Thomas Ward (1825 - 1896)

Born 1825 in Toronto Gore Township, Upper Canada

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Biography

Thomas was born in 1825 in Toronto Gore Township, Upper Canada. This is now Brampton, Ontario, Canada. He was the 9th child of George Ward, by George’s second wife, Elizabeth Ann Barker. He was the first child of this couple to be born in Upper Canada (his older siblings were born in Yorkshire, England).

He marries Mary Ann Woodill in 1851. This marriage joins two of the original Toronto Gore families -- the Wards and the Woodills (it was not the first marriage to join these two families).

Thomas and Mary Ann can be found in the 1851 (1852) census records living in Toronto Gore in the household of Thomas' older brother, George. Relationships in this household are complex. Mary Ann Woodill is the daughter of William Woodill and Ann Pickering. William dies in 1836 and then “Ann” or “Mary Ann” Pickering marries George Ward. So, in 1852 (the 1851 census was conducted in 1852) Thomas Ward is living in his brother’s house and his brother has married his mother-in-law who also happens to be his sister-in-law.

Thomas and his brother Robert remained on the family farm (Lot 7, Concession 7) which they had inherited from their father, George Ward (c1772-1847). In 1851 Thomas sold his share to his brother. Presumably, at that point, Thomas moved in with his brother George and then, some time later, he bought the farm at Lot 5, Concession 7. In today's geography this is the southeast corner of Airport Road and Queen Street (the old Hwy 7) in Brampton, Ontario. It is speculated that he bought this farm from his father-in-law’s brother, Robert Woodill. That intersection was originally known as "Woodill" (no "h").

Thomas and Mary Ann can be found in the 1861 census, on a farm in Lot 5, Concession 7 of Toronto Gore. Living with them are their first three children: George William (9), Ann Elizabeth (7) and John F. (5). This suggests that their fourth child, Mary Emilia, died in childhood. They also have living with them two labourers (one of whom is probably a nephew) and a servant. The family is Primitive Methodist in terms of religion. The agricultural census for 1861 shows that Thomas owned 100 acres of which 75 was under cultivation. The following (bushels) shows the production of the farm: fall wheat (250), spring wheat (12), barley (400), peas (200), oats (250), buck wheat (60), potatoes (60), turnips (250), mangel wurzel (50), and carrots (150). "Mangel wursel" is a root crop, somewhat like a carrot or beet, used as animal fodder. In addition the farm produces 10 tones of hay and various other forage/seed crops.

The family is also in the 1871 census with the following children: George W. (18), Ann E., (17), John F., (15), Serena M. (9), Amelia L. (7), Idia [Ida] A. (5), Julia H. (3) and Clara M. (5 months).

Thomas was a merchant, treasurer of Toronto Gore Township and Postmaster of the Woodhill Post Office from the date it opened (April 1, 1871) until his death in June, 1896. ("Woodill" had become "Woodhill.")

He is buried in Prospect Cemetery (1450 St Clair Ave W, Toronto).

Here is a portion of the obituary for Thomas Ward as it appeared in the Christian Guardian: “Our dear brother gave himself to the Lord in early youth, but after a time yielded to the temptation of the evil one, and fell from grace. He was restored under the ministry of the Rev. W. Rowe, in 1862 . . . .”

It is difficult to produce a definative list of the children of Thomas Ward and Mary Ann Woodill (and the spouses of these children) but the following is the best effort to date:

• George William Ward (1852-?) + Mary Horsley

• Ann (Annie) Elizabeth Ward (1854-1934) + Thomas Nix

• John Francis Ward (1856-1933) + Maria Horsley

• Mary Emilia Ward (1858<1861)

• Serena Mary Ward (c1863-?) + James Mitchel

• Amelia Lavra Ward (c1865-?) + George Bean

• Ida Alberta Ward (c1867-?) + Walter Champline

• Julia Hannah Ward (1868-?) + Albert Hewgill

• Clara Melissa Ward (1870 -?)+ Samuel A. Mitchel

• Robert Thomas Ward (c1874-?)

• Herbert Blake Ward (c1876-?) + Irene Kennedy

Can you add any information on Thomas Ward? Please help grow his WikiTree profile. Everything you see here is a collaborative work-in-progress.

Sources

[1] Upper Canada Marriage Indexes, shows a Thomas Ward and a Mary Ann Woodill married in 1851: http://www.ontariogenealogy.com/uppercanadamarriages/uppercanadamarriages.html

[2] Mays, Herbert Joseph, 1979, "Families and Land in Toronto Gore Township, Peel County, Ontario, 1820-1890," a Thesis submitted to the School of Granduate Studies, McMater University. In Appendix A to this thesis, the Woodill family, represented by John Woodill, is shown to be in the group of the first 8 settlers in Toronto Gore. George Ward (father of Thomas) is shown to be in the next group of 8 settlers (the "1830 cohort"). However, a map in this work, showing settlers as of 1821, has G. Ward in Lot 7, Conc 7. In Appendix C, Thomas Ward is shown to have sold 100 acres in Lot 7, Conc 7 to his brother in 1850 for $750.

