Fifth Generation

Rev. Elijah Willard was born on 26 Apr 1782 in Ashburnham, Worcester County, Massachusetts. In 1820, he appeared in the census taken at Meriden, New Haven County, Connecticut, in 1830, he was in Berlin, Hartford County, Connecticut and in 1850, he was in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts age 68. He died on 5 Sep 1852 in Saugus, Essex County, Massachusetts.

He was a Methodist minister from 1803 until 1852

The Methodist Episcopal Society of Wellfleet, was organized in 1802. Rev. Robert Yallaley Provincetown, visited the town in 1797 and preached several times. Reverends Rickhow, Weeks, Broadhead, Snelling, Willard and others followed, and in 1807 this was made part of the Harwich circuit. Rev. Joel Steele was the first minister to travel the circuit; he was succeeded by Rev. E. Otis; he by Rev. Joseph A. Merrill up to 1810. In 1811 this church was made a circuit with Truro, which continued to 1827, when it was made a station by itself. The society was organized with three members-Abigail Gross (mother-in-law?), Thankful Rich and Lurana Higgins (sister-in-law). Ephraim Hig­gins was the first-class leader. Accession to the membership followed, and in 1816 a church edifice was erected on the hill north of the village, which was the first house of this denomination in the town. From 1817 to 1824 the society grew, and in 1829 their house was enlarged to thirty-eight by sixty feet, with seventy pews on the floor, and galleries on both sides. In 1842-3 great revivals occurred and all the churches received large additions of members. The old house being too small for the worshippers, a new one was erected and dedi­cated December 5, 1843. This was the most elaborate church edifice on the Cape at that time, the site being changed from near the bury­ing ground to the present one in the village. Rev. Paul Townsend preached the dedicatory sermon.

.......The following list indicates what pastors have served the society, and the year they came: In 1812, Robert Arnold; 1813, Elias Marble; 1814, B. Otheman: 1815, Thomas C. Pierce; 1816, Orin Roberts; 1817, Benjamin Keith; 1818, Ephraim Wiley; 1820, Edward Hyde; 1822, L. Bennett; 1824, J. G. Atkins; 1825, Lewis Bates; 1827, Joel Steele; 1829, B. F. Lombard; 1831, N. S. Spaulding; 1832, Squire B. Haskell; 1833, H. Brownson; 1834, W. Emerson; 1836, B.F. Lombard; 1837, H. Perry; 1839, J. M. Bidwell; 1840, Paul Townsend; 1842, J. Cady; 1844, G. W. Steams; 1846, John Lovejoy; 1848, Cyrus C. Munger; 1849, Samuel Fox; 1851, John Howson; 1853, J. E. Gifford; 1854, Erastus Benton; 1856, E. K. Colby; 1858, E. H. Hatfield; 1860, James Mather; 1862, [p. 803] John Howson; 1863, A. N. Bodfish; 1865, William V. Morrison; 1867, Charles Nason; 1869, Walter Ela; 1870, A. J. Church; 1873, C. S. Macreading; 1875, A. P. Palmer; 1878, Edward Edson; 1881, Samuel M. Beal; 1883, Samuel McBurney; 1884, George A. Moss; 1886, Angelo Canoll; 1888, Charles S. Davis.

.......In 1819 a Methodist camp meeting was held in South Wellfleet, and from 1823 to 1825 it was held on Bound Brook island, then was removed to Truro. These meetings rapidly increased the early membership.

(bold text added by Duane Barton)

Rev. Elijah Willard and Thankful Gross were married on 15 Sep 1807 in Wellfleet, Barnstable County, Massachusetts.

Thankful Gross was born in 1790 in Wellfleet, Barnstable County, Massachusetts. She appeared in the 1850, age 62, 1860, age 75, and 1870, age 82, censuses of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts. In 1860, she was living with her son Elijah and his family and in 1870, she was living with her daughter Olivia and her husband, John Butler. She died from consumption on 6 Aug 1872 in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts.

 

The 10 Gross Sisters - Thankful is 2nd row right, seated

Children were (Elijah and Thankful were supposed to have had 10 children):

	i.	Lorinda Willard.
	ii.	Sgt. Elijah Willard Jr. was born in 1816 in Connecticut. In 1850, he appeared in the census taken at New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, age 32, where he was a mechanic. In 1860, he was back in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, age 44, where he work as a carpenter. He enlisted in the Union Army on 5 Jul 1861, C company, 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment, Massachusetts. He was discharged from military service on 7 Mar 1862 in Fort Albany, Arlington, Northampton County, Virginia. In 1880, he was living in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, age 64, suffering from rheumatism. He died on 5 Mar 1894.
	iii.	Albert Willard was born on 6 Apr 1819 in Meriden, New Haven County, Connecticut.
	iv.	Lucius B. Willard was born on 2 Sep 1821 in Connecticut. In 1850, he a carpenter in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusett, age 28. In 1860, he appeared in the census taken at Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts. He died on 28 Apr 1892. He was a wood and coal dealer in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts.
	v.	Olivia P. Willard was born about 1824 in Connecticut. In 1870, she appeared in the census taken at Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, age 46.
	vi.	Matilda Thankful Willard was born on 27 Jan 1827 in Berlin, Hartford County, Connecticut. She died after 6 Jun 1900, her last appearance in the census taken at Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, She was 73 and living with her daughter's family.
	vii.	Abigail T. Willard was born in 1830. She died from consumptionon 1 Jan 1848 in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts.