1. ALEXANDER HAMILTON¹ WILLARD SR (Jonathan-5, Jonathan-4, Jonathan-3, Henry-2, Simon-1)  was born in Jul 1777 at his father's farm at Condon Corner, Town of Charlestown (modern Town of Langdon), Cheshire county (modern Sullivan county), New Hampshire.^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20} He is the oldest child of Lt. Jonathan Willard, and the only child of Betty Caswell. He married Eleanor McDonald, daughter of James McDonald and Elizabeth Piety, on 14 Feb 1807.^{21,22,23,24,25,26,27} He died on 6 Mar 1865 at his ranch, Lower Stockton Road, Franklin Township, Sacramento county, California, at age 87.^{28,29,30,31,32,33} He was buried in the Franklin Cemetery, Georgetown (modern Franklin), Sacramento county, California.^34,35,36,37


Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr can be found as WFA Genealogy #481 in the 1989 Henry-2 Supplement to the Willard Genealogy; Sequel to Willard Memoir (1915).³⁸
Condon Corner is just south of the modern boundary of the Township of Charlestown. Jonathan's farmhouse was pretty much right at the SW corner of "Condon's Corner" at the junction with the road to Charlestown village. The land is still in farming production today, though the building burned down on 30 March 1891 and the owner then, John Condon, did not rebuild. Jonathan had settled and built the house in 1774, not long before Alexander's birth there .

1790 Census: Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr might be one of the males listed on the census of 1790 in the household of Lieutenant Jonathan Willard, called Jonathan Willard, and Katherine Stevens at Langdon township, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, Alexander would have been 13.³⁹

Alexander is found in the military service on 9 Jun 1800 at Fort Fayette (modern Pittsburgh), in Capt. Amos Stoddard's company, Corps of Artillerists.⁴⁰

Fort Fayette stood on the east bank of the Allegheny, about a 1/2 mile above the forks of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers.
On 9 Jun 1800 at Fort Fayette (modern Pittsburgh), Alexander was twenty-one years of age, stood five feet ten inches, had dark eyes, brown hair, and a dark complexion. Occupation, blacksmith.⁴¹

Amos Stoddard had been in command at Fort Fayette until July 1803, when he was succeeded by Lt. Moses Hooke. Captain Stoddard was ordered west with his company to erect a military post at Cahokia on the east bank of the Mississippi, opposite St. Louis, but the Secretary of War later cancelled these instructions and ordered him to combine his company with Capt. Russell Bissell's at Kaskaskia [further south on the river in modern Illinois]. Amos Stoddard was a lawyer and Revolutionary War soldier and would soon become the first civil and military commandant of Upper Louisiana.⁴²

Alexander was transferred to Captain Lewis in 1804 at Fort Kaskaskia, Indiana Territory.⁴³

Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr began service with the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery on 1 Jan 1804 at Fort Kaskaskia, Indiana Territory.⁴⁴ On 23 Sep 1806 The Corps of Discovery reached St. Louis and ended their round trip.⁴⁵ He was discharged from the Corps of Discovery on 10 Oct 1806 at St. Louis, Louisiana Territory. His private's pay amounted to $166.66 2/3 plus the 320 acres Bounty Land.⁴⁶
This picture is of a reconstructed Fort Clatsop, which burned down not long after the picture was taken.

Alexander married Eleanor McDonald on 14 February 1807. Although a marriage record for them has yet to be found, her older sister Christiana married Henry Dodge (future governor of Wisconsin Territory and later Senator) on 26 March 1801 at St. Charles Borromeo Church, District of St. Andre, St. Louis county, modern Missouri, and in 1806 was living in Ste. Genevieve where Henry Dodge was deputy sheriff under his father. Alexander and Eleanor's grandson and namesake, Alexander, says their marriage was in St. Genevieve, modern St. Genevieve county, modern Missouri.^47,48,49

On 3 Mar 1807 House of Representatives. Digested Summary and Alphabetical List of Private Claims Which Have Been Presented to the House of Representatives, Vol. III. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1853.

