Mary Willard1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 1327, (abt 1753 - 1842)
FatherJonathan Willard1,4,5 (26 Oct 1720 - 5 Apr 1804)
MotherSarah Loomis6,7 (15 Sep 1722 - 25 Dec 1754)

Key Events:

Birth: about 1753, Colchester, Connecticut8,9
Marriage: about 1772, Pawlet, Elkanah Cobb (21 Jan 1746/47 - 10 Aug 1795)10,11,12
Marriage: 9 Oct 1805, Pawlet, Rutland Co., Vermont, Zadock Remington (about 1745 - 6 Jun 1838)13
Death: 2 Aug 184214,15
Burial: Old Butterfield Cemetery, Centerton, Morgan Co., Indiana16,17
ChartsDescendants of Gideon Cobb

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Mary Willard was born about 1753, probably in Colchester, Connecticut.8,9
     Mary was baptized on 3 Dec 1753 in First Congregational Church, Colchester, Connecticut, by Rev. Ephraim Little.1
     Her mother died on 25 Dec 1754, when Mary was about one year old.18
     Mary apparently moved with her father to Albany Co., New York, after the death of her mother.19
     It seems likely, since she was about 18 at the time, she moved to Pawlet, Vermont, when her father moved there about 1771, but no evidence of her being there has been found.20,21
     Mary married first Elkanah Cobb, son of Gideon Cobb and Abigail Dyer, about 1772, likely in Pawlet. Their marriage is not recorded in the Pawlet vital records, but no marriages that early appear in the surviving records. Their marriage does not appear in the surviving records of Albany Co., New York, which appears to be the other possible marriage location.10,11,12
     Mary and Elkanah moved to the settlement of Stillwater, on the Hudson River in the Saratoga Patent in the Saratoga Tax District of Albany Co., New York. They may have been drawn there because her father had had business in the area before moving to Pawlet and she had probably lived there with him.22,23,24
     Mary and Elkanah evidently returned to Connecticut sometime between 1776 and 1778 with their two young sons, Gideon and Joshua. Their daughter Sarah is recorded as having been born there, and Elkanah does not appear with his brothers in the later records in Saratoga. No record of why they moved has been found, but it is easy to suppose that the war raging in the Hudson Valley in the summer and fall of 1777 might have provided reason enough for the young family to depart the area, as many did. The bloody battles in Sep and Oct that lead to General Burgoyne's ruinous defeat took place less than five miles from the village of Stillwater.25,26

Settling in Pawlet, Vermont --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Mary and Elkanah returned to Pawlet, Vermont, by 1780, with their three children, Gideon, Joshua and Sarah.27,28,29 She was probably one of the four females listed in the household of her husband in the 1790 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland Co., Vermont.30
     Elkanah and Mary moved their family to Wells, the next town north of Pawlet, evidently by 6 Mar 1792, when he was nominated for a tavern license at the meeting of town selectmen.31,32
     Her husband died on 10 Aug 1795 in Wells, Vermont.33,34,35
     On 9 Oct 1799 Mary was deeded 21½ acres in Wells, next to the bridge that goes over Pond Brook, as set by order of the probate judge as her dower in the estate of her late husband.36
     Mary appeared on the 1800 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland Co., Vermont, with a household consisting of one male between 10 and 16 (John or James); and two females under 10 (daughters Mary and Sophia), and one female over 45 (herself.)37
     Mary was named an heir in the will of Jonathan Willard, her father, dated 19 Mar 1803 in Pawlet, Rutland Co., Vermont, to received $600 less any amounts already received.4

