McDonough County Genealogical Society
William Willard, our Second Revolutionary War Patriot buried in McDonough County
William Willard lived a long and remarkable life, but even he was not entirely certain when it began. His parents told him he was born in 1755 in Loudoun County, Virginia, yet the many years he spent traveling between military camps, frontier forts, and new settlements left few records behind.
According to his Revolutionary War pension file, Willard volunteered for military service in July 1778 near Leesburg, Virginia. Because he could neither read nor write, he kept no personal records to document his service. Years later, while applying for a pension in Illinois, he testified before a judge that he marched from Leesburg to Winchester and then served at several frontier posts, including Fort Pitt, Fort Shepherd, and Fort Wheeling. After more than seven months of service, he returned home to Virginia.
About two and a half years later, Willard enlisted again. This time he marched to Richmond and later served under the command of General Lafayette during the closing stages of the war. He remained in service until the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781. His military discharge was eventually lost, but his testimony and supporting evidence were enough for him to receive a pension.