Alexander Willard
Compensation for services in exploring expedition
9th Congress, 1st Session
Manner Brought: President's Mess
Journal Page: 284
Laid on table

Alexander Willard
Compensation for services in exploring expedition
9th Congress, 2nd Session
Manner Brought: President's Mess
Journal Page: 470
Referred to Select Committee 22 Dec 1806
Report: Referred to Committee Whole House

Alexander Willard
Compensation for services in exploring expedition
9th Congress, 2nd Session
Manner Brought: Resolution 507
Referred to Select Committee 23 Jan 1807
Report: Favorable; Bill 183, passed house, passed senate, 3 Mar 1807 Approved.⁵⁰

Letter from William Clark 1 June 1807
"Sir: [to the Secretary of War, General Dearborn]
. . . The Saukees wish to be furnished with a Blacksmith, one has offered to go to the Nation who is a farmer in this neighbourhood with a large family. . . ."⁵¹

On August 4, 1807, Alexander signed a promissory note to William Porter for $52. See below.

Letter from Frederick Bates December 1807
"Dear General [William Clark]:
Your letter of 25th Nov reached me at St. Genevieve ten days ago. . . It has not been in my power to employ a Blacksmith for the Sacs & Foxes as you desired me. I sent repeatedly to Williard and to the man at the Portage but heard from neither of them."[Portage des Sioux was founded in 1799. It was located on the west bank of the Mississippi about six miles above the mouth of the Missouri. In 1804 the village contained about 25 houses.].⁵²

Letter from Meriwether Lewis to Frederick Bates 16 March 1808
"Sir:
You would very much oblige me by drawing up articles of agreement between myself as Superintendent of Indian affairs in behalf of the U'Sts. and Alexander Willard, a Blacksmith whom I wist to engage for the Sauc nation, on the other part-he will be bound to perform with deligence and to the best of his ability as a blacksmith all duties appertaining thereto, and as such to obey the orders of myself or of such Indian agents of the U'States as may be charged with the affairs of that nation. his term of service 12 months from the 1st of Aprl. next unless sooner discharged by the orders of the Secy of War or myself ó in consideration of those services he is to be paid 30 dollars pr. Month and one & 1/2 rations pr. day to be furnished at the public expence with an assortment of tools, a shop and coal house, a comfortable cabbin with a puncin [sic] floor, with fuel, and to have his baggage transported from hence to the Sauc village. [P.S.] A hand to strike will also be furnished Mr. Willard.
M.L.^53,54
Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr was employed by Clark as a blacksmith for the Shawnees and Delawares on 1 Jul 1809 at Louisiana Territory.⁵⁵

Letter from Secretary of War General Henry Dearborn, War Department, Washington, D.C., 7 August 1809
"Genl Wm Clark.
Sir, Your letter of the 1st ult covering an Estimate of expenditures in your Agency for the third quarter of the current year, a list of Indian Agents, &c. and an estimate of the expense of erecting a Storehouse, &c. at St. Louis, has been received.
From the list of Agents, Interpreters, &c. you will please to strike the names of John H. Robinson, Alpha Kingsley, Maurice Blandeau, Baptist Dorion, Louis Dorion, Samuel Solomon, Joseph Robinson and Alexander Willard. Those appointments have not been authorized or approved by this Department; nor has the expediency or propriety of making them been submitted to the Government; or an opportunity given to determine, whether the appropriations for the Indian Department would justify such an increase of expenditure. It does not appear to be necessary that the expense attending our Relations with the Indians in the Territory of Louisiana, should be four times as much as the whole expense of supporting its civil government. . ."⁵⁶

At the November 1810 term of the St Louis City Circuit Court, Risdon H. Price of the firm Wilkinson & Price, brought suit against Alexander for an outstanding bill.  His itemized account is pictured above, and it's related to the 1807 promissory note. See the full story and additional documents here.

