Rev. Willard Hall

Born in Medford, Ma. March 11, 1703, son of Stephen and Grace Hall.
Graduated from Harvard College in 1722.
Married Abigail Cotton of Portsmouth, NH.
Parents of 11 children- 4 sons and 7 daughters.

Probably came to Westford July, or August 1726.

May 2, 1727, was voted by the inhabitants of the westerly precinct of Chelmsford  (Westford still part of Chelmsford at this point) to be the minister.  Pay 80 pounds for the first year, and then a raise of forty shillings a year until it came to 100 pounds a year.  This seems to be the first step in the organization of what would become Westford’s first church.

Farmer- in 1727 he  bought 18 acres of land from Josiah Burge- west side of Main Street.  Also owned land  in Providence Meadow.

Over the years he had several issues with the town in regard to his pay, initiating a lawsuit in 1740.

Starting in 1772- he began to have health issues and substitute  ministers were appointed by the town.

September 1774 the town voted “to dismiss Rev. Willard Hall from any further service in the town as minister, provided the church should think it proper to dismiss him from any further service in the ministerial office in said church”.  They did raise 42 pounds for his support that year in case the church did not dismiss him.   The town searched for another minister, agreeing to pay Rev. Hall  46 pounds quarterly for the rest of his life.

Rev. Hall was among the last of the Tories in Westford, and due to his political beliefs in Sept. of 1775, the town voted to refuse any further financial support.   His dismissal was finalized in the Jan. 1776 town meeting ending 48 years of his Westford ministry.

After his dismissal, Rev. Hall kept possession of the church records, instructing his wife to keep them after his death until his estate was settled.He died March 19, 1779 at the age of 77.  His wife died Oct. 20, 1789.