- John Ward Sr.'s Profile
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Major John Ward, Sr.
Origin
In 1753 the two brothers, John and Jeremiah Ward, of Albemarle, patented 3200 acres of land on the north side of Dan river in Pittsylvania county, which were located (as designated) "in the mountains." John then settled at Reed creek; and some years later Jerry moved to Cabell county on the Guyandotte river. John Ward married the beautiful Anne, daughter of Henry Chiles and Anne Harrelson of Pittsylvania. He built a second home, The Mansion, east of the mouth of Otter river near its entrance into the Staunton and only a few miles from where Alta Vista now stands; here he lived, and, dying (over 100 years old), in 1816, was buried in the family grave-yard nearby. Major Ward married, secondly, 1766, Mrs. Sarah Clark - Lynch, daughter of Christ. Clark and widow of Charles Lynch, Sr., for which she was disowned by the Quakers, Ward not being of the sect. He received his title in 1778 as Major of Bedford County militia, an office he resigned in 1781 on account of his great age.
Some published data states that JOHN WARD, SR. was 100 years old at the time of his death. However, the studies of Wayne Jackson indicate he was 96 years, 2 months, 30 days old at his death. The discrepancy may be due to the fact that there were two children named John in this family. The first son JOHN was born and died in 1716. Mistakenly using the birthdate of the first son John and the death date of the second son JOHN would provide the basis for this published data.
"Major John Ward lived in Albemarle, Halifax, Bedford, and Campbell Counties in Virginia. He and his brother, JEREMIAH WARD, purchased and sold tracts of land in large volume in many counties in Virginia and North Carolina. In 1753 the two brothers, then living in Albemarle County, patented 3200 acres on the north side of the Dan River in Pittsylvania County, just one of the many tracts." He acquired many acres of land in Virginia making him a wealthy man.
John came to Pittsylvania County from Albemarle County about 1763. He built his home on the north side of Staunton River, now Campbell County, which he called "the Mansion" for its elegance in those pioneer days. It is standing today, a quaint old homestead, with its corner fireplaces and cabinets either side the mantel. There are 3 stories and the third story was the ballroom, covering the entire house, and here the daughters of the house were married."
"JOHN WARD, SR. was appointed Major of the Bedford Militia during the Revolutionary War. He carried the title 'Major John Ward' following that war.[1]
Military service: 1758, French & Indian War/ Augusta Virginia Militia.
In 1778, he was a member of the Committee of Safety for Bedford County and was recommended for the office of major in the county militia and was shortly approved for that office. He was the Captain of the County Militia and took oaths.[2].
He married into the Chiles family, one of the first families of Virginia. (Anne Chiles). He built his home The Mansion for his wife Ann Chiles Ward, but she died before she could move in. This property was located in Bedford County which would later be Campbell County
His wife died young after having five sons and two daughters. The daughters, Anne and Agatha were twins. In 1766 he married a prominent Campbell County widow, Mrs. Sarah Clark Lynch, daughter of Christ. Clark and widow of Charles Lynch, Sr., for which she was disowned by the Quakers, Ward not being of the sect. They had no children.
Marriage 1 Anne CHILES b: ABT 1732 in Amelia County, VA
- Married: ABT 1743 in Henry Chiles' Home, Pittsylvania Co., VA
Children
- William W. WARD b: 1745 in Albermarle County, VA
- John WARD Jr. b: ABT 1747 in Lee County, VA
- Agatha WARD b: 09 FEB 1750/51 in (Albermarle or Pittsylvania, VA)
- Henry WARD, Major b: 05 APR 1753 in Lunenburg Co., VA
- Jeremiah WARD b: ABT 1755 in (Albermarle or Pittsylvania, VA)
- Thomas WARD, Colonel b: ABT 1757 in (Albermarle or Pittsylvania, VA)
Marriage 2 Sarah CLARK b: ABT 1715 in (of Albermarle Co., VA)
- Married: 27 DEC 1766 in Bedford County, VA
Children
- Robert A. WARD b: in Lee County, VA
- Mill WARD b: in Lee County, VA
For a while they lived near Anne’s brother probably Paul Chiles. His home was called Riverview in Halifax county.
He was a vestryman. In the Halifax County Court Minute book 2 page 504, there is recorded the following words:
Oath of a vestryman of the Church of England.
I, John Ward, do subscribe to be conformable to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of Englands as by Law Directed.
As early as 1769 he built mills at Sinkler's and Chile's creeks; raised large yield of hemp upon his land. Included in his estate was a tract called Indian Camps, which received the name from its use by Indians. He surveyed the road leading to Lynchburg which still bears his name and which, though recently improved by shortening of curves, filling of depressions and sand-clay resurfacing, is not materially changed from its early lines; in providing cross-country passage for his neighbors, Ward built better than he reckoned, for his road now forms part of a highway which runs through the state, and connects with routes leading north and south.