At the July term, 1811, of the St Louis City Circuit Court, Frederick Kaylor brought suit against Alexander for the amount pictured above. Read all about it here.

Letter from William Clark to Secretary of War William Eustis 13 Feb 1812
"Sir:
We have not heard from the eastward for nearly two months, owing to the falure of the Mail; all the accounts we have of Measures about to be taken by our government is mearly rumour, oon which we cannot relyó
The views and intentions of those Bands of Indians whome we have suspected were hostily inclined, are no longer to be doubted; the Winnebagoes are Deturmined for War. On the 1st of January a party of that Nation killed two Americans and robed & Destroyed two Trading houses near the Mines on the Mississippi near prarie de chien (the Owners of the Merchandize were save by some Sock & Fox Squaws who lived with the young men declaring they were English men) The Winnebagos applied to the Fox & Socks to join them and attack fort Madison, Chicargo & the upper settlements of the frontiers of this Territory, which they refused to do. . .
On the 8th instant a party of that nation [Winnebagees] (some of whom were known) fired on my Express [Alexander Willard] about 40 miles above the Settlements, who was on his return from Prarie de Chien, the Mines & Fort Madison, on the 9th an American Family of women & children was killed on the bank of the Mississippi, a fiew minits before the Express passed the house. . ."^57,58

"After the War of 1812 ended, Alexander and his wife Elinor traveled to Gascanade [sic] County in Missouri, near St. Louis and they settled there for some time."⁵⁹
Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr was listed as a taxpayer in 1819 at St. Louis County, Missouri Territory.⁶⁰
Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr was listed as a taxpayer in 1820 at Gasconade Township, Franklin County, Missouri.⁶¹

From Elinor's father's will:
"I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elinor Willard and the heirs of her body for ever one negro woman named Suli formerly the property of James Walton considered to be equal to six hundred arpents as her part of my Estate."⁶²

Alexander is mentioned a couple times in his father-in-law's 18 January 1821 will:
"...and adjoining a two hundred arpent tract sold to James Walton by Alexander Willard and John McDonald by my consent...

and also make James Walton a deed to two hundred arpents of land sold to him by Allexander Willard and John McDonald..."⁶³

There was a sawmill on the Gasconade River owned by Eleanor's father. It was not to be sold at his death, but continue to operate and its profits were to pay a couple of the bequests.⁶⁴

As of circa 1825, Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr and Eleanor McDonald lived in Missouri.⁶⁵

At some point Alexander settled his family, however briefly, in Illinois.⁶⁶

1830 Census: Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr, called Alexander Willard, appeared on the census of 1830 at Iowa county, Michigan Territory; Alexander was aged 50-60; there was one female aged 40-50; 2 males aged 20-30; 1 male and 1 female aged 15-20; 1 male and 1 female aged 10-15; 1 male and 1 female aged 5-10; and 2 females aged under 5. There were no slaves or free blacks.⁶⁷

"Alexander H. Willard" enrolled for two months in Captain DeLong's Company, Iowa Militia beginning 3 June 1832 and was mustered out on 20 August 1832. This was for the conflict known as the Black Hawk War.^68,69

1836: For the first Territorial Census, David I. or J. Seely was Enumerator for District 3 in Iowa County.
"District No. 3 commences at the point where the last district touches Ridge Road and follows said Ridge to the Road leading from Alexander Willards Intersects said Road then along said Road to Fever River down said River to State line along said line to the Mississippi River and up said River to the Mouth of Platte River. Election precincts: Hamilton Gilmore, Menomine diggings; Frederick Hollman's, Elk Grove."
"District No. 4 commences on the east side of Fever River on State line following state line to the dividing ridge between the waters of Pickatolic (Pecatonica) and Apple River and on said ridge to the road leading from A. Willards then along said road to Fever River down said river to the place of beginning. Election precincts: John Edward's, Hardscrabble; James Nagles, New Diggings; Wm. C. Bryant, White Oak Springs; Fortunatus Berry, Gratiot's Grove.⁷⁰

