Alexander Hamilton Willard (1778 - 1865)

Born 24 Aug 1778 in Charlestown, Sullivan County, New Hampshire, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Eleanor McDonald — married 14 Feb 1806 in Charlestown, Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States

Descendants

Died 6 Mar 1865 at age 86 in Franklin, Sacramento County, California

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One of the Corps of Discovery members on the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Biography

Alexander Willard was involved in the westward expansion of the USA. See Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Alexander Willard is Notable.

Private Alexander Hamilton Willard, was a native of Charleston, New Hampshire. Willard, a brown-haired, dark-complexioned, New Hampshire man was born in August 24, 1778^[1] in Condor Corner, Town of Charlestown New Hampshire, to Lt. Jonathan Willard and Betty Caswell. Married Eleanor McDonald Wilber in 1807, a union that lasted 58 years,^[2] and they had 12 children.^[3]

Children

1. Austin James,
2. George Clark,
3. Alexander Hamilton,
4. Eliza Martha,
5. Roland Rudolph,
6. Christina D.,
7. Joel,
8. Nancy Adeline,
9. Narcissa C.,
10. Eleanor C.,
11. Lewis Augustus,
12. Willis

Alexander moved to Kentucky around 1800, and enlisted in the Corps of Artillery. He was a blacksmith and served as an artificer in Amos Stoddard's Artillery co. Alexander was caught sitting down and accused of falling asleep while on guard duty, In the army, this offense could be punished by shooting. He was spared death, yet sentenced to 100 lashes, to be given over a 4 day period at sunset, 25 lashes each day, and strokes were separated by pauses equal to "three paces in slow time" as audibly measured out by drumbeats.^[4]

"In 1852, at the first peak of westward migration, the extended Willard family joined a wagon train put together at Platteville, and moved to California. Alexander Willard, then 74, crossed the Missouri River for the final time at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Willard was 86 when he died March 6, 1865 ^[5] in Franklin, Sacramento County, California; the next-to-last survivor of the Corps of Discovery."^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Willard, Joseph, et al. Willard Genealogy: Sequel to Willard Memoir. Higginson Book Co., 1915. https://books.google.com/books?id=E56RAAAAIAAJ
2. ↑ National Parks Service Private Alexander Hamilton Willard
3. ↑ Staff. “Member Bio's - Private Alexander Hamilton Wilard.” Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, https://lewisandclark.org/learn/members.php#Private_Alexander_Hamilton_Wilard_.281778-1865.29. Accessed June 2016
4. ↑ Mussulman, Joseph. “Courts Martial on the Trail.” Discovering Lewis & Clark, Lewis and Clark Heritage Foundation, Apr. 2006, http://www.lewis-clark.org/article/2640.
5. ↑ Burial- Franklin Cemetery Franklin Sacramento County California, USA Find A Grave: Memorial #2521
6. ↑ Fifer, Barbara. “Alexander Hamilton Willard.” Discovering Lewis & Clark, Lewis and Clark Heritage Foundation, Mar. 2006, https://www.lewis-clark.org/article/2634#Sub4.

See Also:

• Wikipedia: Alexander Hamilton Willard

• Wikidata: Item Q4719077, en:Wikipedia

• Find A Grave: Memorial #2521

• PBS Inside the Corps Alexander Hamilton Willard