Mary WILLARD ²

   Ancestral File Number: G8Z8-VL. User ID: 301.

   General Notes:

BOOK
FAMILY RECORDS of the Descendants of GERSHOM FLAGG [Born 1730] of Lancaster Massahusettes (sic) with Other Genealogical Records of THE FLAGG FAMILY Descended from THOMAS FLEGG OF WATERTOWN MASS and Including THE FLEGG LINEAGE IN ENGLAND Compiled and Published by Norman Gersom Flagg and Lucius C S Flagg 1907
Chapter III The Flagg Lineage from Thomas Flegg of Watertown Mass to Gershom Flagg (Born 1730) of Lancaster Mass 1637-1758
pg 30: The Fifth Generation in America
Gershom Flagg of Lancaster, third child and second son of Eleazer and Mary (Buck) Flagg, was born 10 Jun 1730, presumably in Boston, for his parents lived in that city many years prior and subsequent to that date. He was a housewright and a slater by trade, and moved to Lancaster, Mass, before attaining his majority. Why Gershom Flagg left Boston to make his home in Lancaster, we can only surmise, but at least two reason seem evident. First, his father Eleazer Flagg had, in 1740, purchased the 'Slate-Rocks' situated four miles from Lancaster Center, and a second and more sentimental reason is suggested by the following record, copied from the Lancaster Register of births, deaths, and marriages:
'Gershom flagg entered his intentions of marriage with Mary Willard, Nov ye 14, 1750.' [Lancaster Register]
They were married 'Dec ye t, 1750, by Jos Wilder, Junn'. Mary Willard was the daughter of Aaron and Mary Willard of Lancaster, and was born 21 Jan 1729...
pg 31...The widow Mary (Willard) Flagg was admitted administratrix of the estate of 'Gershom Flagg, late of Lancaster, housewright, deceased,' on the fifth of Feb 1759, her bondsmen being simon Willard and Nathaniel Willard, yeomen. 8 Feb appraisers were appointed, and 28 May, their inventory was filed. Through the kindness of JCL Clark, Town Clerk of Lancaster (1906), it is possible to give below a very quaint and interesting copy verbatim of the inventory of Gershom Flagg's personal estate:
Worcester Co Probate Records, series A, case 21214, Lancaster 16 Feb 1759
"Pursueant to ye above commission we the subscribers have aprised all the estate of Gershom Flagg late of Lancaster decd. Show to us an invontary which is as follows vist:
1. The notes & bonds at intrist = L166.17.10
2d. The amory gun boyonett & cutlash = L1.13.
3d. The apearrile = L2.3.4
4. The household furniture = L16.12.4
5. Books & pamphlets = L1.19.1
6. Carpenters & joyners tools = L7.19.8
7. Liue stock = L3.6.8
8. Outdoor mouables = L3.18.11
Total = L204.10.11
PS Came to hand sundry other things
Two province notes = L40, To what is due on the book = L2.13.4, One coat = L0.8
A wig = L0.15, Fiue plates = L0.2, A shop = L2.2, Eight hundred boards = L0.16, Two pair of chisels = L0.4, Total = L47.1.0
Josiah White, Hooker Cosgood, Benja Ballard"
The adminstratix's account was accepted 7 Aug 1761.
Gershom Flagg's widow married again 17 Sep 1761 to William Phelps and lived in Lancaster until her death 22 Sep 1807 (according to letter of that date written by her nephew Josiah Flagg to her son Ebenezer Flagg- letter in possession of Mrs Mary Willard Flagg-Gillham, Wanda IL 1906). There can be little doubt that both Gershom Flagg and his wife were buried in a Lancaster cemetery, but no stones can be found to mark the location of their graves.
The children of Gershom and Mary (Willard) Flagg were:
I. Mary, born 27 Apr 1753 she married John Baker and had three children: John K, Thomas, and Charles. John K Baker was a printer in Burlington VT in 1800 and published the 'Northern Sentinel' in 1801; he subsequently moved to Plattsburg NY where he was proprietor of a hotel. Azariah C Flagg was a printer's apprentice under him from 1801 to 1806.
II. Ebenezer Flagg, born 7 Apr 1756 (see Chap IV).
III. Gershom Flagg, born 11 Apr 1758 (see Chap V).
When Gershom Flagg of Lancaster died 28 Dec 1758 from a fall while slating a roof, he left a widow Mary (Willard) Flagg and three young children, the daughter Mary aged 5 years, the son Ebenezer aged 2 1/2 years, and the infant son Gershom eight months old.
Aaron Willard, brother of Mary (Willard) Flagg, was at her request appointed guardian of the children, Mary, Ebenezer, and Gershom as is shown by the following petition:
"To John Chandler Esq Judge Pro for Worcester County, I desire my bro Capt Aaron Willard may be appointed guardian to my three children by late husband Gershom Flagg late of Lancaster, housewright Decd. 17 Mar 1759. Mary Flagg."
Subsequently, 9 Jan 1771, Abel Willard of Lancaster was appointed guardian of Mary and Ebenezer and 31 Mar 1773 of Gershom also. (Worcester Co Probate Records, Series A, Case 21, 178).

FAMILY SEARCH ANCESTRAL FILE
Ancestral File v4.19 G8Z8-VL Died 28 Mar 1878.

INTERNET
Ancestry.com, Ancestry World Chart, Ancestors of Earl Randolph GERTZ c1925, File Name 147139, Seanandnikki@email.msn.com

Ancestry.com, Ancestry World Chart, Ancestors of Eugene Worth GRAVES c1903, File Name 117205, Ayres@prodigy.net

Http://www.ooten.com/famtree/wga24.html#l2543: Mary WILLARD (1729-1807), Born 21 Jan 1729 Lancaster MA, Married Gershom FLAGG (1730-1758) 6 Dec 1750 Lancaster MA, and William PHELPS (1731- ) 17 Sep 1761 Lancaster MA, Died 22 Sep 1807 Lancaster MA, Assumed buried in Lancaster Cemetery but no stones can be found to mark the grave.

   Marriage Information:

Mary married Gershom FLAGG, Sr, son of Eleazer FLAGG, Sr and Mary BUCK, on 6 Dec 1750 in Lancaster, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA ¹. (Gershom FLAGG, Sr was born on 10 Jun 1730 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA ^{1 3}, died on 28 Dec 1758 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA ^{1 3} and was buried in Dec 1758 in Cemetery, Lancaster, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA ¹.) The cause of his death was fall from roof.

   Marriage Information:

Mary also married William PHELPS on 17 Sep 1761 in Lancaster, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. (William PHELPS was born in 1731.)