1836 Census: Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr, called Alexander Willard, appeared on the census of 1836 at Iowa, Wisconsin Territory; There are 19 members of Alexander Willard's household: 3 males and 4 females over 21; 7 males and 5 females under 21. The census entry for "Alexander Willard" was immediately followed by that of "Austin J. Willard" and then by "A. H. Willard."⁷¹

John Rowland Crawford sold (with Christiana D. Crawford his wife, and Rodolph R. Willard) the SE quarter of Section 3 in Township 2 of Range 1E to Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr 14 Oct 1837 in Iowa County, Wisconsin Territory.⁷²

Land Buy: Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr with Alexander Hamilton Willard [Jr] as tenants in common bought the SW quarter of Section 3 T2N R1E consisting of 160 acres from Mineral Point General Land Office 1 Jul 1847 in Iowa County, Wisconsin Territory.⁷³
Alexander Hamilton Willard Jr sold the SW quarter of Section 3 T2 R1E consisting of 160 acres for $100 to Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr 22 Dec 1837 in Iowa county, Wisconsin Territory.⁷⁴

The limits of the various school districts in Iowa County [Wisconsin] and the first inspectors elected were:
District No. 2: The north half of Town 2, and the south half of Town 3, Range 1 east. Inspectors: Charles Dunn, John Messersmith Sr, D. J. Seeley, Alexander Willard, and Justus DeSeelhorst. . .
District No. 7: Towns 5, 6, 7 and 8, Range 2 east. Inspectors: John B. Terry, Stephen B. Thrasher, Paschal Bequette, Charles F. Legate and Alex Blair. . .
District No. 12: Towns 6, 7 and 8, Range 3 east. Inspectors: Henry L. Dodge, John Jenkins, John Lindsey, Robert S. Black and Thomas Jenkins.⁷⁵

1840 Census: Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr, called Alexander Willard, appeared on the census of 1840 at Western Division, Iowa county, Wisconsin Territory; There was 1 male aged 60-70; 1 female aged 40-50; 1 male aged 30-40; 2 males aged 20-30; 1 female aged 15-20; 3 females aged 10-15; and 1 male aged 5-10. 4 members of the household were employed in Agriculture. Enumerated on the next line was the household of "A. H. Willard."⁷⁶
1842 Census: Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr, called Alexander Willard, appeared on the census of 1842 at Ranges 1 & 2, Western Division, Iowa county, Wisconsin Territory; There were 7 white males, 3 white females, and 1 female of color in Alexander Willard's household. This "female of color" is probably "Suli", who was inherited by Eleanor McDonald when her father died in 1821. The census enumerator visited the household of "Austin J. Willard", then someone else, then "James N. Stores" then "John R. Crawford" then "Alexander Willard" then "Joshua Mcdonald" then "A. H. Willard" then "Martha Wakefield", then someone else, then "John Hartsough."⁷⁷

Land Buy: Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr bought the NW quarter of the NE quarter of Section 21 T2N R1E consisting of 40 acres from Mineral Point General Land Office 10 Jul 1844 in Iowa County, Wisconsin Territory.⁷⁸

Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr sold (with Eleanor his wife) the SW quarter of the SW quarter of Section 3 T2 R1E containing 40 acres for $60 to Joel Willard 13 Nov 1844 in Iowa county, Wisconsin Territory.⁷⁹
Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr sold (and Eleanor Willard) the NE quarter of the SE quarter of Section 3 T2 R1E containing 40 acres for $60 to Joel Willard 30 Nov 1844 in Iowa county, Wisconsin Territory.⁸⁰
Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr (and Elenor his wife) sold the West half of the SE quarter of the SW quarter of Section 3 T2N R1E containing 20 acres for $50 to Roland Rudolph Willard 11 Aug 1845 in Iowa County, Wisconsin Territory.⁸¹

