Letter from Samuel Willard, Brunswick, Maine, to William Willard and Katherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, July 31, 1804

Willard complains about not hearing from his family often enough: “I have been expecting a letter from Petersham by every mail for six weeks and have been grievously disappointed eighteen times.” He also mentions that his eyesight is not doing well.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Brunswick, Maine, to William Willard and Katherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, October 17, 1804

Willard describes his tutoring job at Bowdoin College, explains his contract and salary, terms and conditions, and describes President Joseph McKeen, as well as the town of Brunswick. He mentions that he saw his Aunt Chadwick, and that she discussed the death of her brother. He also describes his aunt’s house, and mentions the death of another close relation.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Sophronia Willard, Lancaster, Massachusetts, October 18, 1805

Willard describes his current job working at Harvard, where he is paid “to keep order in one of the buildings.” He mentions that he can attend medical lectures free of charge, and refers to a preacher, Mr. Parker, a former classmate of Willard’s. He explains that he is currently with his brother Solomon, who is ill, and that he is living in the College House, where he resided his first year of school.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Exeter, New Hampshire, to William Willard and Katherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, November 25, 1805

Willard describes his usual daily routines relating to teaching at Philips Academy and his plans to leave Exeter.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Catherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, May 14, 1806

Willard asks his family to write to him more often, and discusses his plans to begin preaching at Hingham.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Abigail Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, September 29, 1806

Willard discusses family issues then explains that he was preaching in Lexington for three weeks and turned down an offer to stay longer. He says that instead, he will “make Cambridge my headquarters.” Willard asks his sister to pick up his clothes for him.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Deerfield, Massachusetts, to Catherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, April 16, 1807

Willard explains that the town of Deerfield has asked him to stay and preach for an extra six weeks, but he consented to stay four. He also asks his sister if she can send him some of his sermons.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Deerfield, Massachusetts, to William Willard and Katherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, June 5, 1807

Willard says that the town of Deerfield voted to keep him as a preacher at their church, and explains that it will probably be a generous salary, although he does not know if he will accept. He also describes the duties he will be expected to perform and the expectations the congregation will have of him.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Deerfield, Massachusetts, to Catherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, July 28, 1808

Willard apologizes for not writing or visiting in a long time, discusses a problem with getting his sister Sophronia to visit in Deerfield, and writes: “I think I have a wife, who will do everything in her power to make me happy.”

Letter from Samuel Willard, Deerfield, Massachusetts, to Cephas Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, October 21, 1808

Willard mentions that his collection of hymns, the Deerfield Collection of Sacred Music, is ready for sale in Northampton, and discusses prices, an upcoming trip to Brattleboro, Vermont related to purchasing music, and describes his preparations of a sermon to be delivered in Northampton at the opening of the bridge over the Connecticut River.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Deerfield, Massachusetts, to Catherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, November 3, 1809

Willard informs his sister that he has sent her the chambray that he bought for her with money she had given to him to make the purchase.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Deerfield, Massachusetts, to William Willard and Katherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, March 11, 1810

Willard mentions that he has been anxious because he has heard that “there was such a dreadful sickness in…Petersham, but I have not been able to learn many particulars about it,” and asks for news. He also comments on the weather and lack of snow throughout the past winter.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Deerfield, Massachusetts, to Catherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, April [3?], 1810

Willard explains that he has been anxious to hear news about the family’s health so he sent a “lad that is living with us by the name of Leonard Smith to learn how it is with you + inform you how we are.” He also writes that his wife delivered a baby daughter last week; it was a difficult birth but she is recovering. He describes the baby’s weight and health, and also refers to some election results. At the end of the letter, he says that he has included a lock of his baby’s hair; the lock of hair is no longer enclosed in the letter.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Deerfield, Massachusetts, to Katherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, January 18, 1811

Willard explains that he had intended to visit but cannot leave home because he has taken on another young man as a boarder, claims that his wife would write to her but does not have time because she is too occupied by domestic matters, and discusses other family visits.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Deerfield, Massachusetts, to Katherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, March 4, 1811

Willard informs his mother that his wife was “safely delivered of another daughter” and the “infant which weighs seven pounds, appears be strong + healthy.” His postscript explains that although he has been within a three-hour riding distance of his brother Solomon for two months, he has yet to see him.