A Second Marriage --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Mary married second Zadock Remington, son of Joseph Remington and Susannah Kendall, on 9 Oct 1805 in Pawlet, Rutland Co., Vermont.13
     On 28 Mar 1805 Mary paid David Cleaveland $500 for land "called the pine pitches." The pine pitches were forests set aside for masts for the royal navy in the original town grants. This deed is confusing however. It says Mary was purchasing land "on the North side of the Highway that was formerly deeded to Mary Cobb by Gordan Johnson and all likewise that is on the South side of the Highway Except what I have Quit Claimed to David Cleaveland. Be the same more or less." Why Mary was buying land previously deeded to her, and why the seller had quit-claimed land to himself are mysteries. Perhaps the clerk mis-copied part of the deed into the deed book. The earlier deed from Gordan Johnson has not been found. On 3 Oct 1815 Mary sold the same land to her son Willard for $1,200. This deed uses exactly the same confusing description of the property, including the seller having quit-claimed a part to David Cleaveland, except that now the phrase "be the same more or less" is preceded by the customary statement of acreage – 13 acres in this case.38
     She was probably the female over age 45 listed in the household of her husband, Zadock, in the 1810 Federal Census of Castleton, Rutland Co., Vermont.39 She was probably the female over age 45 listed in the household of her husband in the 1820 Federal Census of Castleton, Rutland Co., Vermont.40 She was probably the female age 70 to 80 listed in the household of her husband in the 1830 Federal Census of Rutland Co., Vermont.41
     Zadock died on 6 Jun 1838 in Castleton, Rutland Co., Vermont.42,43 After the death of her second husband Mary moved to Indiana, where her sons Joshua and Willard and daughter Mary had lived for many years.
     Mary Willard was probably the female aged 80 to 90 appearing on the 1840 Federal Census of Morgan Co., Indiana, in the household of Rev. John Butterfield, her daughter's husband.44
     Mary died on 2 Aug 1842.14,15 She was buried in Old Butterfield Cemetery, Centerton, Morgan Co., Indiana, a private cemetery in the middle of a corn field.16,17
     
Research Note, 7 Feb 2018:
There is room for doubt about Mary's birth date and the identification of her mother. According to her grand-nephew Henry Willard, writing in 1867, Mary was the daughter of her father's first wife, Sarah Childs. She died in 1750, so Mary would have been born by then. But Mary wasn't baptised until 1753, and her tombstone shows an age suggesting she was born about 1754. If she was born after 1750 her mother would have been her father's second wife, Sarah Loomis. Given the Congregational Church's practice of infant baptism and other errors found in Henry's accounts, I believe the latter is correct as shown here.45,46,47

Children:
     Children with Elkanah Cobb

One source shows also a daughter, name unknown, born about 1772, who died young. No other record of her has been found. The migration of Elkanah and Mary's children can be seen on their Migration Map.55