1846 Census: Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr appeared on the census of 1846 at District No. 1, Iowa county, Wisconsin Territory. There are 6 white males and 4 white females and 1 colored female in A. Willard's household. The census enumerator visited the household of "G. W. Wakefield", visited someone else, then "A. H. Willard" then "A. J. Willard", then two other households, then "John R. Crawford", then another household then "A. Willard". The "colored female might be "Suli" thus identifying "A. Willard" as Alexander Willard Sr (though where has Suli been in the previous census records?).⁸²

Alexander Hamilton Willard Jr sold (and Mary Ann Willard his wife) for $4 the city lot: Beginning on Main Street in the Town of Platteville on the North side of said street 264 feet westerly of the West side of the town plot; Run westerly 40 feet thence north 132 feet thence east 44 feet thence south to the place of beginning being a part of the five acre lot bot of J. H. Rountree by Saml Mitchel to Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr 26 Sep 1846 in Platteville, Grant Co., Wisconsin Territory.⁸³

Spring 1847 Census: Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr, called Aexander Willard, appeared on the census of Spring 1847 at Lafayette county, Wisconsin Territory; There are 6 persons in Alexander Willard's household. The census enumerator counted "A. H. Willard", then another house, then "George Wakefield", then another house, then "Austin Willard" then "Alexander Willard" then "John Crawford."⁸⁴
Fall 1847 Census: Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr, called Alex Willard, appeared on the census of Fall 1847 at Elk Grove township, Lafayette county, Wisconsin Territory; There are 5 white males and 3 white females in the Alex Willard household. (Deciding whether this is Alex Sr or Alex Jr is difficult. There was an "A. H. Willard in Platteville in this same census.) The enumerator went to the house of "Alex Willard", then another house, then "John R. Crawford" then "W. Wakefield" then two other houses then "D. Fethers" then 8 other houses then "Hamilton Willard."⁸⁵

In September 1847 he and Eleanor and her sister Christiana and Henry Dodge gave a deed to settle a real estate problem resulting from a defective land survey in Missouri involving Eleanor & Christiana's father's lands. The Willards and Dodges are living in Wisconsin at the time they gave this deed.⁸⁶

1850 Census: Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr, called Alexander Willard, and Eleanor McDonald, called Elinor Willard, appeared on the census of 2 Aug 1850 in the Eastern District #25, Platteville, Grant county, Wisconsin, living with their daughter Ellen and granddaughter Rose; Alexander is 71, a farmer, with $6,800 in real estate; Elinor is 62.⁸⁷

On 13 April 1852 Alexander, of the town of Platteville, Grant county, Wisconsin, gave Power of Attorney to Elijah Bayley to sell the lot in town for him.⁸⁸

In 1852 the 74 year old Alexander and his wife, some of his children and their families, and some of the in-laws made up a train of 49 people and left Platteville, Wisconsin for the Sacramento Valley of California. They lost only one man and a few head of stock.^89,90

On 16 Feb 1853 Regarding Black Hawk War Bounty Land:
"On this day... personally appeared before me, a Notary Public within and for [Sacramento county, California] Alexander Willard, aged seventy-three years, a resident of Yolo county in this state, ... declares that he is the identical Alexander Willard who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Cornelius DeLong in the regiment of volunteers commanded by Col. Henry Dodge in the war with the Sauks & Fox Indians in the year 1832... that he volunteered at Fort Deseelhurst... He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which he is entitled under the act... of Sept 28, 1850.     [signature] Alex Willard.⁹¹

Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr sold for $400, the parcel of land in the village of Platteville beginning on Main Street on the north side 264 feet westerly of the west side of the town plot: running westerly 44 feet thence north 132 feet thence east 44 feet thence south to the place of beginning being part and parcel of a five acre lot deed by John H. Rountree and wife to Samuel Mitchell Jr and being the same part thereof deeded to Alexander Willard by A. H. Willard & wife by deed dated September 26th 1846 to Thomas Strong 25 Apr 1853 in Platteville, Grant County, Wisconsin.⁹²

