Thank you for your inquiry. Yes, our Archives can help to answer some of your questions.
It seems that you are not the only ancestor to have researched Rev. Elijah Willard. In 1938, his grandson,
Cyrus Field Willard, set out to document his genealogy. I've copied his correspondence for you.
There is also a manuscript letter dated 1849 from Elijah Willard to Rev. Crandon, the Presiding Elder in
Boston. This I've copied for you also.
According to The Minutes of the Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Elijah Willard
was named as a Deacon in the New England Conference in 1805. Sometime after this, he suffered some
"pecuniary embarrassments" as mentioned in his obituary, and was located. According to the Annual
Conference Minutes, his status was as follows:
1827-1832, 1834, 1841-1852: superannuated
1836-1837: supernumerary
1833, 1835, 1838-1840: not listed
Here is a transcription of his obituary (The Minutes of the Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, 1852), which is too fragile to photocopy:
"Rev. Elijah Willard was born in Ashburnham, Mass., in the year 1782. Reared amid religious influences,
his mind at a very early age became deeply impressed with divine truth. At the age of twelve he for the first
time heard Methodist preaching. 'I listened,' said he, 'with attention and delight, and had an immediate
conviction that these men were the servants of the Most High God, and showed the way of salvation.' In
1799, under the ministry of Jesse Lee, John Nichols, and E. R. Saben, he was led to make a consecration of
himself to God. Referring to this period he says: 'While praying in the field, the light burst upon my soul,
and I sprang to my feet and adored the divine mercy with inexpressible joy and undoubting trust.' Having
connected himself with the Church which had been instrumental in his conversion, he soon felt himself
called to enter the gospel ministry, and in 1803 was received into the New-England Conference. After
traveling for several years, chiefly in New-Hampshire, Vermont, and the Canadas, winning souls to God in
many places, he was induced by pecuniary embarrassments to locate. Subsequently, however, he joined
conference, and filled several appointments, but was for the most part superannuated. Father Willard was a
good man. He loved God with sincerity and truth, and served him according to his convictions of duty. The
distinguishing feature of his character as a minister was his familiarity with the Scriptures. His preaching
was eminently Biblical, not only in doctrine but in language. Brother Willard's end was peace. As his
physical strength failed, his love to God and man increased, till his whole soul seemed filled with glory.
Thus, in the town of Saugus, he ended a long and pious career of conflict and suffering on Sunday,
September 5, 1852."