Children:
     There were no children with Zadock Remington

Citations

  1. [S7897] Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, vol 18, Colchester First Congregational Church, pg 326, citing vol 1 pg 25 and vol 4 pg 83.
  2. [S7916] Probate Records, Rutland District Probate Court , 4:243-4, will of Jonathan Willard Senior, 14 May 1804, shows her as his daughter and name as Mary Cobb.
  3. [S1171] Hollister, Pawlet for One Hundred Years, pg 179, shows name as Mary, da. of Jonathan Willard.
  4. [S7916] Probate Records, Rutland District Probate Court , 4:243-4, will of Jonathan Willard Senior, 14 May 1804.
  5. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial #54132130, Mary Willard]:ITAL] Remington, includes tombstone photo and cites inscription not visible in photo showing him as her father.
  6. [S2270] Muff, Extracts from early Vermont probate records, citing Part 1, pg 64, which cites 4:243-49, shows her named in her husband's will as his daughter.
  7. [S7929] Loomis, and Loomis, Descendants of Joseph Loomis in America, pg 133, shows Jonathan and Sarah had several children, names unknown.
  8. [S7897] Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, vol 18, Colchester First Congregational Church, pg 326, citing vol 1 pg 25 and vol 4 pg 83, shows her baptism 3 Dec 1753.
  9. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial #54132130, Mary Willard]:ITAL] Remington, shows year as 1750, and includes tombstone photo showing she was in her 89th year at death 2 Aug 1842.
  10. [S7916] Probate Records, Rutland District Probate Court , 4:243-4, will of Jonathan Willard Senior, 14 May 1804, shows her as late wife of Elkanah Cobb.
  11. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial #54132130, Mary Willard]:ITAL] Remington, includes tombstone photo showing name as her as formerly his widow.
  12. [S1171] Hollister, Pawlet for One Hundred Years, pp 179. 261, shows married.
  13. [S862] Births, Marriages and Deaths, Pawlet, Vermont, 1768-1856, pg 126, shows date, town, county, and state.
  14. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial #54132130, Mary Willard]:ITAL] Remington, shows date, as 2nd, and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  15. [S2380] Kennedy, "Re: The Cobb Family," e-mail to author, 17 Jan 2007, shows date, as 1st.
  16. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial #54132130, Mary Willard]:ITAL] Remington, includes tombstone photo.
  17. [S2380] Kennedy, "Re: The Cobb Family," e-mail to author, 17 Jan 2007, shows she is buried at a private cemetery in the middle of a corn field.
  18. [S7897] Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, vol 18, Colchester First Congregational Church, pg 326, citing vol 1 pg 47 and vol 4 pg 52.
  19. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial #54132130, Mary Willard]:ITAL] Remington, includes tombstone photo and cites inscription not visible in photo showing she was reared in Alvany, NY.
  20. [S2267] Land Records, Pawlet, Vermont, 3:38-9, Jonathan Willard of Pawlett, New York to Ezekiel Harmon dated 29 May, 10th year of his majesty’s reign [1771], 7 Mar 1791; 1:159-60, Benjamin Willard to Jonathan Willard of Saratoga, New York dated 3 Jun 1771, 1 Mar 1780; 1:229-232, Jonathan Willard of Pawlett, Albany Co., New York to heirs of Moses Brewer, 24 Sep 1771, 20 May 1780.
  21. [S1171] Hollister, Pawlet for One Hundred Years, pg 260, article attributed to Henry Willard, shows he returned to Pawlet in 1764 or 1765.
  22. [S862] Births, Marriages and Deaths, Pawlet, Vermont, 1768-1856, pg 5, shows sons Gideon Dyer born 11 Sep 1773 and Joshua 27 May 1776, both in Stillwater, New York, and Sarah born 16 Jul 1778 in Canterbury, Connecticut.
  23. [S2226] Potter, "Re: Saratoga NYGenWeb Queries," e-mail to author, 20 Apr 2009, shows Ebenezer and Joshua had claim approved 17 Apr 1777 for repairing arms, citing "Committee of Correspondence" p. 724; , Ebenezer and Joshua signed 1778 petition to Gov. Clinton, citing " Public Papers of George Clinton" III:211 & IV:770; Ebenezer and John in 2 Mar 1779 Saratoga District tax List; and Ebenezer, Joshua and William on the 23 Oct 1779 tax list.
  24. [S2267] Land Records, Pawlet, Vermont, 1:266-7, John Fassett, commissioner for the state of confiscated land to Ebenezer Cobb of Stillwater, Albany Co., New York, dated 9 Nov 1779; 1:69-70, John Clark to John Cobb of Canterbury, Windham Co., Conicticut [sic], dated 9 Nov 1778; and 1:171, Peter Van Baurer to Joshua Cobb of Stillwater, Albany Co. dated 4 Feb 1780.
  25. [S862] Births, Marriages and Deaths, Pawlet, Vermont, 1768-1856, pg 5, shows Joshua as born at Stillwater in May 1776, and Sarah born in Canterbury in Jul 1778.
  26. [S2275] Sylvester, History of Saratoga County, pg 289, shows that many families returned to Connecticut for safety during the most dangerous period of the war.