On 1 May 1856 Regarding Black Hawk War Bounty Land:
On this date appeared before me, a county clerk in and for the [county of Yolo, Calfiornia] Alexander Willard, aged seventy-seven years a resident of Yolo county... declares that he is the identical Alexander Willard who was a private in the company commanded by Captain DeLong, regiment of Wisconsin or Illinois Volunteers commanded by Col. Henry Dodge in the Black Hawk war of 1832... that he has heretofore made application for bounty land under the act of September 28, 1850 and received land warrant No. 87205 for forty acres, which he herewith returns. He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the additional bounty land to which he may be entitled under the act of March 3, 1855... and appoints the Hon. Henry Dodge of Wisconsin his attorney to receive the Bounty Land Warrant which he claims aforesaid.      [signature] Alexander Willard
We, John R. Crawford and Rolin R. Willard, residents of Sacramento county State of California upon oath declare that the foregoing declaration as signed and acknowledged by Alexander Willard in our presence... we believe... from personal knowledge of him at the time said services were rendered...      [signatures] Rolin R. Willard J. R. Crawford
Arch McDonald, Yolo County Clerk.⁹³

"Henry L. Wildgrube was born Feb 25, 1835... In July of 1856 he was in San Francisco and one month later on the advice of an acquaintance, he went to Upper Lake and set up a store, then sold out and bought the possessory rights in a tract of land at Upper Lake (now owned by Max Sleeper) from an old man, Mr. Willard, then 80 years old, and one of the last survivors of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1805.".⁹⁴

10 August 1857: "To all whom it may concern: Whereas, Henry B. Houghton, merchant of Upper Lake, is now and has been for some time, engaged in merchandising, much to the great accommodation of this vicinity; and whereas, an unfound [sic] prejudice has arisen among some few certain individuals who have circulated reports injurious to the character of said Houghton, and accused him of keeping a 'disorderly house' and vending liquors by the 'small'.
Now, the undersigned earnestly make this remonstrance, and respectfully say that they are often and many of them daily, in said Houghton's store, and transact most of their commercial business with him, and can testify that they have never known said Houghton to keep 'a disorderly house' but on all occasions has endeavored, and in fact has been observed, the best of order and decorum:
That Mr. Houghton is sustained in this matter by the responsible, substantial, taxpaying citizens of the community, is readily demonstrated by reference to the underwriters of this article and the assessment rolls of this county."
     Many names were listed as signatories to this document, including that of Alex Willard. Notice that the accusation of "vending liquors by the 'small', i.e. serving by the glass, was not addressed by the signatories.⁹⁵

In 1859 Roland Rudolph Willard, 5th child in the family, died intestate.  His parents were named his heirs.

Several members of the family owned parcels in Franklin township. Click for a larger image, and a history of the parcels.
Land Buy: Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr bought the SW quarter of Section 20 T6N R5E containing 160 acres for "value received" from Samuel A. Clarkson 11 Apr 1860 in Sacramento county, California.⁹⁶

1860 Census: Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr, called Alex Willard, and Eleanor McDonald, called Elleanor Willard appeared on the census enumerated 20 Jun 1860 at Elk Grove Post Office, Franklin township, Sacramento county, California, with 1 son, their deceased daughter Narcissa's husband & children, and an Indian boy called Jackson Willard . Alex was a farmer, age 84, owned $8,000 in real estate and $2,000 in personal estate, born in N.H.; Elleanor was aged 76, born in Ky.⁹⁷

