Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/107

Rh ornamental painting of two hundred years ago. One of the original doors taken from Captain Willett's dwelling, and his sword, are said to be in the possession of the city of New York. On the opposite side of the road from his house, was a log house or fort, used as a defence from the Indians before and during Philip's war, and was known as Willett's Garrison. From New York, he returned to and resided on his farm at Wannamoisett during the remainder of his life, and filled the highest offices of trust and usefulness in the society.

"He maintained through life an exalted character for piety and probity, and was not inferior to any of the Pilgrims in any of the high qualities which rendered them so illustrious as the founders of a great people." Baylies, page 8, vol. iv.

He died at home, August 4, 1674, in the 64th year of his age, and was buried near his residence, on a point of land at the head of Bullock's Cove. A thick, rough stone marks his grave, on which may be read, carved in rude letters, the following inscription:

His wife, Mary (Brown) Willett, died in 1669, and her remains lie near her husband's. His second wife, Joanna, the widow of the Rev. Peter Prudden, whom Capt. Willett married on the 19th September, 1671, died, according to the inscription on her gravestone, in 1699, aged sixty-five.

Captain Willett had thirteen children by his first wife, several of whom survived him. Their daughter Mary married Rev. Samuel Hooker, of Farmington; Martha married