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Library Director Ellen Rainville brought humor to annual Town Meeting floor on March 24 when she voiced support for the use of Community Preservation funds of $6,725 to preserve Rev. Willard Hall’s Journal. Here’s what she said [Continue below]. :
“I would have to argue that there are not a lot of historic conservation funds available and I also would like to point out that this is not really about the property of First Parish Church. But this is about the history of Westford. In 1729 when we were West Chelmsford, we could not break away and become Westford without a settled minister and that was Rev. Willard Hall. And he maintained his ministry until 1774 when the Solemn League and Covenant was sent to every pulpit in Massachusetts and communities voted whether they would harbor people who dealt in British goods and whether they would deal in any British goods.This was after the harbor closing in Boston. Only two men refused to sign this. One was Rev. Willard Hall. The other relented. Rev. Willard Hall lost his pulpit.
“He lost the ability to stay in town ultimately. He was relegated to the pew. He was not allowed to bring his firearm to church. And he was the sole male who remained a loyalist his entire life and ultimately moved to Littleton.
“This is gripping reading. A few shades of grey has nothing on the original. It’s true. Fornication list in Westford in Willard’s journal. Many a genealogist has been taken down by finding their ancestor in that list. This is a historic Westford document that we want to preserve…it is unique American history and it is irreplaceable so I would encourage you to vote for it.”
The article passed.