  27. [S1171] Hollister, Pawlet for One Hundred Years, pg 178, shows Gideon was one of the earliest settlers from Connecticut; pg 40 shows he was a selectman in 1780; pg 39 shows John was a constable in 1780; and pg 179, shows Elkanah moved from Connecticut in 1770 [so apparently he and his wife returned there after their time in Saratoga and Connecticut].
  28. [S862] Births, Marriages and Deaths, Pawlet, Vermont, 1768-1856, pg 5, shows Elkanah's son Willard was born in Pawlet 17 Mar 1781; pg 32 shows Ebenezer's son Darick was born in Pawlet 11 Mar 1780; and pg 85 shows Joshua was married in Pawlet 17 Sep 1781.
  29. [S2267] Land Records, Pawlet, Vermont, 1:266-7, John Fassett, commissioner for the state of confiscated land to Ebenezer Cobb of Stillwater, Albany Co., New York, dated 9 Nov 1779; 1:69-70, John Clark to John Cobb of Canterbury, Windham Co., Conicticut [sic], dated 9 Nov 1778; 1:171, Peter Van Baurer to Joshua Cobb of Stillwater, Albany Co. dated 4 Feb 1780; 1:271-2, Joel Simonds to Joshua Cobb of Pawlett, dated 19 Sep 1781; 1:275-6, Ebenazer Cobb of Pawlett to Joshua Cobb of Pawlett, dated 20 Sep 1781; 2:37, Benjamin Petton to Elkanah Cobb of Pawlett, dated 18 Dec 1783; and 2:65, Nathan Niles to John Cobb of Pawlett, dated 27 Oct 1784.
  30. [S1781] Elkanah Cobb household, 1790 U.S. Census, Rutland Co., Vermont.
  31. [S2395] Land Records, Wells, Vermont, C:272-3, notes of town meeting 6 Mar 1792 at the schoolhouse near Nathan Warram and meeting of authority & selectmen afterwards for the appointment of tavern or houses of intertainment, shows Elkanah nominated for license; C:425, town meeting 14 Feb 1793 at schoolhouse near Elkanah Cobbs does not mention tavern license; notes for 1794 meeting not found; B:423 notes of town meeting 10 Mar 1795 held at school house near Elkanah Cobb's, and meeting of authority afterwards for the appointment of tavern or houses of intertainment, shows Elkanah nominated for tavern license.
  32. [S863] Cobb, History of the Cobb Family, pg 154, shows that in probate proceedings he is called "Elkanah Cobb late of Wells.
  33. [S2395] Land Records, Wells, Vermont, B:99-100, deaths 1782-1811, shows date.
  34. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial #28545418, Elkanah Cobb, shows date, and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  35. [S2222] "Register of Deaths," The Rutland Herald, 7 Sep 1795, shows town, as Pawlet.
  36. [S2395] Land Records, Wells, Vermont, D:373, Gideon D. Cobb, commissioner, to Mary Cobb, 12 Nov 1799.
  37. [S1777] Mary Cobb household, 1800 U.S. Census, Rutland Co., Vermont.
  38. [S2267] Land Records, Pawlet, Vermont, 6:224, David Cleaveland to Mary Cobb, 26 Apr 1805; and 7:475, Mary Remmington to Willard Cobb, 15 Apr 1816.
  39. [S2198] Zadock Remington household, 1810 U.S. Census, Rutland Co., Vermont.
  40. [S2197] Zadoc Remington household, 1820 U.S. Census, Rutland Co., Vermont.
  41. [S2196] Zadock Remington household, 1830 U.S. Census, Rutland Co., Vermont.
  42. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial #9673740, Lieut Zadok Remington, shows date, includes photo of stone showing same.
  43. [S2205] Roylance, Remingtons of Utah, pg 126, shows date, town, and state.
  44. [S1578] John Butterfield household, 1840 U.S. Census, Morgan Co., Indiana.
  45. [S7897] Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, vol 18, Colchester First Congregational Church, pg 326, citing vol 1 pg 25 and vol 4 pg 83, shows Mary was baptised 3 Dec 1753, and citing vol 1 pg 54 and vol 4 pg 34, shows Jonathan married widow Sarah Taintor 21 Dec 1752.
  46. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial #54132130, Mary Willard Remington, includes tombstone photo showing she was in her 89th year at death 2 Aug 1842.
  47. [S1171] Hollister, Pawlet for One Hundred Years, pg 258, article by Henry Willard, shows Sarah Child left three children including Mary, and Jonathan's other two wives, ---- Hough and widow Stark, had no issue by him.
  48. [S862] Births, Marriages and Deaths, Pawlet, Vermont, 1768-1856, pg 5.
  49. [S1171] Hollister, Pawlet for One Hundred Years, pg 261, article attributed to Henry Willard.
  50. [S862] Births, Marriages and Deaths, Pawlet, Vermont, 1768-1856, pg 5, birth record.
  51. [S2395] Land Records, Wells, Vermont, B:99-100, deaths 1782-1811.
  52. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial #38646766, Sarah "Sally" Cobb, show inscription stating she was daughter of Elkanah Cobb and Mary his wife, and includes photo of stone with same.
  53. [S2395] Land Records, Wells, Vermont, C:233-4, births 1793-1795.
  54. [S1171] Hollister, Pawlet for One Hundred Years, pg 261.
  55. [S4230] Cobb, Elder Henry Cobb Family, shows daughter Cobb, name unknown, born abt 1772, died young.