Shared Photo: Rev Sam Willard, Puritan Minister

Question

I wanted to share this family photo of Samuel Willard with the community. Location: Boston, Mass..

Edit: It isn't actually a photo, but a scan of a print of what I would call a line drawing (I'm a retired graphic designer). The print has been in my family for at least 40 years to my knowledge.

A portion of this image is found on wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Willard) and is described as an engraved portrait.

Click here for the image details page or here for the full-sized version (2550 x 4200).

Answer 1

Harold, thank you for sharing the picture of Samuel Willard. I read his story. He really led an interesting life. Driven from his home by the Indians, and then graduating from Harvard? Opposing witchcraft trials, and getting a new preaching position. - Yes, he was certainly busy. And he was only 24 years old.

At 31 he was writing a book about a possessed woman, and four years later moving his family to Charleston. By 61 he was the acting President of Harvard.

This man did a lot in his life, and he was a servant of God. He gave all of the time.

This is a wonderful picture of Samuel. I love the clergy outfit he has on.

Thank you for sharing this photo and this story with your WikiTree family.

God Bless!

Comments

He certainly was a leader in very difficult and exciting times, and I counted 18 children on his profile! Whew!

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Harold, that is amazing.  I read that he was one of 17, I believe. My husband is the youngest of 12.

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Hi Cheryl, I am the youngest of 3 and that's plenty for me.  Times sure have changed. I'm going to have to search the descendants on his profile and see if I can trace his connection to my stepmother. Unfortunately there are no living people I can ask, but I have a lot of photos, and many have names and dates on the back.

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Thank you Susan, for selecting my answer!

Answer 2

Thank you, Harold, for sharing this photo with the WikiTree community.

Comments

I was happy to... when I saw Sam Willard's profile, and there was no photo (Well how could there be?) I realized I had something of value to contribute. I'm very glad it is appreciated.

Answer 3

I really love this photo, looks like a sketch and Cheryl will probably know if I am correct on that assumption.  It takes quite a talent to produce such a keepsake.  Thank you so much for sharing.

Comments

Nicole, it looks like either a sketch, or in Illinois we have a Biography book on great people, and it looks identical to the pictures of the people in that book. You are doing a great job, by the way.

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Hi Nicole, I edited the description to explain that the original is a print of a line drawing. Someone drew all that with a pen and ink. Wow! The original is 8-1/2 x 14-inches if I remember correctly. While there is a signature to the right of the bottom of the oval frame, I can't read it, nor can I find a date. It was obviously done after Willard's death, but how long after I have no idea.  Maybe a historian of that era will recognize the work. It would be fascinating to know.

Thanks for the comment,

Harold