John Ward (abt. 1717 - abt. 1782)

Born about 1717 in Province of Maryland [uncertain]

Husband of Sarah (Burrough) Ward — married 17 Dec 1737 in Joppa, Harford, Province of Maryland

Husband of Catherine (Perry) Ward — married about 1752 in Bedford Co., VA

Descendants

Died about 23 Dec 1782 at about age 65 in Bedford, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bob Fields [send private message]

Biography

This is not Major/Colonel John Ward, Revolutionary War veteran and husband of Anne Chiles, who died in 1816. Two John Wards lived in Bedford Co VA at the same time, having separate land records and wills. The two are very often confused in many online genealogies, because no specific birth records exist for either Ward. Birth date of 1717 is estimated from the birth dates of children and first marriage in 1737.

Question? Are we sure THIS John Ward lived/died in Virginia? the son Zachariah was born 1745 /died in Virginia...

Bedford Virginia and Harford County Maryland are 273 miles away from each other.

We have proof that a John Ward married Sarah Burrough IN Harford Maryland 1737...and a son was born March 1738... in St. John's Parish Joppa, Maryland.

Marriage St. John's Parish Register

"John Ward and Sarah Borrough were married December the seventeenth one thousand seven hundred thirty seven."

NEXT ENTRY:

Birth St. John's Parish Register

"William Ward son of said John Ward and Sarah his wife, was born March the tenth one thousand seven hundred thirty eight." ^[1]

Birth St. John's Parish Register

" Elizabeth Ward daughter of John Ward and Sarah his wife, was born the twenty first day of June Anno Domini, one thousand seven hundred forty one." ^[2]

There was specific research showing multiple land patents in Bedford Co at the same time to 'John Ward' with only 'Major John Ward' grants existing after 1782: From researcher Sam Waters^[3]:

John Ward, father of Elizabeth Ward, was reported to have arrived in Franklin County (then Bedford County) in 1753 ^[4]. It is important to note that this John Ward, father of Elizabeth) is not the same Major John Ward from Bedford County. Major John Ward died in 1816. This John Ward died in 1782. John Ward’s will of 1782 reportedly left 200 acres to John Finney and Elizabeth, and named Zachariah Ward and Mary Ward as heirs. (The name Zachariah may explain the source of Zachariah Finney’s name, son of John Finney and Elizabeth Ward).

The 1782 personal property tax list for Bedford Co., Virginia lists John Ward and John Finnie. The 1783 personal property tax list for Bedford County, Virginia identifies John Finnie, but John Ward is no longer listed. On the 1782 Land Tax Lists of Bedford Co., Va., there are two John WARDs listed. One shows 150 acres with R. WALKER. The second one is listed as Major John WARD and is shown with 130 acres. This land tax record was dated 19 Jul 1782. On the 1784 list, only the John WARD appears with the 130 acres. This is consistent with his reported death date of John Ward (not Col. John Ward) and will dated 1782. The personal property tax lists confirm that at least for the period of 1782- 1787 John Finney lived in Bedford County. John Finney does not appear to be on the Bedford County tax list for 1788, supporting his move to Franklin County.

He apparently inherited land in Maryland from his brother Nathaniel in 1779. His family may have originally been from that area.

06 AUG 1782 John Ward made his will in Bedford County, VA. Probate: 23 DEC 1782 Will proven in Bedford Co., VA. This means John died after 6 Aug and before (probably very close to) 23 Dec 1782. Isaac Scarborough (Scarbrough) is the husband of daughter Mary Ward.

To my wife Catherine for term of her life this house wherein I now dwell with all the furniture, a mare, bridle and saddle, a cow and a calf, four head of sheep and after her death to my daughter Mary Scarborough.

To Betty Phinny the tract of land whereon she and her husband now live and one cow and one calf.

To John Ward the son of my daughter, Mary, one young mare and her increase excepting the first colt to Joshua Phinny, son to my daughter Betty.

To Elizabeth Ward daughter to my son Zachariah deceased 5 pounds if she lives to the age of 18.

Rest and residuals of my goods and chattels and personal estate after payment of my debts and legacies I give to my daughter Mary Scarborough, after all my Mesuages Lands Herediments whatsoever and wheresoever to her.

Executor, Isaac Scarborough ... which I also charge with payment of my debts & legacies.

Witnesses: Henry Brown, Sr; Henry Brown, Jr.; Samuel Adams.

Proven 23 Dec 1782 by oath of Henry Brown & Samuel Adams 27 January 1783

Security: Thomas Lumpkin & William Hudnall.^[5]

Some genealogy resources also list sons Samuel and Joshua, who are not mentioned in the will.

1. ↑ familysearch.org St. John's Parish Register page 103 image 380
2. ↑ familysearch.org St. John's Parish Register page 113 image 385
3. ↑ http://genforum.genealogy.com/finney/messages/1560.html
4. ↑ A Settlement Map of Franklin County Made for the Franklin County Historical Society: Names and Locations of Many of the Early Settlers in the area from 1786 to 1886
5. ↑ Abstracts of Wills & Accounts, Bedford County, VA 1754-1787, Page: 430-431. Transcribed in http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=bhreed&id=I21879

Sources

• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=bhreed&id=I21879

• http://genforum.genealogy.com/ward/messages/16583.html

• http://www.wvgenweb.org/raleigh/BOOK/ScarboroIsaacGracie.pdf incorrectly shows John Married to Ann Chiles, describes the Scarboro family.

• http://hausegenealogy.com/ward.html Ward Familiy Genealogy showing Major John and possible ancestors.

• https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Bedford_County,_Virginia Bedford County history and reference info.

• http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pioneerfamilies/Rudolph/a1.htm contains Phinny wife/descendant info.

• http://genforum.genealogy.com/finney/messages/1560.html

• http://genforum.genealogy.com/ward/messages/9480.html "Our Ward Family" book by N. Wayne Jackson:

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Bob Fields for starting this profile.