A veteran of the American Revolution, he was most notable for his service as United States Marshal for Vermont from 1801 to 1811 and as the business manager for the educational endeavors of Emma Willard, who was his third wife.

[1][2] He was educated in East Guilford and served on a ship's crew at the start of the American Revolution.

[3] After Jefferson won, he appointed Willard as United States Marshal for Vermont, succeeding Jabez G.

[5] The directors and managers of the bank could not explain the shortage, and a court judgment in favor of the depositors resulted in liens against Willard's property.

[5] Despite the success of his wife's school, Willard's personal finances did not recover after the bank theft, and he was insolvent at the time of his death.

[7] In 1819, the Willards moved their female seminary to Waterford, New York after the state legislature enacted a law providing financial aid for the education of women.