John Ward Senior (abt. 1625 - bef. 1694)

Born about 1625 in Stretton, Rutland, England

Husband of Hannah (Crane) Ward — married about 1690 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey Colony

Descendants

Died before 20 Nov 1694 before about age 69 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey

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Biography

John, the son of Richard and Joice (birth surname unknown) Ward, was probably born in Stretton, Rutland England. He arrived in New England as a young man, accompanied by his widowed mother, his sister Mary, her husband John Fletcher and their daughter Mary.^[1] Researchers have disproven that older brothers Anthony, William, and Robert also emigrated.^[2]

The family initially settled in Wethersfield, Connecticut where John's mother died in early 1640-41.^[3] The Fletchers departed and were instrumental in founding Milford; John also left to become one of the founders of Branford^[4] where his children^[5] were born.^[6] Some sources name John's wife as Sarah Hill of Guilford, but the relationship has been disproven.^[7][8]

Disagreeing with the more relaxed religious policies of the New Haven Colony, John co-signed the Fundamental Agreement of the new colony of Newark, New Jersey in October of 1666.^[9] He moved the family there in the Spring of 1667 and for many years appeared frequently in town records as a civic leader.^[8] As a member of the milita he earned the title "Sargeant."^[10]

John's first wife died prior to 1690 when he married second wife Hannah Crane Huntington.^[11] His will, dated October 31, 1694 and proved November 20, 1694 names his "Dear and Loving wife which Now is Hanna Ward by Name," son John Ward, son Nathanel Ward, grandson John Ward, "my Daughters now Living," "surviving children and issue of my Daughter Hanna Baldwin deceased," son-in-law Jabish Rogers, son-in-law John Cooper. Executors were his sons John and Nathanel Warde (Unrecorded Wills, vol. 5, pp. 369-70; NJA 23:489, 21:216). (FTM CD#182

Sgt/Lieut John Ward, died in Newark, New Jersey, in 1694^[12]

Children

1. John Ward Jr. (1650-1695), b. 10 Apr 1650^[13], m. [1] daughter of Henry Lyon, m. [2] Abigail Kitchell, d. 1695 in Newark. Named in the Will of John Ward (abt.1625-bef.1694).
2. Sarah b. c. 1652, m. by license dated 23 Jan. 1674 to Jabez Rogers (GMNJ 43:51). Jabish Rogers named in the Will of John Ward (abt.1625-bef.1694).
3. Mary, b. 11 Jun 1654 (year extrapolated from adjacent lines)^[14], m. Samuel Harrison, d. 1738 in Newark
4. Nathaniel b. 30 Nov. 1656^[15]; d. 1732 Newark (m. Christiana Swaine). Named in the Will of John Ward (abt.1625-bef.1694).
5. Hannah b. 20 1658^[16], m. Jonathan Baldwin, d. 1693 in Milford. Named in the Will of John Ward (abt.1625-bef.1694).
6. Elizabeth b. 24 Jan 1659/60(? adjacent records state "1665") ^[17], m. Thomas Lyon, d. 2 Apr 1717. Thomas Lyon was named as a "brother" in the Will of John Ward (1650-1695).
7. Dorcas Ward b. 10 Mar 1661/62^[18], m. Joseph Harrison, d. 25 Jan 1737/38. Joseph Harrison was named as a "brother" in the Will of John Ward (1650-1695).
8. Abigail, b. 20 April 1665^[19]
9. Deborah, b. prob. ca. 1667, m. Eliphlet Johnson, d. after 1698. On Dec. 6, 1698 Eliphlet Johnson of Newarka and wife Deborah deeded some land (NJA 21:306).
10. Phebe, b. c. 1669, m. John COOPER, d. 16 Feb. 1720 in 51st yr. John Cooper was named as a son-in-law in the Will of John Ward (abt.1625-bef.1694)

Will-Abstract of

1694 Oct. 31. Ward, John, (Note 3: John Ward, senior, or Sergeant (in 1672 Lieutenant) Ward. Understood to have been a son of Joyce Ward, widow) of Newark; will of. Wife Hannah, formerly the widow of Thomas Huntington. Sons John and Nathaniel; sons-in-law Jabish Rogers and John Cooper; the latter is to have (his wife) Pheby's share in the division; daughters now living, but not named children of dec'd daughter Hanner Baldwin ; grandson John Ward. House and lot in Newark Township between John Morice and Nathaniel Warde, and other land. Personal property. Executors—sons John and Nathaniel. Witnesses—John Prudden senior and Robert Young. Proved November 20, 1694.^[20][21]

Sources

1. ↑ Hutchinson, J.R. "Ward of Connecticut I, Widow Joice Ward of Wethersfield." New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. Volume 49, July 1918. Page 264.
2. ↑ Molyneaux, M. Wheeler. "Some Descendants of William Ward of Middletown, Conn." The American Genealogist. Volume 54, No. 3, July 1978. Page 129. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB283/i/12604/129/24378895
3. ↑ Connecticut: Early Probate Records, 1635-1730. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2006-2019), (A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records, by Charles W. Manwaring, R. S. Peck & Co. Printers, Hartford, CT, 1904.). Page 264. [https://www.americanancestors.org/DB82/i/11949/38/1425925802
4. ↑ Simonds, J. Rupert. A History of the First Church and Society of Branford, Connecticut 1644-1919. New Haven, CT: 1919. Page 8.
5. ↑ Atwater, Edward Elias. History of the Colony of New Haven to its Absorption into Connecticut. Meriden, CT: The Journal Publishing Company, 1902. Page 617
6. ↑ Connecticut: Vital Records (The Barbour Collection), 1630-1870 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011.) From original typescripts, Lucius Barnes Barbour Collection, 1928. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB414/i/13112/184/0
7. ↑ Cook, Richard W. “John Warde and John Ward of Newark,” Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey Volume 57, 1982. Page 59. https://mattocks2.wordpress.com/2008/05/13/john-warde-and-john-ward-of-newark/
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Wolzanski, Karen Hand. http://njfounders.org/node/216 Descendants of Founders of New Jersey. Accessed 14 Aug 2020.
9. ↑ Simonds, 1919. Page 32
10. ↑ Pierson, David. Narratives of Newark (in New Jersey) from the Days of its Founding 1666-1916. Newark, NJ: Self-Published, 1917. Page 97.
11. ↑ New England Marriages to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB1568/i/21176/1592/426908526
12. ↑ "John Ward Sr." Descendants of Founders of New Jersey
13. ↑ Branford town records. Volume 1. Pages 171 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK7-B3LY-Q?i=93&cat=157834)
14. ↑ Branford town records. Volume 1. Pages 171 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK7-B3LY-Q?i=93&cat=157834)
15. ↑ Branford town records. Volume 1. Page 172 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK7-B3LB-Q?i=94&cat=157834)
16. ↑ Branford town records. Volume 1. Page 172 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK7-B3LB-Q?i=94&cat=157834)
17. ↑ Branford town records. Volume 1. Page 173 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK7-B3LB-Q?i=94&cat=157834)
18. ↑ Branford town records. Volume 1. Page 173 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK7-B3LB-Q?i=94&cat=157834)
19. ↑ Branford town records. Volume 1. Page 173 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK7-B3LB-Q?i=94&cat=157834)
20. ↑ N. J. Archives, XXL, p. 216, and Essex Wills https://ia800902.us.archive.org/14/items/calendarofnewjer00newj/calendarofnewjer00newj.pdf
21. ↑ For ancestry users: see Volume XXIII, Abstracts of Wills, 1670-1730 Page 489-490, Calendar of Wills.