SAMUEL WILLARD NAMESAKE

NAMESAKE

SAMUEL WILLARD

BIOGRAPHY

Samuel Willard, born in Concord, Massachusetts, January 31, 1640, died 12 September 1707,

deemed to be the last puritan.

On two two accounts this would not be true. First Puritanism surrounds noncomformist ministers who remained in the Church of England in order to purify it. Second, the ministers who left the

Church of England were called Pilgrims. It would be better to call Mr. Willard a reformed

Preacher of the Gospel.

Willard graduated Harvard in 1659 where he studied divinity. After graduation he was ordained a

minister in Groton, Massachusetts, in 1664, served until 1676 when he was chased away by Indians

during the King Phillips War. He then went to the Old south Church in Boston and became the

second most important preacher in the New England Calvinistic Church of the day, following

Increase Mather (1639-1723) . He wass known as a man of profound notions, will say what he will,

and prove what he says, acording to John Dutton, book seller.

Samuel Willard strenuously opposed Salem wichcraft trials and influenced public opinion against

them. The trials were halted in 1692 influenced by Wllard's promotions.

When Increase Mather retired from the presidency of Harvard , Willardm the vice president, took

over the job from 1701 to 1707.

Willards preachng centered on the doctrine of the covenant of redemption. In his preaching he

opposed Antinominaism and opposed both Baptist and Quaker theology.

Samuel Willard was the son of a military and political leader, Major Simon Willard and his wife

Mary Sharpe who came to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1634 from England. In 1635 they and the Rev. Peter Bulkley, established the village of Concord.

Samuel Willard married on 8 August 1664, Abigail Sherman, of Watertown, and became a freeman in 1670 with full citizenship privileges.

Abstract Ocotober 8, 2017, Harrison, of Wikipedia, A Puritan's Mind, Fire & Ice, Puritan and

Reformed Writings.