Alice (Edmonds) Ward (abt. 1612 - abt. 1679)

Born about 1612 in Alkham, Kent, England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 21 Mar 1679 at about age 67 in Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Alice (Edmonds) Ward migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Alice Edmonds (Edmunds) was born about 1612, probably at Olkham/Alkham, Kent, England; the daughter of Nicholas Edmonds of Olkham/Alkham.

She married at age 24 years (spinster) to John Ward (son of Rev. Nathaniel Ward who had migrated in 1634) at St. Leonard's, Foster Lane, London, England with the license dated May 24, 1636. John Ward was born November 5, 1606 probably at Haverhill, Suffolk, England.

With her husband, she migrated to New England by December 1639; with two of their children, Susannah, about age 15 and James, about age 10. The family first resided at Ipswich and Newbury, moved for a short time to Agamenticus, Maine then finally settled at Haverhill, Massachusetts Bay Colony where he was minister.

Alice was a powerful, opinionated woman who held strong faith convictions. When in in 1640 her husband was considering whether to move back to England, Alice was "utterly against it." Giles Firmin, writing to Governor John Winthrop said John Ward was "willing [to stay] if hee might but have any employment to stay still." Firmin requested Winthrop to find someplace for John Ward to preach.

Cotton Mather in Magnalia Christi Americana" wrote "Though he [John Ward] had great offers of rich matches in England, yet he chose to marry a meaner person, whom exemplary piety had recommeded. He lived with her for more than forty years, in such an happy harmony, that when she died, he professed that, in all this time, he never had received one displeasing word or look from her. Although she would so faithfully tell him of every thing that might seem amendable in him, that he would pleasantly compare her to an accusing conscience yet she ever pleased him wonderfully: and she would often put him upon the duties of secret fasts, and when she met with any thing in reading that she counted singularly areeable, she would still impart it to him. And there is this memorable passage to be added. While she was a maid, there was ensured unto her the revenue of a parsonage worth two hundred pounds per annum, in case that she married a minister. And all this had been given to our Ward, in case he had conformed unto the doubtful matters in the Church of England: but he left all the allurements and enjoyments of England 'chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God in a wilderness.'"

Alice Ward had been married 40 years when she died in March of 1680 at Haverhill.

With her husband, John Ward, Alice gave birth to the following children:

1. Elizabeth Ward who was b. April 1, 1647 & d.April 29, 1714. Married Nathaniel Saltonstall, (son of Richard & Muriel (Gurdon) Saltonstall,) at Haverhill on December 28, 1663. Nathaniel b. Ipswich abt. 1639 and d. Haverhill May 21, 1707.
2. Mary Ward was born June 24, 1649. She married Benjamin Woodbridge, (son of John Woodbridge,) on June 13, 1672. Benj. b. about 1648 & d. Medford, Jan 15, 1709/10. He m. (2nd) Deborah (Cushing) Tarleton, (daut. of Daniel Cushing and widow of Henry Tarleton/Tarlton) at Hingham on Aug. 31, 1686.

Sources

This biography (unless otherwise cited) is based on Alicia Crane Williams' research in Early New England Families.

• Early New England Families, 1641-1700. (Original Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2013. (By Alicia Crane Williams, Lead Genealogist.) sketch of Rev. John Ward. pp 1-4.subscriber$