"Will of JOHN WARD, SR. (Major John Ward) dated 23 January 1809 and probated 11 November 1816. Son WILLIAM WARD all my lands above the mouth of Old Womans Creek adjoining Stanton River and to his three children, ROBERT A. WARD, JOHN WARD, and MILL WARD. Son JOHN WARD the two tracts I purchased of Col. THOMAS DILLARD being 800 acres, my tracts of land in Amherst County near Lynch's Ferry, being 1000 acres, my stone house, and lot in Lynchburg, the tract he purchased of his brother WILLIAM WARD, the tract of 529 acres known as Talbots Place, the tract known as Johnsons Place which I purchased of EDWARD TERRELL, the 645 acres I purchased of FRANK SMITH on Sycamore Creek in Pittsylvania County and the 76 acres adjoining it, and the tract purchased of DAVIS in Campbell County known as Indian Camp. Son HENRY WARD all the lands adjoining the fery on the south side of Stanton River on the Otter River and Cheese Creek and the land purchased of HENRY CHILES known as Jacks Place. Daughter AGATHA CALLAWAY and her 3 children viz DAVID CALLAWAY, HENRY G. CALLAWAY, and MARGARET CALLAWAY. Daughter ANNE DILLARD and her children, my grandchildren, LYNCH DILLARD, LUCINDA DILLARD, and JOHN DILLARD my tract of land on Sycamore Creek above Earlys Mill containing 840 acres. JOHN CALLAWAY and HENRY WARD my back land on the waters of Smithy River in Patrick County and Montgomery County except the lands on Burkes Fork. Executors: JOHN WARD and HENRY WARD. Witnesses; HARTWELL ALLEN, WILLIAM HARRIS, JAMES WILLIAMS, and JAMES LESTER.
"The Inventory of the Estate of JOHN WARD, deceased, was presented 14 September 1818; the Account of Estate of MAJOR JOHN WARD, deceased, was made 13 September 1819.
Halifax Co., VA. Will Book O 1752-1773, "--- 1767 Page 7. Deceased PAUL CHILES, CAPTAIN JOHN WARD, Executor. By Wm. Madlock (Whitlock??) his part of crop, Paul Chiles his attendance on the back surveys 68 das, John Thompson exr. (John Farler Thompson?), John Woodson, Mr. Munfords fees; Thomas Duncan, Mr. Howard, Robt. Dolton (Dalton??) for boarding and schooling two children, MRS. ANN CHILS, her bond, expenses going to Williamsburg, Joseph Whitehead, "sail" of negro Tom, Kendrick for services, Alexr. Gilbert, Henry Chiles, James Lyles for Bumpass, John Bryand. Dated 21 May 1767; signed Thomas Dillard Jr., Benjamin...
Halifax Co. Orphans/bound children 1760-62 (part 2) March Ct. 1761: TOM a Negro boy belonging to John WARD, Gent. is adjudged May Ct. 1761
Sources
- http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=bhreed&id=I23925 cites a number of primary sources
- http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ggracie/library/ward/D1.HTM#G1 Descendants of Maj John Ward
- http://swedishclements.weebly.com/uploads/2/7/9/3/2793585/1767_-_lun_va.pdf TITHABLES OF PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, 1767. Lists all property and children.
- http://books.google.com/books?id=57aFNInLFroC&pg=PA139&lpg=PA139&dq=%22John+Ward%22|%22Ward,+John%22+%22Jeremiah+Ward%22|%22Ward,+Jeremiah%22+Chiles+1650..1790&source=bl&ots=9nGXyftSJ5&sig=qnkS1ltxx9sJE8MNWM0ZEwm8aCM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4HwYUfOGH5Sc9QSm9oGIAw&ved=0CF4Q6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=%22John%20Ward%22|%22Ward%2C%20John%22%20%22Jeremiah%20Ward%22|%22Ward%2C%20Jeremiah%22%20Chiles%201650..1790&f=false History Of Pittsylvania County Virginia By Maud Carter Clement
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On November 12, 2015 at 20:22GMT Hope Moore wrote:
On November 12, 2015 at 12:45GMT Bob Tonsmeire wrote:
John is 19 degrees from Kevin Bacon, 17 degrees from AJ Jacobs, 47 degrees from Lisa Kudrow, 24 degrees from Kurt Vonnegut and 16 degrees from Queen Elizabeth II of the Commonwealth Realms on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.