lake Champlain. They returned to Charlestown after the surrender of Montreal. Mr. Willard died in Charlestown after a brief illness in 1799 and was buried on the 12th of September of that year. Joseph Willard was under Colonel Josiah Willard at Fort Dummer from Feb. 12 to July 1st 1748. He was also a member of Capt. Phineas Steven's Company in No. 4 in 1750.

Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth