David Ward (1761 - 1821)

Born 30 Nov 1761 in Killingworth, New London, Connecticut

Ancestors

Husband of Abigail Pray — married about 1779 in Wells (Rutland) VT

Descendants

Died 15 Dec 1821 at age 60 in Wells, Rutland, Vermont, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Wallace Philips [send private message], Victoire Felix [send private message], and Bruce Cottew [send private message]

David Ward is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A120478.

Private David Ward served with 1st New York Regiment, Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Biography

David, born 30 Nov 1761, was the son of Asael Ward and Esther Franklin. David's father Asael or Asahel was an early settler of Addison, Vermont. He and Zadock Everest, David Vallance and John Strong cleared land and built cabins at Chimney Point on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain in 1765. He went back to Connecticut for the winter and returned with his family in the spring of 1766, as noted in the H. Smith's History of Addison County, Vermont resource.

David grew up in Addison and was about 15 when the Revolutionary War started. David and his brother John enlisted in the 1st New York Regiment of the Continental line. The Andrew Ward and His Descendants reference suggests the date of enlistment to have been 13 Feb 1776, but it may have been a bit later. When their enlistments were up, both David and John fought with the Vermont Militia until the end of the war.

Addison, on the shores of Lake Champlain, later in the Revolutionary War became a dangerous place to live. A British detachment under the command of Carelton raided the area in 1778 burning the homes and taking prisoners back to Canada. David's brother John was one of those prisoners who endured two winters as captives before they escaped in the spring of 1780. (See John's Profile Page for documentation).

David Ward became a Baptist minister and surveyor, lived in Wells Vermont. He served as a private in the Revolution, both in New York and Vermont.^[1] He was from Massachusetts and settled on the New Hampshire Grants, now Vermont near Lake Chaplain.

Per FAG his first wife was Mehitable Rider, with whom he had one child: Jonathan.

His second wife was Abigail Pray (1755-1817). They had ten children per FG. (Their middle names and married names are from David’s Find A Grave page.)

1. Submit (Ward) Tobey, 03 Aug 1780 ^[2]
2. Eber Ward, 10 Aug 1782 ^[3]
3. Samuel Duane Ward, 20 May 1784 ^[4]
4. Nathan Ward, 03 Nov 1786 ^[5]
5. Heziah Ward, 25 Jan 1789 ^[6]
6. Zael/Jael Ward, 06 Apr 1791 ^[7]
7. Rhoda Ward, 27 Jan 1793 ^[8]
8. John Pray Ward, 1 Apr 1795 ^[9]
9. Charlotte (1797-1862). Name listed on FG. Birth record not found.
10. David. Name listed on FG. Birth record not found.

Abigail passed in 1817. ^[10]

Per Find A Grave his third wife was Mehitable (Clark) Wyman. They were married 24 Sep 1817 in Wells, Rutland, VT.

He passed away in 1821. ^[11] Buried in Wells Town Cemetery, Wells, Vermont. ^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 18 Sept 2023), "Record of David Ward", Ancestor # A120478.
2. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V89H-69Q : 5 November 2017), David Ward in entry for Submit Ward, 03 Aug 1780, Birth; State Capitol Building, Montpelier; FHL microfilm 27,719.
3. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V89H-JFQ : 5 November 2017), David Ward in entry for Eber Ward, 10 Aug 1782, Birth; State Capitol Building, Montpelier; FHL microfilm 27,718.
4. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V89H-NG3 : 5 November 2017), David Ward in entry for Samuel Ward, 20 May 1784, Birth; State Capitol Building, Montpelier; FHL microfilm 27,719.
5. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V89H-F8S : 5 November 2017), David Ward in entry for Nathan Ward, 03 Nov 1786, Birth; State Capitol Building, Montpelier; FHL microfilm 27,719.
6. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V89H-WLB : 5 November 2017), David Ward in entry for Heziah Ward, 25 Jan 1789, Birth; State Capitol Building, Montpelier; FHL microfilm 27,719.
7. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V89H-KJW : 5 November 2017), David Ward in entry for Jael Ward, 06 Apr 1791, Birth; State Capitol Building, Montpelier; FHL microfilm 27,719.
8. ↑ "Vermont Births and Christenings, 1765-1908," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F825-D2K : 11 February 2018), David Ward in entry for Rhoda Ward, 27 Jan 1793; citing WELLS TWP,RUTLAND,VERMONT, reference ; FHL microfilm unknown.
9. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V89H-4BL : 5 November 2017), David Ward in entry for John Pray Ward, 01 Apr 1795, Birth; State Capitol Building, Montpelier; FHL microfilm 27,719.
10. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V89H-DMB : 5 November 2017), David Ward in entry for Abigail Ward, 27 Apr 1817, Death; State Capitol Building, Montpelier; FHL microfilm 27,718.
11. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records,1760-1954" https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V89H-7K3
12. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #87259595

See also:

• Ward, George K., "Andrew Ward and His Descendants 1597-1910," New York: AT De La Mare Publishing, 1910.

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/LH9T-4FS (sources for birth of several of his children are here)

• https://www.geni.com/people/David-Ward/6000000006442341337

• Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954--Marriage to Mehitabel Wyman

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V89X-X7R

• United States Rosters of Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783, Vermont

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3Q-C323-6?i=229&cc=2546162&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQG2M-B16L

• Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/53282:4110

• Smith, H.., "History of Addison County, Vermont, Syracuse, New York, Mason and Col, 1886

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to Bruce Cottew for creating WikiTree profile Ward-7649 through the import of Cottew.ged on Jul 15, 2013.