[3] 1851 census: Thomas, age 26, shows up as a “gentleman” married and living in the house of George Ward (age 39) in Toronto Gore. George Ward is the 5th child of the original George Ward (this is known from the list of his children) and, therefore, Thomas’ older brother. Aside from George's children, the other occupant of the household is “Mary Ann” aged 18. This is Mary Ann Woodill who Thomas married in 1851 (the census was conducted in 1852).

[4] Ward farm: the map (Peel Heritage Complex) of Toronto Gore in 1859 shows “Thos Ward” as the owner of the farm at the corner of (what is now) Airport Rd and Queen Street (ie, old Hwy #7) – this is Lot 5, Conc VII. The 1877 map in the McGill Historical Atlas collection also shows a Thos. Ward in Lot 5, Concession VII. The farm to the south is owned by Robt Woodell (probably a mis-spelling of “Woodill”). And the farm to the north is “Est of Jno Woodell” (again, a mis-spelling of “Woodill”). The corner of what is now Airport Road and Queen Street is labelled “Woodhill” on this map. The original Ward family farm on this 1877 map (Lot 7, Conc VII) is shown as “Est of Robt Ward.”

[5] 1861 agricultural census, Ontario, Township of Gore of Toronto, Peel, pg 15, line 6, Thomas Ward, Lot 5, Concession 7, 100 acres, 75 under cultivation, 62 under crop, 12.5 under pasture, 0,5 under orchard, 25 under wood or wild, cash value of farm $8,000, cash value of farm implements $260, fall wheat 250 bu., spring wheat 12 bu., barley 400 bu., peas 200 bu., oats 250 bu., buck wheat 60 bu., potatoes 60 bu., turnips 250 bu., mangel wurzel 50 bu., carrots 150 bu., hay 10 tons, clover seed 5 tons. (The next farm is John Woodill, Esq.,) [Mangel wurzel, Mangelwurzel or mangold wurzel is a root crop used as animal fodder.]

[6] 1861 personal census, Ontario, Township of the Gore of Toronto, pg 2 (maybe 11), lines 7- Thomas Ward (35), farmer, born U. Canada; Mary Ann Ward (27); George William Ward (looks like “19” but is known to be “9”); Ann Elizabeth (7); John F. Ward (5); John Ward (18), labourer; John Young (40), born England, labourer; Elizabeth (?) Dinkall or Doinkall (17), servant. The family is P. Methodist [Primitive Methodist], except for John Young who is Church of England. They live in a 1.5 story frame house. The labourer, John Ward, is probably a nephew?

[7] 1871 census, Ontario, 39, Peel, Toronto Gore, pg 28, household 92, Thomas Ward (44), born Ontario, farmer; Mary Ann (36), born Ontario; George W. (18); Ann E. (17); John F. (15); Serena M. (9); Amelia L., (7); Idia A. (5); Julia H. (3); Clara M. (5 months). The family is labelled English and their religion is Primitive Methodist. The next family, household 93, is the 76-yr old Robert Woodill who was born in England and who is shown living by himself. And the family after that is a 50-yr old Robert P. Woodill who was born in Ontario (+ Elizabeth, his wife, and 5 children). Although this needs more research, the 76-yr old Robert Woodill is almost certainly the brother of Thomas Ward’s father-in-law (Mary Ann’s father) and it was likely this Robert Woodill who sold Thomas Ward the farm on which he was living in the 1871 census.

[8] Postmaster: Postal service from the Post Office records on the Library and Archives Canada web site.

[9] Obituary: The obituary is in the Lois Knight Collection (Accession #2007-160) at the Peel Heritage Complex

[10] Children and children's spouses: Names of children, order of birth, and spouse’s names are, in the first instanace, from Bruce Horsley records (Bruce Horsley, who lives in Amaranth Township, is a friend and distant relative of the author). These records show the following for 9 children:

• George Ward (married Mary Horsley)
• John Ward (married Maria Horsley)
• Serena Mary (married John Mitchel)
• Amelia L (married George Bean)
• Ida Alberta (married Walter Champline)
• Julia H. (married Albert Hugill in 1894)
• Clara Melissa (married Samuel A. Mitchell)
• Robert Thomas (lived in Hartney)
• Dr Herbert Blake (lived in Thorold)

Two names were added to this list from other sources (1) the author's own family records for Ann (Annie) Elizabeth Ward; and (2) a baptism record for Mary Emily Ward on Feb 16, 1859 found in the Trinity (formerly Methodist) United Church, Malton, Peel County, Ontario, Baptisms 1844-1925, Marriages 1858-1925, Burials 1912-1925 obtained at the Peel Heritage Complex. The year of birth for 7 of the children were initially calculated from the 1881 census (so may be off by one year). The names and ages of the first 3 children are calculated from the 1861 census with several transcription errors corrected. Several of the names (particularly middle names) are from the notes in the Lois Knight Collection at the Peel Heritage Complex. Finally, some dates and names have been modified based on actual baptism records in the Trinity (formerly Methodist) United Church, Malton, Peel County, Ontario, Baptisms 1844-1925, Marriages 1858-1925, Burials 1912-1925 obtained at the Peel Heritage Complex

Acknowledgments

This version of the biography was prepared by Frederick Paterson Nix on Feb 9, 2014.

Thank you to Fred Nix for creating Ward-8545 on 3 Dec 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Fred and others.