Sheriff Sylvester Marshall sold Henry B. Maize's land, the NE quarter and the SE quarter of the NW quarter of Section 19 T6N R5E to satisfy a judgement recovered in the district Court of the 6th Judicial District on 22 March 1861 in favor of Alexander Willard and against Henry B. Maize for the sum of $920 together with interest from the 22nd day of March 1861 at the rate of 10% per annum and $23.95 costs. Alexander was the highest bidder at the public auction at $991.85 to Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr 22 Apr 1861 in Sacramento county, California.⁹⁸
Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr sold his quit claim to the SE quarter of Section 20 T6N R5E containing 160 acres. Also the East half of the SW quarter and the West half of the SW quarter of Section 21 T6N R5E containing 160 acres, all for $1 to Eleanor McDonald 13 Nov 1863 in Sacramento county, California.⁹⁹

"In the early part of 1865 [Alexander] sent [Joel] a message, stating if he and his family would move to his ranch and manage it and take care of his mother, he would deed his ranch to him, because he was getting too old to manage it and he did not think he was going to live much longer..." "...Joel didn't want to stay much longer in California, though, as he had tuberculosis and wanted to move to a drier climate."¹⁰⁰

Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr sold his quit claim to the NE quarter and the SE quarter of the NW quarter of Section 19 T6N R5E containing 200 acres for $1 to Joel Willard 11 Sep 1864 in Sacramento county, California.¹⁰¹
Alexander Hamilton Willard Sr sold (and Elenor his wife) their quit claim to the SW quarter Section 20 T6N R5E. Also the SE quarter Section 19 T6N R5E containing 320 acres, for $50 to Lewis Augustus Willard 19 Sep 1864 in Sacramento county, California.¹⁰²
He died 6 March 1865 and she died 1 June 1868.

Alexander H. Willard, AHW Sr.'s grandson by Austin J. Willard, and one of several namesakes of AHW Sr., wrote:
"I received your letter a few days since and in reply to your request for information in regard to family history fear that I can afford you but little. So near as my recollection goes, Grandfather was born about the year 1779 at what place I do not know. He was married in 1806 and was I have understood twenty eight years old at that time. He was I believe 86 years old when he died that is my recollection. Grandmother Willard was six or eight years younger and was born and married at St. Genevieve St. Louis Co. Missouri. They had born to them twelve children seven boys and five girls. Eleven of them lived to maturity one died when young, Willis. The sons were Austin J., George, Hamilton, Roland, Joel, Lewis and Willis. The daughters were Christiana, Eliza, Nancy, Narcissa, & Ellen. You know Grandmother's maiden name was McDonald. But three of them are now living Lewis & Eliza Hartsough, Ellen Downey. I will send your letter to Aunt Eliza [Eliza Martha Willard Hartsough] as you request. I think Sister Leland [spelling?] has answered all your letters that have reached her. Mrs. Gilmour [Nancy Sanderson Gilmore, granddau. of Nancy Willard Feathers thru Ellen Feathers Sanderson] spent several months in Arizona most of the time at Uncle Lewis and she ought to have obtained from Uncle Lewis a valuable fund of information if that was what she was seeking. Uncle Lewis is the best living authority. He has in his possession dates and facts that are not known to others. Grandfather had a printed publication in regard to the trip of Lewis & Clark containing a daily account of their adventures. I have heard Grandmother and others read it to him and he was delighted to hear the story again told. You say that so many desire to be mentioned that it may cause some confusion. For one I do not share in the desire. I would not give a penny to have every man woman and child in America know that I was the grandson of one of the men who went with Lewis & Clark. I would not give a fig to know if I was the great grandson of Simon Willard or any one else. Grandfather crossed the Plains in 1852, had no trouble with indians or any adventure worth relating. While I do not sympathize with you as perhaps you think I should, yet I would assist you if I could. As ever, A. H. Willard."¹⁰³

A bronze tablet was erected in 1957 by the Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America, California State Society at the site of his grave and it reads (with inaccuracies): Alexander Hamilton Willard Born Charlestown, N.H. Aug. 24, 1778. Died Franklin Mar. 6, 1865, last surviving member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He kept a journal and gave valuable service as a gunsmith.104

Stephen Franklin Willard's 1969 booklet lists 12 children for Alexander and Eleanor, but three of them were just names: Clark, Calista, and "An unnamed daughter" (Narcissa?). Of these, it has since been established that only Narcissa is truly a daughter of this couple. The list of children below represents the best knowledge of their off-spring at this time.¹⁰⁵

SPOUSE:  ELEANOR MCDONALD was born on 4 Jul 1790 at Shelbyville, Shelby county, Kentucky, of Scotch descent.^{106,107,108,109,110,111,112} She died on 1 Jun 1868 at her home on Lower Stockton Road, Georgetown (modern Franklin), Sacramento county, California, at age 77.^113,114,115 She was buried in the Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Sacramento county, California.¹¹⁶ She was known as Eleanor or Elenor or Elinor MacDonald or McDonald in the various records in which her name appears.^117,118

Eleanor McDonald and Christiana McDonald came to Upper Louisiana in 1796 with their parents.¹¹⁹

Eleanor McDonald sold the SE quarter of Section 20 T6N R5E containing 160 acres, Also the East half of the SW quarter and the West half of the SW quarter of Section 21 T6N R5E containing 160 acres, all for $1 to Joel Willard 8 Mar 1866 in Sacramento county, California.¹²⁰

"A Notable Death - At Georgetown, in this county, June 1st, Mrs. Eleanor Willard, widow of the late Alexander Willard, deceased at her residence, on the lower Stockton road. Her husband was the last survivor known in California of the "Clark and Lewis Expedition," and accounts of whose death appeared in the Union in March, 1865. She was a native of Kentucky and aged nearly 78 years."¹²¹

Obituary: MRS. ELEANOR WILLARD. On the second Sabbath of this month, Rev. J. G. Johnson preached a funeral discourse on the death of the late Eleanor Willard in this place. The occasion was one of more than ordinary interest. She was a relict of the late Alexander Willard, a member of the Lewis and Clarke expedition over the Rocky Mountains. She survived her husband about two years. Her large family connections and her long and useful life drew a large congregation. The school-house was densely crowded and every available hearing place was occupied on the outside. Mrs. Willard was indeed a "Mother of Israel." A native of Kentucky, she moved to what was then "Far West", in Wisconsin, in 1835, came to California in 1852, and settled in Georgetown, Sacramento County, in 1859. Her offspring were twelve children, six of them are now living, four sons and two daughters. Her grand-children now about fifty, and great-grand children, about thirty, are scattered over this state and other states in the union. She was a faithful, devoted and consistent member of the Methodist church, a close and intelligent reader, desirous to "prove all things and hold fast to that which is good," and in consequence exercised a salutary influence around her. Long experience, kindness and a willing response to the call of every Christian benevolent duty, made her much called on in sickness and adversity. At the age of seventy-eight, she died a triumphant Christian, bearing with fortitude her illness, and retaining her faculties to the last, full of hope, rejoicing in the prospect of a happy eternity, "where the eary are at rest." The services commenced by reading one of the psalms of David. A favorite hymn of the deceased was then sung, "There is a Land of Pure Delight." An able and impressive sermon was then delivered from the 24th chapter of St. John, which was listened to with deep attention. "Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord." Grandmother, as those who knew her loved to call her, is buried in the cemetery of this town, by the side of the remains of her husband, one son, one daughter, and two grand-children.
Georgetown, Sacramento county, California, July 19, 1868
The descendants of this most esteemable couple who are still living are L. A. Willard, Eleanor Downing and Eliza Hartsough; the great-grand children, Fred Sanderson, W. C. Sanderson, and Mrs. J. W. Gilmore, and two great-great-grandchildren, Maysel and Volna Sanderson.¹²²

Known children of Alexander Hamilton¹ Willard Sr and Eleanor McDonald were as follows: