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Rev Luther Willson

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Birth	:	26 Apr 1783 New Braintree, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA
Death	:	20 Nov 1864 Petersham, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA
Burial	:	Petersham Center Cemetery, Petersham, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.4877720, -72.1861520
Description	:	son of Joseph & Sarah (Matthews) Willson md. 1. 30 Nov. 1806, Sally, dau. of Abijah & Mercy Amelia (Spring) Bigelow. She was b. Waltham, 6 Jul. 1783 & d. Petersham, 29 Jan. 1826. md. 2. Deerfield, 5 Dec. 1827, Fidelia, dau. of Quartus & Rhoda (Benjamin) Wells, She was b. Deerfield, 6 Aug. 1797 & d. Bellows Falls, Vt. 8 Jan. 1884. Children: ( all by Sally, 1-3 b. Leicester, 4-6 b. Brooklyn, Ct., 7-8 b. Petersham) 1. Martha Amelia b. 20 Nov. 1807 2. William Cowper b. 29 Dec. 1809 3. George Campbell b. 16 Dec. 1811 4. Sarah Matthews b. 24 Mar.... Read More	son of Joseph & Sarah (Matthews) Willson md. 1. 30 Nov. 1806, Sally, dau. of Abijah & Mercy Amelia (Spring) Bigelow. She was b. Waltham, 6 Jul. 1783 & d. Petersham, 29 Jan. 1826. md. 2. Deerfield, 5 Dec. 1827, Fidelia, dau. of Quartus & Rhoda (Benjamin) Wells, She was b. Deerfield, 6 Aug. 1797 & d. Bellows Falls, Vt. 8 Jan. 1884. Children: ( all by Sally, 1-3 b. Leicester, 4-6 b. Brooklyn, Ct., 7-8 b. Petersham) 1. Martha Amelia b. 20 Nov. 1807 2. William Cowper b. 29 Dec. 1809 3. George Campbell b. 16 Dec. 1811 4. Sarah Matthews b. 24 Mar. 1814 5. Joseph b. 1 Oct. 1816 6. Zibiah Nelson b. 1 Sep. 1818 7. Edmund Burke b. 15 Aug. 1820 8. Lucy Williams b. 27 Aug. 1822 _______________________________________ Luther Willson, the father, a farmer and a preceptor of youth,— he had been the principal of an incorporated academy at Leicester where no less than 30 of his descendants have been taught, Luther Willson had achieved in early manhood a fair success. He had prepared for college Gov. Emory Washburn, Judge Charles Allen, and other boys who were to become conspicuous men. But not content to follow this career he fitted himself for the pulpit, and in due time obtained a license to preach. He had been trained in the strict morality and in the rigid dogma of the century that had closed. But the period was one of mental activity and growth, and Luther Willson was not long in finding out that to conserve what was priceless in the former did not require him to cherish what was worthless in the latter. He had left his ancestral home for the Congregational parish in Brooklyn, the county seat of Wyndham County, in eastern Connecticut, and here he had grown to be respected and beloved. Upon the close of the war of 1812-15, differences of dogma began to assert themselves in New England Congregational polity, which culminated in a few years in the liberal religious, or so-called Unitarian movement. In 1817, Luther Willson was tried for heresy and was convicted of it, against the protests of a majority of his parishioners, and of eminent theologians of the day who were in sympathy with him. Aaron Bancroft of Worcester, the historian's father, was among them. Luther Willson was forced by the Consociation of Churches of Wyndham County to give up his pulpit, and 1819 found him established over a broader and more independent congregation at Petersham in his native county, but not before he had accepted from Dr. Channing an invitation to pay him an extended visit at the famous parsonage in Boston, and had received from the hand of the great reformer, in recognition of his sturdy manhood, the gift of a watch which remains an heirloom amongst his descendants." Source: "A MEMOIR OF EDMUND B. WILLSON" by Robert S. Rantoul (mayor of Salem), Essex Institute, 1895.] _____________________________________________ Source: pMcP (#48680380)

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Rev Luther Willson's memorial?
Rev Luther Willson's memorial is located at: Petersham Center Cemetery, Petersham, Worcester County, USA.
When did Rev Luther Willson death?
Rev Luther Willson death on 20 Nov 1864 in Petersham, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Rev Luther Willson's memorial?
Latitude: 42.4877720
Longitude: -72.1861520

Family Members:

Parent

Joseph Willson

(unknow - 1844)

Sally Willson

(unknow - 1802)

Spouse

Sally Bigelow Willson

(1783 - 1826)

Fidelia Wells Willson

(1797 - 1884)

Siblings

Melisse Willson

(unknow - 1795)

Children

Martha Amelia Willson Brooks

(1807 - 1876)

George Campbell Willson

(1811 - 1883)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. East Street Cemetery
Petersham, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4907990, -72.1750031

2. Ledgeville Cemetery
Petersham, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4897500, -72.1587300

3. Coolidge Cemetery
Petersham, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4651500, -72.2020800

4. West Street Cemetery
Petersham, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4881900, -72.2216500

5. Harvard Cemetery
Petersham, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5305000, -72.1896100

6. Northwest Cemetery
Petersham, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5210991, -72.2268982

7. Nichewaug Cemetery
Petersham, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4431700, -72.1930600

8. Williams Cemetery
Petersham, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4786500, -72.1148400

9. New Sherborn Cemetery
Athol, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5402985, -72.2166977

10. Stratton Cemetery
Athol, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5407872, -72.2151265

11. Adams Road Cemetery
Athol, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5425560, -72.2133610

12. South Cemetery
Phillipston, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5318985, -72.1267014

13. Fay Cemetery
Athol, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5466300, -72.2364200

14. Brown's Family Cemetery (Defunct)
Dana, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4229200, -72.2223600

15. Number 10 Cemetery
Barre, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4176300, -72.1782400

16. Number 9 Cemetery
Barre, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4725000, -72.0910800

17. Harty Cemetery
Hubbardston, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4791550, -72.0888520

18. Dana Center Cemetery (Defunct)
Dana, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4222300, -72.2275700

19. Ellinwood Cemetery
Athol, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5589400, -72.2142600

20. Upper Cemetery
Phillipston, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5512820, -72.1339770

21. Jenkins Cemetery
Barre, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4157000, -72.1573900

22. Lower Cemetery
Phillipston, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5583000, -72.1425018

23. Lincoln Cemetery
Barre, Worcester County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4313120, -72.1125470

24. Branch Bridge Cemetery
New Salem, Franklin County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5337500, -72.2743640